How to set up your new electric scooter

The Unagi Model One is one of the most popular electric scooters out there, with riders from all over being drawn to it for a whole host of reasons: from its sleek attractive design, to its exceptional driving statistics.

If you are reading this, chances are you have already got your hands on one and are looking for some guidance on how to set it up, and if that's the case, we've got you covered.

Maybe you've taken advantage of our all-access plan to gain access to a fully serviced and insured top-of-the-range Unagi e-scooter at a low monthly cost, or maybe you just went ahead and bought one outright (they are very reasonably priced after all).

In this guide we'll have a look at unboxing the Model One, setting it up, and some tips and tricks to make the process even easier, helping you get out on two wheels as soon as possible.

The Unagi Model One setup process in three easy steps

Step One - Unboxing

Not everyone gets a kick out of unboxing their latest stash, but here at Unagi, we do. That's why we tried to make the whole electric scooter unboxing process as enjoyable, aesthetically pleasing, and straightforward as possible. Think like unwrapping the latest handset, but it comes with two wheels and an even more impressive interface.

Even though we're in the business of manufacturing adult electric scooters, for adults, we still appreciate that after a hard day's work when one's all excited for their new scooter, even an adult doesn't want to face a Rubix-cube-esque procedure to get it set up.

So whether you've had your new Unagi electric scooter delivered or you've picked it up from a retailer, when you take it out of the box it will be mostly assembled with both the front wheel and rear wheel already attached to the frame. In fact, besides attaching the handlebar, the whole scooter will be ready for you to use.

You'll want to take the screws, tools, charger and user manual, and put them to one side. You'll put the stem or upright of the scooter in a mostly vertical position, and it will click into place instantly. It's worth noting that you can watch a full breakdown of the setup process here.

Step Two - Attaching the Handlebar

Use your fingers to simply pull out the electrics, and match them up with the cabling in the stem with the cabling in the handlebars, making sure that they're facing the right way. It all just fits in very clearly and simply so you shouldn't be confused with it, and there are more tips below.

After clicking in the cables and then the handlebars themselves, tighten them up with the included Loctite screws with two screws on each side (don't worry, there are spares), and then tighten them once more to make sure they are all securely in place. Turn it on to check that it's all matching up, and your battery should come maybe 50 to 80% full already and your lights should shine from the off.

Step Three - Charge the electric scooter battery

Once your new electric scooter is looking ready to go, you'll want to fully charge it before using it for the first time. The charger itself is located in the box, and plugs into the charging port just in front of the rear wheel on the left-hand side of the deck, whilst the other end just goes into an ordinary power socket.

Learning how to charge electric scooters is really the most straightforward part of all, and because the Unagi doesn't have a removable battery, you'll know exactly where your battery capacity is at all times just by checking the dashboard - so make sure you're fully charged!

Tips and tricks for setting up the Unagi Model One

1) The handlebar cable

Once you have taken your new Unagi out of its box and are in the process of assembling it, you will come to a point when you are about to attach the handlebars to the upright stem.

At this point, you will need to connect some cables inside of these parts too, and you will likely experience the urge to force the cables down into the stem before attaching the handlebars, nearly everybody does.

However, it would be better for you to gently pull some of the lengths of cable out from the bottom of the upright bar, so that the wires come further down into the stem, reducing the chance of any of the cables pinching inside the scooter which could affect braking performance.

Once the handlebars are fully attached, you can gently push some slack back into the stem via the same hole you used earlier, leaving a little for maneuverability whilst ensuring that there isn't enough hanging out for your foot to get caught.

2) Switching from dual to single motor

If you have the E500 dual-motor Unagi scooter, you'll have made peace with your decision to opt for an improvement in performance in exchange for a slightly shorter battery life. You might be interested to know then that your decision isn't actually final, and you can switch between dual and single-motor modes as and when you please to suit your needs.

So, to make sure that you're in dual motor mode and getting the strongest performance out of your Unagi, look for a small circular symbol on the control panel. If you can see this symbol and want to switch dual motors off and just go for one smaller motor, then switch to single by pressing the power button twice in quick succession.

The benefits of moving to a single electric motor include battery conservation (for example if you are traveling on a flat surface, or don't need to be hitting the top speed), so you can decide when is the best choice to get the right ride quality for you after you've done some hill climb tests.

You can also switch between miles per hour and kilometers per hour (we have a big European following too), by holding the two function buttons on the handlebar simultaneously, it really is that quick and easy.

3) Best practises for locking electric scooters

Unfortunately, no matter what part of the world you are in, e-scooters are subject to high levels of theft, and most electric scooters are yet to be impervious to this problem. We do have a solution to at least minimize the chances of your Unagi getting stolen though, so take note.

What you'll want to do is get yourself a U-lock about 10 inches long, and then lock it to a bike rack over the scooter deck, just like you would with an electric bike frame.

That way, the U-lock can't be removed over either wheel, so if you can't take your electric scooter with you when you stop riding it this is the next best way to ensure scooter safety in one quick and easy step.

We also recommend using a U-lock in conjunction with our Unagi 30" Cinch lock, which can easily be carried with you in your bag on any ride. Generally, the cinch lock is a lightweight choice for when you're riding short distances and will be leaving it alone for minutes at a time, but as with bicycles, it's best practice to always use multiple locks as a deterrent.

Be aware of electric scooter laws & stay safe

Ok so once your scooter is set up, you'll need to get hold of some safety gear ideally before riding it. We recommend at least some gloves and a reliable and safe helmet when you ride, but you might want to consider elbow pads and knee pads to further protect yourself in the event of a fall.

If you're new to electric scooters, consider practicing at home or on some private land away from traffic or any other vehicles or obstacles to get used to it as well.

Finally, you'll need to be aware of the rules of the road where you live before setting off. In some states, traveling in cycle lanes is permitted for electric scooters, whereas in others, you may ride on public roads so long as you don't impede cars by riding at low speeds.

You might not feel confident traveling at full speed if there are many scooters around you, so practice using the brakes for an emergency stop and going up and down steep hills before taking it out in rush hour.

If you haven't opened it already, now's the time to get stuck into your new mode of transportation and find out why the Unagi Model One is not your standard kick scooter.