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Xiaomi m365 Scooter (Customized)

Editor updates: Scooters have bearings like roller skates. I had to change my SKF-6002-2RSH front wheel bearings after 2,080 miles (3,350 kilometers). It is a tough job, just like changing the tires, but well worth it. YouTube (Xiaomi m365 step by step front wheel bearing replacement) can help. My m365 pro has over 3,500 miles now and it's running strong.

Pros:

• Easy to ride and relax
• Easy to get parts if something breaks
• Weight when carrying
• Hackable speed settings if you have android OS with Bluetooth and have not updated to the latest official firmware
• Feels safer than riding a bicycle
• Gentler than a saddle on a bicycle (protects male bits)
• I love this scooter despite its shortcomings. It was my first choice over the Ninebot Max until I got the m365 Pro.
• You can use your own feet for kick power to save its battery.

Neutral:

• No shocks - I never had a bike with shocks, but this seems to bother some scooter riders

Cons:

• Something will break - it always does - you must enjoy fixing/maintaining things or do not buy!
• Scooter needs a lot of minor maintenance, more than a bicycle
• Handlebars need to be tightened often
• Flat tires are extremely difficult to replace
• Your rear taillight will probably fail with age
• Bell does not function great
• You cannot take a m365 scooter down a bicycle trough on a stairway. It is too low to the ground.
• Bottom of scooter has a grate and it feels a little uncomfortable carrying from underneath with its plastic ridges. It is a good part to upgrade quickly.
• 18 miles max range - if you are like me you will start to really enjoy riding this around and want more range.

Recommended Modifications (in my suggested priority order):

• Buy vibration pads for the folding mechanism (available at Amazon, Ebay, AliExpress, etc.)
• Buy a smooth battery cover for under the deck Curious Joe
• Replace handlebars with Meet Locks ** China / Amazon
• Replace the screws and tabs holding taillight cover with stainless steel screws and washers when they fail
• Buy a genuine m365 pro dashboard (not a clone - look for QR code on board, green board not blue) if you are saavy with wiring China
• Put a 3M red reflective sticker near the taillight Amazon
• Add 3M stickers under the deck and onto the folding arm Curious Joe / China
• Rustoleum universal gray touch up paint for the inevitable paint dings. Its not sold any more but gray touch up paint helps keep the white spots away.
• Replace the T10 screws holding your battery cover with Phillips Pan M3x8 (metric 3mm by 8mm)

* I did not mention the folding mechanism hinge. Hopefully you have a newer m365 where you will not need the replacement latch from hopper.alex Ebay seller in Russia - Please note: My scooter's Ferry folding pin broke already that he once advertised as 400 times stronger. My latch purchased feels safe and performs beautifully.

** I have hit big potholes unexpectedly and almost lost my grip on the handlebars. These grip lock handlebars look cool and solve that problem completely.

*** It might be nice to add a rear mudguard, but I did not mention it. Buy a non-3D printed one because they can break easily when leaning against something.

Other thoughts on the m365

My m365 will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first electric scooter. I acquired it off the Philadelphia CraigsList from a college aged guy who told me he sold it to me because it was not fast enough. My m365 scooter was manufactured in July 2018. I have read that Xiaomi improved the design with safer components like a better folding hinge since mine was assembled.

I may have gotten a bad one, but many parts will fail. You will get flats. The pin for the folding mechanism will break with time from vibrations. You will have to keep the tires inflated. Inflating your tires every week or two is a must. You will ding the paint. You will have to oil the tire axles if you want to keep the battery performing. You should put Slime (puncture healing fluid) in the tires.

You will probably get error code 15 - handbrake magnet error - it may be crude, but if you lift the front of your scooter and drop it, eventually the error code 15 should go away.

I damaged my dashboard display with a firmware downgrade. It would not light up or make sound, but I knew it was still communicating to the deck mainboard when I pushed the power button. When I would push power button my main board was showing a 14 error: one long green followed by four green lights on the deck mainboard. I replaced the display with a new geniune Xiaomi pro dashboard. Soon after, I started to receive 15 errors. I could move the trottle and the annoying error 15 sound would stop. Apparently one of my wires in my dashboard had exposed metal and it was touching the inside of the scooter. Once I properly insulated the wire with electrical tape, my scooter started working normally again. Goodbye error 15!

M365 parts are pretty affordable to acquire, but be prepared to wait if you live in the USA. Most of the best parts I have purchased are made in Europe and Russia.

I consider the m365 my starter scooter. It is like an early IBM computer. I believe the design of these electric scooters will improve rapidly for more durability. Durability is the weakness of this scooter. Nevertheless, it is fun and efficient way to get around.

I have taken this scooter to Toronto, Montreal, Wildwood, and New York City. It performed admirably in all locations. My m365 completely withstood the shock of the bumps from the buses and cars it was folded neatly into. That is except my 3D printed aftermarket mudguard. I bought a better mudguard from Latvia in Europe and it works like a champ.

Honeycomb tires

Check out my front tire in the image above. Some serious blood, sweat, and tears went into getting that honeycomb tire mounted, but I have no regrets. After my first flat around 1000 miles (1600km), I did lots of research and decided on purchasing the Honeycomb v2 8 inch tire. There may be a better tire solution now than when I made my decision right for me in June 2019. I will put the second honeycomb tire on my rear tire when it gets a flat. I currently have about 1,400 miles (2,300 km) on this scooter. I have pain sometimes with walking, and this m365 scooter has been a blessing.

Honeycomb Tire Pros:

• No more flat risk
• Scooter riding balance changes, may be a con for some users, but I prefer more balancing control
  Tip: Try riding your scooter with your feet in a snowboard/surfing configuration for a whole new riding experience if you have not done this already
• Less concern when riding over bumps and debris on the ground
• I like my honeycomb tire and I do not care what others say - Electric Scooters UK recommends the honeycomb v2 tire

Honeycomb Tire Cons:

• Extremely difficult to install (best as a two person job)
• I had to go to a automobile tire replacement shop to get my front wheel lug nuts removed.
  (I stripped the tire lug nut and a quality Kobalt 18mm wrench purchased just for this job)
• Marginally less battery life with increased tire surface area touching ground
• More vibrations - your handbrake may report an error (error 19? I updated my dashboard to the m365 pro model too) after a hard bump or first turning on.
  Press your hand break lightly a couple of times or lift and drop your front wheel a couple of times to get your hand break's magnet position back to its normal location (this happens maybe 1 out of 25 rides for me)
• You are going to have to saw this wheel off if you ever decide to remove it.
• Little rocks/pebbles will fly out from under the honeycomb wheel ferociously with a loud pop if you roll over them just the right way
• The German scooter group Rollerplauch says the honeycomb tires could cause long-term damage to battery through increased tire vibrations

I bought my honeycomb v2 tires after reading the description and Instagram photos here:
Electric Scooters UK (opens new offsite window)