Finding
the Scooter That's Right for You!
Part 1: Key Factors to Consider
The electric scooter that's right for you is out there and our goal is
to help you find it. This section outlines key factors to consider when
purchasing an electric scooter.
QUALITY: Quality is the number one factor to consider when
buying an electric scooter. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of overseas
factories flooding the market with poor quality off brand scooters,
no brand scooters and clones. Poorly manufactured electric scooters
aren't built to last. They break down shortly after purchase,
repairs are expensive, parts may not be available, safety can be a concern
and ultimately these scooters find themselves in an early grave. Sadly,
too many people have been ripped off by unscrupulous vendors selling
poor quality scooters. You'll even find these cheap scooters sold
in normally reputable establishments! You can save yourself much heartache
and frustration by doing your homework and steering clear of poor quality
electric scooters.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid poorly manufactured electric scooters:
● Stick with brand name electric scooters (avoid off-brand,
no brand and clones).
● Avoid vendors who sell off-brand scooters, no brand scooters
and clones.
● If the price sounds too good to be true… it is!
● Buy electric scooters that offer
at least a 90 day warranty. (There are always exceptions to the rule and
Rad2Go is a good example here. Rad2Go manufacturer's high quality electric
scooters with a 30 day warranty).
● Purchase from a reputable vendor.
● For a listing of off-brand, no brand and clone scooter
styles to avoid, click here.
PRICE: There is a big price range among electric scooters,
but generally speaking electric scooters for kids sell for about $200
- $400 dollars and electric scooters built for adults sell for $300
- $1,000 and up. The better the specifications and the more bells and
whistles the scooter comes with the more it will cost.
SPEED: Electric scooters vary in speed from 8 mph to
25 mph, however electric scooters that hit speeds over 20 mph are rare.
The speed of an electric scooter is affected by several factors. The
weight of the rider, the level of charge in the battery, tire pressure,
inclines, hills and rough terrain can all influence an electric scooters
speed. Typically the speed rating the manufacturer lists for an electric
scooter is its maximum speed under ideal conditions.
RANGE: This is the distance an electric scooter will
take you on a single charge. Electric scooters vary in range from 8
miles to 20 miles per charge. Electric scooters that offer a range of
more than 15 miles are rare and more costly to purchase. The range of
an electric scooter is affected by several factors. The weight of the
rider, tire pressure, extreme temperatures, inclines, hills and rough
terrain can all influence an electric scooters range. Typically the
range rating the manufacturer lists for an electric scooter is its maximum
range under ideal conditions.
CARRYING CAPACITY: This is the maximum amount of weight
an electric scooter can carry. Keep in mind that the heavier the rider
the slower the acceleration and top speed of an electric scooter. Heavier
riders will also reduce an electric scooters range and decrease its
hill climbing ability. Riders under 180 lbs. can typically ride any
electric scooter out there and achieve maximum performance.
RECOMMENDED AGE: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
recommends that children under the age of 12 not ride motorized scooters
(see http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/prscoot.php).
Local laws may require a rider to be a certain age to operate an electric
scooter as well. The manufacturer will post a recommended riding age
for their electric scooters. Manufacturers tend to recommend a riding
age from 12 & up to 16 & up depending on the specifications
of the electric scooter.
TERRAIN: The ideal riding surface for an electric scooter
is a relatively flat street or road. If you plan of taking your electric
scooter off-road, climbing hills or scooting through rough terrain you
will want to purchase a scooter with a high watt motor. For a 180 lb.
rider a motor rating of 300 watts or above will do the trick. Generally
speaking, the higher the watt rating of the motor the better your electric
scooter will tackle demanding terrain. Riders heavier than 180 lbs.
will want to compensate by purchasing a scooter with an even higher
watt rating.
PORTABILITY: Will you need to carry your electric scooter
around? If so, then portability is a big factor to consider. Check the
weight of the scooter and its dimensions when folded. Electric scooters
can weigh anywhere from 30 lbs. to 100 lbs, so you'll want to
make sure it's light enough for you to carry. You'll also
need to check the folded dimensions of the scooter to make sure it fits
in the trunk of your car or wherever you might need to store it for
travel.
CLIMATE: Do you live in sunny California, the snow covered
North or rainy Seattle? Wherever you live you'll want to make sure your
scooter can handle the local weather patterns. Temperature will affect
the battery of an electric scooter. Extremely hot or extremely cold weather
will decrease a scooters range. You will typically want to avoid the rain.
Electric scooters tend to offer some resistance to wet weather and your
scooter will probably survive a real light rain. However, if water gets
into the motor, the motor will short out and need to be replaced. Some
Currie built scooters (Currie, Schwinn, Mongoose and GT) come with weather
resistant motors and can handle wet weather. High winds will also affect
the performance of your electric scooter. Traveling against a high wind
will decrease your speed and range.
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