River Indie Electric Scooter: Don't Buy

I test-drove the River Indie, and I wouldn’t buy it. I’d buy an Ather instead:

- 17-inch laptop bag does not fit. It doesn’t fit in any electric scooter, but it’s worth calling out here since River bills the Indie as the SUV of scooters.

- Turn indicators didn’t go off when I completed the turn.

- Turn indicators did not turn on when I thought I turned them on.

- The scooter is heavy and hard to push backward with my legs, unlike an Ather, which is toy-like in comparison. And toy-like in a good way: light, fun.

- The brakes are uneven

- There’s an ugly exposed motorcycle-style handlebar

- River has zero first-party charging stations

- No app

- No touch screen

- Fit and finish not as good as Ather

- Does not look as good as Ather.

- River has sold only 3000 scooters, and buying from a startup is risky compared to an established company like Ather or TVS. What if River fails?

- There are so many missing features as compared to an Ather.