SCOOTER GUIDE
Find out all you need to know when choosing the right scooter with our how to guide. When looking for a scooter for your child, there are a number of different elements that need to be taken into account to ensure that you pick the right scooter. From the different types of scooter bars, to the different types of scooters and tips on care and maintenance, explore our guide to find out everything you need to know from the world of scootering
1. Choosing a Scooter
Don’t have much time but want to find the right scooter for your child? Our Scooter Quick Start Guide is perfect for both beginners and advanced riders looking to buy a scooter. If you’re looking for a scooter for your child, our quick start guide can help you decide what to get quickly.
2. What Type Of Scooters Are There?
Choosing the type of scooter that best suits your needs and lifestyle is essential to get the best performance out of your scooter on a given environment. Whether you are buying your first scooter for a beginner or you've got a kid wanting to take their scooting the next level, take a look at our selection of different scooters and find out which one is right.
Kick scooters are the perfect beginner option for kids just starting out with scooting. Available as both two wheel and tri-scooter options, kick scooters are easy to use and great for improving coordination and balance.
Great for
- A smooth and comfortable ride over potholes and bumps
- Going faster than a traditional scooter
- Getting around town
Not so great for
- Performing tricks
- Performing tight turns
- Going over terrain such as mud
Dirt scooters offer an exhilarating way to experience the outdoors whilst racing down dirt tracks and country roads. This scooter type is quite different from your more traditional stunt scooter since it tends to feature large wheels and a greater emphasis on braking and grip. Able to dart in and out of trees in a forest or ride down dirt tracks often reserved for downhill mountain bikers, it isn’t difficult to see why so many are turning to this growing sport. With the added benefit of being able to continue to ride in the toughest weather, a dirt scooter lets you get out there during any time of the year.
Great for
- Taking to the roughest terrain and gripping on the toughest turns
- Providing a forgiving ride
- Coping with all weather conditions
Not so great for
- Carrying out the most technical tricks
- Going fast on tarmac roads
Big wheel scooters provide a fast and smooth mode of transport for all ages. With big wheels, encountering potholes and cracks in the pavement is not a problem. A big wheel scooter can glide over the top of them effortlessly where a traditional scooter would have required the rider to take evasive action. The big wheels are coupled together with front and rear suspension which removes the harshest feedback from the street surface. This adds to control and further enhances the comfort of a big wheeled scooter.
Great for
- A smooth and comfortable ride over potholes and bumps
- Going faster than a traditional scooter
- Getting around town
Not so great for
- Performing tricks
- Performing tight turns
- Going over terrain such as mud
Designed with the skate park in mind, a stunt scooter is made to withstand the high-impacts expected to receive during a long session down the park. Made tough, the aluminium deck is manufactured to give you confidence when landing from great heights. The wheels feature an aluminium core to add further strength to the area experiencing the most strain. The down tube sacrifices adjustability to again offer maximum strength. All this combines to deliver a stunt park thoroughbred.
Great for
- Carrying out tricks
- Unrivalled manoeuvrability
Not so great for
- Riding off-road
- Going fast
- Portability
3. What Scooter is Best for Beginners and Kids?
Choosing a scooter that is right for your child is important. Buying a child’s first scooter requires a number of factors to be taken into consideration when looking to buy.
TYPE
Stunt, Big Wheel and Dirt Scooters are all appropriate beginner scooters. The big wheels of the Dirt and Big Wheel scooters provide plenty of stability especially over rough terrain or bumpy pavements. For just travelling short distances and small outdoor urban areas, a stunt scooter can prove more beneficial as they are more agile due to their smaller wheels. A Stunt scooter may therefore be a good choice for a younger child who is riding short distances.
An Electric Scooter can prove difficult for a beginner as it is harder to control speed.
SIZE
Choosing a scooter that is an appropriate size is important. In addition to choosing a scooter that follows our sizing guidelines, it is also important to consider things like the size of the wheels as a younger child may find it difficult to brake on a larger wheeled scooter.
BARS AND DECK MATERIAL
Great for a new rider, aluminium anodised bars are light and corrosion resistant. Chromoly bars will be great for those who are hitting tough terrain on a dirt scooter.
BEARINGS
A lower rated bearings is best for beginners as they will provide more resistance to the rider when riding. Therefore the scooter is less likely to ‘runaway’ from the rider and allows for a beginner to find their balance without picking up too much speed.
Considering these factors when buying your next scooter will help you choose a scooter that is perfect for someone entering the world of scootering.
WHEEL CORE
Plastic wheels are great for lightweight riders like kids as they are low cost and easy to customise. A heavier rider may however select wheels with an aluminium core which has increased strength.
4. What Scooter is Best for Intermediate/Advanced Riders?
As a more confident, experienced rider, your considerations when buying your next scooter will be different to a beginner. As a more experienced rider you may be thinking about customisation and technical factors that will give you the edge or match the type of riding you like to do. Take a look at our breakdown of:
TYPE
As a more experienced rider you may be looking to refine your current setup for a specific scooter type. Your needs or lifestyle may have changed resulting in a change in the scooter type you’re after. If you’ve moved from the countryside to an urban environment where dirt tracks are no longer in abundance, then you may want a big wheeled scooter or perhaps an electric scooter.
SIZE
As an experienced rider you’ve probably already dialled into the sizing you need. If however you’re buying your next scooter and want to make sure it’s the right size for you, check out our scooter size guide.
BARS AND DECK MATERIAL
The go to choice for many beginner and advanced riders these days is the aluminium anodised bars and decks. Light, hard wearing and rust-proof, they’re an excellent choice for all abilities. Riders who will be landing from considerable heights on a stunt scooter may prefer increased stiffness and need a greater degree of strength. Therefore a steel or chromoly bars and decks will provide this additional strength but at the expense of increased weight.
BEARINGS
Bearings with a higher ABEC rating of 9 are a good choice for an advanced rider who has built up the ability to control their speed. An advanced rider may however require bearings which result in less ‘runout’ if they are performing certain types of tricks in confined places.
WHEEL CORE
Selecting wheels that have an aluminium core/hub will provide the additional durability required for more advanced riding. Especially for riders performing tricks on a stunt scooter or taking on some complex and demanding off-road sections on a dirt scooter.
5. What Size Scooter Should I Get?
Now that you know about the different types of scooter available, it is important to think about the size of you or your child’s next scooter. After all, choosing a scooter that is the right size for you or your child is essential to guarantee maximum enjoyment!
There are three key elements that should be focused on when thinking about scooter size:
1. Your height,
2. The scooter’s handle bar height and,
3. Deck length.
6. What Accessories Do I Need For a Scooter?
Scooters offer a range of different customisation options which give you the flexibility to tweak your ride to your liking. From changing up its appearance to making it more comfortable, there are a variety of different options to choose from. Wheels, grips, pegs, bearings and bags can all be interchanged but before purchase we recommend making sure they are compatible with your scooter!
WHEELS
Upgrading your scooter wheels can give you a smoother ride or change the appearance of your scooter
PEGS
Adding stunt pegs to your stunt scooter gives you an extra dimension in the skate park, letting you try out tricks not previously possible
GRIPS
Changing your scooter grips is an easy way to change the appearance of your scooter and make things a bit comfier
BEARINGS
Renewing your scooter bearings can make your scooter ride faster and smoother
BAG
Help make transporting and protecting your scooter easier with a bag
7. What Makes Up A Complete Scooter?
The majority of scooters come with a complete setup which includes bars, bar grips, deck, head (collar) clamp, headset, forks, bearings, rear brake and wheels. However should you so wish, you can always add to and customise the scooter with your own choice of wheels; bearings etc. just make sure the components are compatible before purchase.
Bars: Either in a T or Y shape, the handle bars consists of the actual bars and the upright tube which is mounted to the deck.
Bar grips: These are the grips for your hand placement at the end of each handle bar.
Head clamp: Used to fix the handle bars through the head tube (Linked to the deck, and joins the deck and handlebars).
Deck: Much like a skateboard deck this is the area in which the rider stands (usually made from aluminium)
Headset: Sits above and below the headtube; contains bearing that allow the forks to turn.
Forks: The forks house the front wheel of the scooter, which is held in place via an axle and bolts.
Wheels: Stunt scooter wheels are usually made from polyurethane and feature a core made from either plastic or metal. Osprey wheels feature an aluminium core which is durable enough to withstand stunts and tricks. An aluminium core is recommended if you intended to use the scooter in this way as plastic cores do not offer the same amount of integrity and may break when performing stunts.
Bearings: much like skateboards scooter wheels contain bearings graded using the ABEC rating system 1,3,5,7 and 9 (although some brands use their own rating system). The lower the rating, the slower the scooter. It is therefore best to choose a lower number (ABEC 1) for beginners so that they can find their balance without picking up too much speed.
Braking system: The braking system can be located in two places.
1. Located on the handle bars. Here you can operate a lever on the bar (in much the same way as a bicycle)
2. Located above the rear wheel, the brake is operated by pushing down on it with the foot. Be careful not to push too hard as this can result in skidding and damage the wheel.
8. How To Look After Your Scooter
Be it a scooter that is used regularly or one a week, it is important that you keep up regular maintenance to prevent damage and to prolong the life of your scooter. Going through water, mud and potholes can take their toll on your beloved scooter, so why not give it some TLC with these helpful tips:
Keep it clean. Use a cloth to wipe down the areas which are prone to getting dirty and a build-up of debris. We recommend cleaning the wheels, headset and non-slip pad to prevent damage to the functioning parts of your scooter.
Avoid pressing the brakes too hard. Pressing the brake too hard can cause flat spots to appear on the wheel which will result in a slow and bumpy ride.
Oil your scooter. By using a light machine oil and spraying it over your scooter once a week, with a focus on the wheel bearings and, if applicable, folding mechanism. This will prevent the parts from ceasing up and promote smooth operation.
Stick to your surface. Sticking the surface your scooter is made for will prevent damage. Trying to take a stunt scooter to a woodland won’t end well for you, your scooter or your bank balance!
Keep it tight. Scooters have to endure many bumps and rattles during their lifetime, which can loosen important bolts. Regularly tightening your scooter wheels and any other parts of your scooter (E.g. adjustable bars clamping ring etc.) will not only make it safer but give you more confidence to ride harder.