This is the best deal Segway Ninebot has offered on the KickScooter Max G2, released only earlier this year. It's an outstanding $400 discount on the usual retail price of $1,699. That takes it to $1,299, a discount of almost 25% (23.54% to be precise). If you've been on the fence about an e-scooter, or you're keen on an upgrade, you'll definitely find the Max G2 gives you excellent bang for your buck.

What makes it so special is that it's loaded with tech to make your riding experience safer and more comfortable than scooters that have come before it. For one, it includes 10" tubeless self-healing pneumatic tyres that keep you puncture-free, as well as front and rear blinkers so you can signal when turning, and for another, it includes traction control and a double suspension system. It features regenerative braking that gives back battery life, special RideyLONG technology to give more distance for your charge, can travel up to 70 kilometres, climb inclines of up to 22 degrees, and reach a top speed of 25 kilometres per hour - even with a large full-grown adult like myself on it.

There really is a lot to like about the Segway Max G2, but not least of all is the pure fun and joy it brings.

As a child, I would ride my bicycle around town. I thought of myself as a road eater, imagining my pedalling was pushing so hard that I was single-handedly rotating the globe. Ok, I wasn't always as safety-conscious as I ought to have been. One time my older brother and his friends dared me to ride down a steep gravel driveway without using the brakes at all. Then there's the time I was hit by a car while escaping from my brother's wrath over some alleged grievance. I suppose there is a reason girls live longer than boys. Now I'm (much) older, being a grown-up isn't always fun. We live in a world of responsibility, driven by deadlines, corporate demands, worry, and the toll of a sedentary lifestyle.

I'd been thinking about e-scooters for some time; the idea that I could cut down on travel costs by commuting via scooter had appeal, especially if I didn't have to rely on foot power. However, I'd always been deterred by the fear of falling. One time I was riding a regular scooter and while whizzing down a hill I had the sobering intrusive thought "what would happen if I hit a pothole right now?" and I didn't imagine the result would be pretty. So while I longingly looked at the e-scooters in JB Hi-Fi, I thought they probably weren't for me.

That is until Segway Ninebot announced its new 2023 range of e-scooters. There is a wide range, for all kinds of budgets, but the Max G2 sat right up at the top, with its grunty power that can get even a large man like myself moving at up to 25 kilometres per hour, up hills, and more - but, importantly, it was also embedded with safety features.

I've always told my children one of the most important things when driving a car is to be predictable. Use your indicators. And here came a scooter with indicators! Yes, you can flash left or right, with blinkers on both the front and back of the bike. Also, it includes a headlight, anti-skid traction control, tubeless tyres that happily survive sharp objects that would otherwise puncture a tyre, and more. There is dual suspension on the front and back helping you traverse bumps, holes, kerbs, and all kinds of uneven surfaces with ease.

I don't want to sound dull, but safety is important. I never thought about that as a boy, but I am much more conscious of it now. Not only because I have children of my own and want them to not do the silly things I did, but because I have people depending on me and I need to ensure I come home each day in the same condition I went out in.

This is what first attracted me to the Max G2; the safety features are excellent additions and most welcome.

Yet, after riding the Max G2 I recognised it was so, so much more than merely "a safe e-scooter." It was fun; oh boy, it was fun.

I felt the wind on my face as I hurtled down the road at speeds I'd never encountered without having four doors around me. I was free to explore, first my neighbourhood, and then further afield, folding the Max G2 up into my car boot and venturing out to interesting locales. I was back to the joys experienced in youth, albeit with better and safer modern technology.

The scooter was up for more serious endeavours, too. I took it shopping without firing up the car. I commuted to the office - well, not exclusively on the scooter. My office is in a different city with difficult public transport options so when I visit once a month I generally drive. The scooter opened up new options; I'd scoot to the train station, ride the train, and then scoot again on the other end. It was life-changing for these trips. I traded the pain of spending two hours driving on each end, navigating traffic, and searching for expensive parking. My new regime was riding for a few kilometres, and then napping or working or thinking on the train. It was more economical and gave me back productive time in my life.

I am sure I could regale you endlessly with the exciting adventures of my youth and my wisdom-filled reflections in my older age, but let me sum it up by saying the Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G2 brought me freedom, options, excitement, and pure fun.

And, without compromising safety or comfort. Yes, there's that safety word again, but let's be real: if you're going to travel at 25 kilometres per hour on what amounts to a flat board with an upright stick, you have to look after yourself.

There are other options in the Segway e-scooter range, and these are appropriate for a range of circumstances. You might not want to commute far; you might favour lighter weight over distance and features. You may have a lower budget; you may be a smaller and lighter person. However, for a grown adult who wants the best of range, speed, safety, and comfort, the Max G2 is an awesome unit. And with Segway's Black Friday deal giving you nearly 25% off it's even better value then ever before.

Control-wise, it's simplicity itself. There's literally one button to press. Hold it down to turn the e-scooter on or off. Double-tap it to move between economy, regular, and sports mode. Tap it once to turn the headlight on or off.

Additionally, you have the accelerator on the right handlebar, and, by default, the scooter won't start electronically accelerating until you've manually got it going at a couple of kilometres per hour. That's a safety feature, of course, but it's configurable via the accompanying smartphone Bluetooth app. Apart from this, the only other buttons are the indicators and horn.

What's more, the Max G2 has built-in "find my" functionality, allowing you to locate it from any iOS device. It shows up in your iPhone or iPad like any other AirTag-style item, and will help you if the scooter is stolen or lost. There is a front drum brake and a rear electronic brake, anti-theft alerting, advanced battery management system, 3A fast charging - which uses a regular power cable, and it's weather resistant with the body rated at IPX5 and the battery pack at IPX7.

Whether you're looking at e-scooters and agonising over buying or not, or whether you're looking to upgrade your current e-scooter, you owe it to yourself to check out the Max G2. It's a top-end scooter that gives a great ride that's bolstered by lots of extra features, and with $400 off, it's an incredible deal.

The Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G2 is available for purchase from Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, 99 Bikes, Scooter Hut, Segway Online Robot Specialist, Mobileciti, and Amazon.

See this great scooter in action here: