Splach Thunder

Overview

This is the first dual-motor scooter I have reviewed for less than $1,000, and it is called the Splach Thunder. What is crazy about that price point is that it costs just a hundred bucks more than the most popular entry-level scooter sold in America. Now, you have a true performance scooter sitting at basically the same price point. At just $999, I was highly skeptical about what kind of build quality and power delivery I would actually get. But after putting it through my usual gauntlet of speed runs, steep hills, and suspension tests, I am ready to break down exactly what this scooter delivers.

The Splach Thunder is positioned as an entry-level performance model, yet it brings a lot of high-end components to the table. You get dual motors, mineral oil hydraulic brakes, and a highly customizable speed control system. It is designed for riders who want to break out of the slow commuter lane without spending two or three grand. Throughout my testing, I wanted to find out how good a $999 performance scooter really is, and honestly, it completely surprised me.

Real-World Performance

Let us talk about power, speed, and all the fun stuff. Splach claims that the two motors can take you to 25 mph in 3.9 seconds. I did not clock it exactly to see if it hit that 3.9-second mark, but I can confidently say it felt incredibly fast. When I set the scooter to a hard start on level five in the P-settings, I even got some noticeable front tire spin off the line. It launches hard, and having that kind of torque on a sub-thousand dollar scooter is pretty awesome.

To find out its true top speed, I put the scooter into sport mode, engaged the turbo setting, and made sure both dual motors were active. This is as fast as the scooter can go. On a straight flat run, I clocked a top speed of 35 mph. Hitting 35 mph for a $999 scooter is something I have never seen before, and they have done a very nice job keeping the ride solid and balanced at those higher speeds. You can also dial back the power in the settings if you want a tamer ride, with eco mode dropping the top speed all the way down to a very manageable 10 mph.

Next up was the hill climbing ability. I took this on the standard test hill I take every product to, which is a 20% grade and half a block long. As you probably would have guessed given the aggressive launch, it just ripped right up that hill. By the time I hit the top crest, I was still going over 20 mph. I am quite confident that this scooter can tackle practically any hill in your local area.

Finally, let us touch on battery and range. Tucked in the deck is a UL-certified battery, and the brand lists a maximum range rating of up to 37 miles. However, in my real-world testing, if you are keeping it at full throttle and topping this thing out at 35 mph like I did, you are not going to get anywhere near that. Under aggressive riding conditions, you can expect to get around 20 miles of actual range before needing a recharge.

Design & Build Quality

Moving on to the overall design, the Splach Thunder features a fairly aggressive color scheme. You have gold accents everywhere. The folding lever, the front and rear swing arms, and the rear fin are all decked out in bright gold. It gives it a very sporty, race-inspired aesthetic. Up at the handlebars, they opted for pretty bulky grips. If you like big grips, you will feel right at home, though riders with smaller hands might find them a bit thick.

One of the standout design choices is how surprisingly light and compact this scooter is for the dual-motor class. High-performance scooters are usually massive, but this one only weighs 61 lbs while still being able to carry a maximum rider weight of up to 330 lbs. The deck itself gives you plenty of room to stand, measuring over 6 inches wide, and it offers 6 inches of ground clearance in case you want to take it slightly off-road.

For the suspension, Splach went the rubber suspension route instead of traditional spring or hydraulic shocks. There are three specific things I really like about this setup. First, it can take a hard hit without bottoming out. Second, it is incredibly quiet. When I was bouncing my weight on the deck, there were no squeaks from the suspension itself. Third, it has much less rebound than hydraulic systems, meaning it recovers faster when you are riding over gnarly, bumpy roads.

Unfortunately, the build quality does have a few drawbacks that surfaced during my test rides. The biggest issue for me is the stem height. I am a 5-foot-11 guy, and the handlebars sit pretty low, which affects the overall ride comfort. Additionally, I started experiencing some creaking in the folding handlebars. Even after tightening the screws on both sides as tight as they could possibly go, I was still getting noticeable cracking and creaking noises from the bar ends while riding.

Key Features

The Splach Thunder is loaded with electronic features, starting with the NFC card security system. You just tap one of the three included NFC cards at the top of the handlebars, and the scooter is ready to rock and roll. Below the bars, you have a very thorough lighting setup, including a front headlight, deck lights running down the stem, and turn signals positioned on the sides of the deck and at the rear.

However, the LCD screen and lighting controls have some quirks. The display simply is not very bright. Even when I bumped it to its highest setting, it was hard to read in direct sunlight. Another frustrating detail is that there is no indicator on the LCD screen to tell you when your turn signals are active, and you have to manually press the button a second time to cancel them. On the plus side, the braking system is fantastic. You get mineral oil hydraulic brakes with ergonomic levers, paired with a massive 140 mm rear disc brake.

Splach also provides a surprisingly deep app experience. You actually get two separate apps. The primary app lets you check your riding stats, toggle between three speed modes, lock or unlock the scooter remotely, and track your rides using GPS. The secondary app is dedicated entirely to the lighting system. It features a full color wheel to customize the stem lights, brightness controls, preset patterns, and even a microphone option where the lights pulse to ambient sound or music you play from your phone.

Who It's For

I'd point budget-minded riders who want serious speed and hill-climbing power toward the Splach Thunder. If you want the thrill of a 35 mph top speed and the torque of dual motors but absolutely cannot spend over $1,000, this is an incredible value. It is also a great option for riders who need a relatively lightweight 61-pound scooter that they can still fold up and carry without breaking their back.

Who Should Skip It

If you are over six feet tall, you should definitely skip it. The exceptionally low stem height made it somewhat uncomfortable for me at 5-foot-11, and it will only be worse for taller riders. Additionally, if you cannot stand a creaky handlebar or need a very bright display for midday riding, this model might frustrate you.

How It Stacks Up

I explicitly want to compare the Splach Thunder to the Segway Max, which is widely known as the most popular entry-level scooter sold in America. The Segway Max costs just $100 less than the Splach Thunder, making them direct competitors in terms of your wallet. However, when you look at the real-world performance, they are in completely different leagues.

The Segway Max features only a single motor, tops out at a modest 22 mph, and can barely climb a 15% grade. By contrast, when I put the Splach Thunder on my local 20% test hill, it absolutely flew up the incline and hit 20 mph before I even reached the top. For just a fractional increase in price over the Segway Max, the Thunder gives you dual motors, hydraulic brakes, and a verified 35 mph top speed. If you are comparing the two, the Splach Thunder offers an exponentially higher ceiling for performance and fun.

Final Verdict

At the end of the day, delivering a dual-motor performance scooter for just $999 is a massive achievement. The Splach Thunder impressed me with its brutal acceleration, quiet rubber suspension, and ability to comfortably hold 35 mph on flat ground. While it does suffer from a few budget-level quirks like the dim display, low stem height, and creaky folding handlebars, the sheer power-to-dollar ratio makes those flaws easy to forgive. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants high-end dual-motor performance on an entry-level budget.