A few things to consider before buying a scooter.

When I first started out in the mobility industry, there wasn't the mass variety of manufactures pumping out colorful and flashy products for you to choose from. You had a few major brands of scooters, a few brands of lifts, and fewer repair shops (that I knew of). Compared to the many famous and not so famous brands that we have now; choosing was a little easier back then.

Well, How far have they come since then?

Scooters with wooden floorboards, fully analog control systems with jerky start and stopping action. Noisy chain and belt drives, under powered single 12 volt battery systems that just struggled to pull its rider up a mildly inclined driveway. I distinctly remember a few scooter product lines that utilized a hand operated friction brake that acted as a parking brake. (something like they used on an old covered wagon.) That was primitive technology compared to our automatic, electromagnetic parking brakes that come standard on most units now. But hey, those were some good reliable designs by the standards of the times.

With all that said, past products were fairly consistent. Even if it wasn't the most popular make and model, there was still a lot of integrity that could be seen in the finished product, even with their own shortcomings. If you produced poorly made scooters, the dealers wouldn't sell the product, and then you were quickly weeded from the market. As a friend of mine would always say, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression."

Disclaimer. Remember to never use a scooter for anything other than what the manufacture recommends. Read all owners manuals for recommended use and for safety. Its imperative to understand and heed all warnings and precautions that manufactures list to keep you as safe as possible.

I'm buying online and there are too many scooters to choose from!

You should first discover where you will be needing or using your scooter the most. This will help you better determine what type to buy. Is the scooter for using inside your home? Is it for cruising the neighborhood? making runs to the grocery store? Long distance, short distance, amusement parks, hills or uneven terrain? I've made a list of pro's and cons of each category down below that may assist you in choosing.

Please remember, that not all scooters categories from different manufactures are alike or the same. They could have great differences in weight capacity, range, ground clearance, performance, durability etc. Specifications are almost always listed publicly.

Full size scooters: A larger scooter that has 3 or 4 wheels with average to extended ranges as well as higher weight capacities. Full size scooters also generally have larger tires, larger batteries, heavy duty drive-trains, and can have more versatility when it comes to outdoors.

Full size scooters are generally some of the heaviest scooters and will most likely need a lift or a ramp to transport them. Also i'd mention, if you are planning on using public transportation, I would recommend finding out what the dimensional limitations are for your local public or private transportation before making a purchase.

Pros: Stability, heavier duty drive-trains, more versatile when it comes to uneven ground, faster traveling speeds, can have the needed torque for those demanding inclines and possibly can have a better ride over smaller scooters. Can have room for an upgraded larger battery for more distance.

Cons: Bulky, heavy, not as easy to transport without a lift or ramp, parts could be more expensive to replace as well as having larger turning radius.

Medium, or mid size scooters: A scooter with 3 or 4 wheels that is generally smaller and lighter duty that the full size category. The mid size scooters can have smaller tires and drive-trains but still maintains a respectable amount of power and durability. This category of scooter can be more suited for smaller statures or for lighter uses.

Pros: turning radius can be better than full size scooters, decent range to size ratio, less bulky, might be more comfortable to drive for smaller statures, lower purchase price than the full size scooters.

Cons: slightly less speed and terrain capability, may not be as comfortable to a larger stature, may not have the needed weight capacity that the larger scooters have. Can also shorter range and no room for larger batteries.

Small / compact / Travel scooters: Small/ compact/ travel scooters are typically the smallest and lightest of the scooter family, coming in 3 and 4 wheel configurations. These scooters have smaller batteries, lighter weight capacities, (although some of them carry over 300 lbs) smaller tires and can be disassembled and or folded for easier transportation. This is one of the most common categories of scooters to be sold in my experience. Its the one category that tries to fit most of the common needs, coming in a variety of styles that can have suspension, long range battery packs and reasonably capable off the beaten path.

Pros:Smaller compact sizes, easier to take apart, more suited for traveling, parts can be more affordable, generally lower purchase prices, can be transported without a lift or ramp and some of the best turning radius's. Can have upgraded battery packs for extended ranges

Cons: Can have limited ranges, can be less suited for uneven ground, parts can wear out quicker, lighter duty drive-train, lower ground clearance, less power than medium and full size scooters. Extended range battery packs can weigh more, thus making it harder to disassemble and transport.

Bariatric scooter: Bariatric scooters are larger 3 and 4 wheel units with higher weight capacities (up to 500lbs), larger seats, larger batteries and wider profiles for better stability. These scooters generally have heavy duty frames and drive-trains built for greater strength and durability.

While not all manufactures make a Bariatric scooter, there are a couple out there that I have seen and repaired over the years that seem to be great.

Pros: Provides extra weight capacity for the consumers needs, uses heavy duty frame and drive-train making them more suited for heavier riders over some of the large scooter category. Bariatric scooters can have decent ranges and better stability that the large category.

Cons: Heavy , usually wider than most large scooters making it a tighter fit through doorways, can be more costly to replace parts, more likely to need a lift or ramp to transport and over all can be more costly to purchase. Depending on configuration and make / model can make for poor turning radius.

Outdoor, rugged, PMV, POV, Heavy duty.

This is a list of 3 and 4 wheel units that are in a class of their own. These types of "scooters" are considerably faster that the full size scooter category.They are also much larger and and can be more off road worthy than the large or full size class (depending on the make and model). Speeds can be up to 7-14 mph, and ranges of up 30 miles per charge. These scooters come in a range of designs from 4 wheel units with full front and rear suspension, big 14" knobby tires, to 3 wheel units with moped tires and twist throttles like a motorcycle. I've seen this type of "scooter" used for long range traveling, golfing, used on uneven multi-terrain, used in amusement parks. The list goes on.

Pros: highest speeds in the categories, long range, multitude of riding surfaces, heavy duty frame and drive-trains. Great versatility for consumers that need range, power and comfort. Some models can excel in rugged terrain where a full size model may not.

Cons: Expensive to purchase, expensive battery replacements, bigger turning radius, can be the most difficult to transport given its size and weight. These can have more power than its rider can handle. Can come with mechanical brakes than can be hard for riders to use.

I know what category is right for me, but I just have too many to choose from.

So, with the infinite amount of products now on the market, you could easily buy something that is hard to get replacement parts for, ( discontinued models without disclosure) has little to no tech support and a series of inherent issues that could leave you with a bitter taste of buyers remorse, or worse, stranded! So finding a scooter online is easy, but finding a reliable scooter can be more challenging.

Narrow it down to design and ease of use. Try not to get caught up into higher speeds unless you are traveling long distances. If you need a small compact scooter, the ranges can be limited, and for good reason. You could wear a small one out using it for extended ranges over rough roads and sidewalks.

Yes! Good scooters can be found online!

Just about any make and model can be purchased online (good and not so good) without having to talk to a dealer, sales person or tech. This doesn't quite make it the best method for finding what you are looking for, but now you know that the best and the worst are available to anyone online and that could be step one.

The reviews were good, but the scooter was not so good.

Even reading the reviews and Q&A's can leave a lot to be desired. Don't expect someone else experience to be what you will experience with the same reviewed unit. The reviews on a particular scooter can be stellar on one website, and on a different website it has bad reviews. There is no telling what to think at this point. If a product has a bad rating, you should probably stay away. Although, I will say this much...people will give bad reviews to good products because of minor set backs. Examples can range from "I don't like the color" or " This scooter causes laziness and lack of exercise". So keep in mind, those types of negative reviews can be subjective and may not pertain to the performance or quality of the product of interest.

Caveats.

There can be caveats to each make and model in every category. So if your mostly happy with your purchase, then I think you've done well. Just remember that not every model / category is going to serve all of your needs and wants. Your travel scooter could have low ground clearance and you may want to go onto the turf where the soccer game is, and the wheels get stuck in the grass. You might be at a park and the walking trail is uneven with loose dirt and your scooter is too unstable to safely accomplish the task at hand. The more capable scooter handles the walking trail just fine, but is too large to get into the smaller shops. Or you might even struggle to get through the busy street fair due to the size of your larger scooter in the congested areas. Try to picture the most likely scenario for you and your new scooter, consult with a dealer with experience in more than just sales, and come to a decision.

Ask about your warranty, or lack there of.

New scooters should always come with a factory warranty. These warranties can vary in how long your covered, what they cover, and what you are responsible to cover yourself. I myself always consult with the manufacture when it comes to any issues my clients might have, to get them the most out of their factory warranty. If they have issues, the scooter can be brought to me, or I can go to them and resolve the problem. This is why its good to buy from a local business ( that can accurately diagnose) knowing you have somewhere to turn to when things may go wrong. The short of it is, find out what kind of warranty your product has before making your purchase, so you know what to expect when things may go wrong.

Big name brand scooters never have issues.

I absolutely cannot guarantee that any single make and model will not have some trouble, at some point in time. The difference is, buying a brand of scooter with a name behind it, can give you more comfort in knowing that parts are more likely to be available, offer you a better warranty, and almost always get a better quality product. Yes, even the best of scooters can have mechanical and electrical failure. Big name brands have invested the time and money into their products to have them tested for reliability, durability and safety. Dealers are more apt to sell these kinds of scooters because of that.

Service and Repairs!

Just like all equipment, scooters too need servicing and repairs. Its important to have your scooter checked out and have the proper maintenance done to get the most out of your investment.

Lastly, please contact me for more information. I've been working with mobility equipment with nearly 20 years experience in the sales and repairs portion. Fixyourscooter.com

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