Testing an adult electric scooter designed like a kid’s toy: Razor Icon review
If you’re between the ages of 25 to 50, the name “Razor scooter” likely brings with it a certain nostalgia, the flavor of which may depend on whether you associate it with the childhood freedom of cruising the neighborhood or the unforgettable sound of aluminum on ankle bone. But now both are possible again with a modern twist thanks to Razor’s introduction of an electric scooter based on its classic design. I’ve had some fun by riding, testing, and crashing the new Razor Icon electric scooter over the last few weeks, and now it’s time to tell you what I think.
The Razor Icon certainly does a good job capturing the iconic flair of the original Razor scooter from twenty-something years ago.
The shiny aluminum deck, colorful wheels, minimalist foot brake, and folding stem all harken back to the scooting days of yesteryear.
But at the same time, the scooter carries a number of fun new upgrades that I would have loved to make use of as a kid.
Check out my testing video below to see the Razor Icon in all its orange glory (though other bright colors are also available). Then keep reading for my full review.
Razor Icon video review
Razor Icon electric scooter tech specs
- Motor: 300W rear motor
- Battery: 36V
- Top speed: 18 mph (30 km/h)
- Range: Up to 18 miles (30 km)
- Weight: 26.5 lb. (12 kg)
- Load capacity: 220 lb. (100 kg)
- Brakes: Rear motor braking and rear stomp brake
- Tires: 8.5″ solid tires
- Extras: Front and rear LED lights, LED display with built-in thumb throttle, kickstand, folding stem
Nostalgia on wheels
The Razor Icon electric scooter certainly looks the part of a classic Razor. The only immediate giveaway that this isn’t the same as the scooter gathering dust in your parent’s attic is that the wheels look much larger.
In fact, they’re around twice the size of those original little pucks that Razor called wheels.
These 8.5″ tires may be larger, but they’re equally flat-free. Razor’s original wheels from the early 2000s were hard polyurethane wheels. The Icon at least received a rubber upgrade to make them a bit softer, but the solid rubber still prevents flat tires from ruining your ride.
I wouldn’t want to hit any brick pavers or Zeus-forbid any cobblestone streets, but the wheels feel just fine on smooth bike paths and decent-quality roads.
The rest of the scooter is nearly a dead ringer for the original one, except for all of the electric updates.
That rear motor gets a surprisingly peppy 300W motor. Maybe it just feels so strong because the scooter is quite light (26.5 pounds!) and so you expect it to be a weak little thing. Whatever the reason, the scooter really picks up and moves.
There is one little annoying thing about the motor though, which is that the scooter has to be moving at around 2-3 mph or so in order for the thumb throttle on the handlebars to work. Surely Razor will say that’s a safety feature so that it’s hard for small kids to hop on and ride, or something to that effect. And that might also be true. But it’s really because the motor is sensorless (hall sensors in brushless electric motors are needed to let e-bikes and e-scooters start with good power from a standstill). Sensorless motors are cheaper and have fewer parts to go bad, and so it also surely helps support that fairly low $599 price tag on the Razor Icon (or apparently sometimes even cheaper on Amazon).
I’d have loved for the scooter to simply fly off from a stop when you hit the throttle, since sometimes you have to kick off harder than you’d expect to actually hit 2-3 mph and get enough speed to activate the motor. But it’s something you get used to and so I won’t complain too hard there.
The rest of the scooter is pretty positive from there. For such an inexpensive and lightweight little thing, it works quite well.
The small LED screen isn’t fancy but gives you a good readout of your speed and battery life. There are three speed modes, though I never used anything but the highest speed mode. And the motor braking in the rear wheel is surprisingly powerful. In fact, you may find yourself using the rear foot brake for more gentle stops, since the motor braking comes on quite strong.
I wouldn’t mind a little more grip in the tires, especially after I crashed it in some particularly tight turns (see video above), but I was also pushing this scooter way harder than anyone should normally ride it. These aren’t Pirelli racing tires, as I astutely discovered.
So who is it good for?
Here’s the thing: There are so many electric scooters out there right now. Like so, so many.
Every company has a few models and there are new companies every day. So what makes the Razor Icon special in this sea of scooters?
To be honest, it’s mostly just the look. Don’t get me wrong. The scooter works well. It’s nice and lightweight. It’s decently peppy (for such a lightweight scooter). And it will work just fine for cruising your cul-de-sac, Google campus, or NYC commute.
But the performance isn’t revolutionary and it doesn’t really offer anything you can’t get in another scooter, outside of the awesome design. So if nostalgia is high on your list, the Razor Icon probably should be too. And with a wide range of colors to choose from, you can have that nostalgia served up in just about any flavor.
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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