Pride Baja Bandit 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter

Pride Baja Bandit 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter
The Pride Baja Bandit is a mobility scooter we really like for someone who wants more outdoor capability than a typical travel scooter, without immediately moving into one of the largest scooters on the market.
In our opinion, the Bandit sits in a really useful middle ground. It is faster, more powerful and better equipped for outdoor driving than something like a Go-Go travel scooter, while still being considerably more manageable than some of the very large outdoor mobility scooters.
With a 400 lb weight capacity, speeds of up to 8 mph, lithium battery options and suspension, this is a scooter designed for someone who expects to actually put some distance on it.
 
Our Thoughts on the Baja Bandit
 
What we like most about the Bandit is that it feels like a substantial mobility scooter without becoming enormous.
You get larger tires, good ground clearance, suspension, a full bumper package and significantly more speed than a traditional travel scooter. That makes it much better suited for longer outdoor trips, sidewalks, paved trails and less-than-perfect surfaces.
At the same time, Pride still designed the Bandit to come apart for transportation.
 
There is an important catch, though — and this is something we would tell a client in-store.
The heaviest section is approximately 71 lb.
 
So while Pride describes the Bandit as having feather-touch disassembly, we would not put it in the same transportation category as a Go-Go scooter with a 30–40 lb front section.
If you're buying primarily because you need something that you'll lift into the trunk of a car several times a week, we would want you to actually try lifting the Bandit before choosing it.
 
Where We Think the Bandit Does Best
 
We think the Baja Bandit makes the most sense for someone who plans on doing a significant amount of outdoor driving.
It is particularly well suited for:
Longer neighbourhood trips
Sidewalks and paved pathways
Shopping centres and larger stores
Outdoor events
Retirement communities
Uneven pavement and moderate outdoor terrain
Users who want more speed and range than a traditional travel scooter
People who want lithium batteries without moving into an ultra-light travel scooter
The Bandit's 8 mph maximum speed is almost twice what you will see from many compact travel scooters, which can make a major difference for someone regularly travelling longer distances.
 
What We Like Most
 
For us, one of the biggest advantages is the combination of performance and size.
There are scooters with more extreme outdoor capabilities, but they also become substantially larger and heavier. The Baja Bandit gives you a lot of the features people want from a larger scooter while maintaining a relatively compact overall footprint.
We also like the lithium battery system.
The standard 20Ah lithium configuration provides plenty of range for many everyday users, while the optional 40Ah configuration dramatically increases how far the scooter can travel between charges.
With the 40Ah lithium battery configuration, Pride rates the Bandit for up to approximately 29 miles of range under its 220 lb test condition.
For someone who wants to use their scooter as a legitimate form of transportation around their community rather than simply using it inside stores, that additional range can be extremely valuable.
 
Comfort & Suspension
 
Another reason we prefer the Bandit over many basic scooters for outdoor use is its suspension.
Small travel scooters can become uncomfortable fairly quickly when sidewalks are cracked or uneven because there is very little between the user and the road.
The Bandit provides suspension along with a padded stadium-style seat, which helps make longer outdoor trips more comfortable.
That does not mean every bump disappears, and the Bandit still uses solid tires, but there is a meaningful difference compared with many entry-level travel scooters.
 
Things We Would Consider Before Buying
 
The Bandit is not automatically the best scooter simply because it is faster or has more range.
Its 27.83-inch width and approximately 49.6-inch overall length make it considerably larger than a compact travel scooter. If you live in a small apartment or expect to regularly navigate very tight indoor spaces, we would want to make sure the scooter actually fits your environment.
Its 53-inch turning radius also means it requires considerably more room to turn than something like the Go-Go Elite Traveller 2.
Transportation is another major consideration.
Although the Bandit disassembles, the approximately 71 lb heaviest section can still be difficult for one person to lift. If vehicle transportation is your number-one priority, there may be lighter options that make more sense.
This is exactly why we recommend choosing a scooter based on how you will actually use it rather than simply comparing specifications.
 
20Ah vs. 40Ah Lithium Battery
 
The Baja Bandit can be configured with either a 20Ah or 40Ah lithium-ion battery system.
With the 20Ah configuration, Pride rates the scooter for up to approximately 14.5 miles at a 220 lb user weight and approximately 11.25 miles at its 400 lb maximum capacity.
With the upgraded 40Ah configuration, that increases to as much as approximately 29 miles at 220 lb and 22.5 miles at the 400 lb maximum capacity.
Actual driving range will vary depending on user weight, terrain, hills, temperature, battery condition, speed and other operating conditions.
For someone who primarily uses their scooter for shorter local trips, we don't necessarily think everybody needs to pay for maximum battery capacity.
If you regularly travel longer distances, however, the 40Ah battery is an upgrade we would seriously consider.
 
Is the Pride Baja Bandit Worth It?
 
For the right user, we think the Baja Bandit is one of the more interesting scooters in Pride's lineup.
We especially like it for someone who has outgrown the capabilities of a small travel scooter but doesn't necessarily need an enormous heavy-duty outdoor scooter.
You get a 400 lb capacity, 8 mph speed, lithium batteries, suspension, good ground clearance and excellent available range in a package that is still relatively manageable.
If your priority is portability and lifting the scooter into a vehicle, we'd probably steer you toward something lighter.
If your priority is outdoor performance, longer trips and a more substantial ride, the Baja Bandit is absolutely a scooter we would recommend comparing.
 
Why buy from Function at Home?
 
At Function At Home, we help clients choose mobility scooters based on how they actually intend to use them.
We consider your height and weight, transfers, balance, driving environment, expected distances, home layout, vehicle and transportation needs before recommending a scooter.
Visit our London, Ontario showroom to compare mobility scooters in person, take a test drive and determine which model works best for you.
We also provide local delivery, setup, product education and ongoing service after your purchase.