Another electric scooter that you can remove the speed limiter by unplugging the limiting wire is any Razor model. Ideally, if your electric scooter has a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour, then the chances are high that the speed limiter can be removed by unplugging the limiting wire. While most electric scooters for kids have one or the other, a few of the higher-end scooters have both hand and foot brakes. Hand brakes tend to stop the scooter more quickly, while foot brakes can be used for a gradual slow down. Most motorized scooters for kids don’t have adjustable handlebars, so the manufacturer sets them at a height they feel is best for the child. The slower E8, which is meant for younger kids, has lower handlebars.
Last month, Bird pulled its scooters from Peoria citing similar concerns related to costs and liability. Earlier this week, The Glendale Star reported that the City of Glendale sent Bird a cease-and-desist letter demanding that they remove their scooters from the city. I think they serve a very important role in “last mile” travel. However, like all things, there are secondary effects; scooters blocking ADA access, and injuries to riders and others. Urethane are the cheapest wheels and require basically no maintenance.
So when is a child developmentally ready to safely ride an electric scooter? While scooter brands offer age recommendations, only you know your child and what you think is safe for them. The Razor E100 is the kids electric scooter that started the electric scooter craze. While there have been a lot of advancements since its humble beginnings, the E100 razor scooter still continues to be one of Razor’s top-selling scooters. If your child is confident and athletic, you’re better off with a slightly faster scooter. Our daredevil 5-year-old girl would only ride the Swagtron SK1 in short bursts; her excitement level dwindled quickly because it was too slow for her (even though it was her first electric scooter).
The scooter has a 1,000-watt motor and chain drivetrain that helps it reach speeds of up to about 20 miles per hour, with a range of 16.6 miles. And with some solid 16-inch wheels with wide pneumatic tires, that ride will be very smooth, according to Razor. Other features included in the cargo scooter include bright LED headlight and tail and brake lights, and an onboard display for speed and battery life. Brakes on a kids electric scooters come in two main styles – a foot brake or a hand brake. The foot brake is engaged when a child uses their foot to push their weight down on the rear wheel fender.
If you have a garage and your scooter is only going to be used around home, this won’t matter much. But if you live in an apartment or need to transport the scooter in your car, this will definitely come in handy. The GoTrax Vibe and the Swagtron Swagger 8 are pretty similar in features, and our tween and teen testers loved them both. While it’s not our favorite Razor electric scooter for kids, the lower price and higher ride time per battery charge are two pretty big benefits to the Power Core E90. Every other scooter requires a child to keep the throttle engaged the entire time they are riding, which can quickly get tiring. When set in Cruise Control mode, once the max speed is reached, it will stay there until the child engages the hand brake.
The scooter’s frame is steel, and the deck is plastic with a bamboo inlay, and it’s definitely an interesting-looking design. Most people I showed it to — who weren’t scooter fans — actually did like the EcoSmart. However, others jokingly compared it to a Rascal mobility scooter. The Icon got me around pretty easily, both in my neighborhood and up and down the avenues in New York City. It has a nice, smooth pickup, and its motor was strong enough to get me up my test hill (and its 6% grade) at around 5-6 MPH.
But for our riders who were using the scooters for afternoon fun in the neighborhood, we rarely had an issue with the scooters running out of power before the kids got tired of playing with them. This was in large part because we taught them to be diligent about charging their scooters each night. Be sure to choose a scooter with a maximum speed that you think is safe for your child’s age and ability, and also factor in any downhill riding they may be doing.
Once a safe speed has been attained, the motor will kick back in. Going faster than the max happens on any kids electric scooter when going downhill. The full-featured Segway Ninebot comes in several models to cater to a wide age range of kids. Each model razor electric scooter offers a different maximum speed, maximum weight limit, and handlebar height. While most electric scooters go 10 mph or more, that is really fast for a young kid! For kids under 8, several brands make electric scooters with lower maximum speeds.
The first thing I look at regarding scooters is the design. I don’t just look for the best-looking scooter, but I also want a scooter that is going to be functional. With more speed, the range will automatically get lower, as compared to while riding at slow speeds.
Both boys are avid scooter fans, and—along with their friends and cousins—they raced, weaved, and bumped to help me test the scooters in this guide. In the years since the first version of this guide was published, they have continued to test new models on commutes to school and around our southern California neighborhood. I also wrote Wirecutter’s guides to tricycles and jogging strollers, so I’ve spent some time thinking about kids on wheels. Adjustable-height handlebars and a 110-pound weight limit give it the longest usable life of any kids scooter we tested. Its high-quality build delivers a smooth, responsive ride and will hold up to years of use. Razor also announced the Razor Icon, which will arrive in stores this September according to the company.