Buying a scooter.

Recommendations for buying a scooter.

If you are new to proscootering, you may be over whelmed by the large selection of scooters. There is a variety of brands to choose from, scooter parts to select, and different prices. Purchasing a scooter may get confusing. We would like to help you buy a scooter.

Just like brands of cars or athletic shoes, you will see that some brands are more expensive than others. In addition to scooter brands, there are a few components you can concentrate on when purchasing your scooter so that you may get the most bang for your buck.

1.     Fork – Is the fork threaded or non-threaded?

Recommendation: Non-Threaded Fork

A threaded scooter fork has threads on the outside of the steer tube and is held in place with 2 large lock nuts on top of the deck’s headtube. A non-threaded fork has a smooth steer tube and will be be held in place by a bolt at the very top of the steer tube accompanied by a shim or a clamp, depending on the type of compression the scooter is using.

A non-threaded fork is stronger than a threaded-fork, thus scooters with threaded-forks cost more.

2.     Deck – Is the deck integrated or non-integrated? 

Recommendation: Integrated Deck

Like a bicycle, a scooter will have a headset, or a set of bearings in the head tube that allow the fork to spin. A non-integrated deck uses bearing cups to hold the headset in place. These bearing cups are separate a component of the deck that is pressed into the deck to house the headset. An integrated deck does not need bearing cups because the cups have already been built in, or integrated, into the deck of the scooter.

An integrated deck is stronger than a non-integrated deck, thus scooters with an integrated deck cost more.

3. Wheel – Are the wheels 100mm or 110mm and is the rim plastic or alloy?

Recommendation: 110mm Scooter Wheels with alloy rim.

The size of a scooter wheel may come down to preference. Although, it is known that a smaller wheel will make more revolutions, or spins, than a bigger wheel to go the same distance. Scoots designed for smaller riders often come with 100mm wheels. Scooter are not compatible with different sizes. It is important that when purchasing wheels for your scooter that you use the original size it came with. Lucky pro scooters is the exception. The Lucky Crew, Strata, Clover, and Kota can be used with both 100mm or 110mm wheels.
Plastic rims are known to crack. Alloy rims are stronger.

Scooter with 110mm alloy wheels are going to cost more.

4. Weight – How heavy is the scooter? 

Recommendation: 7.25 lbs (3.2kg) - 8.66lbs (3.93kg)
Scooter riders like to ride and do tricks with their scooters. No one wants to do a tail whip with a brick.

Heavy scooters cost less.

5. Size – How wide or tall are the bars and how long and wide is the deck? 

Recommendation: Preference.
An average teenager fits a scooter that has a deck size of 4.5” wide x 21” long and bars that are 21”wide. An average preteen can fit a smaller scooter.

Scooters with bigger decks and taller bars cost more.

These are the main components to consider when purchasing a scooter.  Other components not listed may change the price of a scooter; however, are up to the preference of the rider.  These include the scooter compression, the style of the bars, and what the scooter is made out of.

Was this information helpful?  For more information, call us 407.403.5511, email us at info@reditopedi.com, or visit us inside Pointe Orlando on International Drive in Orlando, Florida at 9101 International Drive.