By Scott Kramer
I look like the Michelin Man. It’s freezing outside for a Southern California morning, so I’m decked out in two long-sleeve shirts and a jacket, topped off by a hooded sweatshirt. Oh, and I’m wearing an awkward looking bike helmet. So as I’m whizzing around town, people are staring at me. But oddly enough, it’s not me that’s catching their eyes. At least not at first. It’s Ford’s licensed new retro-looking seafoam Vintage OjO Commuter Scooter that I’m on. Kind of looks like the sleek Vespa version of one of those old Woody station wagons, especially because it has a surfboard-type front panel to it.
The vehicle is peppy, accelerates smoothly and gets up to its top speed of 20 miles per hour in just a few seconds.
After taking it out several times in my immediate area, I finally drove it out on the seven-mile path that I usually test electric bikes on. It’s a hilly street that typically serves as a wind tunnel, for whatever reason. This day was no exception. And those factors combined let me test the extents of the vehicle’s 500-watt HyperGear motor — which is why I chose this route.
The OjO performed great on the flatter parts of the street. But then on the downhill portions, it started to scare me. I suspected on several occasions it was exceeding its displayed 20 mph. My suspicion was confirmed by the street radar signs I passed that claimed I was cruising at 27 mph. Three different times. That’s misleading and dangerous, when my scooter display still reads 20 mph.
Going up steep hills, the OjO topped out at 11 mph. Compared to all of the electric bikes I’ve tested on these hills, this was comparable to the slowest of the bunch. Mind you, this machine is significantly heavier than every bike I’ve taken on the route. So I’m sure weight was a factor. And to be honest, I’m glad the OjO is heavier because it adds a lot of stability and substance. I personally weigh significantly less than the OjO’s 300-pound listed capacity, and I wondered what speed a heavier person might travel up these hills.
There’s no peddling on this unit — only a twist throttle to make it move. Acceleration and deceleration are both smooth and easy. Independent front and rear disk brakes aim to offer improved braking stability. The OjO has a range of 25 miles per battery charge, with three speed-cap settings. It has an on-board charger that plugs into any 110V wall outlet. And it’s pretty cool: You open a little panel on the front, and a retractable, roughly five-foot plug cable can be pulled out. When charging, the LED front headlight is red. When it’s done charging, the red turns to green. There’s also an LED rear light. Plus, the scooter has dual Bluetooth speakers that sound amazing, a USB phone charging port with straps that secure your phone in plain view, and a wireless key fob with an alarm system.
The OjO costs $2,199 and up, depending on the model. It’s a very fun, comfortable and environmentally sustainable way to get around town, via the bike lane. Using the OjO, I just rested my feet on the wide foot board. Which felt awkward at first because I’m accustomed to peddling. I got used to that after a short while, but never to all the people staring at me.
Scott Kramer is veteran, Southern California-based writer primarily versed in golf and personal technology. Studying Computer Sciences in college, and then working as a programmer/software engineer for about a decade, triggered my passion for today’s high-end, high-tech gadgets. I can’t help myself whenever I see any kind of cool new personal technology. I feel compelled to further check it out and see what it’s all about. And even if I have no use for it personally, I’m always thinking who it might best suit. There are exciting new innovations emerging daily that are shaping the future and simplifying life. And I hope to be your eyes to that world, through the words of this column.