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Cheap Electric Scooters to Avoid |
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It makes good sense to observe the Latin phrase 'caveat emptor' (let the buyer beware) when buying an electric scooter.
There are hundreds of overseas factories flooding the market with poor quality off brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones. Sadly, there are also plenty of unethical dealers here in the USA willing to sell these cheap electric scooters. These cheap scooters are poorly constructed, break down frequently and tend to lack support from the manufacturer or dealer (i.e. replacement parts, warranty and/or service). It's extremely frustrating, very expensive and can be quite dangerous to own a cheap electric scooter. What makes things even worse is that these cheap electric scooters are everywhere. You'll even find cheap scooters sold through 'reputable dealers'.
Fortunately, most of these are mass produced in only a few body styles. That makes them easy to spot. We've put together a list of the worst offenders we like to call 'The Flawed Four'.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE: There are always exceptions to the rule. There are a few manufacturers producing quality electric scooters that mimic these body styles. We'll make mention of the good manufacturers we're aware of below. There are also cheap scooters out there in other body styles, so we'll offer some advice on how to spot them as well.
CHEAP ELECTRIC SCOOTERS TO AVOID (THE FLAWED FOUR)
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HOW TO AVOID CHEAP ELECTRIC SCOOTERS
Here are a few general tips to help you avoid buying a cheap scooter:
• Purchase from a reputable dealer.
• Stick with brand name electric scooters (avoid off-brand, no brand and clones).
• Avoid dealers who sell off-brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones.
• If the price sounds too good to be true… it is!
• Buy electric scooters that offer at least a 90 day warranty. Exception to the rule: X-Treme Scooters manufactures quality electric scooters with a 30 day manufacturer's warranty, but offer an upgrade to a 90 day warranty and lifetime technical support.
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Electric Scooters vs. Gas Scooters |
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It's the question on everyone's mind… do I go gas or electric! There are many factors to consider when purchasing a motorized scooter. Whether you buy a gas scooter or an electric scooter is one of the first decisions you'll want to make. This section outlines the pros and cons of each type of motorized scooter.
COST: Electric scooters win the prize in the affordability category. As a general rule, an electric scooter that offers the same specifications as a gas scooter will be less expensive.
SPEED: Dollar for dollar, gas scooters have the advantage. You'll find electric scooter models that vary in speed from 8 mph to 25 mph, but electric scooters offering a speed in excess of 20 mph are very rare. On the other hand, gas scooters will zip along at speeds ranging from 16 mph to 30 mph.
NOISE: Electric scooters are the clear winner in this category. Gas scooters are quite loud and their noise level can be compared to a motorcycle, lawnmower or leaf blower. If noise is a concern, you should probably get an electric scooter. An electric scooter is very quiet and usually gives off a low humming sound rather than the high volume sound produced by gas scooters. If you must have a gas scooter and noise is a concern, try a gas scooter built with a California C.A.R.B. Tier 2 exhaust emission compliant motor. Gas scooter motors built to California C.A.R.B. standards are quieter.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: And the winner is by unanimous decision… electric scooters! If your goal is to help save the planet by reducing harmful emissions, then electric is the way to go. Gasoline scooters burn fuel which give off emissions that are harmful to our environment. However, gas scooters do produce fewer harmful emissions than your car. If you plan on keeping your car in the garage and commuting by gas scooter instead, then at least you're headed in the right direction. Gas scooters with motors built to California C.A.R.B. Tier 2 exhaust emission standards are cleaner burning than standard gas scooters.
USABILITY: There's no clear winner here although electric scooters do have an edge. While electric scooters get their power supply from an electrical outlet, gas scooters require the handling of fuel. Typically gasoline is mixed with two stroke engine oil to properly fuel a gas powered scooter. If you're uncomfortable handling flammable liquids then gas powered scooters are probably not for you.
DURABILITY: Gas scooters tend to have the advantage here. Generally speaking gas scooters are more durable because they must handle higher speeds and are more likely to be used off road.
RELIABILITY: Neither electric scooters or gas scooters have an obvious advantage here. The key is to stick with a quality brand name motorized scooter and to avoid off-brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones. Off-brand scooters, no brand scooters and clones generally offer extremely poor reliability.
SAFETY & LEGAL ISSUES: Both electric scooters and gas scooters require attention to safety guidelines and local laws. Check out our Scooter Safety Page for a general overview of safety guidelines for all motorized scooters. Laws regarding motorized scooters vary from state to state and it's best to contact your local DMV or law enforcement agency for the laws in your area. Gas scooters that don't comply with California C.A.R.B. Tier 2 exhaust emissions standards are illegal for use in the state of California for other than closed course competition purposes.
IN CONCLUSION: The type of motorized scooter that's best for you depends partly on how you plan on using the motorized scooter and partly on personal preference. To help make your decision a little easier, consider the following information:
Electric scooters are much quieter than their noisy counterparts. No warm-up time is required when starting an electric scooter. Electric scooters are easy to use and don't require the handling of fuel. They only cost about five cents per day to charge. Electric scooters are allowed on public transit, such as buses, trains, and planes, whereas gas scooters are typically not allowed by law. Electric scooters are environmentally friendly and don't have that 'gasoline smell'.
Gas scooters offer more power and speed. They are lighter in weight and usually have a smaller frame and higher carrying capacity. Gas scooters tend to have greater range and outperform electric scooters on hills and rough terrain. A gas scooter is more convenient than an electric scooter in that you can simply fill it up at your local gas station and get back on the road. An electric scooter must be recharged through an electrical outlet and charging can take from four to eight hours depending on the scooter.
There you have it, the basic pros and cons of buying an electric scooter versus a gas scooter. Simply weigh the advantages and disadvantages and decide which type of motorized scooter will best suit your needs.
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Electric Scooters & the Environment |
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Automobiles emit over 300 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year in the United States. These emissions contribute to a global warming trend that threatens our entire planet. When you buy an e scooter, you're doing your part to help end global warming and harmful emissions in the air.
Since e scooters run on batteries, they don't burn fossil fuels to propel the motor. Therefore, when you switch from a gas based form of transportation to electric you're helping reduce pollution in our atmosphere. Making the switch to an e scooter helps by decreasing the amount of harmful emissions in the air and by supporting an environmentally friendly industry that's in direct competition with the gas and oil industries. Many environmentally conscious people buy e scooters for these reasons alone.
E scooters are a fantastic alternative to the automobile for people who have a short commute to work or to the local metro station. E scooters are great for running local errands. E scooters are compact and portable, so you can take them into the office and store them under your desk or in the closet. People use e scooters for local transportation when traveling by car, bus, subway, train, RV, boat or plane.
Clearly, the more we use e scooters as a means of transportation the better off our environment will be. E scooters represent a terrific alternative to other forms of transportation, save the environment, and provide their riders with many other benefits.
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Electric Scooter Dictionary |
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AMPS: Unit of measurement. Represents the current or flow rate of electricity. Most electric powered scooters will come with a battery system that will show the current in amps, it is usually shown after the voltage as amp hours (Ah).
AUTOMATIC OVERLOAD PROTECTION: A protection added to some engines that will keep the engine from taking too much electricity and burning out.
AXLE: The part of the wheel that holds the wheel to the forks or frame of a scooter. Usually a bolt type device in the center of the hub.
BEARINGS: The part of the wheel that allows the hub to spin freely around the axle without grinding or wearing. Some manufacturers will use sealed bearings which help increase bearing and axle life.
BODY: The secondary structure of the scooter. The body can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic or any combination of those materials and is usually attached to the frame. Some scooter bodies may only consist of a deck while others may include fenders. Plastic bodies are more susceptible to cracking and breaking.
BRAKES (BAND): A band that is tightened around a shaft to stop the rotation of the wheel.
BRAKES (CALIPER): A caliper is a measuring device with two moving parts that come together to determine the dimensions of an object. Most bicycle brakes use a similar mechanism to move the brake shoes inward toward the rim, so they are called caliper brakes.
BRAKES (DISC): A brake in which friction is caused by a set of pads pressing against a rotating disk.
BRAKES (DRUM): A brake in which friction is caused by a set of pads pressing against the inner surface of a rotating drum.
CLUTCH (CENTRIFUGAL): An automatic clutch in which the friction surfaces are engaged by weighted levers acting under centrifugal force at a certain speed of rotation.
CLUTCH (FREEWHEELING): A clutch in the rear-wheel hub that permits the wheel to turn freely without engaging the motor, as in coasting.
DECK: The standing or foot part of the body of the scooter. The deck can be made of steel, aluminum and/or plastic and is usually covered by some type of gripping material. Plastic decks are more susceptible to cracking and breaking.
DRIVE TRAIN: Type of system used to turn the rear wheel.
DRIVE TRAIN (PUSH AND GO): A safety feature added to some scooters that requires the rider to first push the scooter before the power is transferred to the drive train.
FORKS: The forks are the device that holds the front wheel and are controlled (steered) by the stem and handle bars. Forks come in solid and suspended versions. The solid version is similar to a bicycle fork in design, an upside down u shape with slots at each end to attach the wheel. The suspension version will usually use coil spring over shock system in each side or an elastomer spring in each side. Fork suspension systems travel is usually shown in millimeters, 1 inch is equal to 25.4 mm.
FRAME: This is the main structure of the scooter. Most scooter companies construct the frame out of steel. Some frames may be covered with a body made of steel, aluminum, plastic or any combination of the three.
HORSEPOWER (hp): Unit of measurement. You usually see gas powered scooters will show power output as horsepower and not electric scooters, but some electric scooters will offer an hp rating. Visit HowStuffWorks.com for a more thorough definition.
HUB: The inner part of the wheel that holds the spokes, bearings and axle.
IGNITION: The mechanism used to start the engine. Typically a toggle switch or keyed ignition will be available.
MILLIMETERS (mm): Unit of measurement. Most suspension system travel will be shown as millimeters. 25.4 mm is equal to 1 inch.
OFF-BRAND ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND CLONES: Off-brand electric scooters (aka clones) copy-cat the look of quality brand name electric scooters. They're typically poor in quality, unsupported by the manufacturer or store that sells them and parts are hard to find. Do yourself a big favor and avoid the off-brand scooters and clones!
RANGE: The overall range of the scooter. The overall range will vary with rider weight, riding condition, battery condition and terrain.
RIM: The outside part of a wheel that holds the tire.
SPEED: The top speed that the scooter can reach. The top speed will vary with rider weight, riding condition, battery condition and terrain.
SPOKES: The part of the wheel that holds the rim onto the hub. Spokes can come in a thin steel wire version, thick steel spoke, aluminum spoke, and plastic spoke versions, or in a solid steel, aluminum, or plastic version.
SUSPENSION: Some manufacturers and models come with front and/or rear suspension. This allows the wheel(s) to move up and down absorbing impacts and bumps. The smoother ride will also help increase traction as the wheel(s) stay in better contact with the ground on uneven surfaces. Rear suspension is usually a swing arm set up with a coil spring over shock dampening system. The suspension travel is usually listed as millimeters. 1 inch is equal to 25.4 mm.
THROTTLE: Speed is changed and controlled through the use of a throttle. Most scooters are hand throttle controlled; with either a twist (motorcycle style) or thumb (ATV, Jet Ski style) controller.
TIRE: The rubber part of a wheel attached to the rim. Tires usually have an air filled inner tube inside. Some manufacturers offer solid foam rubber or polyurethane tires. Tires sizes vary from width to height. Tire tread design will also vary.
TIRE (POLYURETHANE): A very durable rubber/plastic compound used to make wheels for a variety of products including scooters. Usually found on small push scooters and small electric scooters.
TIRE (PNEUMATIC): An air filled tire.
TORQUE: The turning or twisting "rotational force" force exerted at the crankshaft by the motor.
TRANSMISSION: The system that transfers the motors power to the drive train.
VOLTS (v): Unit of measurement that represents the power or force of electricity available.
WATTS (w): Unit of measurement that represents the power output of an electric engine. 746 watts is equal to 1 horsepower.
WHEEL: The entire part that includes the axle, hub, spokes and rim. Wheels come with wire spokes, solid spoke or a spoke less solid design. Wheels come in steel, aluminum and reinforced plastic. Smaller scooters may have solid polyurethane wheels with sealed bearings and an axle. This type of wheel is more common on push scooters.
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From time to time even quality built electric scooters require replacement scooter parts. The most commonly replaced parts are the tires, tubes, batteries, belts, chains, fuses and battery chargers. These parts are typically easy to replace yourself. If more difficult repairs are required consult a local scooter repair shop, bike shop or use the 'Find a Repair Shop' feature noted below for help getting the job done.
Before you purchase an electric scooter, make sure to find a reliable vendor who sells replacement scooter parts or can direct you to a source of replacement scooter parts. Also make sure to only purchase brand name electric scooters from manufacturers who stand by their products. We can't stress the issue of “parts availability” enough. How silly would it feel to toss your electric scooter in the trash because you can't track down a replacement drive belt? Unfortunately, this scenario plays itself out far too often and too many people have discovered this the hard way. It pays to do your homework! Before buying an electric scooter, make sure you have replacement scooter parts available when you need them.
Find Scooter Parts Online
There’s a fantastic source of electric scooter parts online called Parts For Scooters. They carry a wide selection of electric scooter parts, gas scooter parts and pocket bike parts. Parts For Scooters carries; Currie scooter parts, Bladez scooter parts, Schwinn scooter parts, Freedom scooter parts, GT scooter parts, Bravo scooter parts, Mongoose scooter parts, pocket bike parts, Boreem scooter parts, Scoot-N-Go scooter parts, GoPed scooter parts, Salorr scooter parts, E Scooter parts, Pantera scooter parts, Star scooter parts, pocket rocket parts, Electra scooter parts, Tornado scooter parts, Cobra scooter parts, mini harley scooter parts, Razorback scooter parts, Razor scooter parts, mini motorcycle parts, Boss scooter parts, HCF scooter parts, Raven scooter parts, Z Scooter parts, Yomer scooter parts, Sunl scooter parts, Xcooter scooter parts, Zooma scooter parts plus electric scooter parts, gas scooter parts and pocket bike parts from many other brands and styles. Click here to visit Parts For Scooters!
Find a Repair Shop Online
Parts For Scooters also offers a “Find A Repair Shop” feature to help you track down a local electric scooter repair shop to do the work. Click here to visit Parts For Scooters!
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The laws that govern the operation of electric scooters and bikes vary from state to state. In addition, the enforcement of these laws may vary from city to city. Before selecting an electric scooter for purchase, we recommend contacting your local law enforcement agency or DMV to obtain the most up to date and accurate information for your area.
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Safety counts and it's important to review guidelines for scooting safely. This is the most important information we offer at Electric-Scooters-Info.com and we hope it helps keep you and yours safe. Let's be careful out there!
If you are looking to buy electric scooters for kids, then the advice is to buy scooters for kids over the age of 12. Non motorized scooters are suitable for kids over 8.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommendations are as follows:
(Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/prscoot.php)
● Wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. (Wrist guards may make it difficult to grip the handle and steer the scooter.)
● Children under age 8 should not use non-powered scooters without close adult supervision. Children under 12 should not ride motorized scooters.
● Avoid gravel and uneven pavement, which can cause falls.
● Don't ride scooters in traffic.
● Don't ride scooters at night - riders can't see where they're going or be seen by others.
● Wear sturdy shoes.
● Owners of scooters should check with local authorities for local laws regarding scooters.
In addition to the CPSC's recommendations we'd like make some recommendations of our own. Here are a few more common sense safety guidelines to follow while riding your electric scooter:
● Don't dart out of driveways or from between parked cars.
● Stop at all stop signs.
● Carefully check for traffic and never swerve when looking over your shoulder.
● Check the scooter's equipment before you ride including all nuts and bolts, the brakes, the frame and tires.
● Read and understand the instruction manual.
● Observe all safety and warning labels on your scooter.
● Scooters are intended for one rider. Never carry an additional person on board when scooting.
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