Buying and Safety Tips for a Motorized Scooter

Kids love to zip around the neighborhood on a motorized scooter. They're quiet, speedy, and a great deal of fun. For adults however, the joy of riding a motorized scooter may be overshadowed by the practical features they offer. These small machines offer an energy and cost efficient means of getting around a college campus, of allowing younger kids to get to their friends house, their piano lessons, or soccer practice by themselves, or for an adult to make the short trip to the office or the corner market without a lot of hassle.

These motorized scooters are great for young and old alike. Learn more about them and find some popular models here on this page.

Photo by SanFranAnnie.

Most motorized scooters are electric, lightweight, and offer limited power. While they won't go long distances, they can get you to points within several miles very efficiently. Compared to cars, these machines certainly are not fast, but as compared to walking, they are quite speedy and certainly save time and physical effort in getting around.

In addition, this form of transportation is economical as it takes pennies to charge them and no other fuel to transport you from place to place. They emit no fumes or noxious emissions. The primary disadvantage with these machines is that they can take several hours to charge. However, if it is plugged in each time it is used, it should be ready when it's next needed.

These motoroized scooters are also quite small and easy to park, store, and transport. In fact, many of them offer foldable handlebars to make storage even easier.

They are great for kids who want to be able to go short distances by themselves. They are perfect for college students who want an easy way to get around campus. They are ideal for apartment and condo dwellers who have a short commute to work or the store and limited space to park and store things. They're also perfect for individuals who have endurance problems or even for those on a limited budget who need basic, affordable transportation.

However, riding a scooter does present a few safety risks in some situations. Be sure to read the safety tips below to fully understand the risks and how to stay safe.

Even at only 10 or 15 mph,safety needs to be a concern in order to avoid unecessary accidents and injuries. Here are a few safety tips.

1. Although motorized scooters aren't moving fast as compared to most other motorized vehicles, they are much faster than pedestrians. Always remember to signal pedestrians as you approach from behind and yield the right of way to avoid collisions.

2. Based on their speed, a these machines are best suited to walkways, paved paths, and so forth where there is no heavy traffic. Cars are obviously much larger and faster and present signifcant risks for someone on a scooter who may not be easily seen.

3. Anyone operating a motorized scooter should be aware of all bicycle safety and road rules. Signaling turns, obeying stop signs, and so forth are critical.

4. Motorized scooters have small wheels and less stability than a mountain bike, they are intended primarily for use on smooth surfaces rather than on gravel, stone, or uneven ground. Riders have to be alert to avoid sand, broken pavement, and so forth.

5. Safety gear like knee and elbow pads as well as helmets are highly recommended.

6. Most of these machines do not have lights on them, therefore they are appropriate for daytime use only.

7. Wearing bright colored clothing and taking extra care when crossing or emerging from around parked vehicles can assure visibility. Riders also need to stay aware of traffic behind them. Most of these motorized scooters don't have rear view mirrors, but faster vehicles may be approaching from behind.

8. Keeping a motorized scooter properly charged will assure it's longevity and prevent the mishap of running out of power when you're away from home.

Choosing a motorized scooter is a fairly easy process, but there are a few things to consider:

1. Size

Younger kids need smaller models while adults and teenagers obviously need something larger. Handlebar height and deck size can be important. (Some handlebars are adjustable which is great when there will be more than one rider.) Most of these machines will also indicate a maximum weight capacity, obviously this needs to match up to the user.

2. Seat

Some models offer a seat to allow the user to sit while riding, others allow the rider to stand. Some have seats that are removable which allow riders to make the choice between sitting and standing.

3. Range and Speed

Certainly larger motors and higher powered batteries can give these machines more power. Each motoroized scooter should indicate their maximum range and speed. A machine with a 10mph top speed is appropriate for younger kids. Adults and older kids may want something a bit faster. Variable speed control allows riders to adjust speed based on conditions and twist throttles are easiest to control. How much range you need will depend on how far you will be wanting to ride. Range is significantly effected by the weight of the driver, the speed, the terrain, and so forth, so this will also need to be taken into consideration.

4. Tires

Wider tires offer a smoother ride in general. However, suspension is also critical in determining the ride. Wider, inflatable tires are also more tolerant of rougher surfaces which might be encountered at the edges of pavement and so forth. Larger tires also tend to prevent dragging when turning or encountering rougher terrain.

5. Brakes

Stopping is as important as moving. The faster the scooter moves, the more critical the brakes become. Front and rear brakes can be good on more powerful motorized scooters and certainly hand operated brakes make them easier to operate.