Standard Xiaomi M365 limited by the manufacturer to 25 km / h - this is enough for city trips, but experienced riders know: the power reserve of the engine and battery allows you to accelerate much more. However, exceeding factory limits is fraught not only with fines (in some countries, speeds above 25 km / h are equated to a moped), but also accelerated wear of components, overheating of the controller, and in the worst case - accidents.
In this article, we'll look at all the working ways to increase speed, from software tweaks to hardware modifications, but remember, every method has a downside, for example, a remote speed limit firmware can lead to a loss of warranty, and a gear replacement can lead to a decrease in the life of the motor. We don't campaign for acceleration, but give technical information for an informed choice.
If you are a beginner, start with safe techniques (sections 2–3). Advanced users will be interested in hardware upgrades (sections 5–7), but they require electronics and mechanics skills.
1. Why Xiaomi M365 limited to 25 km/h?
Factory speed limit on M365 — It's a trade-off between safety, legislation and resource technology:
- 📜 Legal regulations: In the EU and many CIS countries, scooters up to 25 km/h are equated with bicycles (do not require licenses, insurance, numbers.
- 🔋 Battery retention: The higher the speed, the faster the battery runs out. At maximum speeds, 18,650 cells M365 Degrade 1.5-2 times faster.
- ⚙️ Mechanical load: Bearings, gearbox and motor are designed to work long hours at moderate speeds.+ km/h leads to overheating and wear.
The manufacturer also takes into account the average user: most buyers M365 They are not ready for high speeds due to lack of driving experience, for example, at 30 km / h, the braking distance increases to 5-7 meters (versus 3-4 m at 25 km / h), and a fall at this speed is fraught with serious injuries.
However, technically the motor M365 It can deliver up to 35-40 km/h (with modifications), but this requires changes in firmware, battery upgrades and cooling.
2. Software overclocking: controller firmware
The most popular way to increase speed is to run a remotely limited controller firmware.
Step-by-step:
- Download the firmware from the official repository (e.g. ScooterHacking GitHub). M365 fit DRV132 or DRV140.
- Open the controller case (under the platform) and carefully disconnect the board from the battery.
- Connect. USB-TTL contact TX/RX/GND on the controller (the connection scheme is in the firmware documentation).
- Start a software program (for example, STM32 Flash Loader) and fill in the modified firmware.
- Put the controller back together and check the performance.
What the firmware does:
- ✅ Removal of the speed limit (up to 30-35 km/h depending on version);
- ✅ Ability to disconnect KERS (recuperative braking);
- ✅ Adjustment of acceleration and brake sensitivity;
- ✅ Real speed display (without "cheating" in the app).
⚠️ Attention: Remote speed limit firmware disables controller overheating protection. High speed long-distance driving increases the risk of burning the bridge or transistors 3-4 times. Install additional cooling (radiators or fans).
Download the firmware for your version DRV|Buy USB-TTL adapter (CP2102/FT232)|Make a backup of the original firmware|Prepare a soldering iron and heat shrinkage (in case of errors)|Charge the battery to 100%-->
3. Settings in the Mi Home app
If you're not ready to flash the controller, you can slightly increase the speed through the official Mi Home app (or alternatives like ScooterHacking Utility).
- 📱 Sport mode: Includes maximum engine output activated in the scooter settings (Profile) → Sport: Adds 2-3 km/h to standard speed.
- ⚡ Shutdown KERS: Regenerative braking slightly slows down the scooter, and turning it off gives you a smooth acceleration, but reduces the range by 5-10%.
- 🔄 Wheel calibration: Sometimes miscalibration lowers speed readings. Recalibrate the wheels in the Settings menu → Sizing.
How to turn on the sports mode:
- Open Mi Home and connect to the scooter.
- Go to Profile. → Driving mode.
- Select Sport (if there is no option, update the app).
- Confirm the change and restart the scooter (turn off/turn on power).
Limitations of the method:
- The speed increase is minimal (up to 27-28 km / h);
The battery discharges faster by 10-15%;
In some countries, the sport mode may be blocked by firmware (for example, in the EU).
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If you don’t have a Sport Mode option in Mi Home, try changing your account region to Singapore or Russia, where the restrictions are milder.
4. Replacement of gears in the gearbox (mechanical tuning)
One of the most efficient hardware upgrades is replacing the gears in the gearbox. M365 It has a gear ratio of 1:14, which limits maximum speeds. By installing gears with a different ratio (for example, 1:12 or 1:10), you can increase the speed to 30-35 km / h without firmware.
What you need:
- 🛠️ Set of gears (e.g, 12T Mod 0.8 for speed or 10T extreme-speed);
- 🔧 Set of screwdrivers and keys;
- 🧲 Bearing-holding magnet;
- 🛢️ Lubricant for the gearbox (e.g. Liqui Moly) LM 47).
Step-by-step:
- Remove the rear wheel (unscrew 4 bolts of the motor mount).
- Disassemble the gearbox: carefully remove the cover, take out the shaft with gears.
- Replace the standard gear (14 teeth) with a new one (for example, 12T).
- Lubricate the bearings and assemble the gearbox in reverse order.
- Set the wheel back, check the course (no backlashes should be).
Comparison of cogs:
| Cogs | Speed (km/h) | Acceleration | Power reserve. | Engine load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (14T) | 25 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| 12T | 30–32 | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 10T | 35+ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
⚠️ Attention: Replacement of cogs with 10T It reduces the life of the motor by 2-3 times, and in this transfer, the motor operates at maximum speeds, which leads to overheating of the windings and the risk of turn-to-turn circuits.
5. Installation of a more powerful battery
Standard battery M365 (36V, 7800 mAh) limits not only range, but peak power.+ And the voltage subsides, which causes the speed to fall off on the climbs:
- 🔋 48V (for example, 13S4P on Samsung elements 30Q);
- 🔋 52V (Extreme overclocking, but requires modification of the controller).
What the upgrade does:
- More stable speed at high speeds;
- Increase in maximum speed by 5-10 km / h (due to increased voltage);
- Larger range (up to 40-50 km on a single charge).
How to choose a battery:
- For 30-35 km / h enough 48V 10Ah (Like Battery Bro. 13S).
- For 40.+ mileage 52V, You will need to install the controller under a new voltage.
- Pay attention to this. BMS (battery control system - it must maintain a discharge current at least 25A.
Where to buy:
- Finished batteries: AliExpress (search on request "M365 48V battery"), Banggood;
- Components for self-assembly: NKON, 18650batterystore.com.
⚠️ Attention: Batteries with higher voltage 48V It can burn down a standard controller. M365. Before installation, check compatibility or swipe the controller under a new voltage.
What happens if you install 52V battery without modification of the controller?
Modification of the engine: rewinding or replacement
Standard engine M365 (250W) short-term 500W, But to be stable at high speeds, it needs to be modified:
Rewinding of windings (increased power):
- Replacement of standard wire (∅0.35 mm) thicker (∅0.5-0.6 mm);
- Reducing the number of turns to increase speed;
- Requires skills with a soldering iron and a multimeter.
Replace the engine with a more powerful one:
- 350W (For example, from Xiaomi Pro 2);
- 500W (Chinese clones, for example, QS205);
- 800W+ (for extreme tuning, but will require a replacement controller).
Comparison of options:
| Method | Max. speed (km/h) | Cost | Difficulty | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rewinding | 30–35 | 10–20$ (wire, insulation) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Short-circuit risk |
| Motor. 350W | 32–37 | 50–80$ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Compatibility with the controller |
| Motor. 500W+ | 40+ | 100–150$ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Requires a new controller |
Turning rewind of the engine:
- Take the engine apart: remove the cover, take out the rotor.
- Remove the old winding (you can heat it with a hair dryer for easy removal).
- Wrap a new wire (∅0.5 mm) with fewer turns (e.g. 12 instead of 15).
- Insulate the winding with captone tape.
- Collect the motor, check the resistance of the windings with a multimeter (should be 0.2–0.4 Ohms).
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Rewinding the motor is the cheapest way to increase power, but it requires precision, and a mistake in winding (such as uneven rotations) will lead to vibrations and overheating.
7 Additional improvements for speed
In addition to the main modifications, there are auxiliary upgrades that indirectly affect the speed:
- 🪐 Larger diameter wheels: Replacing the standard 8.5" by 10" increases speed by 5-10% due to a change in gear ratio, such as Honeycomb wheels or the wheels of the Honeycomb. CSGO.
- ❄️ Controller cooling: Installing radiators or fans prevents trolling (automatic power reduction when overheating).
- 🛡️ Improved bearings: Replacement of standard bearings with ceramic or ABEC-9 reduces friction losses.
- 📡 Antenna for GPS: In some cases, the speed is tied to GPS-Improved signal can remove program constraints.
Example of speed gain calculation:
- Standard 8.5 wheels" + gear 14T = 25 km/h;
- Wheels 10" + gear 12T = 30-32 km/h (increase of 20–28%).
Where to buy components:
- Wheels: AliExpress, Banggood, ScooterHut;
- Radiators: Amazon (search for "heatsink for" M365 controller");
- Bearings: eBay (look for 608) ABEC-9).
8 Safety when driving at high speed
Increasing the speed above 30 km/h requires additional precautions:
- 🪖 Protective equipment: helmet (required!), elbow pads, knee pads, gloves. Falling at 35 km/h is 3 times more likely to fracture than 25 km/h.
- 🚦 Brakes: Standard brakes M365 (disk + electronic) not designed for speeds above 30 km/h. Install hydraulic brakes (e.g. Zoom) HB-100) Or at least replace the pads with sintered (ceramic).
- 👀 Visibility: LED tape on the frame, rear dimensions, signal vest. At high speed, you will be less noticed by drivers.
- 🛠️ Regular inspection: Check steering mounting, tire pressure, back wheels and brake disc condition before each trip.
Checklist before departure:
Check the tire pressure (2.5-3.0 bar)|Test the brakes (brakeway) < 4m)|Wear a helmet and protection|Check the mounting of the steering wheel and folding mechanism|Make sure the light is working-->
Legal risks:
In Russia, scooters up to 25 km / h are equated to pedestrians. Exceeding speed can be classified as driving a moped without a license (a fine of 5-15 thousand rubles).
In the EU, the rules vary by country, for example, in Germany, the maximum speed for scooters is 20 km / h, in Poland - 25 km / h.
In Ukraine, scooters up to 25 km / h do not require registration, but in case of an accident at high speed, the blame automatically falls on the rider.
⚠️ Note: At speeds above 30 km/h, standard accident insurance (if any) will not cover the damage.You automatically become a road user with all the responsibilities that follow (including liability for accidents).