How to Choose a Kick Scooter

They're popping up everywhere, looking like a cross between in-line skates and a skateboard with handles ... they're kick scooters! Powered in the same fashion as skateboards, kick scooters allow even first-time riders to weave easily down the street. The trick is choosing a scooter that fits your budget and riding style.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• In-line Skating Helmets
• Kick Scooters
• Scooter Carry Bags
• Skateboard Pads

1. Gauge your budget. Today's kick scooters are a far cry from their board-on-roller-skate ancestors. There's a good price range that allows beginners to get started relatively cheaply, while allowing enthusiasts to move into more specialized territory.

2. Start out on a simple, no-frills scooter for about $100, for example, or move on to spend upward of $400 for added bells and whistles.

3. Look at the size of the scooter. Most are less than 10 pounds for easy carrying and fold up to a length of 2 feet or less.

4. Grab a specialized bag for about $20 when you buy your scooter. Then fold up the scooter, drop it in the bag and tote it anywhere. You can also buy a strap that attaches to the folded scooter, and swing it over your shoulder for easy carrying. Some scooters come in kits with all of these accessories included.

5. Make sure your scooter's handlebars adjust to a comfortable height. You should be able to stand comfortably on the board and have the bars rise to mid-torso. You shouldn't have to bend over to use them, or you won't be able to look ahead comfortably.

6. Think about the amount of weight you'll have on the scooter and decide whether it will support you. Most are designed to hold between 300 and 350 pounds.

7. Test-drive the scooter. A scooter's wheels have a larger diameter than those on skateboards - similar to those found on in-line skates - which makes for a smoother, more efficient ride. Make sure you feel like the scooter is something you can brake and steer. Many kick scooters use a rear friction brake instead of hand brakes on the handlebars. Decide which you are most comfortable using.

8. Consider customizing the deck (the area where you stand). Most kick scooters have a relatively small deck that might not have enough room for both of your feet to rest on, especially if you wear size 13 or larger shoes. One foot is pushing the scooter most of the time anyway. But you can buy a wider deck that will allow you to get more of your feet off the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Being out among other motorized vehicles, most of which are bigger than you, is always risky. Don't make sudden and erratic moves in high-traffic areas.
• Wear a helmet, as well as knee and elbow pads to minimize injuries in the event of a spill.
• Obey the rules of the road.

Who Can Help:

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on 9/27/2006 Scooters are a great investment for children of various ages. They give good exercise and I agree it is much better than buying the new Nintendo games. I highly recommend them, so go out to your local store of choice and buy one.

on 6/30/2006 Put your back heel on the board and then put your front toes on and jump. Then kick your back foot toward you and land smooth.

on 6/30/2006 Bunny hop: Put your feet on the deck. Grab the handlebars and jump up with the scooter. This is the most important trick in scooter riding. Once you master this, you will be able to do many more tricks.

180 degrees: Do a bunny hop, turn halfway around, then land.

360 degrees: Bunny hop, turn all the way around, land.

Can-Can: Bunny hop, kick one of your feet forward, land.

Nac-Nac: Bunny hop, kick you foot backward.

No footer: Bunny hop, kick your feet out both sides.

No hander: Get some speed up, make the scooter straight and put your arms out to the side.

Stall: Scoot up to an edge (curb, step, etc.), bunny hop onto it. Balance, and bunny hop off.

180 stall: Do a stall, but while you're in the air, turn 180 degrees, land, jump off.

Stall, 180, stall: Do a regular stall, while you're on the ledge, do a 180, then 180 off.

The X: Bunny hop, spin the handlebars around half way, spin them back.

The Nothing: Bunny hop, take all of your body parts off the scooter, land.

Titanic: Scoot up, take your hands off the handlebars, and lean over the front of the scooter.

Pony ride: Scoot up, place your front foot over the handlebars take your hands off, ride away.

on 11/22/2005 Sex change-Ollie: Switch the direction of your feet.
No footer-Ollie: Take both feet off the back and land back on safely.
One footed X-up-Ollie: Bar tweak and use one foot to a safe landing.
Rocket air: Bring both feet back off the deck, then do an Ollie and land safely.
Nothing-Ollie: Bring your whole body off the deck, land back on safely.
180 no footer: Do a 180 and a no-footer at the same time.
Back flip: Get huge amount of speed, pull back hard, and land safely.

on 11/22/2005 These scooters are a great investment. Your kids may be willing to do extra chores to get you to buy one, and spending $100 on an active outdoor toy is a lot better than $80 on a new video game.