There is no doubt that scooters are fast becoming the most popular means of personal transportation. Because of its efficiency, relatively low price, ease of use, and lack of strict rules regarding their use, more and more people have started to keep their cars at home.
People used to think that scooters were only for kids. If you ask them, they would say, “No self-respecting person would ever ride a scooter”. But gone are those days. These days there are more scooterists on the road than ever. The day when all of them will swarm the bike lanes is not far away. Governments across the globe are also promoting this economical and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Not only will they free up the roads, but they can significantly reduce a person’s carbon footprint. But before you buy one, you must know at least the difference between various types of them. This article will help you with that.
A few decades ago, it was much easier to shop for a scooter. There weren’t many varieties of it back then. But these days, ‘scooter‘ is an umbrella term for a lot of different kinds of models ranging from the push scooters that kids play with to more serious modes of mobility. So, here is a list of the most common types of scooters that you will come across. Knowing how they are different and what are their different features will help you make a better choice when you are shopping. In this article, you will also find some useful tips that you can follow while shopping for them online.
When you slightly change the wheel configuration of a skateboard and add handlebars, you get a kick scooter. And just like skateboards, they are a means for short commutes and performing stunts. The way you stand on a kick scooter is not like a skateboard, though. Because the deck will be larger than a skateboard, you can keep your both feet pointing forward on a kick scooter. These are mostly used by children, but there are adult kick versions as well. But these days, after the advent of electric models, older people do not prefer kick scooters.
Due to their affordability and convenience, electric models are very popular these days. Folding electric models are electric versions of kick scooters. The only addition is a battery pack and a throttle, and in some cases, a small screen to display the speed and battery. People use them for short-distance daily commutes instead of taking public transport. And because they are foldable, you can even travel with them on buses and metro trains. Depending on the model, these can have a range of up to 50 kilometres, which is more than enough for getting around the city if you are on your own.
Experts say that personal mobility is the future of in-city transportation. Because of the growing concerns over Global warming and people getting tired of spending hours in gridlocks, more and more people will use it for short commutes. Compared to folding electric models, electric scooters with seats feel more stable and in your hands. Also, the seat stem allows more space for bigger batteries. If you want, you can attach a small basket to the seat stem to store your bag as you ride. But the downside is that they do not have the portability of a foldable scooter. So, tough luck if you want to take it with you on a bus.
What if you want to ride an electric scooter but want to take it through a much more challenging terrain? Normal electric models with their small wheels and less powerful motors are not the ideal fit for that. In that case, off-road electric scooters can save your day. These have bigger and chunkier tyres and beefier batteries that hold more juice. They are also extremely sturdy and can take a lot of beating. And to climb steeper slopes, you need more horsepower. A typical off-road scooter comes with a 1600 Watts motor that will let you go at a max speed of 30 kilometres per hour.
Scooters are the best form of personal transportation. But having one that is not right for you is worse than not having it in the first place. To make sure that you get the most out of your investment, you have to consider your lifestyle and the performance you want out of the scooter before buying. Here are a few simple tips that you can follow when you are shopping for them.
Apart from these, there are a few more minor things. It is important to choose a scooter of the right size to ensure a comfortable ride. And if you haven’t used one ever before, get accustomed to riding a standard one before going for off-road versions. Our product search engine offers you a wide array of bikes and scooters from brands like Fuzion, TFox, Envy Series, Madd Gear, and Phoenix.
There is more than one reason for this phenomenon. Due to the ever-increasing number of cars on the road, getting around the city in a car is increasingly difficult. So, for some people, riding a scooter is a far more convenient and faster means of transport. Even those who live a little bit far away from their office prefer using a combination of scooters and public transport. Another reason is that today’s youth are aware of the threat traditional combustion engine cars are posing to the environment. Finally, they are cheaper than a car when you take into account the cost of petrol and parking.
You have to consider a few things to understand this. Mostly, people do not use them for long-distance trips. They are not built for that, nor are they comfortable for long rides. So, when you are using them in a city, you are treated similar to a pedestrian. Because of this, the chances of getting run over by another vehicle are not any higher than if you are walking. But there is the risk of falls. You can reduce the impact of a fall by wearing helmets and knee and elbow protection. Apart from that, be mindful of other people that are using the sidewalks, as well. Depending on where you live, you will also need to follow the local rules.
For those who know how to ride a bike, driving a scooter is not any difficult. But still, it will take you some time to get used to a new bike. It won’t take that long to get over that learning phase, though. Ride slowly and take extra care for the first few days on the scooter. After that, you will feel confident enough to go faster and make quick turns. Regardless of how safe and comfortable you feel, do not ride without proper safety equipment. A good quality helmet and high visibility vest are important. If you want, wear knee and elbow pads as well.
Electric scooters polarised people from the beginning. Those who rode them loved it, but those who didn’t think they were a nuisance. But everyone agrees that they are worth the money. They haven’t been around for long, so it is hard to tell how long they will last conclusively. But on average, they hold on for three years. But those riders who are abusive to their scooters can skew the average to the lower end. So, if you are careful to maintain the scooter properly and do not ride them through pools of water, they can stick around for a long time.