If this sounds like a rave review, it is because this little scooter has taken over my heart.
I am an e-scooter convert and have become an enthusiastic promotor of the riding experience.
I’m so happy with my Spark that I feel compelled to offer a ride to every motorbike rider I meet. It has always confused me that they have not rushed off immediately to buy one. On reflection however, I realise that my own conversion was also slow. I wanted the convenience of a lightweight scooter, but expected the seating position and ride comfort of a large bike! When I eventually realised my error and sat on it as it was designed, I adapted very easily.
I have covered over 4000Km now and still get a huge kick out of the silence and elastic power. It is so much fun, that my big bikes are seldom used, which also proves that a 90 km range is adequate for most needs. Compared to the easy agility of the scooter, the big twins are lumbering beasts that are too cumbersome for nipping around town. I would not think of using either of them for any trip that did not involve long motorway stretches.
I have had a passion for motorbikes since my first ride on a moped in 1953. My father eventually gave in to the nagging and in 1955 I had my first moped. Now, thanks to my Spark 5, I’m no longer an old man on a motorbike, I’m a born-again teenager. My only regret is that it took so long for me to make up my mind to buy it. I wish I had made the decision 5 years ago so that I would have had more years of riding pleasure ahead of me.
I was considering a petrol-powered scooter but was worried by the fact that the cheaper ones need 3000km oil changes and servicing. I was aware of Ewizz seven years ago because I followed two of them back to Hout Bay one evening and was very impressed by their performance. For this reason, before looking at conventional scooters, I gave Andy a ring and went around to see him.
At Ewizz, I met a team of people who complement each other and know and believe in what they are doing. It is a family atmosphere where Andy, Adrian and Ulunga, made me feel very welcome. There was no pressure as they introduced me to their range of machines and answered all my concerns. After many test rides and much indecision, I eventually chose the Spark 5. Thank you for your patience, Andy.
Let me list the things that I love about the Spark:
- Really easy parking. It is highly maneuverable by any standards, but especially when compared to the heavy bikes. The reverse gear (which I thought was a gimmick), has proved very handy. Pity all motorcycles aren’t similarly equipped.
- The power delivery is linear and is strong enough to instantly get you up to speed when joining a traffic stream. It easily keeps one well ahead of traffic from the lights. A happy cruising speed is about 70 kph and closer 60 will have your consumption at about 1 % of battery use per km.
- It is happy crawling along at walking pace and is nicely balanced for slow riding, so there is no slipping of the clutch and over-heating when caught in the frequent traffic snarl-ups from Hout Bay to Constantia Nek
- You can be philosophical and patient when caught at traffic lights because you are not burning fuel.
- I charge it using excess solar power, so it is almost free to run.
- It is fascinating to see the trip analysis on the tracking system.
- The system diagnostics are amazing. I had a slight intermittent problem under hard acceleration and Andy looked at the analysis, found a battery setting problem and fixed it instantly.
- Maintenance is minimal and confined to the mechanical bits like tyres and brakes.
Anything I think is missing on the Spark?
- A trip meter that does not reset every time the key is switched off.
- A clock. Quite useful to see the time when on your way to an appointment.
Solved by ordering a stick-on one from Temu. - I would like a bigger battery and more power so that I don’t have to be careful about power consumption or avoid motorways. I seem to be talking myself into one of Andy’s bigger scooters! The power of Andy’s personal scooter is intoxicating.
Because I love riding them, my bikes must also be working machines. The Spark is always heavily loaded when I shop away from Hout Bay. It is equipped with a large top-box, a second large, cheap plastic box strapped to the pillion seat and a canvas tote hanging from the leg shield hook. Under the seat, I have a back pack in case I overflow. So, the Spark is not just a fun machine but a serious mode of transport. My shopping often includes 20kg of liquids as well as all the other stuff. Loaded like that, it is a bit uncomfortable as the second pillion box digs into my back, but it is tolerable.
This machine has made me feel young again so if you see a happy, bald, old fat guy going past you when you are snarled up in the traffic, don’t be jealous or annoyed - go and get your own Spark. You will be doing your bit for the planet and having fun at the same time, or perhaps, the other way around.
by Alistair Yuill, Cape Town 2024