Askoll XKP 80: the test of the new city electric scooter [PHOTO]

Electric mobility is also a relevant topic on two wheels, especially for travel within city contexts. Askoll has been working on this topic for years and has included in its range a more performing version of theXKP extension, with the 80 variant. Dedicated, in particular, to those who move from the hinterland of large cities, being able to reach a maximum speed of 80 km/h, in order to be quicker when traveling on extra-urban roads.

It's coming to the stores house in Vicenza in recent days, at a list price of 5.390 euros, and we had the opportunity to get aboard this new model as a preview, on the streets of Milan, to be able to have our driving sensations and provide you with some details on how this electric scooter goes.

The quality characteristics

There are no innovations from an aesthetic point of view, compared to the previous model (which still remains in the range), with its bold and sporty style, with the round and slightly inclined headlight and a rear with a light unit with a modern design and a tail short. The 5,5 inch multicolor display offers the main information for those in the saddle: from speed to battery charge, through the odometer, driving mode, as well as time and external temperature. Through the MyAskoll app you can access the scooter remotely, including ignition.

Askoll XKP 80 has a weight of 71 kg, with a saddle height from the ground of 76 cm, making it agile and accessible to all. At the front we find 90/80 tires and 110/70 at the rear, with 16-inch wheels, while the braking system uses a 220 mm disc at the front and a 190 mm disc at the rear with a combined CBS braking system . The main change occurred on the electric motor, now from 4,1 kW with a torque of 160 Nm, powered by two removable lithium ion batteries of 1,7 kWh each, with a declared autonomy of 101 kilometers.

The test

Now let's turn on the scooter and start our test ride. As with all electric models, it is of course silent, with just a 'beep' to let you know when it's on and ready to move. L'agility is one of the most important themes for the XKP 80, with its low weight and ability to move comfortably through city traffic, also thanks to good mapping. Road holding is very good and the new tires allow it to discreetly absorb disconnections in the terrain, even when we found ourselves on a stretch of cobblestone.

Compared to the classic XKP, this new version adds the already known Eco, City and Power driving modes Boost mode, which allows you to travel up to 80 km/h for a maximum of two minutes, shown on the display. The scooter thus has greater acceleration and punch, certainly useful when tackling a long straight stretch or some extra-urban road, but also for overtaking more quickly. For a limited period. When traveling at these speeds, a little more brake we wouldn't have minded.

The double removable battery is positioned under the saddle and, consequently, it becomes almost mandatory to add the top box (optional) to store the helmet or other objects. Very comfortable there double USB socket (normal and C) for charging your devices, coupled with the smartphone holder positioned above the multicolor display, with a small anti-glare dome, thus being able to use your phone as a navigator, without risking running out of battery.

Autonomy and recharge

As we said, the Vicenza company has declared an autonomy of 101 km in the WMTC cycle and we can say that, in real conditions, the distance is about 70 kilometers, then it obviously depends on the driving mode, the road and the travel speed. In our test, in the city of Milan, we traveled 24 kilometers and the battery went from 97 to 69%, mainly using the Power mode, but also trying the other modes, in particular the new Boost.

The two lithium ion batteries are removable and can be recharged with one normal power outlet, via the supplied charger, between six and six and a half hours.

Pricing

Available in Night Gray and Anthracite liveries, the new Askoll XKP 80 has a price list 5.390 of euros, which drops to 3.620 euros with government incentives available for electric motorcycles.