The sport of freestyle scooter riding has grown in popularity over the last decade, and kids all over the world are eager to get their hands on this new, hot item. However, before you rush out and get a professional scooter, you should first do your research. This buying guide will break down the different components of a scooter and explain their operation to assist you in making the best decision when purchasing your first scooter.
What to Look for Before You Buy a Scooter
When it comes down to it, kids aren’t as concerned with all of the above criteria as we are! They simply want to know that their scooter is nice and that it will get them where they need to go! With an assortment of bright and colourful scooters to pick from, as well as the addition of light-up wheels and accessories, we have something for any child’s taste. Made out of the strongest and lightest materials to withstand the impact of stunt landings this professional freestyle scooter collection is the one to shop from.
A Pro scooter is a tougher variant of a regular kick scooter. A trick scooter is usually not height adjustable and cannot be folded. It is heavier than a standard kick scooter and generally includes a sophisticated compression mechanism. As a result, a pro scooter is ideal for stunts and vert riding. To guarantee that your trick scooter lasts a long time, you must understand the parts and how to maintain it. This will aid professional scooter purchasers in locating high-quality parts for building a high-performance scooter. If you don’t want to put together your own bespoke pro scooter, the following information may be used as a guide to finding the appropriate complete scooter that is ready to use straight out of the box.
Bars
Scooter bars are available in a range of sizes, designs, and kinds. Steel or aluminium can be used to make these, with the former accounting for the vast bulk of bars on the market. It is critical to realize that your choice of scooter bars, particularly in terms of the previously mentioned dimensions, will influence your choice of clamps and forks. Various scooter bar types are offered primarily for aesthetic reasons.
Deck
The deck is the most important element of the scooter; it is the foundation upon which the entire thing is built. High-end decks are composed of aircraft-grade aluminium to guarantee that they are both lightweight and strong enough to withstand the demands of pro scooter stunts. Decks with a one-piece body and head tube are industry standard. Most decks come with a preinstalled headset, known as an integrated headset, while others do not, and are referred to as nonintegrated.
Fork
The fork, which goes through the headset and links the bars, deck, and front wheel, is regarded as one of the most important elements of a scooter. These parts are available in a range of strengths, styles, and weights; as such, you must make an informed selection in this respect. A compression system connects the bars and fork. Thread-less forks, which are primarily seen on high-end scooters, are thought to be stronger while also allowing for improved performance. The type of fork used has an impact on the best wheels.
Headset
The whole sensation of your scooter ride and acrobatics is determined by the headset. This component lets the fork tube revolve within the head tube, allowing the scooter to be steered. The headset is made up of a number of components, including a fork race, bearings, bearing cups, and a top cap, to ensure appropriate operation. The use of a sealed headset in conjunction with a threadless fork and compression system is responsible for the smooth functioning associated with high-end pro scooters. It is critical that you consider purchasing an integrated headset with the bearing cups pre-installed into the head tube, as messing with this component is difficult, to say the least.
The Wheels
Scooter wheels have an impact on the feel and appearance of your pro scooter. These vital components are mostly comprised of two materials: the core and urethane. However, the various core designs and urethane compounds utilized range considerably from one another, resulting in a completely distinct look and feel. Despite the fact that some wheels have a plastic core, only those with a metallic core can withstand the rigours of pro scooter maneuvers, tricks, and stunts; the former will quickly fall apart after a short period of time. Wheel sizes range from 100 to 125 mm and must be compatible with the fork in use. The bigger the wheels, the faster the scooter will be. It’s worth noting that harder urethane wheels are more suited for speed riding, whilst softer wheels give better traction.
Scooter Brakes
Depending on the model, the brakes are generally installed at the back of the deck using a screw or bolt mechanism. Spring-loaded and flex brakes are the two most common types of scooter brakes. Due to its efficient and silent functioning, pro scooters typically employ the latter. The flex brake is a piece of steel that is meant to embrace the back wheel while being attached to the back section of the deck.
Consider the Height, Not the Age
You should not buy a scooter believing that your child will grow into it and it will last him longer, just as you would not buy shoes several sizes larger. Children will struggle to control a scooter that is larger and heavier. They may give up scootering entirely if they had a bad experience. When choosing a scooter for your child, consider not just his or her height, but also his or her athletic capabilities and body.
As with a bicycle, it’s crucial to start with a three-wheeled scooter to help youngsters learn and build balance and muscle, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills while also giving them a sense of success. A toddler 3 wheel scooter for very young children should be low to the ground, and the ‘decks’ should be very thin, probably in the 10 cm width range; much broader and the kid will find it more difficult to manage, and the three-wheeled models will not move as quickly as the two-wheeled ones. Models for youngsters from 2 to 5 years old should be ‘lean to steer.’ While children are learning balance, they are also acquiring critical and quick decision-making abilities. Leaning to steer is far safer than a model where the T-bar might flip abruptly. Then there’s the three-wheeled scooter design; most three-wheeled scooters have two wheels in front and one in the rear, which is the preferred form among parents. Many reviews of three-wheeled scooter designs with two wheels at the rear and one at the front complain that it interferes with their ‘kick’ follow-through, and the youngsters become dissatisfied quickly. Look for a three-wheeled type with two wheels in front and one in back.
A more capable child can handle a bigger scooter, which will undoubtedly last him longer. A smaller scooter will suit a more fragile youngster better, as it will be easier to control. You should not be hesitant to choose a model from the 120 – 140 cm category if your child is 120 cm tall, fit, and physically talented. In the event of a more sensitive youngster, you should choose a scooter in the 110 – 135 cm size range, which includes smaller and lighter versions. The handlebar height will then be adjusted to around the midway. Please note that the range of handlebar configuration may vary depending on the model.
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