Splach Thunder 10 Gold Edition
Introduction
I’ve spent the last few months commuting and adventuring on the Splach Thunder 10 Blazing Gold edition, and it’s been a wild ride. From the moment I unboxed this eye-catching gold scooter, I knew it wasn’t a run-of-the-mill commuter gadget. With dual motors and full suspension, the Thunder 10 promised both city convenience and off-road capability, a combination that made me eager to put it through its paces.
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetics and Frame: The Blazing Gold finish turns heads everywhere I go. The paint job is bold and high-quality, giving the scooter a premium look. The frame itself feels solid and well-constructed, it’s a sturdily-built aluminum body with a sleek, flat deck design. Despite the flashy color, the build is all about function: nothing rattles or feels flimsy even when riding fast on bumpy roads. The scooter has a high ground clearance of about 6 inches, which I noticed helps a lot when navigating rough city streets or hopping over curbs. The deck is roomy enough for my feet, and there’s even a small rear kickplate for bracing when accelerating hard.
Weight and Portability: At around 65 lbs the Thunder 10 isn’t a featherweight commuter scooter. Carrying 65 pounds of scooter up stairs is a workout; I learned to avoid too many lifts whenever possible. That said, the folding mechanism is robust and easy to operate. The stem locks firmly upright with a reinforced latch and a locking pin for extra safety. I experienced zero wobble in the stem thanks to this design, even after weeks of riding, the joint remained rock-solid. The handlebars themselves fold inwards, which is great for fitting the scooter in my car trunk or storing it under a desk. The handlebars are about 25.6 inches wide after Splach widened them in the final production model. They’re not super wide by high-performance scooter standards, but I found them acceptable for city maneuvering. A wider bar might offer a bit more stability at top speeds, but the trade-off is that these folding bars make the Thunder 10 relatively compact when collapsed. Overall, portability is decent given the performance class, I can fold the scooter in a few seconds and roll it by the stem, but you’ll feel that 65 lb heft if you need to carry it far.
Build Quality Impressions: For a sub-$1000 scooter, the Thunder 10’s build quality impressed me. The materials feel durable and the fit-and-finish is better than I expected at this price. It’s also IP54 water-resistant, meaning I didn’t worry when riding through light rain or splashing through puddles. Over time, nothing major has broken on my unit; the only maintenance I’ve done is tightening a few screws and keeping the tires inflated. I did notice the scooter uses inner tube pneumatic tires, which give good shock absorption but mean you have to watch out for punctures. So far, no flats after 300 miles. The overall construction inspires confidence, no creaking sounds, and even at high speed the frame feels stable. Given that Splach is not a huge brand, I was initially cautious about durability, but the Thunder 10 has proven to be well-built for its price. My only long-term concern is that it’s a newer model; I’ll be watching how it holds up after a year of daily use. Splach does offer a 15-month warranty, which gave me some peace of mind about potential issues.
Motor Performance
The performance of the Thunder 10 is where this scooter truly shines, it’s an absolute beast in the under-$1000 category. Power comes from dual 800W motors, 1600W combined, with 2400W peak output. From the first twist of the throttle, I could tell this thing means business. In dual-motor Turbo mode, the acceleration actually made me laugh out loud on my first ride, it lunges forward with surprising force. I’ve clocked 0 to 15 mph in about 2.8 seconds on flat ground, which is quicker than many pricier scooters I’ve tried. There’s even a bit of a kick when both motors engage, so you’ll want to brace yourself on that deck, I learned to bend my knees and lean forward to counter the initial jolt. It rockets up to 25 mph extremely fast as well, I didn’t have precise timing gear for 0–25 mph, but based on feel and other tests I’ve seen, it’s only a few more seconds to hit the mid-20s. You definitely won’t be left behind at green lights; I often find myself overtaking cyclists and even keeping up with city traffic on 30 mph limit roads with ease.
Top Speed: The Thunder 10 is advertised to reach about 37 mph, and I was curious if it could actually get there. With a full battery and a long straight road, I managed to hit an actual 35.5 mph. Trust me, 35+ mph on an e-scooter feels incredibly fast, at that speed you absolutely need a helmet and a steady grip. The scooter maintained stability up to around 30 mph; beyond that, I noticed a bit of stem wobble and the steering felt twitchier. It’s not that the Thunder 10 can’t handle top speed, it can, but you do have to stay focused and perhaps avoid full blast on really rough pavement. The narrower handlebars, even after being widened to 25.6″ mean quick steering inputs, so at maximum speed I found myself adopting a slight crouch and keeping both feet planted for stability. In summary, it will hit about 35 mph and it is indeed one of the fastest scooters in its class. Just be aware that at those velocities, it’s more “thrilling” than “cruising”, the ride is exciting but demands respect.
Hill Climbing: Living in an area with plenty of hills, I was eager to test the Thunder 10’s climbing ability. I was not disappointed. This scooter devours hills that left my old single-motor commuter crawling. For example, one of my test routes has a 10% grade hill a few blocks long. I set the Thunder 10 to dual-motor, Turbo, gear 3, sport mode and hit the incline at full throttle, it blazed up the 10% hill without dropping below 20 mph, reaching the top in roughly 10 seconds. I actually felt the front wheel lighten a bit at the steepest part, that’s how much torque it’s putting down. There was zero worry about it slowing to a crawl; it powered up confidently. On more moderate hills of 4-6% grade, it barely notices them, you can sustain 30 mph uphill if you want. For practical commuting, this means no hill in a city or neighborhood is off-limits. Even with my 180 lb, I’ve never had to kick or push; the Thunder just flies up inclines. Torque is one of this scooter’s standout traits. If you live in a hilly area or want to use it in a suburb with elevation changes, this scooter is a champion climber, one of the fastest hill climbers under $1k, according to tests. Just keep in mind that full-throttle hill attacks will drain the battery faster, which brings us to range.
Battery Life and Range
The Thunder 10 packs a 52V 15.6Ah battery, about 811 Wh capacity, which is larger than many scooters at this price. However, because it has two powerful motors, real-world range is very much dependent on how you ride. Splach advertises 37.5 miles on a charge, but those numbers are only achievable in ideal conditions, slow eco mode, flat ground, light rider. In my daily use, I typically ride in a mix of modes, often in dual motor when I want speed, and single motor or Eco mode when cruising casually. With that style, I’ve been averaging around 18 miles per charge, which I’d consider good for a high-performance scooter. If I push it hard, constant high speed and aggressive acceleration, the range drops further, on one fun weekend sprint, full throttle most of the way, and some off-road trail riding I got about 15 miles before the battery indicator started flashing. So if you ride it “the way it’s intended”, fast and furious, expect maybe 15-20 miles. For more sedate commuting, say keeping it under 20 mph, occasional single-motor use, 25+ miles is feasible. I actually did a controlled ride in single-motor mode at around 15 mph and I’m confident it could hit close to 30 miles if you’re very gentle. But let’s be honest: it’s hard to resist the temptation to hit that throttle!
Charging the Thunder 10’s battery from empty to full takes around 8 hours with the included charger. I usually just plug it in overnight and by morning it’s ready to roll. There’s no quick-charger port, so 8 hours is as fast as it gets. The battery is not removable, so you need to bring the scooter near an outlet. This hasn’t been an issue for me, since I charge at home in my garage. For those considering the Thunder 10 for commuting, just plan your charge schedule, daily riders doing long distances will likely charge every night. The charger is a fairly compact brick and it hasn’t gotten overly hot or anything, seems solid.
One more thing on battery: the Thunder 10’s controller does allow you to adjust some settings via the app or display, like regenerative braking strength, which can help eke out a bit more range on downhill stretches. The regen braking feeds some energy back when you slow down; I keep it at a moderate setting to slightly extend range and reduce brake wear. Overall, while it’s not a “range champ” relative to some big-battery cruisers, the Thunder’s range is sufficient for medium commutes and plenty of fun rides, considering the performance you get. I just always keep an eye on the battery level if I’m venturing farther from home, and I’ve yet to run it completely dry on any ride I couldn’t complete.
Ride Comfort and Suspension
Given the Thunder 10’s speed, ride comfort was crucial for me, and I’m happy to report it delivers a surprisingly smooth ride for a scooter of this size. The scooter features dual suspension: front and rear rubber cartridge shocks instead of traditional spring/coil shocks. I was initially skeptical of rubber suspension, it’s a design usually seen on expensive Dualtron scooters, known to be stiff at first, but it turned out to be one of my favorite things about this scooter. The rubber shocks have a non-linear feel, they are soft on small bumps but firm up on big hits, effectively “self-adjusting” to the rider’s weight and the terrain. As a result, the Thunder 10 glides over cracked pavement, manhole covers, and typical city street bumps with ease. The ride is not pillow-soft, you still feel the road feedback, but it takes the harsh edge off jolts. Over time, I’ve noticed the suspension breaking in and getting even plusher; rubber tends to soften slightly with use, so the scooter’s ride has improved as the miles accumulate. On my daily commute, which includes some brick pathways and a few sections of rough asphalt, the Thunder stays composed and doesn’t rattle my joints. I arrive at work without numb hands or shaky knees, which I can’t say for my old solid-tire scooter.
The 10-inch pneumatic tires also play a big role in comfort. My Thunder 10 came with 10×3 inch all-terrain style tires, knobby enough for light off-road, but still smooth rolling on pavement. I run them around 40-45 PSI for a balance of efficiency and shock absorption. These fat tires in combination with the suspension make for a very stable ride. I can hop off curbs or roll over tree root bumps and the scooter handles it well, no scary jolts or bottoming out so far. One evening I even took a shortcut through a grassy park; the ground was lumpy and a bit muddy, but the Thunder tackled it without drama, and the wide tires found grip where a skinny-tire scooter might skid. If you plan to do off-road paths or gravel, I’d say the Thunder 10 is up for it in moderation. The fenders provide okay coverage to keep most dirt off you, I got a few specks on my shoes, nothing major. On true trails with rocks and ruts, the Thunder can manage at lower speeds, though it’s not an extreme off-roader. I agree with other reviewers that it can handle “the occasional dirt track” if needed, but the scooter feels most at home on urban streets and light trails. The high ground clearance and grippy tires are a plus off-road, but the weight and geometry aren’t optimized for constant hardcore trail riding, for example, jumping off a curb is fine, but I wouldn’t do big air jumps on this. Still, for a weekend adventure on fire roads or packed earth, it’s tremendously fun to have that capability in a commuter scooter.
Handling: The Thunder’s steering is nimble, almost twitchy until you get used to it. The wheelbase is relatively short and with those 10″ tires, it turns quickly. At moderate speeds, 15-20 mph I love how agile it feels, weaving around potholes or navigating bike-path curves is easy. At higher speeds, that same responsiveness means you should be careful with your inputs. I find that keeping a relaxed grip and using a bit of body lean helps maintain stability at 30+ mph. The deck has a nice grip tape and is long enough for a good stance; I ride goofy, one foot back and sometimes angle my back foot on the kickplate for extra support during fast acceleration. As noted, the kickplate isn’t the most ergonomic due to its angle, but it still helps me anchor myself when accelerating or going over bumps.
Braking and Safety Features
When you’re zipping at 30+ mph, good brakes are literally lifesavers. Splach equipped the Thunder 10 with hydraulic disc brakes on both wheels, which is a premium touch at this price. I immediately noticed the difference from mechanical brakes, the brake levers are easy to pull and modulate, and the stopping power is exceptional. In fact, during one of my informal tests, from about 15 mph, I was able to come to a dead stop in roughly 11 feet, which is impressively short. That figure aligns with professional tests, around 10.9 feet from 15 mph and it feels like it, the scooter can stop on a dime when needed. The brake calipers bite firmly without requiring a lot of finger force, and I haven’t felt any fade on longer downhill stretches. They also make controlled, gentle stops easy, crucial for when you’re riding around pedestrians or in wet conditions. I’ve ridden a couple times right after rain, and while I always reduce speed on wet ground, the brakes didn’t slip or lose effectiveness in those damp conditions.
A nice bonus is the regenerative braking built into the motors. When you pull the brakes, the system also engages regen on the front and rear, which not only helps slow you down but also recharges the battery slightly. You can adjust the strength of this regen in the scooter’s P-settings, I left it at the default medium setting initially, which I found a bit strong, it felt like the scooter was engine-braking as soon as I let off the throttle. I later toned it down a notch for smoother coasting. With regen on, you can even ride using just throttle release and minimal brake taps for gentle slowing, which is great for range and reduces wear on the brake pads. However the regen brakes are quite intrusive during high speed runs. Where I feel like they interfere with high performance runs more than they help as they come in too strongly.
Lighting: Another aspect of safety, often overlooked is lighting, and the Thunder 10 really stands out here, literally. It comes with a bright front LED headlight mounted high on the stem, which casts a usable beam at night. I do a weekly evening ride and found the headlight sufficient for speeds up to 20 mph in dark conditions; beyond that, I’d want a supplementary light, but for city streets with ambient lighting it’s fine. There are also rear brake lights that flash when you brake, alerting anyone behind you. But the coolest part is the multi-colored deck and stem lights. The scooter has LED strips along the sides of the deck and the stem that you can customize. Using an included remote, or the app, I can change the side light colors and patterns, from solid colors to pulsing or rainbow effects. I often set them to a chill blue or green for my night rides. It’s not just for looks; these “underglow” lights make you highly visible from the side, adding safety when crossing intersections or riding in traffic at night. Additionally, the Thunder 10 features turn signal lights front and rear. I have a little button pad near the left grip to activate them, and they’ll blink amber on either side of the tail and also on the front corners. It’s a rarity to have integrated turn signals on a scooter at this price, and as someone who likes to signal intentions to cars, I found this feature extremely useful. They’re not very large signals, but any extra visibility helps. All the lighting considered, the Thunder 10 is well-equipped for night commuting, I’m basically lit up like a small motorcycle, which makes me feel safer.
Other Safety/Convenience Features: I should mention the NFC key locking system and the mobile app, which form part of the Thunder 10’s “user interface” and security. The scooter comes with a little NFC card, like a key fob card that you swipe on the display to unlock it. It’s a neat party trick and adds a layer of theft deterrence, without the NFC card, or a phone app unlock, the scooter won’t power on. I sometimes leave the Thunder 10 outside a cafe; I lock it with a physical lock and also engage the electronic lock via the app, which immobilizes the motors. Knowing that a thief would need my NFC card or phone password to start the scooter gives me some peace of mind. The mobile app, SPLACH app connects via Bluetooth and offers extra controls: you can turn the scooter on/off, lock it, change certain settings, and even adjust performance modes from your phone. I’ll be honest, I mostly use the physical controls, the display and buttons on the scooter for changing modes, but the app is handy for things like viewing detailed trip data and tweaking settings like switching between mph and km/h units. The app also lets you participate in an odometer ranking with other riders, a fun little social feature and control the lights. It’s not essential, but it’s a cool addition for tech enthusiasts.
Controls and User Interface
The Thunder 10 has a 4-inch color LCD display centered on the handlebars. It’s one of the nicer displays I’ve used on an e-scooter, large, bright, and readable even in daylight. The UI shows your speed, battery level, ride mode, and even has icons for lights and turn signals. There’s also an NFC sensor on the display, for that key card swipe to start. Each morning, I tap my card and the screen greets me with a cheerful splash screen and then I’m ready to roll.
On the right handlebar is the finger throttle, trigger style. It took me a couple of days to get used to how sensitive it was out of the box. Initially, the throttle responded to the slightest press with a lot of power, making low-speed maneuvering a bit jerky. However, Splach’s latest firmware allows adjusting throttle sensitivity through the P-settings or app. I set mine to a gentler setting, you can choose a level 1-5 of sensitivity and it made a huge difference. Now the throttle is smooth and controllable, yet still delivers full power when I press it all the way. I appreciate that Splach listened to early feedback, the prototype apparently had an overly twitchy throttle, but the production unit I have is much improved. It now feels linear, so I can crawl at 5 mph through crowded areas without the scooter surging unpredictably. When I do want to gun it, I simply push past halfway and the turbo kicks in naturally. The throttle also has a cruise control feature, if you hold a steady speed for several seconds, it beeps and locks that speed until you brake or throttle again, useful for longer straight rides, though I don’t use it much in the city.
There are a few buttons around the display: a power button, mode button, and two toggle switches for Eco/Turbo and Single/Dual motor. This setup gives the Thunder 10 an incredible 12 possible speed mode combinations, Eco vs Turbo, Single vs Dual motor, and 3 gear levels on the display. In practice I mainly switch between 2 or 3 favorite modes: for example, Gear 3 Dual Turbo for maximum power, and Gear 1 Single Eco for a mellow ride or when I’m low on battery. Gear 2 is a middle setting. The difference between Eco and Turbo is noticeable in acceleration and top speed cap. Eco mode softens the acceleration and caps speed to about 20 mph, which is nice in dense areas or if I lend the scooter to a friend who isn’t experienced. Turbo unleashes the full power, you hear both motors hum louder. Single motor mode essentially turns off the front motor, making it a rear-wheel-drive scooter, I use this on flat stretches to conserve battery or sometimes on wet surfaces where I prefer not to have front wheel power. The ability to easily toggle between these modes while riding is fantastic; it’s like having a tame scooter and a wild scooter in one device. I’ve even done a fun experiment where I tried all 12 speed settings briefly, there’s a subtle gradation in how the scooter behaves, though I generally stick to the extremes, either full beast mode or efficient mode. New riders might appreciate starting in single/eco/gear1 to get a feel, and then graduating to the higher modes. The learning curve is manageable thanks to these adjustable settings.
Other control elements: The brake levers are standard placement on left and right, left lever controls rear brake, right lever front brake, plus regen. They’re solid and comfortable, with a good feel. The turn signal switch, a little rocker is on the left side; it’s clicky and I can activate it with my thumb without looking. The scooter beeps when a turn signal is on, reminding you to turn it off after a turn, I appreciate that, since I sometimes forget and then wonder what the beeping is, it’s the indicator still blinking. The headlight and side lights are controlled by another button, one press for headlights, another for the flashy side LEDs if you want them on. All the buttons and switches feel reasonably sturdy. They’re not ultra-premium, but nothing has malfunctioned on me and they do the job well.
Lastly, a small detail I love is the display’s NFC and password combination. If I don’t have my NFC card handy, I can actually unlock the scooter by entering a PIN on the display. This redundancy means I’m never locked out if I misplace the card. The interface for that is straightforward, just tapping a code using the single button. It’s clear Splach tried to pack in a lot of tech features to make the Thunder user-friendly and secure.
Conclusion
In my extensive time with the Splach Thunder 10 Gold Edition, it has proven to be an engaging and capable electric scooter that blurs the line between commuter and high-performance machine. It’s rare to find a scooter that can comfortably take you to work all week and then tear up the trails on the weekend, but the Thunder 10 makes a strong case. For commuting, it offers adequate range, roughly 20+ miles in realistic use and comfort, plus features like lighting, turn signals, and app-based locking that add practical safety for daily riders. Just remember that its weight, 65 lbs means you’ll need a convenient place to store it at your destination, carrying it up long stairs every day would get old fast. If your commute involves moderate distances and you value getting there fast and having fun on the way, the Thunder 10 excels. I routinely cut my commute time compared to public transit, and I actually look forward to the ride thanks to the excitement it brings.
For off-road and recreation, the Thunder 10 holds its own on dirt paths and park trails, though it’s not a full-on dirt bike. The robust dual motors and fat tires let you explore beyond the pavement, I’ve had a blast taking scenic detours on gravel lanes and feeling that rush of acceleration on open country roads. Its suspension and power can tackle grass, gravel, and small hills easily, expanding where you can ride. Just keep in mind it’s best for light to moderate off-roading; extreme rocky terrain or steep downhill trails might be out of its comfort zone. For general recreational riding, it’s hard to imagine more fun per dollar: the scooter’s performance-per-dollar is outstanding. Every time I hit the throttle and feel it surge forward, I’m reminded that this scooter cost under $1000, a value that still amazes me.
No product is perfect, so let’s touch on a few things to consider. The Thunder 10’s long-term reliability is a slight question mark, while mine has been solid so far, it’s a relatively new model from a smaller company. I did extensive research, and even saw some early user feedback noting that there were some early hiccups like too-sensitive throttles and minor build issues, but Splach addressed many of them in the production version. I’ll be keeping an eye on the scooter’s condition as I rack up more miles. So far, I’m pleased to report no major problems and I’ve felt confident in its construction. Another consideration is that at top speeds the ride can get a little twitchy, this isn’t unique to the Thunder 10, most small-wheel scooters feel edgy at 35+ mph, but it’s worth noting. I solved this by simply not pushing it to max very often, unless conditions are ideal. Most of the time, cruising at 30 mph is the sweet spot where the Thunder feels totally stable and fun. Ride quality, as great as it is for the price, isn’t as plush as some higher-end, and higher-priced scooters, you’re getting a sporty feel rather than a luxury cloud. Again, for me that’s acceptable given the trade-off in cost. One more minor gripe: the folding handlebars, while convenient, introduce a bit of play, a faint wiggle if you really flex them. It hasn’t affected normal riding at all, but if I push/pull hard on the bars, like when testing acceleration, I sense a tiny flex. That’s just the compromise for foldability.
To wrap up, the Splach Thunder 10 has been an absolute joy to ride. It’s honest in its approach, you get exactly what’s advertised: lightning-fast speed, strong acceleration, solid braking, and a comfortable suspended ride, all wrapped in a flashy gold package. It’s clear Splach aimed to over-deliver on performance, and I feel they succeeded. Each ride puts a grin on my face, whether I’m dashing to the office or carving around the park for fun. The scooter’s blend of features, from the practical, like hydraulic brakes and bright lights, to the fun, like customizable LEDs and an NFC key makes it stand out in a crowded market. In an engaging, real-world sense, the Thunder 10 Gold Edition has reinvigorated my daily travels. I find myself choosing it over my car for a lot of trips, simply because it’s more enjoyable and often faster in city traffic.
might feel low if you’re over 6 feet, those could be limitations. For me, at 5’9″, it fits great and does everything I need and more.
In conclusion, after extensive firsthand use, I can say the Splach Thunder 10 Gold Edition lives up to its hype. It brought a lot of excitement to my routine and handled almost every scenario I threw at it, city streets, steep hills, dirt paths, day, night, rain, or shine. It’s not just a commuter scooter; it’s a versatile personal electric vehicle that injects fun into every ride. And that gold color? That’s just the cherry on top, or should I say, the lightning bolt on top, of a thrilling ride experience. I hope this review helps you decide if it’s the scooter for you. Ride safe and have fun out there!
EVTECH: $50 discount.
