The Dualtron Thunder 3, a product of Minimotors, is a high-performance folding electric scooter that boasts several notable upgrades from its predecessors. This article provides a comprehensive review of the Thunder 3, focusing on its design, performance, and unique features.
Design and Build
The Dualtron Thunder 3 is a testament to Minimotors' commitment to robust and user-friendly design. This electric scooter is built with a stronger steering column, ensuring precise control without any play when applying the brakes. The steering column is specifically designed for this scooter and includes a bearing that is much smaller in diameter than the one currently installed. It is not conical, but a regular radial bearing. The steering column goes up and is secured with one screw, providing a solid and reliable connection.
The scooter's folding mechanism has been redesigned for better convenience and ease of use. It now requires pressing the silver buttons on the sides, allowing the handlebars to fold down. This feature makes it easier to store and transport the scooter. Despite its weight of around 54.5 kilograms, the Thunder 3 can still fit into most passenger elevators, making it somewhat portable despite its robust build.
The Thunder 3 also introduces a new type of handlebar clamp. It's a two-piece design that is secured with four screws. This design ensures a secure and tight fit, preventing the handlebars from wobbling during rides. The handlebar itself is a standard 31.8mm diameter, so you can easily replace it with any handlebar of your choice. The grips are comfortable and provide a good grip, even during long rides, enhancing the overall riding experience.
The deck of the Thunder 3 is spacious, providing ample room for your feet. It's covered with a grippy material that ensures your feet stay in place, even when riding at high speeds or on rough terrain. The deck also features a kickstand, which is a handy feature when you need to park the scooter. This thoughtful design consideration adds to the scooter's convenience.
The scooter is equipped with three fenders, providing better protection against splashes compared to the previous models. This is particularly useful for those who frequently ride in wet conditions. The fenders are a practical addition that helps keep the rider clean and dry.
The plastic goose neck is a reliable design solution that provides a solid connection between the steering column and the deck. This design enhances the scooter's stability and durability. The covers on the levers are secured with two screws, and the rubber caps are superglued. There is also a milled reinforcement for the headlight, and a groove where the wires are placed. These design details show Minimotors' attention to detail and commitment to quality.
In conclusion, the design and build of the Dualtron Thunder 3 are impressive. It showcases several improvements and enhancements over its predecessors, including a stronger steering column, a redesigned folding mechanism, and a more comfortable and secure handlebar. Despite its weight, the Thunder 3 remains a robust and durable electric scooter that is built to last.
Suspension and Steering
One of the standout features of the Dualtron Thunder 3 is its unique suspension and steering system, which has been significantly upgraded from previous models.
The front suspension of the Thunder 3 employs torsion bars instead of elastomers. This change provides a smoother ride, with no noticeable bottom-outs even when the suspension compresses. This setup is different from the previous models and offers a more comfortable ride, especially on uneven terrain.
The rear suspension, on the other hand, is stiffer. While this might seem like a disadvantage, it actually contributes to the scooter's stability, especially at high speeds. However, the intricacies of the rear suspension require further examination to fully understand its performance and benefits.
The Thunder 3 also features a reinforced steering damper. This component limits the handlebar's turning radius, which can help prevent wobbling on uneven terrain and reduce the risk of accidents. While this may restrict maneuverability to some extent, the overall stability and safety it provides are significant advantages.
The steering damper is not the only steering-related upgrade in the Thunder 3. Minimotors now includes steering dampers with all their Thunder models. These dampers effectively reduce handlebar vibration, providing a smoother and more comfortable ride. However, they also limit the handlebar's range of motion. While this may not be an issue when riding straight, it could impact maneuverability in certain situations, such as navigating tight corners or crowded areas.
The suspension system of the Thunder 3 is constructed with a cube that provides rigid support when jumping. It releases a lot of lubrication, which the Chinese have added like bubbles. It is a torsion-spring and not like twisting metal as on Segways. The bent washers act like springs, with one washer, two plates, and a small gap between them. When jumping, these washers compress and the cover is pressed against the brush. These 21 movable springs compress and work with the covers. Different weight specifications require different spring discs, which are available from Minimotors. There are 5 discs with springs on one side and 5 on the other side, which provide a different suspension. The dampers are interestingly attached with two screws in a classic style and one screw is also attached from underneath through the deck.
In conclusion, the suspension and steering system of the Dualtron Thunder 3 is a significant upgrade from previous models. It provides a smoother ride, improved stability, and enhanced safety, making it a standout feature of this high-performance electric scooter.
Performance and Power
The Thunder 3 is equipped with a powerful motor that delivers impressive performance. It's capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h, making it one of the fastest electric scooters on the market. The motor is also quite efficient, providing a range of up to 80 km on a single charge. However, the actual range may vary depending on the riding conditions and the rider's weight.
The scooter's battery is a high-capacity 72V unit that provides ample power for long rides. However, the charging time is quite long, taking up to 28.5 hours to fully charge the battery using the included charger. It's recommended to invest in a faster charger to reduce the charging time.
The controllers installed in the Thunder 3 seem to be either 45 or 60 amps, in peak Boost mode. There's also a Turbo button that provides a power boost for about 20 seconds, adding some extra punch to the scooter's performance. The scooter also has different riding modes, P1 and P2, which can be adjusted through the app.
Safety and Convenience
The Dualtron Thunder 3 is designed with safety and convenience in mind, integrating several features to enhance the riding experience and ensure rider safety.
Brake System
A significant safety feature of the Thunder 3 is its braking system. Minimotors continues to use the classic brake lever design, with the brake lever positioned on the left and the throttle lever under the thumb. This design is intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners.
When the scooter is powered on, it won't move unless you engage both brake levers. This safety feature ensures that the scooter won't accidentally start moving, which can be particularly useful when you need to park the scooter briefly or when you're getting ready to start a ride.
The sensitivity of this feature can be adjusted to prevent unintentional activation, providing riders with the flexibility to set it according to their comfort and safety needs.
The Thunder 3 is equipped with four-piston brakes, an upgrade over previous models. These brakes provide reliable stopping power, ensuring that you can safely slow down or stop the scooter when needed. The low-speed braking is the same as before, maintaining the familiar and reliable braking performance that riders have come to expect from the Dualtron series.
Handlebar and Folding Mechanism
The Thunder 3 features a new type of handlebar clamp. This two-piece design is secured with four screws, ensuring a secure and tight fit. This design prevents the handlebars from wobbling during rides, enhancing control and safety. The handlebar itself is a standard 31.8mm diameter, so you can easily replace it with any handlebar of your choice. The grips are comfortable and provide a good grip, even during long rides, reducing the risk of losing control of the scooter.
The scooter's folding mechanism has also been redesigned for greater convenience. It now requires pressing the silver buttons on the sides, allowing the handlebars to fold down. This feature makes the scooter more compact and easier to store or transport. Despite the Thunder 3's weight of around 54.5 kilograms, it can still fit into most passenger elevators, making it somewhat portable.
Protective Features
The Thunder 3 is equipped with three fenders, providing better protection against splashes compared to the previous models. This feature is particularly useful for those who frequently ride in wet conditions, as it helps to keep the rider and the scooter clean.
The deck of the Thunder 3 is spacious, providing ample room for your feet. It's covered with a grippy material that ensures your feet stay in place, even when riding at high speeds or on rough terrain. This feature enhances rider safety by reducing the risk of slipping off the scooter.
The deck also features a kickstand, which is a handy feature when you need to park the scooter. This feature allows you to securely park the scooter without having to lean it against a wall or other support.
In conclusion, the Dualtron Thunder 3 is designed with a strong focus on safety and convenience. Its robust braking system, secure handlebar design, protective features, and convenient folding mechanism all contribute to a safe and enjoyable riding experience.
Charging Situation
The charging situation of the Thunder 3 is a bit disappointing. The scooter comes with a 72V battery, but the charger only delivers 1.4 amps. This results in a charging time of approximately 28.5 hours, which is quite inconvenient if you want to ride every day. The new charging port is not compatible with third-party chargers, only with the fast charger sold separately by Minimotors. However, it's expected that other chargers will become available in the future.
Motor and Speed
The Dualtron Thunder 3 is equipped with a powerful motor that is a testament to Minimotors' commitment to delivering high-performance electric scooters. This section delves deeper into the motor's specifications, performance, and the scooter's overall speed capabilities.
The motor of the Thunder 3 is capable of reaching impressive speeds, making it one of the fastest electric scooters on the market. It can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h, a feature that will undoubtedly appeal to speed enthusiasts. However, it's important to note that while the scooter can reach these speeds, riders don't have to ride at maximum speed all the time. Knowing the scooter's capabilities, however, can contribute to a smoother and more confident riding experience.
The motor's specifications seem to be similar to the previous models, with some improvements. The attention to detail in the motor's construction is impressive. The magnets in the motor are about 7 centimeters wide, and the motor itself looks great. Minimotors seems to be better than their competitors. They've improved in the last few years. The motor used to be the same with the same problems, but maybe they've introduced some new technology. You can see inside the motor and it's clean and coated with lacquer. There's a slight smell, but that's normal. It could be because of the first batch of scooters and how the coating was applied. For those interested, the bearings are 6202 and 604 models. The motor comes apart in the same way as the previous Thunder model, so it's easy to do.
The motor is also quite efficient, providing a range of up to 80 km on a single charge. However, the actual range may vary depending on the riding conditions and the rider's weight. The scooter's battery is a high-capacity 72V unit that provides ample power for long rides. However, the charging time is quite long, taking up to 28.5 hours to fully charge the battery using the included charger. It's recommended to invest in a faster charger to reduce the charging time.
The controllers installed in the Thunder 3 seem to be either 45 or 60 amps, in peak Boost mode. There's also a Turbo button that provides a power boost for about 20 seconds, adding some extra punch to the scooter's performance. The scooter also has different riding modes, P1 and P2, which can be adjusted through the app.
In conclusion, the motor and speed capabilities of the Dualtron Thunder 3 are impressive. Despite a few minor issues, such as the long charging time, the scooter's powerful motor and high-speed capabilities make it a worthy investment for those seeking a high-performance electric scooter.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Dualtron Thunder 3 is an electric scooter that performs well and has some upgrades compared to previous models. It has a stronger steering column, a redesigned suspension system, and a powerful motor. However, it takes a long time to charge and the headlights are too bright. Even with these problems, the Thunder 3 is a good option for people who want a strong and long-lasting electric scooter. It showcases several improvements and enhancements over its predecessors, offering a powerful motor, better thermal dissipation, and a well-designed suspension system. Despite a few areas that could be improved, it remains a high-performance electric scooter with great potential.