Factors about Buying an All-Terrain Electric Scooter

Have you thought about purchasing an electric scooter? It’s about time you did, with gas prices being what they are, and the current war going on between Russia and Ukraine, anything run by petrol/oil will double if not triple in prices, as 41% of the US’s gas comes from Russia. It’s time to think about going electric, whether it be a car, bike, or scooter, but when it comes to those choices it really depends on your daily commute. If you’re within a city, the traffic can be outrageous, so something smaller you can ride around all the traffic would be better, so that leaves a bike or electric scooter. When it comes to having to use public transport, carrying a whole bike can be daunting, whereas an electric scooter, is foldable, lightweight, and just easier to store and carry around. Here are some things for you to look out for when shopping for your new electric scooter.

The obvious first choice should be which brand of scooter do you buy? It really depends on what you intend to use the scooter for. The brand of the scooter is important because ultimately the brand will also to a degree dictate quality, ease of repair, getting spares, warranty, and more. Buying a popular brand that is established is generally your best bet. Different brands offer a different range of scooters – some popular scooter brands like The Eagle One and the Pegasus from Varla scooters tend to be the best electric scooter suited more for adults trying to get through their daily commute.  

Ride Quality

The ride quality should be your next item on the list. The ride quality is super important for your motorized scooter for adults, but how important will depend on your own preference and what you intend to use the scooter for. Ride quality is impacted by numerous factors such as wheel type & size, suspension, scooter weight, size of the deck, handlebar width, and stem. The most obvious factors that impact ride quality are the tires and suspension. Where you ride and what surface you ride on is key – if you are going to use your scooter for light commuting on paths then you can get away with solid tires and no suspension like the ones on the Pegasus City Commuter – however, if you are going to use your scooter off-road or on rough terrain than pneumatic tires and suspension are a must like the ones on the Eagle One. And the final factors relate to you and your weight. The bigger you are, the more you weigh, the more likely you are going to need a scooter with softer tires and suspension as well as a wider deck for stability.

Tires

The next item on your list should be the type of tire the electric scooter has. There are two types of tires, solid and pneumatic. Solid tires are exactly what they say they are – they’re solid, which means that they are rubber throughout from the tread to the motor rim. Pneumatic tires however are air-filled tires – these come in 2 types, with an inner tube or tubeless. Solid tires are primarily used on slower, budget electric scooters with smaller wheels (typically 6-8″ inches) – they are immune from punctures, last a very long time, and are super durable –However, they are hard, so if your scooter doesn’t come with suspension then the ride quality with be harsher with no tire impact absorption and no suspension you’ll feel every bump, stone, uneven road, or path surface.

Suspension

Suspension is next, suspension on an electric scooter will help to significantly increase ride quality. The suspension effectively compensates against harsher, uneven road / off-road surfaces. The suspension absorbs the shock, preventing the transfer of shock to other areas of the scooter. Suspension is often found in higher-end, more powerful electric scooters like the Eagle One or the Pegasus – however, some cheaper scooters feature suspension as well.

Stem

The deck and stem are important to look out for as well, the deck and stem are intrinsic to a scooter's ride quality – mainly because the amount of deck space you have will dictate how you can ride, and your stem will impact things like agility and overall comfort. What a lot of people fail to take into consideration is deck length and stem height. If you are tall, the last thing you’ll want to be doing is battling to find a comfy riding position, equally, if you are tall with a scooter that has a short steering stem, you’ll find yourself in an uncomfortable riding position. How tall you are, your size and your weight will all dictate the kind of electric scooter that you should buy.

The Stem Height and Rigidity

The stem height and rigidity are important and again can be overlooked when purchasing an electric scooter. Most scooter buyers seldom care about the type of steering tube they have nor the height, but it’s of the utmost importance. Buy a scooter with a short steering column and you’ll find yourself leaning to find a good enough riding position. There are a few considerations before buying your next electric scooter (or your first) and that’s, are you tall? if yes, you’ll want to opt for a bigger scooter with a longer stem (steering tube). A longer stem height will mean you aren’t having to lean down when riding. If you are heavy, then you’ll ideally want a scooter that offers a rigid steering column – the same for if you intend on riding at high speed. Larger, heavier, taller riders are better off with medium-budget scooters – ones that are either a re-enforced single column or dual column steering. Lighter, average height, or shorter riders will generally be fine with almost any scooter stem height.

Weight

The weight of the motorized adult scooter should be next on your list. Some electric scooters on the market are portable, meaning they are easily maneuverable and ideal for bringing along with you on holidays or day trips. If this is an important factor when purchasing your own e-scooter, stay on the lookout for those which are lightweight, foldable and can be easily stored for the best electric scooter for you.

Size

The actual size of the scooter you may purchase is key. If you plan to store your scooter in your home or garage then no doubt if space is tight, you’ll want a small scooter, of course, if space is plentiful a bigger scooter is fine. Again, a lot of it depends on where and how you intend to use your new scooter. If you live in a small apartment or flat and you need something portable and compact then most budget scooters will fit the bill, there are lots of small, compact scooters like the Eagle One and The Pegasus.

Speed, Power, Gradeability

One of the first things new scooter owners tend to want to know – that’s mainly down to the majority audience being young, adrenaline junkies & those looking to speed up their commute. Speed is self-explanatory – does the scooter go fast or slow? Power – can the scooter accelerate quickly, and does it offer sufficient torque? Gradeability – can the scooter climb hills? It all depends on what you need for your daily commute.

Conclusion

Buying a scooter, cheap or expensive – no one wants the burden of buying something that’s broken out of the box, breaks soon after the first use, or proves to be unreliable. But unfortunately, the global electric scooter marketplace is littered to the hilt with cheap electric scooters, many of which are clones, unbranded or are made from poor quality materials with no quality control checks. Depending on what scooter you buy and where you buy it – will impact on the likelihood of it being unreliable/reliable. Where and what you buy will also impact on warranty options, make sure to check these items out when choosing the best electric scooter for you.