Kick scooter

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Kick scooter

A kick scooter is a platform with wheels typically propelled by pushing against the ground with the feet. Most are two wheeled vehicles with handlebars for steering the front wheel and a narrow platform near the ground. The user stands on the platform with one foot in front of the other and pushes on the ground with one foot to propel the scooter. There are also motorized versions (see Motorized scooter).

Some scooters have four wheels. A few commercial versions in 1999 and 2000 were made by simply adding a handle to a skateboard.

1 Primitive scooter
2 Miniature folding scooters
3 Adult folders
4 Full-sized scooters
5 External Links

[edit] Primitive scooter

Primitive scooters have been hand-made in industrial urban areas for at least 100 years. One common homemade version is made by attaching roller skate wheel sets to a board with some kind of handle. Steering is provided by leaning, or by a second board connected by a crude pivot. The construction was all-wooden (overall shape resembling, e.g., modern Razor scooters), with 3-4 inch (75-100 mm) wheels with steel ball bearings. An additional advantage of this construction was loud noise, just like from a "real" vehicle. An alternative construction consists of one steel clamp–on roller skate divided into front and rear parts and attached to a wood beam.

[edit] Miniature folding scooters

Child with miniature folding scooter.

In the late 1990s, a sleeker, narrower folding version of the kick scooter became wildly popular in Japan. In 1999 and 2000 the craze spread to the United States, with a wide variety of colors and styles. The market was glutted in 2002, causing a steep price drop. Most of these scooters had 4 inch (100mm) wheels and a fender brake: a hinged fender which, when pressed, drags against the rear wheel. Later models had a wheelie bar behind the brake and wheel, and other options.

Popular brands include Razor, and Kick. GO-PED brand motorized scooters have been around since 1985 but eventually the company released two non-motorized versions as well; the Grow-Ped (for the small kids) and the Know–Ped (for larger kids and adults).

[edit] Adult folders

Adult sized folding kick scooters include Xootr with 7" wheels, Sidewalker Micro with 8" wheels and pneumatic tires, and Rugged Razor, 5" pneumo. Various combinations of larger wheels, softer tires and longer wheelbase allow this type to hit a bump without necessarily pitching a tall, clumsy adult onto his head. With hand brakes, the rider need not have three legs or be young and spry. They can easily be folded and slung on a shoulder when going indoors.

[edit] Full-sized scooters

Full sized scooters are propelled by pushing off with one foot while the other rests on a footpad. These scooters use full size bicycle wheels (from 16" to 28") along with parts adapted from those used by road and mountain bikes. Popular brands are Kickbike, AW-footbike, Sidewalker Blauwerk, Ketam, Vella, XH, Esla and Riga.

These scooters are used for activities ranging from Urban Transport to Off-road Racing to Dog scootering, and there are many different types to fit each type of activity.

Urban Transport Scooters: headtube is more upright, with larger wheels (26") for a smoother roll and will not generally have any shocks.
Road Racing Scooter: lightweight frame, front wheel size is often 28" and rear wheel sizes vary (16" or larger).
Off Road Racing Scooter: more angled head tube (to avoid bashing knees), shocks, medium size wheels (16"-20"). Scooter racing is much larger in Europe at the moment than in the US.
Dog Scooters: varies per person and location that scootering is done, generally the off-road scooters are used, shocks and smaller wheels preferred for maneuverability. If the dog scootering is for long distance, an Urban Transport type scooter may be used. While some scooter companies are starting to market to dog scooterers, they are not building specific models for this activity as of yet.