Category: Urban Riding
Snow Ride : 48V500W Lyric (eBikeboard) Scooter
In this video I take my 48V500W Lyric (eBikeboard) out for a ride in the snow. For added difficulty, I bring the dog. I ride every day, and when the weather turns bad I don’t stop. Riding this trike gives me the stability I need, but it’s still a challenging ride. Front wheel drive can get pretty slippery. But with the suspension and larger tire size I can roll right over obstacles.
Probably not a lot of people trying to ride scooters in the snow, but if you want to, you can!
Does a Seat With a Back Make A Difference? Sunlite Backrest Saddle
Picked up this seat, wasn’t sure what difference it would make, if any. Synopsis: A seat with a back makes a big difference for stability. I would buy it again.
This is the seat I bought, the Sunlite Backrest Saddle, 9″x11″. It was the cheapest I could find at the time (~$35 at time of purchase). I bolted it onto my eBikeboard and took it for a spin. It took a little getting used to, but the difference was obvious from the first ride. Now I’m quite comfortable with it and it’s hard to describe why it would make a difference. Maybe just because it keeps me from shifting around in the seat as much.
I would like a seat that is softer and had a better tightening mechanism for the back brace pad. It’s pretty lightweight, which good and bad. The size is good, it’s comfortable enough and it’s not obnoxious on the scooter. The seat pan is plastic, so I don’t know how much abuse it can take. I would like something a little softer and better built, so maybe I’ll spend more money next time and try to get a nicer one. All-in-all, it gets the job done!
SNAPnGO Model 335: The Best All-In-One Mobility Scooter Value?
Synopsis: The best all-in-one mobility scooter value? Could be. The Glion SNAPnGO is a big step up in the mobility world, I highly recommend this scooter. After several months of real-world use, I am still excited to own this device and drive it every day. There is so much care and thought in the design that show up in little things, and Glion customer service has been stellar. The scooter is faster than many, with 3 speeds of up to 6 mph. It’s lightweight, has a FAA certified-for-travel removable 36V 6.6 aH Li-on battery with great range, ~ 6 miles. Right Side Controls; power, lights, thumb throttle with LED battery indicator. Left Side Controls; forward/reverse, speed selector, horn. Regenerative braking plus dual rear drum brakes. Comfort-style seat rotates, has removable arm rests, and can be removed for travel. Optional travel seat lightens the scooter even more and makes it easier to move. Ships with charger, front nylon handlebar carrying bag, shopping baskets, rear-view mirror, two battery keys, everything you need to hit the ground running. It’s rated for 300 lbs., does great with my ~180, I can just barely ride on grass.
Everything has been thought through in a way that makes day-in-day-out use simple and uncomplicated. Runs and rides great, I ride it every day. It is comfortable, uncomplicated and has superior performance.
—-
My personal mobility has slowed, so I started seriously looking at actual mobility scooters. I have been using modified scooters for mobility, but I started looking at the possible advantages of a stable seat. I picked up a used Pride GoGo Elite Traveller from the local classifieds that needed some love. I found after driving the Elite Traveller, there were real benefits on a heavy pain day to being able to just sit, not even to have to balance. I have owned several Pride scooters that I have fixed and sold, and frankly, they are very well built. After taking many scooters apart, I find Pride scooters are super tough and dependable. The scooter pictured is about 14 years old and still going strong.
An opportunity appeared to pick up a SNAPnGO through a local lost-freight liquidator at a greatly reduced price. I can’t afford $1300 to try a scooter out. It was a great price, so I took a chance. There were a few scuffs, but everything was mechanically sound and it was still new in the box. When I got it home and put it through its paces, it was clear everything about the scooter was 100%. I registered the scooter with Glion and started riding.
Now I had two mobility scooters, and I could compare them head-to-head. In the end I could only keep one (much to my grandkids disappointment) and you already know how the story ends. I like the Pride GoGo Elite Traveller scooter very much. It’s solid, you can find parts, and you can easily find these scooters used for a good price. They break down into pieces so you can load them into any vehicle. But they are heavy, they have heavy lead-acid batteries, and they are slower, at ~4 mph.
The SNAPnGO folds quickly. I can easily load it in my car by myself. It goes faster, ~7 mph, and it’s fun to ride. The light weight makes it a very nimble riding experience. It turns easily and quickly. It has good acceleration and excellent braking. The battery is lightweight and removable so you can charge it away from the scooter and you can fly with it. Even though the battery is small, it lasts a surprisingly long time. Range is very good.
The original reason I bought this scooter was primarily to take it on an airline trip, so I wanted the optional travel seat. But I wanted just the post, as I already had a seat. I didn’t see just the post listed on Glion’s site, so I reached out. They sold me the seat post for a reasonable price and sent it out fast. I had it in two days. I’ve bought a lot of parts from multiple companies, Glion has been top-notch. This is a great scooter from a great company.
I would call this a relatively expensive scooter at $1299. But remember the unique things this scooter can do. It’s lightweight, folds, is faster than average and you can fly with it. You can fly with a lot of scooters, but only the smallest and lightest can be checked at the end of the loading ramp like this one. That’s a big difference. The alternatives to this scooter seem to be above $2K, so in that sense too it seems like a good value.
Cockpit/Controls
The right hand has a simple thumb throttle with a 3 light LED read-out. It also has the power button. Hold it down for a few seconds and the scooter turns on with the lights on. A quick additional touch to the power switch and the lights turn off. (I wish it was default no lights.) It would be nice to have a LCD screen with more information like voltage, speed, odometer but it’s not really necessary. Not really going fast or far with this vehicle. The LED lights seem pretty reliable as far as showing the state of the battery. The acceleration and responsiveness is best when the battery is fully charged, indicating green, but also has good performance throughout the discharge as you would expect with a Lithium battery. There are 3 speeds, but I pretty much keep it on the top speed. It also has a decent horn, not too wimpy, not to bold. The hand brake on the right side controls the rear drum brakes and can be locked and used as a parking brake. Another interesting feature of this scooter is that when it is powered on it has a regenerative brake that makes the scooter a bit difficult to push forward. Turn the scooter off by holding the power button for a few seconds, and it freewheels and rolls easily. No brake lights, just lights, but they are bright and come in handy. I can easily ride at night.
The handlebars are a good width, the scooter turns tightly. One thing I noticed about the foot rests, they are slightly wider than the back wheels so it the front won’t fit through a space, you are not going to get through and accidentally catch the back wheels. Nice touch. At first I thought the footrests looked a little large and funny, but I end up using all the space. It is nice to be able to change my seating position and my foot positions. You can also use the space in the front of the footrest as a handle when you trolley the scooter. Nice touch!
The seat is a super-comfortable mobility scooter seat. Pretty much the same seat as was on my Elite Traveller, almost interchangeable, but not quite. The arm rests fold up and down, but I removed them for extra comfort. Without the arms I don’t feel as pinned in. There is a latch under the seat that you lift to change directions of the seat so you can get out sideways if you like. You also lift the lever when you want to remove the seat. When you remove the seat there is a convenient holder for the seat center post. To use the optional travel seat you keep the center post in and the travel seat post slides inside. You end up sitting a little bit higher, and the handlebars feel the perfect height when using the travel seat. In fact, I would say the travel seat is a performance upgrade. You sit higher, the scooter is much lighter with the smaller seat, and it performs even better!
DRIVE TRAIN
36V, 6.6 aH Lithium battery. There’s a lot to like about the battery setup. First, it meets FAA guidelines and Glion will provide you the manufacturing document you need for travel if you ask. The shape of the battery is excellent with a fold-down carrying handle. It has an on/off switch and 5.5mm charging port. The blade connection design is super solid. The battery is very easy to take on and off, and it comes with 2 keys for locking and removing it on your scooter. Comes with a 2A charger, charges in 2-3 hours. I use a Luna Cycles charger and charge to 80 percent a majority of the time. I like the Luna chargers because you can vary the charging amperage and the charge percentage.
The SNAPnGO is front-wheel drive. The motor seems just right for my size of ~180 lbs. I can climb inclines and drive over most grass. The motor is pretty quiet and is responsive. The acceleration is good. One thing about any 3 wheeled scooter, they can be a little tippy, especially turning tight when going uphill or downhill. The SNAPnGO is so light, sometimes it feels like it can tip easier than the Elite Traveller, but because it is so light it’s easier to correct. Once that heavy Pride scooter started tipping, there wasn’t as much I could do to stop it. I tipped it once. But I’ve yet to tip over on the SNAPnGO. EDIT: During the timeframe of writing this, I finally did tip over. I hit a driveway lip covered in wet leaves at less than a 90 degreee angle. The front tire slid sideways until the back tires hit, and then I tipped. It was slow, easy to manage, and with such a lightweight scooter, it was easier to deal with than a heavy scooter. Was not hurt in any way.
CHASIS
Although the frame has a simple design, it’s advanced. Everything has a purpose. The folding mechanism is solid. You push forward on the steering column and step on the release and the scooter folds quickly. The seat post comes out in slides into it’s holding tube. There is also a holding tube for the travel seat. There is a loop bar on the back that makes the back easy to grab and it protects the battery.
This will drive over the lip of my driveway, but without any suspension or pneumatic tires, it’s a jolt. I like solid tires because I never have to worry about flats. The back wheels on the SNAPnGO are a good size and roll easily. No problems there.
FOLDING
Folding the scooter is easy. You first remove the seat, then the post, putting it in the holder on the frame, push the handlebars forward and step down on the aluminum release lever located at the front of the deck and that’s it! Folds down to a size that should fit into most any car. You can see it here in the trunk of an older Honda Accord. Scooter folds down, seat placed upside-down on top of it.
Turning Radius
I can do a Y-turn on a sidewalk.
What I like Better About a Traditional Pride Scooter
Forward/reverse controller, tiller handle adjustable, neutral handle.
In the end, it’s a great mobility device. I’m putting together a video that will show everything. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Juiced Scorpion 6 Month Review – 50+ Dual Sport Mobility Solution?
Update: Base model is discontinued but Scorpion X being released, same as base except bigger battery, torque pedal assist, key, and some other differences. $2199.
Short answer: After 6 months and 600 miles over every type of terrain and road, I really like this bike. I think it is an especially good ride for 50+ aged riders who want a safe, stable, fun ride with lots of utility. BUT, realize you are buying direct-to-consumer. There is no dealer, there is no service department. You will have to be your own bike mechanic, or have a shop that can handle this type of bike, and not all can. You’ll probably need a few new tools, and a new bike rack for a bike this size.
The Good
The bike is smooth and comfortable to ride. It is responsive and handles well in a variety of conditions, I rode it everywhere I could. It’s a bit heavy for backcountry trails, but groomed dirt bike trails or dirt roads, no problem. Even did well in the sand by the lake. The utility of the bike has been impressive. The back rack comes in handy for a shopping basket, a tool bag, or a passenger. I also hooked my 14′ tandem kayak to it and hauled it down to the boat launch. I put an extra small camera bag I had on the back where I carry a lock, and my tools. Passengers just sit on the bag. I use a rafting strap to cinch a bike basket on top when I run errands. Ease on, easy off.
Speed, it goes about 20 on the throttle before upgrading to the the off-road throttle. I could get up to 25 peddling and maybe 26 REALLY peddling. I added the off-road controller and now get 23-26 mph throttle only and I generally don’t go faster. Range is about 20-25 miles with the standard battery. Hydraulic brakes work good, but make a horrible grinding sound.
Lights work great, and control panel is easily to program. Shifting is easy enough. The indicator numbers are upside down because they used an exist component that is usually on the other side. It doesn’t affect the performance.
I added the Juiced Alarm/Horn. You charge it independent of the battery and it has a wired button you run up to the handlebars that fits perfectly. The horn is pretty loud and sounds like a scooter or electric motorcycle horn. You set the alarm with the included remote and if someone moves the bike, it goes off. Most of the time what sets it off is me forgetting I set the alarm and then moving the bike. The horn seems startling to people on trails, so I added a simple bike bell that I can use at slow speeds around people. Doesn’t startle them nearly as much.
Juiced Bikes as a company has met or exceeded my expectations. All my interactions with them have been professional and polite. I think launching a new product line in the midst of a pandemic is tricky. I think the popularity of their products led to some initial hiccups, and I think there are some people who have gotten bikes that did not work. From what I see in the Juiced Facebook group, their journey has not been simple and easy. My experience has been pretty straight forward.
There is a lot of information available in the Juiced Bike community. Users readily share their mods and fixes, and where they get their parts or upgrades.
The Not-So-Good
Juiced Bikes is not a shop down the street. Anything you need to resolve will be on-line and shipping will be involved. Hang on to your box after opening.
This bike is heavy at 100 pounds with the battery. While the acceleration is fine, it’s not exhilarating. The riding position is good, but the seat height feels a bit low to me. They do sell a seat riser.
The pedals come pretty close to the ground, closer than I would like.
The brakes. They are noisy like everyone says.
The kickstand broke, but Juiced replaced it.
From what I can tell, when people buy these bikes, it is just a starting point, I have seen multiple customizations. You can check places like the Juiced Scorpion Owners Facebook Group page to see what people have done. I prefer to keep mine pretty stock, but I had made some changes.
What I Added
Off-road controller – $149 *With the off-road controller the motor gets more electricity. Goes faster, quicker and feels right. Definite add for me.
Kenda Krusade tires from Rad Bikes $39 x 2 – DEFINITE add for me. In my opinion, the bike without this type of tire hasn’t met its potential.
Mr. Tuffy’s $65
Slime $9
Mirrors $40
Pedal Extenders $16
Horn $49
Bike Bell $10
Helmet $149
Phone Holder $16 – Works great
Gear bag
Luna Charger $99 – Very handy to be able to change charge rate and %
Passenger Seat Kit $129 – comes with passenger pegs. Wife complained they were too close to my feet. Changed to these preferred passenger pegs.
Passenger pegs $39
Preferred Passenger Pegs $13 Amazon
Folding Ramp $69
Total = $$$ for extras
The Long Story
Our travel trailer became our home just as I got the bike in June. We were working from “home” as we camped and worked from our hotspot for the summer. Luckily for me, the original IG backer’s Scorpion has spoke wheels and a quick-release on the front tire. I made a fork bracket out of the shipping bolt and some scrap wood, moved the handlebars to a lowered position, and loaded into the back of our Nissan Armada. I immediately put this bike to the test.
Country roads, dirt roads, trails, mountains, deserts, city streets, long rides, short rides, rides every day, riding double. Riding triple with the grandkids. Pulling the kayak down to the boat launch. A lot. Multiple lakes. Riding at night. It got rained on, and it got rained on again by campground sprinklers. Right now I have over 600 miles on my odometer. I haven’t ridden 600 miles on a bike in the last 10 years combined. I think I found some magic.
How I Got Here
I decided 60 was the year I was going to get myself a real electric bike and give up my last motorcycle. I was down to my Honda CT 110, and that was too much for me now. I still loved riding it, but I hurt too much when I was done. So I backed the Scorpion on Indiegogo.
I had taken notice of the Juiced Camp Scrambler when it was first introduced. I loved the retro styling of the frame that was reminiscent of my Taco 22 mini bike from the 1970’s. I wondered if something like that could fill the bike/motorcycle role for me and keep me moving. The fat tires looked ride softening, but it only had front shocks.
Then in October 2019 Juiced announced the Scorpion, an electric moped style bike with front AND rear suspension. Fat tires, step-thru frame, passenger option, disc brakes, headlight, LCD control, brake-light, fenders, 7 speeds, hydraulic brakes. Drivetrain: 750W motor and 52V 13aH Lithium battery (base model), 20+ mile range , 20 mph throttle only, 28 pedal assist. And it looked a lot like my Honda CT110.
I backed it and began my nervous anticipation. One sunny day in June, the Fed-X truck pulled up and delivered my beautiful, new, 100 lb. electric bike, partially assembled in a box.
Putting it together was not too hard, just put on the handlebars, pedals and front tire. The hard part is the bike is heavy, so having someone help hold it while you do you assembly is important. After that I charged the battery, pumped up the tires, choose a few settings and then hopped on and started riding. And riding, and riding and riding. I found myself making excuses to go riding.
This bike rides like a cross between a small motorcycle and I heavy bike. It is sure-footed, smooth and easy to control. I switched to knobbed tires and it feels even better. I feel more in control, especially at the highest speeds. After riding many trail miles now, a knobby tire is essential for this bike to reach its true potential. They work great on trails and feel much more secure on pavement. No real speed loss with the Kendas. No flats in 3 months so far with them, knock on wood. Had a couple of flats with the stock tires.
Have ridden a fair amount 2-up it feels fine to me with a passenger. The front tire starts getting a little loose, but nothing scary. Wife feels comfortable, grandkids like it, and when I tried it I liked it..
The base model has been perfect for me, it stays within the laws of my state and I am legal for many bike trails. The beefier Hyper Scorpion, maybe not. The Hyper Scorpion goes faster and frankly, if I had it, I would go faster. I don’t need to go faster, the base model is fast enough.
For 50+ riders, this bike offers a lot. Very stable, very smooth, good power, comfortable ride, utility, and it looks great. Perfect for keeping up with my wife on her peddle bike, or for following her on her walks or runs. It is easy to ride fast or slow. For people with limited mobility, this bike can really open up horizons.
I’m glad I have the base model because it is still legally an electric bicycle and because frankly, if I had the faster Hyper Scorpion, I would go too fast too often. I have encountered only one other Scorpion rider in the wild, 50+ rider, and I chased him down and talked about to him about his experience. Then his wife pulled up on one. Then his friend pulled up on another. His experience? Loved it so much his friends wanted to try it, when they did they bought one too.
I strongly recommend the Juiced Scorpion for 50+ aged riders looking for mobility in urban areas and outdoors. Sure-footed, substantial feeling, good set of controls, make this an electric dual sport that delivers the sensation of riding a bike and a motorcycle combined. You can ride it slow around people on trails and cut it loose on open roads. Juiced would be wise to market this bike to 50+ riders.
Swagtron Swagger Is a Surprisingly Great Mobility Assistive Device
Been a while since I have posted, but here’s a good one for you. The Swagtron Swagger. I added a foldable seat mount, extra long seat post, and a Schwinn seat. Small, light, inexpensive seated scooter for stores, sidewalks and general riding. After more than 6 months of riding this thing everywhere, I can say I LOVE IT!
So you don’t have to read to the end…
CONCLUSION: The Swagtron Swagger with a seat makes for a simple, lightweight, inexpensive, reliable mobility assistive device for stores, smooth roads and fun. I definitely recommend the Swagtron Swagger for people with balance looking for a slick, easy, inexpensive mobility solution.
THE SET-UP
I have been riding this setup for 7 months now and it is a winner. I bought the Swagger refurbished during a holiday sale. Here’s the link to the current Swagtron listing: https://swagtron.com/product/swagtron-electric-scooter-swagger-v1/ about $239 when I am writing this. (I paid much less). The big advantage of this carbon fiber scooter is it is lightweight, only about 17 lbs, and 22 lbs with the seat. I can easily pick it up and carry it onto a train or put it in a trunk.
The Lixada seat is a bolt-on solution (-$65): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076RYCVVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Review of the seat: Meh. It works fine, it just looks clunky. If anyone or manufacturer has a better solution, I would love to hear about it.
You need an extended post (~$23): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076RYCVVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Review of the seat post: Great. Love the markings on the back which allow me to quickly adjust centering and height every time.
And I used a Schwinn No Pressure Bicycle Seat (~$19): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000DZGLVY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Review: Great. I put these on every seated scooter I can.
At those prices the full set-up runs ~$346.
THE SCOOTER: SWAGTRON SWAGGER
First of all, this is not a powerful scooter, but if you accept that, what it can do is kind of amazing!
The Swagger has 5 speeds on the LCD display, 3 is perfect for stores.
It has an LED light on the front that is BRIGHT. No horn. The LED is easy to read and simple to use. You hold the main button for 5 seconds and it turns on. When I am done I just put it away and the auto shut-off shuts it down in a few minutes. I put my handicap sticker right below it and covered the front logo with black gaffer’s tape.
It folds quickly and easily, and the folding mechanism seems strong. The battery lasts long enough for a full day of shopping, and a bit more. I keep it in my trunk and charge it every week or so, or after a long ride. There is a battery level indicator on the LCD and it gives a general idea of the state of the battery.
This scooter has small, very flat, wheels. They are great on smooth surfaces, but the flatness of the wheels makes turning somewhat exciting because the edge of the tire is not curved, so when you lean into the wheels while turning at speed… well, I would be very careful. It can slip quickly. I would not recommend going very fast on this scooter if you are inexperienced.
I have ridden this scooter on all sorts of terrain and it has surprised me how useful it has been. It can’t handle too many bumps in the road, but it is light so it is easy to pick up and carry between rough spots.
The brake is an electric brake and it is not very strong. But this scooter is so much like a kick scooter that dragging a foot is an effective enough way to slow down, I hardly ever use the brake. I would like it to be stronger if I went faster more. There is a stomp brake using the back fender, but with the seat added it is not very practical to use.
Speed? I would say 10-12 mph with my 200 lbs. Range? 2 – 4 miles in the real world, but I usually ride it in stores and I can use it several times before I recharge. I do occasionally ride it down to the train, about 1.5 miles. The scooter has a low voltage cutoff, so when it is drained it suddenly stops. You can feel the performance degrade slight right before it shuts down, so there is some warning. The good news is the scooter is so lightweight and small that you can kick it and use it like a kickscooter. There is some drag from the motor, to not enough to make it impractical.
I have done almost no maintenance. My grandkids rode it till it was dead several days in a row. They rode it down the dirt road at our family campout at the KOA. Sprayed it off and wiped it down, oiled the back wheel a little and that has been it.
BTW, my grandkids ride all my scooters and they love this one. It really is a lot more peppy with a youngster on it. Being able to set the speed of the scooter really helps with young kids that want to go too fast.
SEAT MOUNT
I knew I needed a folding mount that stuck up less than the folded height of the scooter. This Lixada one met that requirement, but it is mounted to the scooter with what essentially are two giant hose clamps. It works fine, it doesn’t look good. I didn’t want to drill holes if I could avoid it. Perhaps someone has a better solution, but I think any seat that mounts to common scooters will work for this application. I did not use the seat or the post that came with the mount because they would not go high enough.
The seat mount works well enough, but it is clunky looking. It is held in place with two giant hose clamps. 
They give you a piece of clear plastic to put between the mount and your scooter deck and I cut it to size with tin snips
I drilled two holes were I needed to make a cut for the clamp band and then sliced between them. 
I believe the holes have the added benefit of stopping the slice from continuing to crack.
Tighten up the clamps and you are ready to add the extended seat post. Here is a picture of the provided seat and seat post in the mount
This mount has held up fine and is relatively simple to operate. It would operate better if the manufacture quality were higher, the pin doesn’t move as smoothly as it could.
EXTENDED SEAT POST
To get the seat up high enough I needed a longer seat post. The UPANBIKE 450mm (17.7 in) one I bought works great, and the markings on the back make it super easily to line up perfectly every time. 
SEAT
I put the Schwinn No Pressure Seat on all my seat scooters. Enough said.
BATTERY
The battery is a 24v 3800 mAh Lithium, which gives you 91.2Wh, well within the FAA limit of 100 Wh. I haven’t tried flying with this scooter, but theoretically I might be able to. It recharges pretty quickly, under 2 hours. This is nice is I ever do run it all the way down, I can be back up and running in a short amount of time.
HOW I CAME TO THIS SET-UP
I was looking for a lightweight solution for an electric scooter that I could easily transport and use in public areas like stores. I came upon the Glion Snap ‘N Go : https://www.amazon.com/GLION-SNAPnGO-Travel-Mobility-Scooter/dp/B07CPD2HQ4. Looked great, but it is $1650 and though I contacted the company and tried to make arrangements, I could not find one to ride to evaluate. They did offer to sell me one and let me send it back if I didn’t like it, but I didn’t want to lay out $1650 to find out about a product. I started looking for other solutions.
CONCLUSION: SWAGTRON SWAGGER
The Swagtron Swagger with a seat makes for a simple, lightweight, inexpensive, reliable electric scooter for stores, smooth roads and fun.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Relatively Inexpensive
- People react favorably to it in the real world
- Easy to maneuver
- Easy to fold
- Recharges in under two hours
- Cool carbon fiber pattern
- Airline compatible
Cons:
- Flat wheels
- Ineffective brake
- Obnoxious branding (I covered it with Gaffer’s tape)
- Seat mount is not the best (not Swagtron’s problem)
What Do You Want?
Went for a ride this past weekend. My wife is a runner so my scooter is how I am able to participate with her. She said she would like to incorporate a stop at nearby grocery as part of the run. I hopped off and grabbed a shot of my eBikeboard scooter in the isle. I love the eBikeboard because it has 3 speed settings and I can slow it down to mobility scooter speed (4 MPH) or speed it up and ride with my wife as she runs or really speed it up and run over to the store by myself.
The really unique thing about this scooter is I can ride it from the street right into the store. So important for people like me who have mobility issues. Otherwise I could ride it to the store and then what? This scooter fills the gap. If I could just find one that could run errands, cruise with someone running, ride in stores…. and would fold and fit in the trunk and was FAA approved for travel!
I do have to say after I had been in the store for a few minutes the manager came up and confronted me and told me my scooter had to go and I could lock it in his office while I was shopping. My wife wasn’t having any of that, and she emphatically told him this was my mobility device. He backed down like he had been accused of using a racial slur. He suddenly was emphatically apologizing, so much so he sounded defensive. I didn’t even have to say a word.
Since I started riding scooters I have only been confronted a few handfuls of times, and most times it has gone well. I have had a few people angrily confront me, but in life when someone starts in on me I try to take their anger as information that they are upset. I usually let them say whatever they have to say, I get it, scooters are confusing to people who don’t use them regularly. But I also know that the law is on my side, and I can ride what I need to where I need to. If I have to prove my scooter has the right classification, I can do that. If I have to prove my disability, I can do that. But I think most people realize pretty quickly that hassling someone over their ADA mobility device is not a good look.
Winter is coming this week. Scooting is going to start to get interesting again…
Mobility Takes A Seat
For me, mobility means I need to be able to sit down. Typical mobility scooters do not fit my needs in that they are heavy, slow and let’s face it, kinda ugly. I started using scooters 8 years ago and during this time I have ridden many different scooters. Every person that uses mobility assistive devices has different needs, some needs stability over everything else. But I still can walk short distances and have good balance, so I want to ride something more nimble. And I travel a lot. So I would ideally like something that was FAA friendly.
Many of my scooters hit the mark on one thing but not another. I keep trying different solutions as my budget allows.
A while ago I made a nice find in this GoPed ESR Sport. I bought if from an on-line classified ad and the person I bought it from had it under a pile of stuff in their garage. It wasn’t working but I took a chance, and when I replaced the batteries it popped back to life.
This GoPed ESR Sport is quite a peppy scooter. The tires are solid, just like on my GoPed kickscooter and there is no suspension so the ride is… let’s say it can be challenging. But the torque is amazing and the scooter really takes off and can really handle hills. The solid tires are nice for not getting flats in a hazard-filled urban riding environment, but you have to be really, really carefully hitting bumps. I would say top speed seems like around 15 MPH.
I was looking around at the scooter parts I had and found the original scooter seat post I made and shockingly the holes where in exactly the right place to mount it to my GoPed ESR Sport. I put on a seat with springs for more cushion and this is an amazing ride!
This scooter is great for running to the store and then riding through the store. It maneuvers tightly. One big drawback is it is not waterproof, so no riding in the rain. Also, it is pretty heavy. I can lift it, but it takes effort. All-in-all, this GoPed ESR Sport is a great ride, especially with the added seat. I think at some point I will try to make the seat folding.
I hope to ride and evaluate new scooters coming out. I back Eon scooter on IndieGoGo and they haven’t delivered and it doesn’t look like they will, despite their protestations. They also promised me a refund which has never happened and they don’t return my emails so… looks like I have lost all my money. It would be nice to have a scooter from a reputable company. I have noticed the Glion Snap N Go online, something like that would be nice to at least evaluate, but there is no where I know that I can go and test ride these scooters.
I will keep posting about what I ride and how it works in the hopes of passing useful information along.
Renter Scooters Change Scooter World Overnight
All of a sudden, everyone is talking about scooters. As a dedicated scooter rider for nearly a decade, it has been with mixed emotions that I have watched the world of rental scooters unfold.
I understand the appeal of these machines, and I have been very excited to see the progress in design and build in the new scooters coming out. I even backed a new scooter on IndieGoGo called the Eon (which at this point is looking like a scam and I have nothing to show for my money. Not happy with IndieGoGo or PayPal for how they handle their business, let alone Eon, but just let me say I would be VERY skeptical about spending money with IndieGoGo and WOULD NOT use PayPal and absolutely would use my credit card. More about this on another post.)
Lime and Bird scooters have appeared in the downtown area of the city where I live, but I have not yet taken the opportunity to ride either to evaluate them, maybe because I already have my own scooter to ride. I have seen many people riding them, and they seem to be really enjoying themselves.
The problem for me with the new popularity of rental scooters is the problems arising from the users of the new rental scooters. People with zero riding experience can easily rent one and hop on, and suddenly they are learning how to ride in a very challenging environment. After they ride them they leave them…wherever. By now most people have heard the about the issues, and much contention has arisen.
For someone who depends on scooters for mobility, I am cautiously optimistic about the future of rental scooters and scooter use in public places. I think there should be designated drop-off areas so they don’t end up everywhere. I think people should take care when riding, and not just grab one on a lark and carry their shopping bags as they try to navigate people and the skills required to ride.
The argument against these scooters because hospital visits are going up is a canard. Use has shot up, injuries have shot up. Duh. I never understand the “THIS IS DANGEROUS!” argument people take up when then don’t want something for whatever reason. Everything we do includes an element of risk, but that’s life. How about my motorcycle, you want that? Plenty of danger there. Maybe my baseball which has caused me pain, or maybe the knives in my kitchen that I have cut myself with? What about the over 250 people that have died taking selfies?
People do stupid things, and one of the stupidest is being surprised when people do stupid things. Stupidity is not an argument against efficacy. So people do stupid things with scooters too, what’s new?
I hope that I do not incur additional prejudice from people because of the new popularity of rental scooters. I need my scooters to navigate life, they are not a lark for me. We will see what the eventual outcome is, and if people hassle me I am already used to it so whatever, but I am glad that people are starting to understand the value scooters can provide society. Just like anything else, we need to use our powers wisely.
Air Travel With GoPed Kickscooter
When I travel by air my GoPed Knowped has become indispensable to me. My first modification was to add a seat. Then I made the seat a folding seat and that is when the scooter really opened the world up to me.
I have been using this configuration for years now and it works great everywhere. The GoPed is super sturdy and can stand up to day-in-day-out full scale abuse. I don’t treat it gently, I push it hard and ride it over every kind of surface imaginable. I have crashed it hard and literally drove over it with my RV and it just keeps on rolling. Quality product all the way.
Here is how I travel with it. When booking my airline ticket I indicated that I am able to walk short distances so they will not be surprised when I show up with a mobility device. Then I fold it up and put it in the car for the ride to the airport. I carry a duffle bag and a blanket to wrap around it in a Schwinn handlebar bag. I take it directly from the car to the shuttle folded.
Once I get off the shuttle I open the scooter up and ride it to the ticket counter to check in and get my duffle bag tagged. Once of the MAJOR benefits of this set-up comes at TSA security where I ride it ride up, fold it up and put it on the conveyor belt for screening. Goes right through the scanner, no problem.
Then I ride it down to the boarding gate. While waiting for the plane to board I fold the scooter up, wrap it up and bag it. My wife and I carry the bag down the walkway together, and I drop it off at the end by the door to the plane with all the scooters and baby carriers.
When we arrive at the destination I wait a few minutes after getting off the plane and they bring it to me at the end of the walkway with all the strollers and baby seats. We usually carry it out to the waiting area so as to not block other passengers and then set it back up. The bag and blanket go back in the handlebar bag and I start making my way to ground transportation. Another GREAT thing about this set-up is I can ride it on and off escalators, NO PROBLEM. I can ride it straight onto shuttle trains and always have a seat.
This scooter REALLY helps me navigate the world and be able to keep up with the people I am traveling with. With it I am mobile, almost the same as everyone else. People always stop me and ask me where I got the scooter and I tell them it is a GoPed, but I customized it. I think a lot of people could benefit from this design, it has been a solid performer for me under every condition imaginable and has changed my life.
I carry this scooter in the trunk of one car and ride it in stores, etc. I carry my CityGlide scooter modified with a folding seat in the other. I always keep one handy.
Traveling
Been a busy time. Work has been extra busy and been traveling. Took my KnowPed folding seat scooter with me and sometimes TSA separates me and gives me the extra going over that people using devices get. But one worker had me fold up the scooter and put it on the conveyor belt to run through the machine. I had never thought about trying that, but it worked! So after that I began folding it and running it through the scanner with my belt, shoes, laptop and 3 oz. liquids in a quart-sized Ziplock bag. Made things quicker.
I also ride my scooter right onto the escalator. As the stairs emerge it pushed the seat up into me, but because I am standing it fits just right and I stabilize with my legs. Then at the bottom I just roll off. Probably looks scary, I had someone tell me they had elevators, but it works great and is super easy.
Another great thing about my scooter is that it rolls just as easily backwards as it does forwards. I can easily go 10′ or more in reverse no problem. This thing is awesome.