Tier 6 electric scooter first ride

It’s not a full digital display, but it’s not meant to be: Tier didn’t want riders to be distracted looking down for too much information, so instead it uses bright visuals to quickly alert riders. We were unable to test the system fully, but it was easy to see and intuitive.

That display combines with a new, toughened smartphone holder, which has been placed right in the middle of the handlebars and reworked so the phone clips into in it vertically. That make using the phone to display direction on Tier’s app or a mapping service far easier, and feels like it will reduce the likelihood of wayward smartphones escaping the holder.

There’s also a new toggle control for the indicator, which replaces the two buttons featured on the pervious machine. That might sound an incredible minor change, but it is far more intuitive to use, both in terms of easily selecting which indicator you want to activate, and in making it easy to turn them off. 

In response to rider feedback, Tier has also added a very car-like indicator klacking noise, so you’ll definitely know if you’ve got a turn signal turned on or not. With many rental e-scooter riders still relatively new, being able to offer visual signals to other road users more easily is a very welcome addition.

There’s also a new bag hook, which is a minor addition but will make it easier to take an e-scooter back from the shops if you’ve popped out for supplies. 

The other notable change is that all the key touchpoints – the throttle, indicators, kick stand and so on – are all finished in bright orange, making them really easy to spot on the green Tier machines.

Where can I buy, sorry, rent one?

You can’t in the UK just yet. But should you find yourself in a city in Austria, Germany, Hungary or Sweden with the Tier 6 currently in operation we’d certainly recommend an outing. As noted, we’re waiting to hear exactly when Tier might roll out the new machine here, and in which cities. 

Verdict

The Tier 6 is a good example of how mobility firms such as Tier are rapidly improving their products and services, with a series of regular small but significant steps.

Let’s be honest: if you’re going to rent an e-scooter, you’ll like take whichever machine you can find nearby. But from our brief outing, the Tier 6 will be a welcome upgrade when it arrives here. While it doesn’t reinvent the e-scooter, it feels more stable and confidence-inspiring to ride, and is also easier and more intuitive to use.