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Shopping Guide for scooters
Scooters have become an excellent means of urban transport as well as something fun to do. Both adults and kids use their scooters daily to get around the city or, in case of freestyle scooters, to have fun doing tricks on ramps and in skateparks. There are many scooter designs for all kinds of use.
With this guide we will help you find the scooter which is best for you.
Scooter types
There are many different scooter types, each designed for a certain use and user. These are the main types:
Scooters for adults are designed as a means of transport, specially in urban surroundings. They are usually foldable for easy transportation, and bigger in size. They normally have two big wheels of 120mm to 250 mm in diameter, although there are also models with 3 wheels.
Scooters for kids are, in general, very similar to scooters for adults, but they are a little smaller. Some have fun designs and colours which are inspired by animals or comic characters. Similar to the adult scooters, they usually are also foldable or have a removable scooter bar. You can also find scooters with 2 or 3 wheels of 100mm to 120mm in diameter.
Convertible scooters for toddlers
Among the scooter models for toddlers or kids, you can find models that can be transformed into pushbikes. They are meant for toddlers 3 years and younger. They can be used for many years.
Off-road scooters with pneumatic wheels
For those who need an almost indestructible scooter or those who want a very stable and smooth ride, we recommend a scooter with inflatable wheels.
They exist in many designs: from a basically regular urban scooter with the exception of pneumatic wheels to some very tall models equipped with bicycle wheels, disc breaks, and suspensions.
One typical use for the latter kind of scooter is urban or dry-land mushing. This means that your scooter is pulled by one or various dogs.
Freestyle scooters were created to be used on ramps and skateparks. They are therefore used to perform all kinds of tricks, pirouettes and jumps.
Although most freestyle scooter users are kids under the age of 12, more and more teenagers and even adults are having fun doing acrobatics with them.
Electric scooters have become a means of transportation in cities. Being electric they do not pollute and they consume little energy. Many models are also compact enough to be carried on the subway or the train and therefore can be used as a complementary means of transportation.
You can look up our “Shopping guide for electric scooters” if you want know more about electric scooters: /es/guia-de-compra-de-patinetes-electricos
Scooter parts
Handlebar: This is where you put your hands to steer the scooter. With urban transport scooters the bar can be adjusted in height and it can be folded or removed. With freestyle scooters the bar is usually one solid piece to improve its sturdiness and its height cannot be adjusted.
Fork: The fork holds the front wheel. It is joined with the deck by being inserted into the head tube of the deck.
Deck: This is where you put your feet. It holds all other scooter parts.
Headset: The headset is installed into the head tube of the scooter deck and it ensures that the fork and the bar rotate properly. The headset houses bearings inside. Depending on the quality of the bearings, the steering will be smoother and/or more precise.
Clamp: It joins the fork with the handlebar so that they can rotate in unison. Clamps come in different sizes and have two to four screws to allow for a stronger hold of fork and bar.
Wheels: They are one of the most important parts of a scooter. With less expensive and beginners’ scooters the core is typically made of plastic, whereas in medium to high end scooters the core is usually made of aluminum. They come in different sizes from 100mm to 120mm in diameter for freestyle scooters and up to 250mm in diameter for urban transport scooters. The outer part of the wheels is polyurethane which provides a good traction and feel for the ground.
Compression system: The purpose of the system is to securely attach the fork and the bar together. There are different compression systems such as the HIC, ICS and SCS. Which system is used depends on the quality of the scooter and even on the owner’s personal taste.
Brakes: They can be found on the rear wheel and are activated by pushing down with a foot. The scooter slows down and brakes when the brake touches the wheel. The main types are flex fenders and spring brakes. Flex fenders are tougher but also a little harder to operate. They are usually used in freestyle scooters. Spring brakes are easier to operate but also a little more delicate. They are usually used in urban transport scooters. Off-road and urban scooters can also have handbrakes on the handlebar, which work through brake shoes or disc brakes.
Bearings: They are housed within the wheel and they help the wheel turn.
Handle grips: The grips are mounted on edges of your handlebar. They give the user a better and more comfortable grip.
Buying an urban scooter for adults – what you should keep in mind
Adults riding scooters has become a phenomenon in recent years. Urban scooters have proved to be a great invention. They are not only great to ride in the city but are also excellent for connecting between different means of transportation. They are also easy to carry and are relatively inexpensive, therefore buying a scooter is more than justified.
Listed below are the things you should keep in mind when shopping for an urban transport scooter for adults – explained in an easy way
Maximum weight: Every urban scooter allows for a maximum weight. It is therefore very important that you check that the scooter you want can easily bear your weight plus any additional weight you might carry around.
Adjustable bar: Not everybody is of the same height. The bar should be neither too high nor too low; therefore it is important to know the maximum and minimum length of the bar, so that you can adjust it to your liking.
Wheel size: With bigger wheels you can ride faster and have a smoother ride but it will be more difficult to turn. Also, if you need to carry the scooter around, bigger wheels might not be the most comfortable as they usually result in an overall larger scooter.
Foldable: The majority of urban scooters for adults are foldable. You should make sure that this is really the case with the scooter you want and check how easy or difficult the folding and unfolding is.
Brakes: Urban transport scooters for adults can have a fender brake on the back and sometimes also a handbrake that works via brake shoes or disc brakes. It is always better to have a handbrake, too.
Weight: The weight of the scooter varies a lot between different models. This can be of more or less importance to you, depending on what you plan to do with your scooter.
Brand and guarantees: There are numerous brands for urban adult scooters but only a few of quality that also offer a good after-sales service. Putting your trust in a good brand is the best way to get a reliable scooter and to have access to spare parts, if needed. Some of the trustworthy brands are: Frenzy, KRF, Powerslide, JDBug, Micro,... just to name a few.
How to choose a kids’ scooter – what is important
Scooters are perfect for children of all ages. A child as young as two years old can normally start using a scooter. You should nevertheless keep some things in mind in order to choose the ideal scooter for your son or daughter.
Scooters with two or three wheels: There are many kinds of kids’ scooters on the market. It is advisable to get a scooter with 3 wheels for kids and toddlers aged 4 or younger, as it is easier to balance them. They also have a lower centre of gravity. From age 4 and older, children use a 3 wheels scooter if appropriate for their weight and height. However, it is also possible that they prefer a 2 wheel scooter as these are more agile and offer more fun.
Bar height: Your child’s height will mainly determine which scooter you will buy. The bar should neither be too high nor too low. It should reach approximately between the belly button and the chest. With most kids’ scooters you do not have to worry too much about bar height, as they usually have an adjustable bar.
Maximum weight: Most kids’ scooters clearly indicate the maximum weight they can carry. If you buy a scooter for child that does not bear their weight, you risk that the scooter gets damaged or that it even breaks, which is dangerous.
Foldable: To have a foldable scooter is more of an advantage to the parents than to the child. Being foldable allows you to transport the scooter more comfortably, whether you carry it in person or in your car.
Breaks: Most kids’ scooters have a fender over the back wheel. More sophisticated models also have a handbrake. It is better to have more than one brake.
Brand: It can be very tempting to buy a cheap kids’ scooter in a big warehouse, especially because they often have your kid’s favourite comic character printed on them. This, however, is ultimately never as cheap as it seems. Buying a good brand scooter gives you the guarantee that the scooter will last much longer so that it can even be used by a younger sibling. It also ensures that you can get spare parts if necessary. Spending money on a good brand scooter is certainly a good investment.
Some of the most popular brands are: Micro, KRF, Bestial Wolf, Powerslide, Playlife or Frenzy.
Convertible (accessories): For some scooters for toddlers, specially those of the brand Micro with 3 wheels, you can get various, very interesting accessories to convert the scooter into a balance bike or pushbike. This can be particularly useful for kids 3 years old and younger.
Choose the best freestyle scooter or pro scooter
Freestyle scooters or pro scooters are trending with young and not so young people. They are very similar to urban scooters but much more sturdy and durable. There are countless models and brands for every budget. Below we list the most important points to keep in mind when buying a freestyle scooter.
Bar height: Unlike urban scooters, freestyle scooter do not have a height adjustable bar and therefore you have to select a scooter with a bar height corresponding to your height or your child. It is important that the handlebar reaches more or less to your belly button, although this is only a rule of thumb.
Brand: This is again a crucial point. Freestyle scooters will get knocked around quite a bit and therefore being of good quality is essential, not only for their durability but also to avoid injuries in case the scooter breaks in mid jump.
It is worth investing in a freestyle scooter of a good brand such as Bestial Wolf, Slamm, Blunt, Addict, Blazer, Longway, Lucky, among many others that we carry in our brick and mortar store and our online shop.
Wheels: They are one of the most important parts of a freestyle scooter. Basic models usually have plastic cores and better scooter models have an aluminum wheel core. The aluminum core is always more durable and more precise than the plastic core.
Deck size: The deck is where you put your feet. Its ideal length and width depends on your height. When you find a scooter that suits your height, the deck will be proportional.
Price: The price is always an important factor to keep in mind. Due to the huge success of freestyle scooters many brands originating in China have put products on the market. On the outside they look like a freestyle scooter, but in reality they have neither the design nor the necessary materials to assure that the scooter works well on ramps. It is therefore not worth saving some money just to find out that the scooter does not work as hoped for.
Scooter accessories and add-ons
There are numerous accessories for urban scooters as well as for kids’ scooters and freestyle scooters. We give you a short summary of what we consider the most interesting or even essential accessories for scooters:
Protective gear: As mention before, protective gear is without doubt an essential accessory for urban scooters as well as for freestyle scooters. Among the protective gear that you can use, the helmet is the most important one. If you want to ride in a skatepark with a freestyle scooter, you should also use knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves or wrist guards. The use of shin guards and an ankle support is also recommended.
Lights: Lights and other reflective elements are especially important for urban scooters, even more so if you ride at dark.
Bags: Due to the fact that scooters are often used as a means of transportation, it is very convenient to have a bag in which to carry the scooter once you have arrived at your destination.
Straps: There are different types of straps. There are some that you can use to pull your child with their scooter if they run out of energy. There are other straps that are meant to carry your scooter comfortable with your shoulder.
Do you have any doubts? Contact our team of experts and we will help you in any way possible!
