SCOOTERS: Choosing the right size

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Size Matters: How to Choose the Right Size Scooter

You can ride a scooter of any size, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy, comfortable or fun. For your everyday needs, a scooter that is the right size for your body is going to provide you with the most enjoyable experience. Here are a few tips on choosing the right size scooter.

For Beginners: Never choose larger scooter handlebars for your child thinking that he’ll “grow into it.” A scooter that’s too large is difficult to handle and may make it difficult for your child to ride. This can destroy his confidence and even lead to accidents. 

Ultimately, it comes down to your comfort – how does the scooter feel when you take it for a test ride? Is it comfortable? Easy to control? If so, then you’ve probably got the right fit.

How Do You Know What Complete Scooter To Buy?

There are many different elements to consider when choosing the Scooter that is right for you, the main reasons for this being the wide range and diversity of features available to choose from.

Price: Of course you don’t want to spend more money than is necessary, however the quality of many Scooters can be discerned by the cost. The higher the cost, the better quality Scooter you are likely to get. The lower the cost the lower the quality of the Scooter.  As the sport becomes more popular we see many parents buying cheaper scooters to start with. These are great options to start but usually require upgrades sooner. Please be aware there are lots of scooters out there designed for basic use only.
Size: If this is your first time buying a scooter you may be nervous about knowing what the right fit is for you. We can guide you towards a good general fit for you size but from there each rider will adjust for personal preference. For a couple tips about sizing your complete scooter read the guides below for Bars and Decks

Scooter Bars 

One of the biggest factors of how a Scooter will feel is the height and width of the bars. How do you decide which size you need? What difference does it make? 

Height: As a general rule of thumb scooter bars should sit around hip to waist height when standing on the deck. This is a great balance of comfort and performance. If bars are too far above the waist then the rider will have more difficulty in controlling the scooter and risk hitting their face on the cross bar. If the bars are too low then it could be uncomfortable to ride. The range is all up to personal preference of riding style. Those who like to do a lot of whips and park tricks tend to prefer lower heights. While in contrast the more street style riders prefer higher bars for comfort.

Width: Riders have different preferences when choosing a width. A good hint is to choose a bar with the same width as your shoulders. Common range of 18”-22” If you`re mostly into technical tricks like barspins, choose a narrow bar. And if you`re more a big air and no hands tricks rider, then choose a wider bar. (Remember you can always choose a wide bar and cut it to your preference! )

Scooter Deck

The other main factor in sizing a scooter is the deck size. The size will determine a lot of things for riding. The bigger the deck the more comfortable it will be for larger riders. The smaller the deck, the easier tricks will be and overall the scooter will be lighter.

Length: Determined by measuring end to end of the flat section of the deck. Anything past the blunt plate is not included. Most complete scooters will range from 19”-22” in length. While aftermarket decks range from 19.5”-23.5”.

Width: Complete scooters will come with deck widths ranging from 4”-5”. Aftermarket decks range from 4.5”-6”. 

Choosing your size: When just starting out you’ll want to base your deck size off your height. If you’re below 5’ your going to want to be in the smaller range of 4”-4.5” wide and 19”-20” long. If your 5'-6' tall we recommend 4.5"-5" wide and 20"-22" long. If you’re over 6’ your going to want to the biggest available 4.75”-6” wide and 21.5”-23.5” long. Of course keep in mind smaller decks will be easier for tricks while larger decks will be more comfortable.

Scooter Wheels

The more basic scooters come with 100mm or 110mm wheels but you can get wheels up to 125mm in diameter. If you are just starting out wheel size won’t be a huge factor for your first scooter. Just make sure to get metal core wheels.