The fashion for a healthy and active lifestyle has returned scooters to store shelves. Now not only small, but also big boys and girls can drive them through the streets. In addition, the family of two-wheeled vehicles has seriously grown. After “crossing” scooters with bicycles and skateboards, a lot of interesting models appeared on which you can ride to work, go down the mountain slopes and do dizzying stunts. It's time to get acquainted with the novelties, as well as figure out what criteria you need to pay attention to in order to choose the right scooter.
Content:
The best manufacturers of scooters - which company to choose
If you need not a toy for one season, but really high-quality and good-quality apparatus, choose models from well-known manufacturers. They value their name, and do not put on the market low-grade shells.
Scooters of the following brands will be a good choice:
1. Razor
2. Micro
3. Kettler
4. Jd bug
5. Explore
In our ranking of the best scooters for children You will find a description of the models of these and other well-known companies. But before buying it is necessary to figure out what modern scooters are and what you need to pay attention to when choosing.
The device and the principle of operation of the scooter
Scooter - a cross between a bike and a skateboard. It consists of the following parts:
1. The frame - the carrier base of any scooter, is made of steel, an alloy of aluminum or magnesium. Some models have a folding function for easy storage and carrying.
2. Deca - a platform for legs.
3. Steering wheel - can be adjustable and unregulated, have a T-shaped, "bicycle" design or even run as a joystick.
4. The wheels are usually 2 scooters, but today more stable models are being produced, where there can be 3 and 4 wheels.
5. Shock absorbers - not installed on all devices, but if they are, riding a scooter will be more comfortable by mitigating shocks and vibrations.
6. Brake system.
As for the principle of the scooter, over the past 200 years, nothing has changed here. To move from a place, you still have to push off from the ground with your foot, driving with the help of a simple steering wheel. The only exceptions are electric scooters equipped with a motor and even a seat, but we do not consider them in this review.
Types of scooters
Classic two-wheeled
The largest family of projectiles, which includes children's models for ordinary pokatushek, and adult options designed to move around the city. The latter, as a rule, are equipped with a good cushioning system, and wheels with a diameter of 150–250 mm make it possible to calmly overcome cracks and gouges in asphalt.
Pros:
- Comfortable riding in the conditions of the city;
- Often have a folding mechanism;
- Low weight (up to 5 kg);
- With sufficient wheel diameter accelerates well;
- Good physical activity for the owner;
- Low price.
Minuses:
- They require constant care;
- Not suitable for tricks.
Footbikes
These SUVs have a lot in common with bicycles - at least full-size wheels with a diameter of up to 29 ″ (the rear is usually slightly smaller). Footbikes accelerate well and keep up their speed, but require a lot of effort from the rider.
Pros:
- High speed and good roll forward;
- The ability to "take" various obstacles;
- Lots of bike parts - no problems with replacement;
- Easy to customize;
- Hand brake;
- Damped front fork.
Minuses:
- Dimensions;
- Great load on the legs.
Kickboards
These units, on the sport - not far from skateboards. There is a short but wide deck, and instead of 2 wheels, as many as 3 are installed, with the main pair standing in front. This solution allows you to use a different riding technique, rejecting the deck and thus forcing the machine to turn - like on a skateboard. This also contributes to the replacement of the classic T-shaped steering wheel joystick.
Pros:
- Resilience;
- You can develop a good speed;
- Convenience in transportation;
- The control is carried out not only by the wheel, but also by the legs;
- Foot brake on the rear wheel.
Minuses:
- Large turning radius;
- High price.
Trike (same triders)
Not to be confused with trike-bikes. These are also three-wheeled scooters, but they are distinguished from kickboards 2 shortened decks - one for each leg. Sometimes supporting platforms for trikes are made in the form of a transverse board. Such models are often called inertial scooters, as they can be moved on without touching the ground with their feet. In the base version, the triders usually have 2 foot brakes, but for ease of control, they are often installed and manual.
Pros:
- Maximum stability;
- Attractive appearance;
- No need to constantly push off the ground;
- You can perform various tricks and tricks;
- Convenient management;
- Full load on the muscles of the legs and body.
Minuses:
- Demanding on the quality of asphalt;
- At first it is difficult to keep balance.
Stunt (sports)
Such models have a reinforced non-separable and unregulated frame, as well as small wheels (100–125 mm). However, this does not mean that they drive slowly - these scooters on the track develop a decent speed due to high-precision bearings. Stunt units look a little childish, but in fact they are able to withstand serious loads and jumps.
Pros:
- Very durable;
- Maneuverable;
- Accelerate quickly over short distances;
- Easy to manage.
Minuses:
- Not suitable for riding on ordinary roads;
- Unregulated steering height;
- High cost with minimal functionality.
Dirt scooters
A variety of sports equipment, but this time not for smooth grounds, but for extreme skiing on any off-road. These models have wide inflatable wheels with a powerful tread and one-piece reinforced frame - all with the same unregulated steering wheel.
Pros:
- Reinforced construction;
- Excellent cross;
- Ability to perform tricks;
- Well gaining speed;
- Easy to manage.
Minuses:
- Requires considerable effort to move;
- High price.
Scooter selection options
Frame material
Frames for scooters are made of three main alloys:
1. Steel is the most reliable and cheapest option, but such a unit has a rather large weight.
2. Aluminum is much lighter, more resistant to corrosion, but does not have sufficient strength.
3. Magnesium alloy - the perfect combination of low weight and durability, but it is very expensive.
Weight and load capacity
For a child, the weight of a scooter from 3 to 5 kg is optimal - so that a small rider can lift him from the ground, and he himself is not injured in the event of a fall. Such models usually have a maximum "carrying capacity" of up to 50 kg, and it is better not to overload the projectile. Adult equipment can withstand a rider weighing from 50 to 120 kg and depending on the material of manufacture can weigh 5-15 kg.
Sizes and features of the deck
The platform can be rigidly fixed to the frame, ensuring maximum controllability of the scooter during the execution of tricks and tricks. There are also decks on a flexible coupling, as in kickboard. These serve to facilitate scooter control.
But the main thing is the size of the platform. It depends on how comfortable you will ride. The deck of a children's scooter should be 30–40 cm in length, and up to 20 cm in width. Such board will allow to keep balance better, and the general controllability of the scooter from it increases. The size of adult models can reach 50-100 cm by 20-30 cm.
Also pay attention to the ground clearance - the height of the platform.On the roads and when moving around the city is better to ride a scooter with high ground clearance, so as not to beat the bottom. Low deck is ideal for performing tricks on special sites.
Steering wheel
The form does not play a special role here, especially since it is determined by the design of the scooter itself. It is much more important to find a comfortable height, because in many models it is unregulated. On the market, you can find shells with a steering column length from 42 to 110 cm - look for devices that fit your height and riding style.
It is better to take the children's scooter immediately with a retractable telescopic steering wheel so that it “grows up” with the child. When buying, ask the baby to stand on the deck - from this position the optimal height of the rack will be the one at which the rider's elbows will be slightly bent.
For a scooter that will not be operated in extreme conditions, not only adjustment is allowed, but also the possibility of folding the steering wheel. This will simplify the storage of transport and its transportation. Sport models and SUVs should have an exceptionally seamless design - for maximum reliability.
Wheels
Usually scooters have 2 wheels, but we have already met with other models. Additional wheels do not affect the running characteristics of the projectile as a whole, but add stability to it.
Wheels for scooters are often made of PVC or polyurethane - relatively inexpensive and moderately noisy materials. They are not susceptible to damage (cuts or punctures). On sports models designed for off-road driving and rough terrain, inflatable rubber wheels show themselves better. Low-cost and stunt scooters can be equipped with plastic products - they are tough, they roar loudly, but they go long enough.
As for the size, the developed speed of your device depends on it. The larger the diameter of the wheels, the faster you can accelerate.
For each type of shells has its optimal size:
- Stunt - 100 mm;
- Urban - from 150 to 200 mm;
- Footbikes - over 200 mm.
When buying, pay attention to the rigidity of the wheels. The soft ones with markings 78A – 82A keep excellent on the road, literally “sticking” to it - it is good to use them for short trips on bad asphalt. Alas, they wear out quickly and will require replacement later. If the road surface is sufficiently smooth, it is better to choose a high rigidity - up to a maximum of 97A.
Brake
Today, the brakes are installed even on the most simple children's scooters. You have to choose a system that is convenient for you yourself - you just need to know what the manufacturers of sports equipment offer. There are two main options.
The first is the standard foot brake. Often its role is performed by the reinforced rear wing: you step on it with your foot, and it clamps the wheel, causing the scooter to stop. Hand brakes are borrowed from bicycles, however, the most reliable and responsive disc mechanics are taken as a basis. In good scooters, you can simultaneously meet both types of brakes.
Which scooter to choose
1. For those who like frequent walks in the city or in the park, as well as getting to the place of work / study on two-wheeled vehicles, ordinary urban scooters of folding construction will do. Here you will need good shock absorbers and soft wheels up to 84A with bearings class ABEC3. It is necessary for comfortable and fast movement on asphalt streets. It is desirable that both the manual and the foot brake are installed on the scooter - so you can just stop in time.
2. For full-fledged sports on a special site, a stunt scooter with small wheels (about 100 mm) and expensive ABEC5 bearings is needed. The whole structure must be rigid - from deck to steering wheel, and the frame must be reinforced (ideally steel). Only such a projectile is able to withstand the most daring jumps and feints.
3. If you prefer to ride away from city streets, choose a football game or a dirt scooter. The first is suitable for pleasant pokatushek, the second - for real extreme sports and racing on the cross-road.In both cases, you should prefer a lightweight and durable frame made of magnesium alloy, as well as fairly large inflatable wheels with wide tires and tread.
4. For a child, it is better to buy not just a scooter, but a stable model such as a kickboard or trider. The main thing is that the steering wheel is adjustable in height, and the device itself was not heavier than 5 kg. Pay attention to the type of bearings: if the child is still quite small, they must have the lowest class ABEC1, which will not allow the toddler to accelerate strongly. For schoolchildren, you can take transport with “adult” bearings ABEC3. The guys also need soft wheels with a hardness of about 78A – 82A, so that they do not slip on the road, but cling to it.
The cost of scooters
1. The easiest kids scooter can be bought for only 600–1000 rubles.
2. Standard urban models cost from 3 to 40 thousand rubles.
3. Footbikes go for the price of bikes: 7500–90000 rubles.
4. The cheapest triders (due to the abundance of children's models): 900–12000 rubles. Kickboards are not much more expensive - from 1 to 17 thousand.
5. Trick scooters cost athletes 2–36 thousand rubles. Dirt-SUVs cost no more than 25 thousand.
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