We received this question from a reader named Leena recently:

Subject: Comparing Razor A A2 and A3
Can’t readily find a comparison between the three; trying to figure out which to buy for my almost 6-year-old’s birthday.  Can you help?

Well Leena, hope it’s not too late to choose.  Seems like there are lots of different Razor scooter model lines out there. Some have obvious differences, like the Razor Spark scooter, the Razor Powerwing, or the Razor Ultra Pro line.  However, the traditional regular Razor scooters seem to come in a variety of flavors, and there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of information about the differences between all the Razor A line of kids scooters. Let’s clear the scooter air “A” little shall we?

Want the summary?  Click on any of the links below for more details:

Razor A – original model, no wheelie bar, 98mm wheels, 143lbs max weight

Razor A2 – slightly improved model, wheelie bar, shock absorbing front wheel 143 lbs max weight

Razor A3 – practically identical to the A2 but with bigger wheels and better bearings 143 lbs max weight

Razor Pro – bigger, studier, and better performing than the A3, full deck grip tape and bigger handle grips, 220 lbs max weight

Razor A Scooter

The Razor A was more or less the original Razor scooter model first offered in 2000.  It has the standard Razor foldable design, 98mm sized wheels, is for kids 5 and up and has a maximum allowable weight of 143 pounds.  It comes in a variety of colors and the suggested retail price on the Razor A is $39.99.   However, you can order them for as low as $29 with free shipping by clicking HERE.

Note that you’ll occasionally find a Razor AW scooter out there.  That’s the exact same Razor A, but with a wheelie bar on the back.  It is apparently a special model sold only at Walmart.

Razor A2 Scooter

The Razor A2 is a slight step up from the A.  The basic model and folding scooter design is identical, but the A2 includes a shock absorbing front wheel and a wheelie bar on the back.  Most serious scooter riders do NOT like a wheelie bar on their scooter, as it gets in the way during tricks and can easily trip up a serious trick scooter rider.  If you see your youngster getting into some serious pro scooter tricks, move on to the Razor Pro.

The suggested retail price on the Razor A2 is $49.99, but you can typically find them for around $37 at Amazon by clicking HERE.

Razor A3 Scooter

The Razor A3 is another slight step up from the A2.  It’s virtually identical, except that they replaced the wheels larger wheels.  Otherwise there is little difference.  The specs say it has ABEC-5 “high speed” bearings, while the A and A2 only have ABEC-5s.  The larger wheels and better bearings will give your scooter rider a MUCH smoother ride, as well as better control.  It does NOT however change the Razor A line weight range, which is still 143 pounds.

The suggested retail price on the Razor A3 is $59.99, however, click here to find the “clear” version of the Razor A3 on sale for only $44

Razor Pro Scooter

The Razor Pro Scooter was called the Razor B Scooter for a time, which sounds good from the whole B comes after A perspective, but not so good from the whole “Grade A” perspective.  To avoid confusion it was renamed the Razor A4 Scooter, which also confused the heck out of people since it’s fairly different quality than the rest of the Razor A scooter line and the only one with a higher weight range than 143 lbs.

Thus the Razor Pro scooter was born.  Don’t confuse it with the Razor Ultra Pro either, the regular old Pro folds up like the rest of the A line while the Ultra Pro is fixed.

What’s the difference?  Take the A, make it of 100% aircraft grade aluminum, add high quality ABEC-5 bearings but keep the 98mm wheels, add thicker scooter grips and throw grip tape the full length of the deck (the part you stand on).  The general consensus is the Razor Pro feels better, rides better, and handles better than the rest of the A line while performing scooter tricks.  It’s also the ONLY Razor A type scooter for most average sized adults.

The suggested retail price of the Razor Pro Scooter is $79, but you can find one for $51 by clicking HERE.

But Which Razor Scooter Should I Buy?

If cost is a huge issue, buy the Razor A for $29.  Otherwise, get the Razor A3 for $44.  Don’t bother with the A2.  If you are an adult who likes doing scooter tricks, the only choice is the Razor Pro for $51.

Hope that helps!

Came across this great scooter trick video today put together by a new clothing company in the UK called Urban Kreation that makes lightweight Kevlar lined super tough clothing. If you’ve ever gotten road rash from scootering, rollerblading, or skateboarding or if you commute or ride in a city setting, then boy do you need these pants.

Unfortunately, they seem to be only available in the UK right now but hopefully they figure out a way to get them into Urban Outfitters or at least available for online ordering somewhere like Zappos here in the US.

But they did sponsor and put together what is probably the best collection of scooter tricks in one video that I have ever seen. Check this out:

]]> http://kids-scooters.org/scooter-clothing-and-awesome-scooter-tricks/feed 0 http://kids-scooters.org/electric-scooters-for-kids-how-old-should-the-be http://kids-scooters.org/electric-scooters-for-kids-how-old-should-the-be#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:35:37 +0000 admin http://kids-scooters.org/?p=243

We recently had a reader ask how old a child should be to ride an electric scooter. This depends on a number of factors, which I’ll try to address here.

Electric Scooters Are NOT For Kids Under 8 Years Old

There is no electric scooter on the market that says it should be used by kids under 8 years old.  Don’t even think about putting a six or seven year old on an electric scooter.  Be sure that your 8 or 9 year old is coordinated and mature enough to handle the responsibility of a motor driven vehicle.  They are required to follow all local laws at all times regardless of age.

Always Wear A Helmet

A helmet MUST always be worn when riding an electric scooter.  While the max speed of 10-15MPH depending on model doesn’t seem like very fast, it is when combined with the speed of a car that might be driving down your street.  I would also highly recommend knee and elbow pads as well.

Best Electric Scooter For a 9-12 Year Old – The Razor E100

The hands down winner here is the E100 electric scooter from Razor.  It’s lightweight, has a max speed of 10MPH, has a 40 minute battery life and costs under $125. The 10MPH max speed is generous, probably if you are going on a slight downhill.  On normal roads, expect around 8 MPH.  The Razor E100 can’t be started from a standing position, you have to be going at least 3-4 MPH (a couple of kicks).

Note that the weight limit on the E100 is 120lbs.  It’s not going to break, but you’ll find the top speed and ride time drops significantly as you cross the 120lbs weight limit, so plan accordingly.  It’s available in both red and pink.

There are other manufacturers out there, but I’ve read some complaints about the quality and the price as well.  Stick with the scooter experts and go with the Razor.

If you’re lucky you can find the E100 for under $100 by clicking HERE.  Makes it quite a steal.

Best Electric Scooter For a Teenager – The Razor E200

It should be no shock that the best electric scooter for kids 13 and up is also made by Razor.   The E200 is a nice step up from the E100 above.  The weight limit is 220 lbs and it has a top speed of around 13 MPH, much better for the typical teenager without a car trying to get somewhere faster.  It also boasts a 40 minute ride time per charge, and the same rules apply here.  The larger the rider, the shorter the ride time.

The E200 is pretty similar to the E100 above in terms of size.

You can find the E200 for under $160 by clicking here.

Razor S vs A?  What’s the Difference?

So a brand new Razor scooter model appeared suddenly at retail stores in the past month.  It’s called a “Razor S Scooter” and is sold at Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, and other retail outlets.  Right now there is a Black Friday sale going on where the “Razor S” is on sale at many brick and mortar locations.

So what is the difference between the Razor A and the Razor S scooter?  By all features and accounts, it is the same model as the original Razor scooter that was released back in 1999.  What are the differences between the Razor Special Edition and the Razor A line?

1. It’s made out of steel rather than aluminum.  The riding capacity has not changed from 143 lbs, nor is steel going to do you any good vs high grade aluminum other than to raise the weight of the scooter.
2. The handlebars aren’t adjustable!  They’re at a fixed height.  Have a kid that’s a little taller or shorter than average and you’re out of luck.  They are removable for storage, but the height cannot change unless you want to take a hacksaw to the post.

Why would Razor do this?  Nostalgia maybe?  Picture this.  Somewhere there is a warehouse filled with thousands of decade old metal parts for the original Razor scooters that they kept in case of warranty issues or repairs that never got used.  Did some enterprising Razor employee say “I know!  We’ll call it the Special Edition Razor Scooter and only sell them during the holiday season?”  Maybe.  Who can say for sure.

Should you buy a Razor Special Edition Scooter over the newer Razor A model line?  That’s up to you of course.  For most people, the lack of adjustable handle bars is going to be a real drawback, as you can see if you click HERE are read the reviews. Is the price any better?  Not really.

You see, you can get the Razor A scooter online here at an everyday price of $26. That’s including shipping and no sales tax for over 95% of the country.  So the “Black Friday” Razor S scooter deal where you fight the lines and with sales tax end up paying more than if you just ordered it straight to your door at the everyday online price.

When the Black Friday Razor scooter deal is gone, lots of people will pay $34.99 or $29.99 for this scooter at Target or Walmart (plus sales tax) because it says “Special Edition” on it, then be stunned on Christmas morning when they can’t adjust the handlebars.

Not such a good deal huh?  Stay home, play with your kids, get the Razor A scooter delivered for a lower price.

Click here for more details on the Razor Scooter line

After what seems like a long long wait (we first reported on the Razor Ultra Pro and Razor Ultra Pro Lo scooters last fall), the Ultra Pro’s are finally widely available to buy.

You  won’t likely find a Razor Ultra Pro and especially a Razor Pro Lo at your local toy store, they are considered more of a specialty item.  The fact that they are not foldable makes them harder to stock at most retailers.  If anyone finds some at a large chain, let us know.

Click here to see the lowest price we’ve found on the Ultra Pro and Lo.

If you haven’t heard about them yet, Razor’s Ultra Pro line comes on the heels of complaints from high end scooter pro’s about the regular Razor Pro line.  If you’re looking for a more detailed and direct comparison, we’ll be featuring one here at Kids Scooters shortly.

The Ultra Pro and Ultra Pro Low fix some of the troubles that real hard core scooter tricksters with the traditional Razor’s.  Some of the Razor line’s greatest features for the casual scooterer is the portability.  The handlebar assembly telescopes and folds down to make it more compact for throwing in your trunk or carrying around a city when using it for transportation.  For doing scooter tricks though, the portability features of the Razor A, A2, A3 and Pro can actually be dangerous.  The last thing you want when completing a scooter move is to have your handlebars collapse, fold down or even worse break off as the one bolt that holds the thing together sheers off.

Thus the Ultra Pro line was born.  It’s welded together with a fixed handle bar post.  No more issues.  To handle both short and tall riders since the handlebar post isn’t adjustable, you get the Ultra Pro for tall and the Ultra Pro Lo for shorter riders.

As a general rule, get an Ultra Pro Lo for riders under 5′ 4″ and an Ultra Pro for anyone taller.  Personal preference here of course, but don’t buy your 11 year old scooter trickster an Ultra Pro.

Click here for more info on the Ultra Pro line

Here is a round up of the most popular kids scooters for girls.  Now we’re not huge fans of gender stereotypes here at Kids Scooters, but when most people think girls scooters, they think pink scooters, tassels, flowers, and all the rest.

Check out our pages on the best kids scooters if you’re looking for a gender neutral choice, because this page is all about those pretty pink scooters!

Best Girls Scooter – 2 Wheels

Your best bet for a great girls scooter is is the Sweet Pea Razor Cruiser Scooter from Razor.  It’s by far the highest quality scooter for girls on the market, being the top of the Razor line of non-professional scooters.  If your little girl is into bunnyhops, airwalks, grinding and barspins, look down below for professional level girl scooters especially made for doing tricks.

This pink razor scooter is based on their Cruiser line of scooters, which is intended for ages 5 and up, but more “up” than other razor scooters.  The regular Razor A line of scooters only supports up to 143 lbs of rider weight, so for many teenagers and adults, it’s not a good option.  The Cruiser line of scooters goes up to 180 lbs maximum weight, and thus can handle most teens and many adults as well.

Click here for more info on the Pink Cruiser Razor Scooter

Best Girls Toddler Scooter – 3 Wheels

We’re big fans of the Mini Kick scooter line here at Kids Scooters and this three wheeled pink girls scooter is no exception.  If you’re looking for a scooter for a younger girl, in the 3 to 5 year range, then this is the scooter for you.  The three wheel design with the double wheels in the front are what really make this scooter easy to ride for younger kids.  It’s easy to turn but difficult to tip over for a toddler.  Check out this video of the Mini Kick in action being ridden by a just turned three year old:

Cheap Girls Scooters

The only issue you could possibly find with the Mini Kick scooter is price.  At around $75, it’s not cheap, but in my opinion it’s well worth the extra cash.  If you are looking for a three wheeled toddler scooter at a lower price point, then the Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter Pink for around $35 is a great bet.

For an older girl looking for a two wheel scooter in a lower price point, look no further than the good old standby, the Pink Razor A Scooter.

Hello Kitty Scooter

Of course, how could you go wrong with a girls scooter that featured the ever popular girls icon, Hello Kitty.  Well you are in luck.  Razor came out with a Hello Kitty themed scooter a couple of years back and it’s still available today.

Click here for more details on the Pink Razor Hello Kitty scooter.

Pro Girls Scooters

Sadly, we weren’t able to find any stock pro level scooters made especially for girls.  None of the scooters listed above are built to withstand doing complex scooter tricks for very long.  However, if you want to build your own kick *ss girls pro scooter, check this out!

First, score yourself one of these two Pro model scooters.  Click on the images to see the best price:

Then, customize the heck out of it!  Nothing says serious pro level scooter trickster quite like a custom rig and you’ll be the envy of the skate park decked out like this.  Click on each of the images below for ordering info.

We’ve been writing about toddler scooters lately, and while they certainly don’t travel fast on their scooters, it can still be dangerous for little ones not properly protected.  One wrong fall going down a hill can be very dangerous if your child is not wearing a helmet.  Just because your three year old is closer to the ground, doesn’t mean they would be ok falling off their scooter, especially considering how coordinated most scooter riding toddlers are.

First off, measure their head.  The easiest method is to take a string, thread, or piece of floss and wrap it around their head from forehead to back of their skull at the widest point, then use a tape measure or string to measure their forehead. Every kids head is different, so don’t assume that a helmet for a toddler will fit your toddler.  Measure Measure Measure.  Some four year old’s will need an infant size helmet and some two year old’s will fit best in a young adult sized helmet.

Here are our top picks for the best toddler helmets out there:

Giro 2 Infant Helmet – Best For Kids 4 and Under

This baby helmet is your best bet for kids under 3 years of age.  At 8.5oz it’s extremely light weight, which is a huge plus for young kids.  It comes available in multiple sizes and styles, and has a built in visor for sun protection.  The helmet has strap guides that makes it easier to put on and off without pinching your childs neck (ask my kids about that one sometime!), as well as being very easy to adjust.

The toddler Giro helmet comes in 4 different styles,  “Blue Aviator Pigs“, “Red Duck, Duck Goose”, “Yellow Chicks” and “Pink Bunnies“.

The Giro Me2 Baby and Toddler Helmet will fit on kids heads measuring up to 18.75 to 20.5 inches (48 to 52 centimeters).  See the advice above about measuring to make sure you’re child doesn’t have a larger noggin than you think!

Click here for more information about the Giro Me2 Infant Helmet

Cars Toddler Helmet – Best For Picky Boys

The Cars Kids Helmet is a great bet for boys in that 2-4 year age range, especially if they’re not interested in wearing helmets.  The fact that Lightning McQueen is on the helmet will be enough for most kids to want to put the helmet on.

Note that this Cars helmet lists for sizes 18.5in to 20in (47-51 centimeters), and is heavier than the Giro 2 above, clocking in a 10oz, but the Cars look will completely make up for the difference.  It also comes with a pair of pads for use on little knees or elbows when learning to ride.

There is also a 5+ year CHILD version of this helmet out there, and most websites don’t specify which you are buying!  Be careful.

Click here for more info on the TODDLER (age 2-4) version of this helmet.

Disney Princess Toddler Helmet – Best for Little Girls

The Disney Princess helmet is designed with the little girl in mind.  Not only does it have the Disney Princess crew on it, but it comes with a full set of 4 pads as well as a pink bell.  It has a similar size range as the other helmets above, fitting up to 18.5in to 20in (47-51 centimeters) heads.

It’s more similar in style to the Giro Toddler Helmet than the Cars one, which follows the traditional skateboard and snowboard style helmets.

Click here for info on the Disney Princess Toddler Helmet

Bell Toddler Helmet – Best Economy Helmet

All of the other helmets above are in the $20-30 dollar range.  The Giro is light and feature rich for it’s price, the other come with characters or accessories to add to the value.  And really, let’s face it, can you really put a price on your little one’s head?

If price truly is an issue, then the Bell Toddler helmet is a great choice.  It’s heavier than the other helmets, less stylish, and lacks the pinch protection that others have, but it’s a steal at $12.

Note that this helmet does say that it’s for ages 3+, despite it’s similar size range of 19″ – 20-1/2″.  The weight is what makes it harder for younger kids to hold their head up, at a full 11.5oz, it’s not light.

Click here for infor on the Bell Toddler Helmet

There are so many different scooters for kids out there, so many options to choose from that if can be difficult to sort through them all.  As the spring FINALLY approaches, everyone in the northern climates minds turn to thoughts of spring.  And with spring, the ability to get back outside and take the kids scootering!

Three to four years old is a great time to get your kids interested in outdoor activity and exercise, and scootering is a great way to do it.  Most kids can easily get on and ride a scooter far earlier than they could ride a bicycle at a young age.

With that in mind, here is a roundup of scooters for boys aged three, four and five years old.

Mini Kick Scooter

The Mini Kick is generally considered the best scooter on the market for toddlers and young children.  It has a number of things going for it that no other scooter in it’s class has.

The Mini Kick is a three wheeled scooter, but unlike most others it has the double wheel in the front rather than the back, which provides for greater stability since most kids are leaning towards the front of the scooter while they ride.

Its best feature is the slow easy lean turning that really benefit the young scooter rider.  Since a gentle lean causes this scooter to turn, it’s hard for your little one to flip or put the steering into a position where they can turn the front wheel sideways and veer off their path.

Check out this video of the Mini Kick in action, ridden by a three year old on his birthday:

The Mini Kick really is the best scooter for little kids, hands down and they tend to sell out VERY quickly each spring. Don’t just take our word for it though, click HERE to check out the tons of 5 star reviews these things get.

The Mini Kick is lightweight, and the rigid plastic deck prevents injuries that can be caused by metal deck scooters.  At $79 including shipping, it’s certainly not the cheapest scooter on the market, but when we’re talking about the difference between our little one having a great time on a scooter or scraping their face across the pavement, it might just be worth the extra money.

The weight limit on the Mini Kick is 45 lbs, so no letting the older sibling take it for a ride.  It’s available in a variety of colors for boys scooters, depending on your boys preferences, including blue, aqua, orange, and pink if you are so inclined.

Click HERE for more details on the Mini Kick scooter!

Radio Flyer Deluxe My First Scooter

The Radio Flyer is a good choice if you are looking for something with more classic scooter styling.  At $69 including shipping it’s a little cheaper than the Mini Kick above, but comes with some features that the Mini Kick lacks.

The Radio Flyer Deluxe Scooter also has two wheels in front for greater stability, but lacks the lean steering that makes the Mini Kick easy for little kids to ride.  It does however have a real beechwood deck, shiny chrome handlebars, streamers, and a bell, which might make all the difference in the world for some scootering boys.

It also folds up for easy transport and storage, something else the Mini Kick lacks.

If transportability and looks are more important to you than a young child’s ease of riding, this is the scooter for you.

Click here for more information on the Radio Flyer Deluxe Scooter

Radio Flyer My First Scooter

If you want a Radio Flyer scooter, but the Deluxe model is more than you were hoping for, the standard Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter is another good choice.  It has the same basic size and features as the Deluxe, but without the extras.  It has a hardened plastic deck not beechwood, and has no streamers and no bell.  But at almost half the price of the Deluxe Scooter the price tag can’t be beat at around $39 including shipping.

Click here for more details on the Radio Flyer My First Scooter

Razor Junior Folding Kiddie Kick Scooter

If you want a performance boys toddler scooter on a budget, then the Razor Jr is the way to go.  Like the other models in this roundup, it has three wheel, but unlike the other models it has two wheels in the back rather than the front.  While certainly more stable than your traditional two wheel scooter, the double wheel in the back could make it more prone to tipping at the front where the child is holding on.

At $37 including shipping, it is about the same price point as the Radio Flyer standard My 1st Scooter, and also folds up for easy storage and transportation.  While the deck isn’t as wide as the Radio Flyer, it has that Razor styling that might make the difference for the younger sibling that is jealous of an older child’s scooter.

Click here for more details on the Razor Junior

Saw some kids riding some really cool looking 3-wheeled scooters the other day. Rather than having traditional scooter handle bars they had a stick coming up and the kids would steer by leaning from side to side. I was able to look them up online, apparently they were the Maxi Kick Scooter from MicroMini, the makers of the original modern kick scooters before they were made mainstream and popularized by Razor.

The steering column is called “pilot steering” by the company and it sure does look cool, allowing for great control while keeping it fun.  They can turn quickly without allowing the kid riding it to flip or turn sideways easily.

Here is what we found out about the Maxi Kick:

• The Maxi Kick is for kids 6-10 years of age
• The Maxi Kick max size is 120 lbs, this is not an adult scooter.
• Combined plastic and aluminum construction.   The mix keeps it light and flexible without the rigidity of a solid aluminum scooter.
• Awesome steering. The pilot stick steering lets the kids hang on and maneuver the Maxi Kick easily.
• Expensive, but darn cool. At $149.99, the Maxi Kick is not for those light of wallet. When compared with traditional metal two wheel scooters ($50-$70 a good Razor two wheel metal scooter) they do cost more.
• Standard step on scooter brake in the back
• Appears to use standard blade scooter wheels

Here is a video of the Maxi Kick in action:

This looks like a much more stable scooter to ride than any of the 2 wheel models.  The kids were riding along the bike path very quickly and smoothly, none of the typical wobble you’ll see with kids riding a 2 wheeled scooter, especially when turning.  That and the stick steering seems far more fun to drive than your typical scooter.

Click here for more info on the Maxi Kick Scooter

Found this video on YouTube of some really sick scooter tricks being done at a really nice looking couple of skate parks. KC Corning is a part of Team Razor and he has some mad mad scooter skills as evident in the video below. That last move on the video is especially amazing, so keep your eyes out for it.

Of course, we here at Kids Scooters do not approve of the fact that he is not wearing any sort of protective gear, especially a helmet. I don’t care how good you think you are at a sport, you can always have an accident, especially when pushing your limits. One good whack to the head without a helmet when doing any sort of high speed sport and you may never walk again, let alone scoot again. HELMET!