Best Scooter Reviews 2017

1. Best Scooters for Kids 2017 - Fun, Safe, Reliable

2. Scooters are a great way to get your kid outside exercising, training balance and coordination, and having fun. From about 3 years old upward, scooters are a super portable and versatile mode of transportation around the neighborhood. Like a bike, scooters take a little bit of practice to get used to. If you start with a 3-wheeled scooter the practice time will be significantly cut down, your child will be less likely to fall and get road rash, and they'll be comfortable using it after the 2nd or 3rd try. For those reasons the 3-wheeled scooters are a great first option for kids; we got them for ours when they were 3, and they used them until they were about 6 and then switched to the 2-wheeled scooter. Note that the picture below shows our all-around best Maxi Micro 3-wheeled scooter: notice how it has 3 wheels and the handlebars adjust for a wide range of ages and heights? Excellent form factor and versatility. We've gotten a lot of questions about cute and fun helmets; we suggest checking out Raskulls, which has a number of cute options. In addition to whether they have 2 or 3 wheels, scooters vary in a few other important ways.

4. First, weight and height capacity are important, as many little scooters have rather low weight limits and handlebars that you will find a 4-5 year old growing out of quite quickly. Make sure you purchase a unit with a weight capacity at least 20 pounds heavier than your child, and height-adjustable handlebars. Second, wheel size (diameter) is important. The larger the wheels, especially the front wheels, the more versatile the scooter is across varied terrains (even little pebbles and cracks on the road). If you purchase one of the less expensive scooters with tiny diameter wheels, there will be situations when your child will bump up against a pebble or crack in the sidewalk and the scooter will suddenly stop (possibly sending your child flying forward). Third, stability is impacted by several factors, but we've found that the width between the two front wheels (on 3-wheel versions) is important, as is the standing platform width. In general the wider the gap between the two front wheels, and the wider the standing platform, the better the stability. Fourth, a braking system is great to have and most are quite easy to use. Though most scooters are equipped with the push-down rear wheel fender brake, some do not include a brake at all. We recommend having a brake, especially for those downhill rides when you simply need to slow down a bit while cruising. In our tests, we've found that the wider and sturdier the rear step-brake, the better it works. The thin aluminum ones don't work very well especially when the wheel gets a bit wet and reduces friction.

5. With these factors in mind, we pulled together over a dozen of the most popular scooters on the market today, nearly half of which were 3-wheeled and the rest 2-wheeled (and one was electric!). They varied in weight capacity from 35 to 200 pounds, some had adjustable handlebars and some didn't, and some showed some build quality issues that emerged after only a few weeks of use. We strongly recommend 4 of the scooters we tested: The Mini Micro, Maxi Micro, and the Razor A3 and Razor A5. We review each of these below, along with a few additional recommendations. Here are the Best Kids Scooters for 2017! 1. Maxi Micro Scooters. These are the best 3-wheeled scooters to get your child, and they make an awesome first scooter. We really loved everything about them. The Maxi Micro is marketed for kids aged 5-12 with a weight limit of about 110 pounds. They are available in multiple fun colors, the boys who tested it liked the sleek silver Maxi version, and the girls tended to gravitate toward the purple Maxi. This is a safe, reliable, lightweight (about 5 pounds) scooter that is easy to learn, easy to maneuver, and tons of fun to ride! You might notice that there is a Mini and a Maxi version (the Mini is below at #2). The Mini is a bit more basic than the Maxi. The Maxi adds an adjustable handlebar height, dual rear wheels, and higher weight capacity (112 pounds). It is recommended for kids 5-12 years old, though our 4 year old started with the Maxi last year and it wasn't anywhere near too big. The front wheels are over 4.5" in diameter, with smaller rear wheels that are doubled up side-to-side for better braking, stability, and less chassis flexing around corners. The steering is easy to learn and control; to steer, kids lean right or left rather than turning the handlebars (like you would with a 2-wheeled scooter). The wheels are low resistance, bearings are smooth and quiet, the handles are soft and grippy, and the brake works well unless the rear wheels are wet (for that reason, we don't suggest riding in wet conditions with any scooter). This Maxi Micro runs about $130 online. You can detach the handlebars for travel or storage but for more convenience there's a more expensive foldable version (but usually out of stock/hard to find). For something a bit less expensive but also less versatile, see our #2.

6. 2. Mini Micro Scooters This is the less expensive version of the Maxi Micro, intended for 3-5 year olds up to 44 pounds. They do not have the adjustable handlebar height, instead being fixed at about 24" tall which is the same as the Maxi's lowest setting. They also have a single rear wheel which makes it a slower braker, and they have more flex in the chassis (which reduces stability). The brake is also not quite as heavy duty as it is with the Maxi. But it also tends to be about $50 less expensive than it, so there's some compromise if you're looking to save cash. The neighborhood kids who tested these scooters thought the Maxi was capable of going faster, turning harder, and was generally more stable than the Mini. In our opinion, we recommend skipping the Mini and going directly to the Maxi unless your child is particularly small (like under 35" tall) or you're on a very limited budget. With the Maxi handlebars all the way lowered it is small enough (24" high) for the typical 3 or 4 year old, matching the Micro height, but having the ability to grow with your child. We did not find it more difficult to learn or manage than the Mini; in fact we found the Maxi somewhat better since it showed less overall frame flexing during turns, giving kids a bit more stability and confidence.

7. Best Electric Scooter for Big Kids and Adults: Razor E300 Electric Scooter. For the kids who have it all, including good coordination and vigilance, this electric scooter is an awesome toy for kids. They'll be the envy of the neighborhood for sure. When we tested the E300, kids literally came out of their houses to see it and try it out. It doesn't go *too* fast, only about 15mph. That's certainly fast enough to get a kid in trouble, but not fast enough to make sure trouble is around every corner. In our tests, on flat suburban streets, we were able to squeeze about 45 minutes out of a single charge. Charging time is about 12 hours, so it's perfect to charge overnight. The throttle control is an intuitive twist, and it includes a hand brake for fast stopping power. The standing platform is quite large, big enough for even an adult with size 12 shoes to stand with their feet to the side. The steering is stable, the pneumatic tires are big and strong enough for most surfaces. We took it on a gravel path and it did quite well, maintaining a pretty smooth ride even over the bumps. This is a truly awesome and fun scooter. Make sure you get your kids a helmet and elbow/knee pads - a 15mph fall is nothing to scoff at! Cons? Well, the battery charge time is a bit long, and the instruction manual is very specific about the charging patterns you need to maintain. If you do not follow the charge/discharge instructions, the battery will definitely die within a couple years. Source this file: https://forscooter.com