E-scooter accessories: what you really need
Sorted by when something is worth buying: right away, after a few weeks, some day. Plus four items we actively advise against.
The answer first: a lock and a helmet
After buying an e-scooter, you quickly face suggestions for 200 francs' worth of accessories. You don't need most of it, at least not on day one. You need two things straight away: something that keeps the scooter where you park it, and something that protects your head. Everything else you can buy once you notice it's missing.
That's why we sort accessories by when they're worth it. Three stages: right away, after a few weeks, some day or never. And at the end, what we advise against.
Stage 1: right away, before the first ride
A lock, and the right one
An e-scooter is light, has wheels and can be pushed away in two seconds. A lock is the only purchase where we tell you: buy it together with the scooter, not later. There are two types, and they solve different problems.
The alarm disc brake lock for 30 francs blocks the brake disc and sounds a 110 dB alarm if someone shakes the vehicle. It's small, fits in a jacket pocket and is on in five seconds. But it doesn't attach the scooter to a fixed object. So someone can lift it and carry it away, just with noise. For a short shopping stop within sight, that's exactly right.
The compact folding lock for 49.90 francs does the opposite: it attaches the scooter to a bike rack, railing or post. That makes carrying it away much harder, but doesn't guarantee it won't be stolen. It's heavier than the disc brake lock and you need a fixed object nearby. For longer parking it's the better basis, ideally combined with an alarm and the safest possible spot in busy places.
| Situation | Disc brake lock (30 CHF) | Folding lock (49.90 CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Quick shopping, within sight | fits | overkill |
| All day at the station | not enough | better, ideally with alarm |
| No fixed object nearby | fits | useless |
| Always carry without noticing the weight | fits | noticeably heavier |
If you have to choose one: folding lock if you regularly park somewhere for longer, otherwise disc brake lock. If you have both, take the right one for the trip. That's not a marketing line, it's the reason two types exist.
A point many shops leave out: no lock stops a determined thief. With the right tools and enough time, every lock opens. A lock shifts the odds, it makes your scooter a less attractive target than the one next to it. Also park it where people walk past, and note the frame number before you need it.
Helmet
For us, a helmet belongs to the first ride, not the second. Small wheels, kerbs, wet tram tracks: a fall quickly ends up on your head, and reflexes don't help there. There's no helmet requirement in Switzerland. FEDRO puts it as "helmet not mandatory, but recommended" and refers to Art. 3b para. 2 let. g VRV. So you may ride without one. We recommend it anyway, and so does the federal government.
What to look for when buying: it has to fit without pressing and not slip when you shake your head. So buy it where you can try it on, or order it with a return option. A helmet in the wrong size isn't a helmet. We have a model in preparation, but it can't be ordered yet, so there's no link here.
Stage 2: usually worth it after a few weeks
Phone mount
If you navigate, you need one. Phone in hand isn't an option, phone in your jacket means stopping every two minutes. The GUB Pro 3 costs 25 francs and is the classic from the bike world. Before mounting, check two things on your scooter: whether there's enough free space on the handlebar without covering the display, brake levers or cables, and whether your phone with its case fits in the clamps. Large phones with thick cases are the most common reason a mount gets returned.
If you don't need navigation because you ride the same route every day, save the money. A mount hanging empty on the handlebar is just one more part that rattles.
Pump or compressor, but only for pneumatic tyres
If your scooter has air-filled tyres, the pressure drops over the weeks, even without a hole. Too little pressure costs you range and increases the risk of a pinch flat on edges. A small battery compressor does the job in one minute instead of five with a hand pump. This item can't be ordered from us yet either, so no link. A floor pump from the bike shop does the job just as well, it just stays at home instead of in your backpack.
If your scooter has solid rubber tyres, skip this point completely.
Fast charger, if you need to charge twice a day
The 2-8A fast charger from 89 francs is worth it in one clear case: you run your battery mostly flat every day and need the scooter again in the evening. Then the shorter charging time is worth the money. If you ride 10 km a day and charge overnight, it gives you nothing you'll notice.
Pros
- Shorter charging time with a low battery every day
- Adjustable charging current, so you can also charge slowly
- Handy as a second charger for the office or holiday flat
Cons
- From 89 francs for an advantage occasional riders barely notice
- High charging current puts more strain on the battery than slow charging
- Voltage and plug must match your model
A charger that doesn't fit can damage the battery and electronics. So pick exactly the variant for your scooter on the product page, so voltage, charging current and plug are right. The available models and the price depend on the variant. If you're unsure, send us your model and a photo of your current charger before ordering.
Stage 3: nice to have, honestly
Handlebar bag
A waterproof handlebar bag holds your lock, charging cable, rain jacket and wallet. Useful if you want to ride without a backpack. If you ride with a backpack anyway, it changes nothing in your daily life. Not yet available from us, so no link.
Weatherproof cover
Makes sense for a scooter parked outside or under an open shelter. It keeps rain and dust off the display, connectors and brakes. If your scooter lives in the basement or flat, you don't need one. Also not yet available.
In short
Buy with the scooter: a lock and a helmet. Buy after two to four weeks: phone mount, pump for pneumatic tyres, fast charger only if your battery is empty every day. Everything else can wait until you actually miss it.
Check the box first
The cheapest accessory purchase is the one you don't make. Before you order, unpack the scooter completely and lay everything out on the table. Many models come with a charger, a small tool kit and spare parts such as screws or a valve adapter. A bell and lights are fitted from the factory on many devices.
Check three specific things before spending money. First: is there a charger and what's its output? That decides whether a second one is worth it at all. Second: are front and rear lights fitted and bright enough for an unlit road? If not, an extra light is more important than anything else on this list. Third: does your model have pneumatic or solid tyres? That decides about the pump and repair kit.
Which accessories come with which model differs from device to device. For our models, the scope of delivery is listed in the product description, usually scooter, charger, tool kit, manual and model-specific accessories such as a rear mudguard. Read that section once before ordering extras, and ask if in doubt. Tools bought twice are the most common unnecessary item when buying a scooter.
What we advise against
- Decorative LED strips. They don't replace lights, they draw power and with some mountings the cable rubs against the steering column. Better invest in a stronger front light if the fitted one is too weak.
- Universal rubber band mounts. They hold the phone until the first kerb. A display costs more than a proper mount.
- A second battery as your first purchase. Before investing in capacity, ride for four weeks and see how far you really get. Most people clearly overestimate what they need.
- Accessory bundles. You pay for four items, need two, and the price advantage vanishes with the first item that ends up in a drawer.
How to go about it
Decide just one question now: where does your scooter stand when you're not next to it? If the answer is a bike rack, railing or post, take the folding lock. If it's always within sight, take the disc brake lock. Plus a helmet that fits. Order the rest in four weeks, when you know what you're actually missing.
