Having a scooter provides numerous benefits such as allowing you to get better at balancing or improve your fine motor skills. When you ride a scooter, you get to exercise too while you are having fun. Rest assured that there are scooters that are designed for children and adults alike such that you will be able to find the one that suits your needs. But in line with this, below are some of the things that you need to consider before buying a scooter.
1 – Brand or Model
One of the primary things that you need to consider in getting a scooter is the brand or model. Scooters come in various brands and the outdoor enthusiasts behind MyProScooter suggest that you look into each one closely to have a good idea of the advantages of one over the other. To be able to find the perfect brand or model, you first need to think about what you are going to use it for. For instance, the model that you need for long rides may be different from the model that you need for shorter trips.
2 – Weight and Height
Another thing that you need to consider before buying a scooter is your weight and height, as well as the weight and height of your wheels. You will be more comfortable if you are riding or balancing in a two-wheel vehicle that can accommodate your weight and that can cater to your height. A scooter with the proper size will also be able to support your posture while you are riding it.
3 – Features
Think of all the features that you want to have in a scooter before you buy one. It will be a good idea to list down each of the features that you can think of. After this, try to prioritize the features according to what you want to have the most at the top until your least favorite features at the bottom. In doing so, you will have a good insight on the scooter features that you can do away without in case you are faced with budget restrictions later on.
4 – Reviews
Before you buy a scooter, it is a good idea to exert an extra effort to do your research and look for the reviews provided by people who previously bought the same scooter that you are looking at. If you find mostly positive reviews online, then it is most likely that you won’t have any trouble with your purchase as well, even if you get to see one or two bad reviews. However, if negative feedback outweighs the positive, then treat this as a red light and consider other scooter variants available instead.
5 – Maintenance Requirement
If you want to get a scooter, then you should be a responsible owner. This means that you need to maintain your two-wheels not only to last for a long time but to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road. Thereby, check the maintenance requirements of the scooter that you are considering because if it proves to take much of your time, then you might need to go for another model that is more effortless to maintain.
6 – Protective Equipment
More often than not, the only thing that you need to ensure your safety while riding a scooter is a helmet. In this case, it is a good idea to check different helmet types, shapes, and designs available while you are checking out the best scooter for you. Nonetheless, there are also instances wherein additional protective equipment is necessary such as an elbow or knee pads. Thus, it is a good idea to scope out all the protective equipment that you need along with researching your two-wheels.
7 – License
Certain jurisdictions require scooter riders to have a license in riding their two-wheels. Thus, it is a good idea to check the particular laws or legislation in your area so that you will be able to prepare for the license application accordingly if necessary.
8 – Insurance
Aside from licenses, certain states mandate scooter riders to have the proper insurance to ensure that in cases of unfortunate circumstances leading to accidents and injuries, the riders are protected. In this case, it is also a smart move to ponder about the insurance requirements of riding a scooter within your vicinity.
9 – Cost
Of course, you need to think about the price of the scooter that you are going to buy. For sure you have a certain budget that is allotted for your purchase. However, you may be able to get a better deal for your money if you carefully compare different brands and their features, as well as their price. It can be that two models may have the same feature but one brand has a higher price than the other. Depending on your budget, you may still go for the more expensive one particularly if you trust the brand, or opt for the cheaper alternative which will be able to provide you with the same benefits.
10 – Resale Value
Finally, think about the resale value of your two-wheels. There is a great chance that you won’t be holding on to your scooter for a long time because either you will upgrade to a new one, or you will buy a different vehicle already. Just keep in mind that the resale value of your scooter will generally depend on its brand, as well as its condition.