Why Get an Adult Scooter?
I’m going to admit: I’m biased. I recently bought a Razor kick scooter, and I’ve been absolutely hooked. It’s a pretty great ride, especially if you change out the bearings to something a little higher quality. That’s what got me thinking on this article; I'm personally invested and I believe there are a lot of reasons you should purchase a scooter for adults.
The first and most obvious thing is that it’s fun! Whether you’re using a scooter to get around or just to do some tricking on the weekends, scooters are a thrill no matter how long you’ve been riding them. It’s rewarding to feel the wind in your hair and the road beneath your feet. When you ride a kick scooter, not only do you drastically reduce your transport time, but you radically increase the fun in getting there.
Of course, scooters aren’t just for fun, and that brings me to my second point: scooters are easy, in every sense of the word. It takes no time at all to pick up a scooter and get comfortable on it. Once you get where you’re going (or back home), they’re compact enough that you can just put them away; in fact, most kick scooters on the market fold down quickly and compactly. No more tired legs when you wheel around town, no more searching for a place to put your bulky bike; just get on, go, and get off.
Really, there are only three downsides I’ve noticed to scooters. The first is that you, for your own safety, should wear a helmet at the very least, especially if you’re going to be using scooters for transportation in bike lanes or on the road like a biker. Secondly, you are sort of pushed off the sidewalk. You move too quickly and are too stocky for heavy pedestrian traffic, which means that the more responsible option is to instead head over to the road itself (or the bike lanes, if your city has them). Thirdly, unlike bikes, which can have carrying baskets or similar storage compartments, you’re on your own if you need to move things around on a scooter. You can buy a small add-on bag for a phone, keys, umbrella, or water bottle, but the body of the scooter is thin and can't support much weight. This makes it impractical for things like grocery shopping.
But, with all of that said, for simple place-to-place or day-to-day riding where everything you need can fit in a backpack, the scooter provides a fantastic source of easy mobility. So, with all of that said, let’s start digging into what makes an adult scooter a good kick scooter!
What to Look For in a Kick Scooter
If you’ve ever shopped for something like a skateboard or longboard, then you’ve already got a decent idea of what to look for in a scooter since many of the key configuration concepts are the same. Different people will have different needs, and various configurations fit various people better. Our goal is to understand what the different configuration options are and what to avoid.
Wheel Size
This is probably the most notable difference between many scooters on the market. In a nutshell, bigger wheels offer a far higher degree of both comfort and handling, where smaller wheels make a scooter a lot more portable. If you’re using your scooter for your daily to-and-fro, it’s primarily important that the scooter can be easily folded and carried. Opt for smaller wheels. If you don’t mind large wheels and want to enjoy your scooter ride as much as possible, opt for bigger ones.
Bearings
Bearings are the components between the wheels and axles that make your wheels turn. Bearings essentially control how much force is transferred between your wheels and axles. They also affect how easily your wheels can spin around. Most scooters offer bearings between sizes 5 and 7, with a bigger size indicating more momentum from a single push. Small and poorly built bearings will generally not move as smoothly. They can make your scooter ride take a ton of effort and feel super slow. Also, name-brand bearings tend to have higher quality crafting than no-name bearings. A well-built size six bearing will generally offer a better ride than a poorly-built size seven.
Deck Size
Deck size is an essential consideration because while you’re on the scooter, it’s your platform. A wider deck will accommodate you more comfortably. It's also easier to balance on a broader deck compared with a skinnier one. The only time you want to opt for a smaller deck is if you have no option other than to ride on sidewalks or if you want a scooter specifically for tricking.
Deck Height
One thing that a lot of people forget to take into consideration is deck height. Deck height is a super important element of the fun factor in scooter rides. A low deck height means that you don’t have to reach as far down when you have to kick a little more. That can mean the difference between doing squats on your scooter and hardly moving an inch.
Suspension
Not all kick scooters have suspensions. But, if you’re looking for a scooter that will serve you well for getting around town, you’re probably going to want a suspension system. Suspensions absorb a good amount of shock from the road and any bumps you may encounter, which makes your ride a lot smoother. However, they also add a lot of weight, so keep that in mind.
The Bottom Line
The world of scooters has a lot to offer. I’ve been in love ever since I bought mine, and before that, I did a lot of research. My goal here was to share some of that knowledge with you so that we can all put our feet together toward a greener (and more fun) cityscape.
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5 Best Scooters for Adults
Thanks for reading my article. I value your feedback and invite you to join the conversation:
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— jennyaquaro