Speed is not the whole deal!
People often make the mistake of thinking speed is the single most important feature in a scooter. However, unless you’re a real adrenaline junkie, in the interest of safety and what’s really necessary for day to day use, we believe that 15mph is more than adequate – trust us, 15mph feels an awful lot faster on a scooter than it does in a car!
We haven’t featured speed as an important factor here because all the electric scooters in our range travel up to a minimum of 12-15mph and will comfortably turn a long walk into a few minutes ride.
Hill Climb Ability
A scooter with a motor power of 250 watts is adequate for flat surfaces and small hills, but if your ride is likely to be particularly bumpy or hilly you should also consider motor power as an important feature too. We do not recommend anything under 300 watts for daily use in areas with steeper hills.
Wheel Type
Tyres come in two varieties: pneumatic (air-filled) and solid rubber (airless). Air-filled tyres have the advantage of shock absorption and a much better handling/traction but are prone to punctures and require maintenance.
E-Scooters with solid tyres on the other hand require virtually-zero maintenance, but they aren’t as smooth to ride, and you will feel more bumps and vibrations.
If you’re opting for air-filled tyres, just like a car, you will need to regularly check your air pressure and refill when low. Correct tyre pressure is vital for safety, braking effectiveness and grip. Under-inflation will cause wear, halve your battery range and will stop you from reaching those top speeds.
Tip: if you’re opting for air-filled tyres it’s essential you purchase a pump with a pressure gauge to keep your tyres topped up to the recommended PSI. Changing e-scooter tyres is a nightmare which, trust us - you want to avoid. It’s far more difficult than repairing a bicycle puncture and can take hours, even with the right tools. To protect yourself from punctures we strongly recommend you also purchase our ‘puncture protection fluid’. Apply this before your first ride and you may never need to change your tyres at all.
Safety
Warning: always wear a helmet when riding your scooter at any speed. Electric scooters are safe to ride, but accidents still happen. 7 out of 10 serious head injuries could have been avoided by wearing a helmet. To protect yourself we strongly recommend a helmet.
Tip: if you are going to ride at night, strongly consider adding some flashing red rear lights to your helmet or backpack.