BGauss RUV 350

The BGauss RUV 350 has a unique design that stands out from regular electric scooters. BGauss calls it a “Rider’s Utility Vehicle”, and its large 16-inch wheels and motorcycle-style suspension give it a different look. The styling may not appeal to everyone, but it certainly feels distinctive. The scooter gets a 5-inch TFT display with two viewing modes and features like ride modes, hill hold, cruise control and vehicle fall-safe. However, the menu system is complicated to use, and the plastic quality on the pre-production scooters could have been better.

The RUV 350 offers a comfortable and neutral riding position. The seat is spacious, well-padded and leaves enough room for a pillion as well. Comfort is one of its strongest points, and the suspension absorbs bumps quite well without sending harsh jolts to the rider. Even over speedbreakers at around 40kph, the scooter remained composed. One issue, though, is that the handlebar can touch the rider’s knees during tight U-turns, although sliding back on the seat helps slightly.

The RUV 350 is powered by a 3kWh LFP battery with a claimed real-world range of 120km. During the test, the distance-to-empty indicator dropped faster than expected, showing that range accuracy still needs improvement. Performance is adequate for city use, but it does not feel exciting like some rivals. Even in Sport mode, acceleration feels average, and speeds beyond 65kph come slowly before reaching the claimed 75kph top speed.

Eco mode remains usable in the city with a 45kph limit and can even handle slopes comfortably. Throttle response is mostly smooth, although there is a slight jerk during on-off throttle inputs. Charging with the standard 500W charger takes 6 hours and 50 minutes for a full charge.

The large 16-inch wheels give the RUV 350 good stability and confidence on the road. It is not as agile as smaller scooters, but it feels planted while cornering. Ride quality is plush and suits city riding well. However, braking performance is disappointing. The drum brakes at both ends need a hard pull and offer very little feel. The weak brakes also affect the hill-hold system, which sometimes allows the scooter to roll back slightly.

The TFT display supports smartphone connectivity, navigation and call alerts through the BGauss app. However, the app connection did not work properly during testing. The scooter also faced a few electronic and mechanical issues, including vibrations under hard braking and a poorly positioned key fob that could accidentally switch the scooter off while riding.

The BGauss RUV 350 offers a spacious seat, comfortable ride and unique design, which make it an interesting city scooter. However, its weak brakes, average performance, glitchy electronics and quality concerns hold it back. At its price, rivals like the Ather Rizta and TVS iQube feel more complete and polished. The lower-spec RUV variant appears to make more sense in the lineup.