How to choose a scooter

Moving with a scooter immediately solves two serious problems - it helps a person to maintain a healthy lifestyle and does not harm the environment. Given the demand for these vehicles, their range has increased significantly. The scooter has been crossed with a skateboard and a bicycle and the result is truly stunning. The resulting devices can be used for commuting, descending mountain slopes and performing cool stunts. If you want to become the owner of this amazing product, in this article we will tell you how to choose a scooter.

Device and principle of operation

The scooter combines the properties of a bicycle and a skateboard. Its device:

1. Frame. The backbone of any scooter. When creating it, steel, aluminum or magnesium alloy is used. The frame can be folded for easy storage and carrying.
2. Deck or footrest.
3. Steering wheel. Adjustable or not, it can be T-shaped, "bicycle" design, or made in the form of a joystick.
4. Wheels. As a rule, there are 2 of them, but today you can find 3 and 4 on one model.
5. Shock absorbers. Not all scooters have it. Their presence makes the trip much more comfortable, as they soften shock and vibration.
6. Braking system.

The principle of the product has not changed much. To ride, you need to kick off the ground with one foot and operate the device with a simple steering wheel. The exception to the rule is the electric scooter as it is powered by a motor.

Types of scooters

If you are not sure which scooter to choose, check out their varieties first.

Classical

The most common category, which includes models for a child and for an adult. The scooter for the city has good shock absorption, and on wheels 15-25 cm in diameter it is convenient to go around various cracks and holes on our roads.

Advantages:

• suitable for driving within the city;
• often equipped with a folding mechanism;
• lungs (maximum five kilograms);
• accelerate to a decent speed on large wheels;
• have good physical activity;
• available financially.

Disadvantages:

• requires constant care;
• tricks cannot be done on them.

Kickboard

This unit has a lot in common with a skateboard. The deck is short and wide, with three wheels, two of which are in the front. Because of this decision, the device needs to be controlled in the same way as a skateboard. Instead of the classic steering wheel, there is a control joystick.

Benefits:

• stable;
• accelerates to a decent speed;
• not problematic in transportation;
• can be controlled by joystick and legs;
• there is a brake on the rear wheel.

Disadvantages:

• the turning radius is very large;
• sold at a high price.

T-shirt (bicycle scooter)

Scooter off-road vehicle. Equipped with a full-size front wheel with a diameter of up to 29 ", the rear is slightly smaller. The t-shirt accelerates faster and maintains speed for a long time, but riding it requires a lot of physical effort.

Advantages:

• high-speed;
• decent roll forward;
• easy to maintain;
• quickly adjusts to the requirements of its owner;
• equipped with a hand brake;
• front fork with shock absorption.

Disadvantages:

• big size;
• heavily loads the legs.

Trike (trider)

This scooter has three wheels and two shortened decks. This type of scooter is often referred to as inertial scooter, as there is no need to constantly push off with your foot to move. As standard, all models are equipped with foot brakes, but for safety reasons, hand brakes can be added.

Benefits:

• stable;
• stylish;
• suitable for stunts;
• loads the entire body.

Disadvantages:

• it is better to drive them only on good asphalt;
• it is difficult to keep his balance at first.

Dirt scooter

Suitable for off-road use. It has a solid solid frame, wide inflatable wheels with good tread. The steering column is not adjustable.

Benefits:

• powerful construction;
• excellent cross-country ability;
• you can perform tricks;
• accelerates quickly.

Disadvantages:

• it takes a lot of effort to use it;
• very expensive.

Stunt (sports)

It has a non-adjustable non-separable frame and wheels with a diameter of 10-12.5 cm. The scooter is equipped with high-quality bearings, therefore it develops a good speed.

The model has a rustic appearance, but in reality it is the most powerful of all the existing varieties.

Benefits:

• strength;
• maneuverability;
• accelerates to maximum over a short distance;
• easy to manage.

Disadvantages:

• the steering wheel cannot be adjusted;
• you can only perform tricks on it;
• high price.

Selection options

If you do not know how to choose a scooter for an adult or a child, check out the main criteria.

Frame

For the manufacture of the frame use:

1. Steel. Budget and reliable material. A significant disadvantage is heaviness.
2. Aluminum. The material is lightweight, resistant to corrosive processes, but lacks strength.
3. Magnesium alloy. Durable, lightweight and expensive material.

Weight and load

The weight of a scooter for a child should not exceed five kilograms so that the child can lift it without much effort and avoid serious damage if it falls. It can withstand a raider weighing no more than 50 kg. An adult scooter can carry up to fifteen kilograms and carry a raider weighing up to 120 kg.

Steering wheel

This refers to its height, not its shape. Since it is not regulated, buy the right model right away. Today, steering columns reach 42-110 cm, so choosing the right one is not difficult.

Soundboard

The platform can be rigidly attached to the frame, which guarantees full control of the scooter. The deck with a flexible hitch makes it easy to operate the device.

The most important thing is the platform size. The convenience of riding a scooter depends on this parameter. The optimal platform size for a children's scooter is 40 * 20 cm, for an adult - 50-100 * 20-30 cm.

A scooter with a high ground clearance is suitable for driving on uneven roads, otherwise the bottom will be damaged during movement. Stunt models should have low ground clearance.

Check the quality of the deck covering, because the convenience and safety of the scooter operation depends on it. While driving, it tilts, quickly accelerates and decelerates, so there must be an anti-slip coating on the platform.

In addition, the platform can be:

1. Metallic. Made from aluminum alloys. The deck is light and rigid. Available with a notch or rubber finish. There is no springiness, so it is easier to accelerate to high speed on a scooter.
2. Composite. Consists of durable plywood and fiberglass. When driving, it bends, so it cushions the ride a little.

Brake system

Today, absolutely all scooters have brakes. You need to choose the comfortable ones yourself, since this is a purely individual indicator. There are 2 types of brakes:

1. Foot. Braking occurs by pressing on the rear fender, which grips the wheel and stops the movement of the device.
2. Manual. The same as on a bicycle.

Quality models have two braking systems.

Wheels

As a rule, a scooter only has a pair of wheels, but from our article you have already learned that there can be 3 and 4 of them, which are added for greater stability.

Wheels are available in polyurethane or PVC. These materials are noisy, budget, and do not tolerate cuts and punctures.Rubber wheels are used on sports models, and plastic ones on budget and stunt models. Despite being loud and hard, they are durable.

The larger the wheels, the more speed the scooter can pick up.

Each type of scooter has its own wheel sizes:

• stunt - 10 cm;
• urban - 15-20 cm;
• t-shirt - from 20 cm.

Check the hardness of the wheels. Soft wheels are marked 78A-82A. It is best to ride these on low-quality asphalt. Unfortunately, they are not durable and often need to be changed. For use on a good road, it is better to use hard wheels.

More wheels are divided according to the profile:

1. Round. Holds turns securely, accelerates to a decent speed. The best option for the city.
2. Beveled. The narrow part of the wheel touches the road, so the resistance to the scooter is low. Well worth it on not very high quality roads. Suitable for high speed driving.
3. Flat. It touches the road surface as much as possible. It has good stability on any trajectory.

Folding system

Scooters are replacing bicycles because they are more compact. With this in mind, manufacturers are spending a lot of effort developing intricate folding mechanisms, thanks to which the vehicle will quickly become a compact thing with which you will be allowed everywhere.

It is the folding system that many consumers are guided by when choosing a scooter. But in this matter you need to be very careful. After all, if you choose a model with a large number of folding units, then this will negatively affect not only the rigidity of the frame, but also the running capabilities of the product. This scooter will be more prone to breakage. Its repair is not only difficult, but in some situations even impractical.

Almost all budget models with a clever folding system have similar problems. Therefore, if you do not want to waste time and money on repairing the scooter, immediately choose a product that only folds the steering column.

Which model to choose

1. For lovers of city or park walks, or cycling to work, it is best to buy a folding scooter. It must have shock absorbers, soft wheels with reliable bearings, two braking systems. On such a device, you can comfortably move around the city streets.
2. For sports, it is better to buy a stunt model with a rigid reinforced frame. Only such a scooter will withstand all extreme loads.
3. A kickboard or trider weighing up to 5 kg with an adjustable steering wheel is suitable for a child. It is better for very young raiders to take models with low class ABEC1 bearings, which will not allow the scooter to accelerate much. It is more expedient for a schoolchild to buy a scooter with soft wheels.
4. It is better to ride outside the city on a T-shirt or a dirt scooter. On a t-shirt, you will perfectly ride on ordinary off-road, on a dirt scooter you can take part in extreme races. Better to go for a durable, lightweight magnesium model that has large inflatable wheels, wide tires and tread.

Top manufacturers

If you are in need of a quality scooter, then buy products from well-known companies. They value their reputation very much, therefore they release only high-quality goods. Leaders in this regard are Razor, Micro, Kettler, JD Bug and Explore.

The cost of scooters

Scooter cost:

1. Ordinary children's - up to 1000 rubles.
2. Standard city - 3,000 - 40,000 rubles.
3. T-shirt - 7,500 - 90,000 rubles.
4. Trider - 900 - 12,000 rubles.
5. Kickboard - 1,000 - 17,000 rubles.
6. Stunt - 2,000 - 36,000 rubles.
7. Derta off-road vehicle - up to 25,000 rubles.

Consumer reviews

We gave our son a TimeJump YX-S07200B19SS scooter for his 4th birthday. We are all delighted. Large rubber wheels, soft brake operation. Within a week, our baby has completely mastered it. I think that such a scooter should be taken by children over 4 years old, since it has an adjustable handle. It can withstand a weight of up to 70 kg, so my older daughter and I also sometimes ride. Very cool stuff.

Elena

I bought myself a Weelz ROCK. Excellent roll-forward, no creaks before riding. Thanks to the low platform, I drive a decent distance at low physical costs.I love scooters, this one I already have 4 and I can say with confidence that it is the best. Already 200 km on it dashed off. For the first months, the folding system was a bit buggy, but after the development of the ring, everything was fine. A good model for a reasonable price. Recommend.

Vladislav

Outcome

Now you know how to choose a stunt scooter, adult and kids. We hope our article will help you purchase a quality item.