Factors-Buying Motorized Scooter

Key Factors to consider when purchasing a motorized scooter

QUALITY:

Quality is the number one factor to consider when buying an motorized scooter. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of overseas factories flooding the market with poor quality off brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones. Poorly manufactured motorized scooters aren't built to last. They break down shortly after purchase, repairs are expensive, parts may not be available, safety can be a concern and ultimately these scooters find themselves in an early grave. Sadly, too many people have been ripped off by unscrupulous vendors selling poor quality scooters. You can save yourself much heartache and frustration by doing your homework and steering clear of poor quality motorized scooters.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid poorly manufactured motorized scooters :

Stick with brand name motorized scooters (avoid off-brand, no brand and clones).
Avoid vendors who sell off-brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones
If the price sounds too good to be true… it is!
Buy motorized scooters that offer at least a 90 day warranty.
Purchase from a reputable vendor

PRICE:

There is a big price range among motorized scooters, but generally speaking motorized scooters for kids sell for about $200 - $400 dollars and motorized scooters built for adults sell for $300 - $1,000 and up. The better the specifications and the more bells and whistles the scooter comes with the more it will cost.

SPEED:

Motorized scooters vary in speed from 8 mph to 25 mph, however motorized scooters that hit speeds over 20 mph are rare. The speed of a motorized scooter is affected by several factors. The weight of the rider, the level of charge in the battery, tire pressure, inclines, hills and rough terrain can all influence a motorized scooters speed. Typically the speed rating the manufacturer lists for a motorized scooter is its maximum speed under ideal conditions.

RANGE:

This is the distance a motorized scooter will take you on a single charge. Motorized scooters vary in range from 8 miles to 20 miles per charge. Motorized scooters that offer a range of more than 15 miles are rare and more costly to purchase. The range of a motorized scooter is affected by several factors. The weight of the rider, tire pressure, extreme temperatures, inclines, hills and rough terrain can all influence a motorized scooters range. Typically the range rating the manufacturer lists for a motorized scooter is its maximum range under ideal conditions.

CARRYING CAPACITY:

This is the maximum amount of weight a motorized scooter can carry. Keep in mind that the heavier the rider the slower the acceleration and top speed of a motorized scooter. Heavier riders will also reduce a motorized scooters range and decrease its hill climbing ability. Riders under 180 lbs. can typically ride any motorized scooter out there and achieve maximum performance.

RECOMMENDED AGE:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children under the age of 12 not ride motorized scooters. Local laws may require a rider to be a certain age to operate a motorized scooter as well. The manufacturer will post a recommended riding age for their motorized scooters. Manufacturers tend to recommend a riding age from 12 & up to 16 & up depending on the specifications of the motorized scooter.

TERRAIN:

The ideal riding surface for a motorized scooter is a relatively flat street or road. If you plan of taking your motorized scooter off-road, climbing hills or scooting through rough terrain you will want to purchase a scooter with a high watt motor. For a 180 lb. rider a motor rating of 300 watts or above will do the trick. Generally speaking, the higher the watt rating of the motor the better your motorized scooter will tackle demanding terrain. Riders heavier than 180 lbs. will want to compensate by purchasing a scooter with an even higher watt rating.

PORTABILITY:

Will you need to carry your motorized scooter around? If so, then portability is a big factor to consider. Check the weight of the scooter and its dimensions when folded. Motorized scooters can weigh anywhere from 30 lbs. to 100 lbs, so you'll want to make sure it's light enough for you to carry. You'll also need to check the folded dimensions of the scooter to make sure it fits in the trunk of your car or wherever you might need to store it for travel.

CLIMATE:

Do you live in sunny California, the snow covered North or rainy Seattle? Wherever you live you'll want to make sure your scooter can handle the local weather patterns. Temperature will affect the battery of a motorized scooter. Extremely hot or extremely cold weather will decrease a scooters range. You will typically want to avoid the rain. Motorized scooters tend to offer some resistance to wet weather and your scooter will probably survive a real light rain. However, if water gets into the motor, the motor will short out and need to be replaced. High winds will also affect the performance of your motorized scooter. Traveling against a high wind will decrease your speed and range.

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