Scooter Alert:
What small Ped-Scooter should I buy?
After some research our Scooters research team recommends the scooters mentioned here
below for
casual use by our mature members. This does not means that other scooters are
not acceptable. It just means that we have not evaluate them! Our recommendations are limited to small wheels foldable kick-power type scooters.
For more info click on the highlighted/underlined links.
Well known to us and recommended are the Huffy Micro enhanced with 110mm wheels and the Xootr family scooters . The club has a Xootr with front wheel brake design that is available for test rides. Email us for reservation. The Xootr is also available for purchase and test at Vanguard in Torrance. For more info, see our Xootr review below. The Xootr is the only small scooter suitable for tall individuals!
The Micro's are/were currently
available at Sears. The 110mm wheels are available at Sports Chalet
,at Dive & Surf and online.
A while ago, I received an email highly praising the Know-Ped
scooter. Since then I have looked at the scooter and its specification and it
looks that this scooter should be suitable for adult scootering. I have
contacted the Go-Ped company and they offered to loan the club a Know-Ped for a
couple of weeks, which we may accept in the near future. The
Know-Ped, who has 150 mm wheels, is available for test and purchase at Dive & Surf
in Torrance but can also be found on the Internet for about $125 plus S & H.
The new Razor scooter with 5.5 inch big pneumatic wheels is available a the Sharper Image. If you have one write to us and we will post your review.
Beware of other
type of small scooters!!! They may not have
been designed with adults in mind. And remember if your are tall or mature or
scooting on rough pavement you must go
with a bigger wheel scooter like the Xootr
or even a bigger wheels one.
Warning: Scooters share the same risks as
bicycles. Always wear a helmet, obey traffic
laws and do not ride at night without highly
reflective garments.
CORNERING: THE "TWO VERSUS FOUR" WHEEL APPROACH (click here)
Comments about Wheels
Modification from
Sir
Michael our Scooter Technologies VP:
About 6 weeks ago I was given a JD Bug scooter. It
has a very soft ride compared to my original razor scooter with the 100 mm
wheels and front suspension. It handles bumps in the pavement much better.
However, the friction of the wheels makes it very tiring to ride over long
distances. Every weekday I ride my scooter about 5 miles a day to
and from the bus stop. There is a slight uphill grade all the way.
The fastest mile I clocked are as follows:
Original razor (100 mm wheels) 1.0 mile
8.5 minutes 7 mph
JD Bug (6” Pneumatic wheels) 1.0 mile 9.5 minutes 6.3 mph
Modified JD Bug (7” Xooter wheels) 1.0 mile 5:0 minutes 12 mph
I modified the JD Bug by extending the front and
rear forks and installing the 7” wheels from a Xootr scooter (click
on picture). 
The
welding class I took last year came in handy! It has a very firm ride, but
the rolling resistance is greatly reduced. The speed achieved on this
modified scooter is fatal. I can pass rollerbladers on the downhill.
I can even pass runners now. Going home, depending on the traffic, I can
scoot from Hawthorne Blvd to Prairie Ave down Redondo with one good kick.
It takes 3 kicks to go from Prairie Ave to Crenshaw.
I started riding the scooter during the MTA
strike last October. To date I have ridden 1000 miles to and from work.
Nine hundred miles on the original razor and 100 miles on the modified JD Bug.
I did buy two Xootrs during the special a few
months ago. They are very nice scooters and are easy to ride and are nice
for errands.
For commuting to and from work, I prefer the
modified JD Bug for its speed and compactness when riding the bus.
The 6 inch pneumatic wheel scooter has a
reinforcement beam that extends the bottom of the kickboard about one inch.
Despite the larger diameter wheel, I experienced five “hangups”, on my 3.5
mile commute to work, compared to none with my original razor (4” wheels).
The hangups occurred where the pavement had abrupt high points resulting in the
bottom surface of the kickboard coming in contact with the pavement causing an
abrupt braking action. I installed a scooter roller ($20.00 from
sharperimage) on the bottom and it would kick in about eight times during this
commute. The additional three hangups were caused by the extra half inch
added by the rollers.
After modifying the scooter with the seven inch
wheels, there were no more “hangups” except at high speed bumps but the
rollers took care of that. The fastest mile clocked with this scooter is 5
minute. I regularly cruise at a speed of 5:30 minute/mile when scooting on flat
terrain with no head wind.
Comparison:
For an interesting and pictorial comparison
between the Know-Ped and the Xootr
scooter go to:
http://www.urbanmobility.f2s.com/knwxtr.html
Link provided by Willy
Scooter Links:
Small Scooters
The Official Scoot-Ped scooter (with pedals) site:
www.topgun.com.tw
The Official Zscooter site: www.zscooter.com
The Official Xootr Scooter site: http://www.xootr.com/index.shtml
The Official Micro Scooter site: http://www.huffybikes.com/_html/micro/micro
The Official Razor Scooter site: http://www.razor-scooter.com
The Official Know-Ped Scooter site: http://www.goped.com
The Official Vapor Scooter site: http://www.vaporscooter.com
The Sharper Image latest Razor with 5.5 in pneumatic wheels: http://www.sharperimage.com/
Large Scooters
The California Grand Chariot scooter site: www.californiachariot.com
The Sidewalker USA scooter site: www.SidewalkerUSA.com/
The Official Blauwerk USA Scooter site: www.landslider.com
The Official Mountain Scooter site: www.mountainscooter.com
The KickBike scooter site: www.kickbike.com
Electrical and Gas Scooters
A Good Supplier of Gas & Electrical scooter: www.freakin-sports.com
The Official Zscooter site: www.zscooter.com
Comprehensive Electric Scooter site: www.electric-scooter-world.com
Scooter clubs / General sites
/ Supplies
Most popular, Kick Scooter, on line magazine: www.knowped.com
For a supply of Carry Grip/Shin Guard: http://home.earthlink.net/~tetrok
Scooter General store: www.fogdog.com/category/index.jsp
Great informative Dutch site: www.vouwstep.nl
The Ultimate Scooter site: http://inlineskating.about.com/cs/scooters
The Official Nederlandse Autoped Federatie site: www.autoped.nl
Safety
Consumer Report on scooters for Kids:
www.zillions.org/Toytest/Scooters/
Why buy a Xootr brand kick scooter?
Scooters have been around for decades. The Xootr is to scooters as Rollerblade was to roller-skates; it reinvents the category. The Xootr scooter offers these benefits:
Sweet ride. In an effort many viewed as overkill, the Xootr was designed by a team that normally designs race cars. The Xootr has ultra-glide polyurethane tires running on nearly frictionless bearings. These wheels give the Xootr the lowest rolling resistance of any small-wheeled vehicle. The glide is several times better than in-line skates, skateboards, and pneumatic-tired portable scooters. The steering geometry (camber, trail, wheelbase, etc.) was optimized for quick, yet stable handling.
Gets small quick. The Xootr goes from fully deployed to a compact folded configuration in less than 10 seconds. The small size allows the Xootr to stow in the trunk of a car, under a desk, in a locker, or behind a door.
Goes where you go. The Xootr goes with you on the bus or train. It goes with you in the office or classroom. You
don't need to worry about where you left it. You don't need to worry about it being stolen from a bike rack.
High design. The Xootr has been described by normally jaded Silicon Valley engineers as "a work of art." The industrial design of the Xootr was done by Lunar Design, one of the five most award winning design firms in the country.
Club Review of
the Xootr Scooter:
I had the pleasure to visit the Vanguard store in
Torrance and had the opportunity to examine and test their Xootr demonstration
scooter. The first thing that I noticed is that because this scooter has bigger
wheels and a taller handle bar, its weight is slightly heavier than our modified
Micro's. The size of the Xootr is also bigger than the Micro and will probably
not fit easily in a backpack. The folding
mechanism consisted of a hinge that is held open or close by the use of holes and a
sturdy pin. This design makes the hinge mechanism very sturdy and reliable.
The Xootr now comes with an emergency front hand brake which makes
is very handy. Other small
scooters usually come only with a Push-fender brake that takes time and technique to
activate. Usual braking while using the Xootr is normally performed by
applying friction to the rear wheel with ones shoe. The lower priced Xootr comes with an easy ride laminated wood
footplate while the most expensive model comes with a light high-tech carbon
fiber footplate. The Xootr wheels are made by molding polyurethane onto aluminum centers
and everyone will appreciate the Xootr wheels size, which at 180 mm
are 1.8
bigger in diameter than the Razor type scooters. This is a very good feature in view that most riding
surfaces have cracks and holes in it. This and the hand brake system should make the Xootr a
much safer scooter
than the other small type aluminum scooters. Wheel fiction resistance is smaller
than most (if not all) other scooters and should allow for a pleasant scooting
experience. An other great feature of the Xootr is the maximum height of the steering handle bar, which at
38 inch is a must feature for anybody above 5’ 8”. The ride of our
test scooter was smooth and easy. This Scooter, if you can afford it, should be
high on your shopping list. The list price of
the Xootr is from $269 to $489 and is geared toward people who want the best scooter available.
A helmet and safety gear is recommended while riding scooters!!
What is great about scooters?
Scooters are really fun. There is something liberating and fundamental about denying friction with two wheels and a platform. Scooters enable social
connections. Two people can comfortably ride side by side on a walkway and carry on a conversation. Scooters work well in crowds at low speeds, enabling a rider to navigate a crowded
Strand or bike path. Scooters are great for light and pleasant exercise, for scooting
to the local Strand cafe or store and also for casual/pleasant rides on the
Beach Strand with your friends.
Safety 1: You must read this!
Are scooters safe?
Do something foolish and you'll get hurt. Ridden under normal conditions however, scooters
are almost as safe as your bike or skateboard. Avoid cars and wear a helmet and other safety gear to minimize the risk of injury.
It would be a good idea to wear some or all of the following safety equipment:
Scooter—If you are just starting out you may wish to
rent a scooter. If you are serious about scootering, look at the scooters
we recommend at the top of this page. Many small scooters are designed for
children and are not appropriate for adults.
Helmet—To prevent injury to the head, helmets are vitally important. To
be effective, the helmet must fit securely and be buckled.
Wrist protection—Wrist guards should have hard plastic on the palm,
which allows you to slide on the pavement during a fall. The sliding action
reduces the force of impact.
Knee pads—Pads should be fastened securely around your leg so that they
do not come off during a slide. If possible, buy those with plastic pads.
Elbow pads—These will protect you during a sideways fall. If
possible, buy those with plastic pads.
Clothing—Comfortable clothes suitable for the weather conditions. In
direct sun, wear a hat that shields your face. In cold weather, avoid clothing
that promotes excess sweating, such as windbreakers or other waterproof
material, which can lead to considerable heat loss.
Shoes—Your shoes should be durable and sturdy. Most athletic shoes are good for scooter riding; stay away from sandals and high heels.
Traffic—Always follow traffic guidelines.
Safety 2: Minimum Safety Equipment
We highly recommend that our scooting members
purchase bicycle type gloves for protection again cement caused scratches and
burn when falling of their scooter. This is the strict minimum safety equipment
that you must have. See Safety 1 above for more safety advices.
Safety 3: About the Scooting Surface
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced scooterist, seek out paved pathways, beach strand, sidewalks or bike paths that
are free of holes, puddles or debris. Industrial parks or empty parking lots
(after hours and on weekends) are good places to start. Beware that
because of the small size of most scooter wheels any crack bigger than 1 inch has
to be negotiated very carefully. Be always on the lookout for pavement irregularities.
Safety 4:
Read the "U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission"
report on scooter injuries and safety at: http://www.cpsc.gov/
CAUTION WHEN USING YOUR SCOOTER:
You are responsible for any modification you made.
No other usage is recommended beside its ordinary purpose.
Do not ride with slippers, sandals or high-heel shoes, nor with a bare foot.
Beware of your fingers when folding or unfolding scooter.
Make sure all bolts are fastened every time prior to riding.
Make sure the environment is safe for riding.
Hold firmly on to the handlebars while riding.
Do not ride at crowded public area.
Do not ride on sloped area.
Do not over-speed.
Do not ride at night.
Do not ride on wet pavement.
Do not ride on pavement with sand.
Always assume that cars will not see you.
Make sure to look for pavement defects while scooting.
Check every bolt approximately once a month.
Maximum weight of Rider is in many cases 100 kg or 220 lb
Use all necessary protectors such as helmet, knee & elbow pads,
gloves, etc.
Common Injury:
Scootering brings an increased risk of bodily injury. The most common site of
injury is the wrist. Frequently, people injure themselves by attempting to stop
a fall with an outstretched arm.
How To Ride:
Rest one foot on baseboard, preferably toward the back of the plate, kick ground surface with another leg to push scooter forward.
To equilibrate wear and tear on your body and shoes, it is recommended that you
train yourselves in alternating the foot that is resting on the plate.
For better cornering, slightly lean body left / right toward direction needed.
Apply brake lightly if intend to stop from riding.
Care of your scooter:
We have determined that once a week or two our
members should clean their scooters with lukewarm water with a small amount of
"TutleWax, Zip Wax" car wash solution readily available at Pep Boys?
The scooter should be washed with a soft sponge and then dried with a soft
cloth.
HEALTH WARNING:
Care Should Be Taken When Lifting Your Scooter, Since Its Mass, and Thus Its
Weight, Is Dependent on Its Velocity Relative to the User.
NOTICE:
Because of the "Uncertainty Principle," It Is
Impossible for the owners of scooters to Find Out at the Same Time Both
Precisely Where This Product Is and How Fast It Is Moving.
WARNING:
In
the Unlikely Event That Your Scooter Should Contact Antimatter in Any Form, a
Catastrophic Explosion Will Result.