Nor are there heated grips for winter riding (they wreck the battery range) but Seat offers a range of accessories including an Mó helmet with a Cosmo Connected safety system, which includes a brake light on the back of the helmet and emergency call assistance when linked to a mobile phone. There’s a range of gloves, a larger and more protective windscreen, a 39-litre top box, mobile case holder and a disc brake lock (although removing the battery effectively makes it pointless to steal the machine).
As far as licensing is concerned, a sub-11kW output, a swept volume of no more than 125cc and a power-to-weight ratio not more than 0.1 kW per kg are the watersheds below which 17-year-olds and older can ride a powered two-wheeler. They’ll require a CBT practical and theory and, if long term riding is considered, an A1 licence, but getting these are a lot less onerous than they sound.
The Mó is actually the rebranded Silence S01 e-scooter from Spain, which for the last year has been sold at £300 less in the UK from a Midlands-based importer (www.silenceuk.com). Petrol-powered competition comes from the £3,400 Yamaha NMAX 125 or Honda’s £3,299 PCX 125.
It’s a neat and stylish machine, with LED lights, a pillion seat and LCD display with three riding modes: Sport, Eco and Normal. Sport gives full power and enables the 59mph top speed to be achieved pretty quickly and and also provides full regenerative braking effect when easing off the throttle, City allows full power but rolls without regen braking and Eco restricts the power and gives regen braking.
Riding it is pretty much a case of twist and go. Anyone familiar with a motorcycle will feel at home and will most likely appreciate the low centre of gravity, which adds to the feeling of stability at low speed. It pulls away smartly with a bit of a whine, then keeps on pulling hard to about 50mph whereupon the acceleration slows a bit. I saw 57mph before having to ease up for a corner.
With a 15-inch front wheel it turns into corners well and the front tyre’s grip is pretty good, too. It’s possible to inadvertently lock the rear wheel with the left-hand brake lever, but that’s only if you use most of its travel; all-round, the brakes are pretty good.
