We all know the e-moto brand Surron – and if you’re brand new to e-moto, Surron is the first e-moto company to mass produce awesome small electric dirt bikes. Then came Segway with its e-moto, the Segway X160. And it looked strikingly similar to the Light Bee. Segway is a well-known company, but speculation quickly began as to why these two bikes are basically identical.
Let’s unravel why the Segway X160 looks almost identical to other e-motos, what the Segway X160 was designed for, who the Segway X160 is best suited for, and what to expect from this awesome bike.
Where did the Segway X160 come from?
Why did Segway, the inventor of the well known ‘mall cop’ transportation device, the PT Segway, decide to start selling electric dirt bikes? Look around, do you see many of the original PT self-balancing machines zipping down the street? Hmm… Apart from the novelty factor when touring around touristy locations, it would be safe to say they weren’t really all that ‘cool’. Or cheap.
Fast forward many years, Segway struggled financially after the anticipated number of units sold wasn’t reached. After selling the company to Ninebot in 2015, things quickly changed after a massive company and product restructure. Segway-Ninebot started to concentrate on the ‘cool toys’ like e-bikes and go-karts. Read the Segway history in detail in this article.
Ninebot entered a partnership with Surron to develop the Segway X160 and the larger X260 – the first of the electric dirt bikes for the Segway-Ninebot company. When it was first presented to the world at SEMA 2019, people started to notice that these Segway-branded bikes are remarkably similar to the original Surron Light Bee. Strange coincidence? Is it a Light Bee, or is it a Segway X160?
Is the Segway X160 the same as a Surron?
Coming from the same factory, you’d expect both the Segway X160 and the Surron LBX to be very similar. You could say the bones are much the same, but Segway has added a bit of their own touch to the e-moto. With Segway’s technological flare, they created an app to change settings such as regen braking instead of the cables which Surrons use.
You’ll also find the Segway X160 has different colors, and some of the finishing touches are slightly different – all with Segway branding. The price of the Segway X160 was also slightly lower at the time it was released. Let’s have a closer look at the X160 specs.
X160 Segways specs
Weighing a light 105 pounds, the Segway X160 can reach its top speed of 31 mph in 4.02 seconds! The battery can be swapped quickly for a fully charged battery. Check out this video here of swapping a 48v stock Segway X160 battery for a stock 60v battery! Not sure about the longevity of the motor or controller, but an interesting experiment!
How fast can the Segway X160 go?
In the right conditions, the Segway X160 can reach a top speed of 31.1 mph. Keep in mind that this will change with different tire pressures, weather conditions, surface conditions, and rider experience. The max range advertised is 40.4 miles, however, you wouldn’t be able to achieve that range at the top speed. Think of how fast you’d go through the gas in your car if you were maxing your top speed on the way to work. Yep, the tank would empty pretty quick!
If you’re looking for more top speed over range, then you could either look at modding the Segway X160, which would get you a fully customized e-moto that perfectly fits your riding style, or look into its bigger brother, the X260, which will give you a faster top speed and longer range from stock.
Check out this article here for a full comparison between the Segway X160 and X260.
Who should buy a Segway X160?
Thinking of heading straight to the MX track with your Segway X160? If it’s stock, then I’d highly recommend jumping on the GritShift website first and making some big mods to make it big-jump compatible.
The Segway X160, as is, isn’t made for hard riding. That doesn’t mean you can’t mod it to be the best on the track, but it will take a bit of work. From stock, it will be great around the streets or easier riding through the woods, just keep it from getting airborne too much – well, it’s more of the landing you need to be concerned with! The suspension isn’t designed for heavy loading.
You will also find you’ll need to up the power, especially if riding in soft sand. But it all depends on where you want to ride. If you’re brand new to e-moto or dirt bikes, then you probably won’t be needing loads of power in the beginning anyway. A stock X160 definitely has enough oomph to get you going, and you can grow into modding it when you’re ready, which is something we like a lot about it.
Like any e-moto, I’d personally be swapping the tires first up to something that suits the terrain you’ll be playing in. And the foot pegs. And grips. The list for your Segway X160 could go on and on… again, like any e-moto. That’s part of the beauty of electric dirt bikes, there are so many aftermarket parts available to morph your ride into your perfect beast.
Should you buy a used Segway X160?
Here’s the thing… Segway is no longer selling the X160. But that’s not the end of the story. The Segway X160 was a robust, loved-by-many e-moto that closely resembles the Surron LBX without the price tag – and with more features. And, you can find yourself a Segway X160 on the second hand market.
Buying second hand has many advantages also, as these e-motos make an awesome stock bike, they are even better when modded. There is a good chance the previous owner has already spent hard earned cash on their Segway X160, which means you may not need to.
Buyer beware though, buying second hand does have its disadvantages, but if you know what to look for, you won’t fall into the trap of buying a lemon. Check out this article here which details all the facts when looking at buying second hand.
Mods that you can do to a Segway X160
Almost anything can be modded on the Segway X160! It came out of the Surron factory and that’s probably the reason why most Surron parts will also fit the Segway X160! However, there are a few points to note:
- Depending on what upgrades you do, you may need to upgrade the controller and/or battery if you’re searching for power upgrades. Have a read of this article for an in-depth talk on controllers.
- The rear shock on the Segway X160 is slightly shorter than the Surron LBX but can be swapped out. Keep in mind this will change the geometry of your e-moto.
- The front fork may need to be upgraded to be compatible with other upgrades.
If you want to see just how far an X160 can really be modded, check out this article about our R&D lead, Rusty, and his built-to-the-hilt Segway X160 that competed at Red Bull TKO.
Whether you bought your Segway X160 second hand, or you’ve owned your X160 for a little while and are looking to upgrade parts, we’re here at GritShift to help you customize your ride. Don’t forget we’re real people and if you want to check the compatibility of parts just get in contact with our experienced team.
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