Apollo Explore Review: 1000W of Power a Great Ride
- Read Time: 13 min
In the recently added lineup of self-branded Apollo electric scooters, we find the Apollo Explore, the second largest and second most powerful scooter in the Apollo family.
Not big enough to be part of the "beast" family, but for a 1000W single motor, it is proper fast and with a good range.
It looks cool and the design is clever, and even though it is not a light scooter, it is very portable and folds cleverly into a practical package.
Speed and Acceleration
For a single motor rear-wheel drive electric scooter, the Apollo Explore is proper fast. Its top speed is 31 mph (49 kph) and from zero to 15 mph (24 kph) it takes a mere 3,5 seconds.
It puts it at the top of the single motor speed pyramid, only beaten by the Skywalker 10S, and just by a hair at that.
Hill Climbing
The Apollo Explore is a solid hill climber. It will conquer 65 yds (60 m) at 10% grade, with an average rider weight of (165lbs/ 75 kg) in 12.0 seconds at an average speed of 11 mph (18 kph).
In comparison, the average rental scooter will do the same test in about 21 seconds and with an average speed of about 6,5 mph (10,6 kph)
Range
A 52V 18.2Ah Dynavolt battery offers an impressive range of up to 34 miles (54 km) if you avoid riding at top speed all the time.
Real-world riding with varying terrain and frequent stop & go's is closer to 28 miles (45 km) which is very good.
An optional fast charger makes it possible to recharge in 4 hours.
Motor Configuration
A rear-wheel drive 1000W base with a 1400W peak is enough to give many dual-motor scooters a run for their money. Three-speed settings are available making it easy to swap between riding modes.
Construction & Build Quality
Solid overall build quality leaves a good impression. Apollo inspects all their electric scooters before delivery and right out of the box, it shows. There's no need for any particular adjustments.
The Apollo Explore uses forged aluminum for all of the critical parts of the scooter, i.e. base, stem, and handlebar.
It also has all external cables wrapped in a hard plastic coil to prevent cut or torn cables.
The handlebars fold but the screw-type mechanism typically has the tendency to loosen a bit on longer rides. It is not a huge issue but you need to tighten them from time to time. It is more of an annoyance than a safety concern.
Suspension
The front spring and dual spring suspension in the rear, are very well balanced. Rough terrain and potholes are not an issue.
When riding it makes no rattling or creaking noise.
Ride Quality
The Apollo Explore is stable at top speed and on smooth roads and has an excellent ride quality. The dual spring suspension in the back and the added spring suspension upfront in unison with 10" pneumatic tires make for a super comfortable package on inner-city commutes as well as varied terrain.
An impressive 5.3″ (13,5 cm) of ground clearance will help with dropping off curbs and getting over obstacles.
Lights
The lights on the Apollo will help with visibility to others. Due to their low positioning, they are not as optimal for forward vision though.
Stock LED headlights and colored button LED lights on the deck and stem looks great and will draw attention.
As mentioned though, an additional front headlight is recommended for riding in the dark.
Brakes
Exceptional braking due to high-performance disc brakes and regenerative braking on the rear is exactly what you want on such a fast e scooter.
From 15 mph (24 kph) to a complete stop, it only takes about 3,8 yds (3,5 m).
As soon as you start pulling on the brake lever, the regenerative braking activates a reverse current in the motor, which slows it down as well as recharges the battery.
Portability
The Apollo Explore surprises by folding into a quite compact package. When folded it measures 46 x 10 x 17 inches (117 x 25 x 43 cm).This is possible due to a collapsing stem and handlebars.
Two mechanisms on the stem fold it parallel with the deck and locks it into place as well as "telescopes" it. The front-wheel comes up over the deck.
It makes the Apollo Explore easy to put into the trunk of a car or store away in a corner.
It does weigh 50 lbs (23 kg) which means you don't want to keep lifting it too much.
Tires
The 10" (25,4 x 8 cm) large pneumatic tires help soak up imperfections in the road. They have a rounded profile making it easy to control the scooter.
As per usual air-filled tires, they help the overall suspension to cushion the ride as well as provide good grip when slippery or wet.
Inner tubes mean they are more prone to getting flats and adding a tire sealant might be a good idea.
Deck
A spacious deck provides ample standing room. It measures 20 x 9 inches (51 x 23 cm). Plenty of grip with "sandpaper" surface and max weight is 265 lbs (120 kg).
Display
The color LCD display shows all the stats you need such as speed, odometer, battery level, distance, cruise control, various riding modes, etc.
Choose between kick to start or instant immediate go, and even adjust the acceleration.
The trigger-style throttle and double brake levers are easy to operate, and the cruise control comes in handy since a trigger throttle can be tiresome on longer rides.
Water Resistance
The Apollo Explore has an IP54 rating, certifying protection from limited amounts of dust and other particles as well as water spray from all directions. This means it will tolerate light rain but, do be careful anyway, and don't challenge this rating overly much.
Reliability
Nowadays, with the issues listed below sorted, the Apollo Explore is reliable and users are happy. Apart from the handlebars loosening on long rides, as mentioned above, it is a reliable commuter.
Known Issues & Solutions
Apollo has reconfigured the deck which originally was the same as on the Apollo Ghost. That deck had sharp edges and was prone to injure people. This is dealt with and it is also a sturdier construction now.
The mudguard was a flimsy bit is now more solid as is the kickstand.
Conclusion
A good electric scooter that will be a good companion and has a good top speed as well as mile range. At around the $1400 mark, you get a lot of scooters for the money and a good comfortable ride. It is a bit heavy though, even for a single motor electric scooter. Bear that in mind if you need to carry it upstairs and, if you do want more speed, you will have to look for a dual-engine e-scooter.
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