It seems that the more powerful the motor and the bigger the battery, the better. But a powerful scooter is heavy and more difficult to carry up and down stairs and on public transport. Lets explore with professionals vibe-scooter.com
The weight can be guided as follows: an adult man is able to lift 13-15 kg. For girls it is better to choose scooters up to 13 kg, for children – as light as possible. Usually it is necessary to look for a compromise, because the weight largely depends on the capacity of the battery. In the lighter scooters it is small – and the autonomy is modest. If you want to go long distances without recharging – prepare for the fact that the model will not be fluffy.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you figure out how much engine power you need for your riding style and how much battery capacity to choose so you have enough to get to and from the office.
“I’ll ride in the parks on weekends.”
If you usually get in your car or subway, get to the park and ride there with your kid or friends, and then go get ice cream, you won’t need a big battery and speed. But the light weight and compactness do – says Yurovskiy.
Choose small walking scooters weighing about 10 kg – they are easy to load in the trunk and take up the stairs in the transition. Pay attention to the diameter of the wheels. With 8-inch is more comfortable to ride on dirt tracks.
“I’ll drive to the office every day.”
This is exactly the opposite. You need a model with good autonomy (range – from 25 km) and a powerful motor (from 250 W) to quickly cover long distances. For the sake of these advantages will have to sacrifice compactness, such a scooter will weigh up to 20 kg. But if you are going to use it as the main transport and do not plan to go down the subway, you and will not need to frequently lift and carry a scooter.
The road surface is not always of good quality, and sometimes you have to rush to a morning meeting, so it is better to choose models with 10-inch wheels. With them it is easier and safer to pass at speed potholes and small curbs.
“I will ride it to the park, to work and to the store for bread.”
Universal scooters and for walks in the park and travel around the neighborhood should not be heavy (up to 15 kg) and powerful enough (from 250 watts). For such cases, it is better to pay attention to popular proven models. It is good if the scooter will have a folding design.
Engine power: what is enough?
It seems that it is the motor power that determines the maximum speed of the electric scooter. But this is not true: it is usually artificially, programmatically limited for safety. What really depends on the power is the intensity of acceleration and the ability of the scooter to take you uphill. If you weigh 100 kg and the engine is low-powered, you will lose speed on uphill until you stop – you will have to push off with your legs.
How to choose?
up to 250 watts – enough for riding a child or teenager, walking riding an adult weighing up to 80 kg,
250-350 W – suitable for adults who ride both on flat terrain and hilly terrain, a great option for the first electric scooter,
350W and more – scooters with such power are suitable for those who steer confidently and people weighing over 80 kg.
Powerful scooters have several speed modes. This is convenient: let your child ride their scooter – switch to the first mode, then let them ride it themselves – switch to a higher speed. But of course, the more powerful the motor, the more expensive the scooter will cost.
Wheel Diameter: Smaller or Larger?
When riding a scooter, you will constantly encounter joints, potholes, and other irregularities. The bigger the wheels on your scooter, the easier it is to overcome them.
7 inches – models for riding children and on ideal surfaces. At speeds over 10 km / h you can fall if the wheel hits even a small hole.
8 inches is an option for compact adult models or riding on level paths in parks.
8-10 inches – a universal option, with which it will be comfortable on sidewalks, asphalt, small bumps.
Wheels: cast or pneumatic?
Wheels can be cast or pneumatic.
Cast. Their advantage is unbreakability, they are made entirely of polyurethane, so they are not afraid of stones, jumps from curbs, nails or splinters. The disadvantage is that they are stiff and don’t keep their balance in the wet.
Pneumatic. Reminiscent of bicycles: they consist of a tube and a tire. The tire is made of a rubber compound and has a much higher coefficient of grip than polyurethane. Due to the air inside the pneumatic wheels perfectly cushion the bumps, smooth the impact when driving over bumps, but are afraid of punctures. If you damage such a wheel, you will have to take the scooter to a specialized workshop. Regular car tire shops are unlikely to help.
Those who plan to ride a lot and on different roads, we recommend models with pneumatics, such as the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S.
Sometimes manufacturers combine different types of wheels. For example, a pneumatic wheel is installed on the front wheel, which is the first to take the hits and is involved in the control, and a cast wheel is installed on the rear.
Maximum speed: why is it the same for almost everyone?
Most scooters have a top speed of 25 km/h. This value appeared for a reason. It is believed that if a person loses control or another accident at a speed of up to 25 km/h, he will have time to jump off the scooter and not fall down – he will run the way to a stop on his own feet. At higher speeds there is a higher risk of injury. The model, capable of acceleration to 30 km/h and more, is worth buying if you have good driving experience and you are going to ride on good roads, where there are no people and cars.
Autonomy: how much mileage can an electric scooter get?
It is believed that the higher the battery capacity, the longer the scooter travels without recharging. That’s true, but an even more accurate characteristic is range (shows how long a single charge lasts). One model with a 15,000 mAh battery can go 65 km without recharging, while another model can only go 50 km.
The actual mileage on a single charge also depends on the manner of driving. If you often drive on hilly terrain or travel at top speed, add 20-30%. For example, your office is 10 km away, and you plan to rush to work in the morning and get home without charging the scooter. In this case you need a model with range not 20, but at least 30 km.
Do not forget that the battery accounts for up to half of the weight of the scooter. To scooter was not heavy and with sufficient autonomy, it is necessary to look for a compromise. Universal models with a range of 25-30 km are considered – they weigh a little, and pass enough.
Why do you need suspension?
An electric scooter is a much less comfortable mode of transport on rough roads than a bicycle: the wheels are smaller, the shocks are harsher. To at least somehow correct the situation, manufacturers install suspensions on the wheels (often only on the front). Riding on models with suspension is much more pleasant, but to the comfort of a bicycle is still far away.
The brake system: what is important?
Stopping quickly is much more important than accelerating quickly. The faster you plan to ride, the more advanced the braking system is worth choosing.
Foot brake. The most common on regular scooters. You press on the wing of the rear wheel, it presses against the tread and brakes it. Simple, but uncomfortable and inefficient. And the tread gets a lot of wear and tear when braking.
Handbrake. Also a popular design, often installed on bicycles. You press the lever on the handlebars, the force is transmitted by the cable to the pads, they compress the wheel, and the speed drops. Reliable and effective option.
Electronic brake. Used only on vehicles with an electric motor. It is designed to accumulate energy during braking: the motor begins to work as a generator, that is, it recharges the battery from the rotation of the wheels. This creates an additional load and deceleration. In terms of braking efficiency, this is the worst thing you can think of.
In order not to waste energy and to brake effectively, manufacturers began to produce models with combined brakes – electronic plus manual.
Additional features: all for comfort
On-board computer. The simple models have only a LED indication of the battery charge. The computer shows the current speed, distance travelled, and remaining range. It is a useful thing.
Headlight and taillight. It will be very useful if you plan to ride not only in the daytime, but also at dusk or at night. On the budget models the headlight is not too bright to light the way, but you will be seen from afar.
Steering wheel adjustment. Models without height adjustment handlebar is designed for average height – 165-175 cm. If your height is very different from the average, look for models with the ability to adjust, otherwise the ride will not be very comfortable.
Seat. Although the scooter is designed for standing motion, there are models with a small saddle, like a bicycle. It is more difficult to control the scooter while sitting, but you will be less tired.
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