We have put together a basic scooter buying guide. This is designed as an introduction for you to make sure you are looking at the right types of scooters. With so many changes in the industry over the past few years and so much confusion over what is what, we thought it would be a good idea to set the record straight for you. Once you have reviewed this information, we suggest you visit the specific sections of our website devoted to that type of scooter. These areas will go into far more detail and make sure get one that suits your purposes.
1. What are your basic needs for your scooter? Here, is a list of questions you should consider:
- Will you need this scooter to commute to work or just for fun?
- Do you need a scooter to help get you around your home or stores?
- Will you need your scooter to do tricks?
If you are looking for a scooter to commute to work or will be doing a ton of driving, you will need to choose a motor scooter. Both petrol and electric scooters can work well for this function although most opt for petrol over electric because they tend to be faster and can travel farther before a fill-up rather than a charge up for an electric scooter.
If you are looking for something for fun, you can choose between all types of scooters: motor scooters (petrol and electric), motorized scooters, and kick scooters.
These scooters usually are used by different age groups with the youngest beginning with a kick or push scooters and moving up to motorized scooters while in their early teens and then moving to a regular scooter in their late teens and early twenties. In addition, tricks for scooters are usually reserved for kick scooters. However, some motorized scooters and petrol scooters can be used for certain jumps.
Finally, if you are handicapped or need a scooter for mobility, mobility scooters will probably be the best choice for you. New models in this area can be used to navigate throughout stores and are becoming more and more prevalent as the baby boomers age.
2. What type of design needs are you looking for?
Most motor scooters come in two designs (1) step-through frame or (2) a sporty motorcycle look. Each one has its advantages as a step-through frame gives you more stability; however, a sporty motorcycle look has a more masculine look.
In addition, motorized scooters come in two varieties (1) stand-up style or (2) sit-down versions. Most older students prefer sit-down models as they allow for more convenience when having a slightly longer commute. Still, stand-up versions are popular with the younger crowd as they look cooler as they are closer to riding a skateboard as opposed to a bicycle.
As for mobility scooters, you can purchase ones with 3 or 4 wheels and ones designed for more outdoor terrain and ones for indoor. These variations tend to impact the tire size with larger tires being used for outdoor versions and 4 wheels used to give additional stability to the unit.
Finally, kick scooter design variations tend to focus on the purpose of the scooter. If the kick scooter is being purchased for tricks, you can find models that allow for foot extensions and have different handles that are better for certain tricks. Some models are geared toward improved speed and have models that work more smoothly in going over objects in your path.
3. Do you have any special needs?
A number of scooters are made to accommodate the variations in the size and shape of people. If you are a larger person, you will want to keep this in mind when making your next purchase.
Certain larger engine motor scooters and maxi scooters are great for bigger people. In addition, maxi-scooters help allow you to take along a passenger if needed. For mobility scooters, these types of needs are usually already built into their models.
As for motorized scooters and kick scooters you can find models that have a larger floorboard designed for those with bigger feet. This a great option as it makes their rides go much more smoothly.
Now, armed with the scooter buying guide basics be sure to check out the sections on our website devoted to the scooter types you want. These sections will go into much more specificity and provide you with the necessary details to get you the best scooter possible.
