The Ojo commuter scooter started out life as a product of the company Ojo, who can without a doubt say they were producing very impressive electric scooters long before their partnership with Ford. The look, feel and success of this scooter is probably what led Ford to strike up a deal with Ojo, and after that the Ford logo was proudly stamped on every Ojo commuter scooter, giving these products even more much-needed buzz in a world jam-packed with electric scooters. Read the rest of our Ford Ojo Review for a complete breakdown of everything you need to know!
Quick Look
I have a lot to say about the Ford Ojo as it is like no other electric scooter out there, not quite a motorcycle and not quite a scooter, everything about this thing was designed with comfort and style in mind. Instead of standing upright hunched over the handlebars, the Ford Ojo has a tall removable seat which allows you to sit snugly while enjoying the 25 mile range the Ojo has to offer. You can cruise at a top speed of 20mph using the twist throttle to activate the 500 Watt motor, enjoying the waterproof speakers and going up hills of gradients of up to 18%.
This scooter is anything but portable, something like a compact vespa and unable to be folded, you won’t find yourself transporting it on trains or buses. However, you’ll be glad to know this scooter is totally bike lane legal. All of this and absolutely no license required!
Check the latest price on Amazon or Ojo’s Website
Quick Specs
Top Speed: 20mph
Maximum range: 25 miles, 50 miles with extended range battery
Weight: 62lbs without the battery, 70lbs with the battery
Motor: 500 Watt
Dimensions: 54” x 49.5” x 23” (L x H x W)
Weight Limit: 300 lbs
Frame: Welded Aluminium Frame
Battery Life Cycle: 600 full charges/discharges
Features
The Ford Ojo is equipped with all of the features you’d find in its competition, and many more additional features that blur the line between electric scooter and electric motorcycle – this scooter is definitely not just something nice to look at.
Touch Screen Display
Ojo have equipped their scooter with a display that is central to the scooter. It’s a backlit touchscreen display that outputs trip time, mileage, battery life, and notifies you if you have incoming calls. This touch screen also controls the headlight and taillight, different driving modes, which I’ll get into later, and the bluetooth speakers, which I’ll segway into now.
Bluetooth Speakers
The Ford Ojo has dual waterproof bluetooth speakers that sit on the neck below the handlebars, all you need is a bluetooth enabled device and you’ll be able to connect to them. I think they work really well for what this scooter is, obviously if you were flying down the highway you’d have some issue hearing them, but coasting at a top speed of 20mph and travelling around city streets, you can hear them just fine!
Driving Modes
This scooter has three driving modes:
- Sports mode – Designed to get the peak performance out of your Ford Ojo.
- Touring mode – This is for new riders.
- Eco mode – This mode is for people who want to get the most out of their scooter, and maximizes range.
Security
The Ojo has a wireless key fob that operates on three buttons: an on/off button, and two buttons to activate and deactivate the alarm. The alarm is motion activated, and is relatively sensitive, so if anyone were to attempt to pick it up or move it in any way, it sets off a loud siren. I appreciate the fact that Ojo equipped this scooter with an alarm, as it is a pricey, eye-catching product.
Onboard Charging
I’ve got to say – I love this feature! Ojo have given their smart scooter a patented onboard charging system with a retractable plug, situated on the front of the scooter. This means no more lugging around a charger on your commute to work or during journeys in the city.
Additional
The Ford Ojo has two wing mirrors, a horn, a kickstand, a twist throttle and LED lights on the front and rear of the scooter. The front light is a large light positioned as the centre of the neck of the scooter, and the rear light is a strip positioned low down.
The lithium ion battery pack is removable, so you can easily replace it were anything to happen, or if you wanted to replace it with an extended range battery which can be purchased on the Ojo website.
Design and Build Quality
The two obvious, stand-out aspects of the Ford Ojo are branding and design. With Ojo securing a partnership with Ford, one of the world’s leading car manufacturers, they’ve managed to be a cut above any other electric scooter, and they want you to know about it – the Ford logo is stamped on the front and back of the scooter.
Next is the aesthetic, this is a massive part of what makes the ride feel really special – the Ojo is a large scooter with a curved unibody chassis. The specific scooter we are reviewing is the ‘vintage’ one, with a wooden design and teal stripes. In my opinion they could do with giving you bit more foot space, as I felt like due to the curved design anyone with larger feet than me could start to feel a bit cramped, however the seat is removable so you can stand if you so wish!
The frame is made of aluminium, which contributes to its ability to hold up to 300 lbs. The motor is a brushless HyperGear hub motor which has a 500 Watt output, and the pneumatic tires are rated at 4PR (ply-rating) and are tubeless.
Ojo definitely weren’t aiming for portable when they designed this scooter, so I wouldn’t say the size and weight of it is a flaw so much as something to be aware of. Owning this scooter and living in a big city is perfect. However if you need to get it in your car or travel with it in general, you might find that hard. I definitely wouldn’t be able to fit this scooter in my car, and would need something more like a pick-up.
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Performance and Range
The Ojo can carry you for about 25 miles before it needs to be recharged, however you can double that distance with the extended range battery.
In terms of top speed, 20mph is totally achievable on flat ground, however going up hills you should expect it to slow down. Ojo have claimed that improvements were made on the hill climbing capabilities of the Ford Ojo since the Classic Ojo, however don’t take that to mean that you’ll be flying up hills. Saying this – the Ojo will get you up those 18% inclines, just not at top speed.
When you are zipping along at 20mph, you’ll be happy to know that the brakes won’t fail you. With powerful mechanical disc brakes, you could definitely bring yourself to an abrupt halt if you needed to. But If you wanted to bring yourself to a more relaxed, drawn-out stop, I’ve found that the Ojo can do that too!
The Ford Ojo is such a classy and relaxing ride, so you’d be annoyed if it sent you flying when you went over a bump. Well, the suspension on this thing is first class, with front and dual rear suspension, the Ojo does a great job at getting over any uneven surfaces in the road. Keep in mind the tires aren’t anything industrial though so stick to some off road electric scooters if that’s what you’re after.
What We Like About the Ford Ojo
- Design – This was an obvious one, but it doesn’t make it any less deserved. Where many electric scooters just fit the needs of the rider, Ojo decided to think outside the box and produce something that really stands out in terms of the looks and the ride.
- Comfort – The removable seat that Ojo decided to add was a really nice touch, coupled with the frame design this outputs an amazingly comfortable and fun ride.
- Licensing – This may seem shallow but I love seeing the Ford logo on this scooter: on the back of the seat, the front of the scooter and just below the brake light. It really makes you feel like you’re riding something worth spending your money on.
What We Don’t Like About the Ford Ojo
- Portability – Like I previously mentioned, this isn’t a faux pas on Ojo’s part. This scooter won’t be easy to transport in your car and will be impossible to get on public transport, so if you want a more compact commuter scooter, head over to our list.
- Foot Space – I love the design of the Ojo but I have to say that I think the scooter could do with a bit more foot space for those with a larger shoe size.
Final Thoughts
This scooter is fun to ride and fun to look at. I think Ojo knows that they stand out from the crowd and aren’t planning on slowing down anytime soon, with talks of more products being released to the public in the near future. The Ojo might just be the perfect addition to a modern-day city lifestyle.
The Ford Ojo has featured on many other of our posts, including The Best Electric Scooters with Seats and Best Electric Scooters for Adults.
Check the latest price on Amazon or Ojo’s Website
If you need to know more, think we’ve missed something or want to ask us some questions then comment below or connect with us on Facebook.
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