Is a Kick Scooter Safer Than a Kids Electric Scooter
You are searching avidly online for a kick scooter for either your child or as a gift for someone else. During your search you keep running across some cheap electric scooters but you’re questioning the safety of motor scooters. Let me make this clear – less speed does not equal a safer ride. Ask any parent with a child that rides a skateboard; jumps, grabs, flips and rail riding (a.k.a. “grinding”) are just a few risky skateboarding maneuvers exercised on a board no quicker than a kick scooter. In no uncertain terms, the kick scooter can essentially do similar tricks. The metal surface provides an excellent support for grinding and its light aluminum frame is easily hoisted into the air for jumps.
In contrast, kids electric scooters can actually be safer due to the construction. To support and protect the electric motor and batteries, electric motor scooters are normally made out of thicker aluminum. Consequently, there is an increase in weight and rigidity, which will be discussed later in detail. This is not to say that “electric scooters are safer than kick scooters” but the heavy bulk of electric motor scooters limits certain tricks. For instance, jumps, grinds, and flips are dramatically (if not completely) limited due to the weight of electric motor and batteries.
Take for example, the X-Treme X-140 that is restricted to 10 mph but noticeably slower with a load and terrain. It weighs nearly 20 lbs and at full throttle is equivalent to a light jog. The average weight of a six-year old child ranges between 35-40 lbs, meaning that these cheap electric scooters weigh about half the child’s weight. The beginner electric motor scooters, such as the X-140, offer a safe speed at which kids can have fun. The important safety measures to remember is wearing protective gear, such as helmets and pads that will protect your child no matter what they ride.
