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1- Choose a High Quality Electric Scooter

Electric scooters are similar to bicycles in their construction and they share many common components. Due to the nature of these type of vehicles if they are used frequently they will most likely need to have several repairs and adjustments performed on them during their lifetime to keep them running. For this reason buying an electric scooter from an established and reputable manufacturer who will be around in the future to provide parts is always a good idea. Cheap off-brand electric scooters may seem like a great value until you need to buy replacement parts for them which may or may not be available.

2- Braking Systems

The braking system is often overlooked when buying an electric scooter. Electric scooters along with their rider and batteries are heavy and require a well designed braking system. Band brakes have a tendency to lock up the wheels instead of slowing them down which can wear out the tires and cause accidents. Front band brakes are particularly dangerous because when they are used they sometimes lock up the front wheel and send the rider flying over the handlebars see video. Scooters with both front and rear v-brakes or disk brakes have the best braking performance. Electric scooters with only one brake can not stop as fast as electric scooters with two brakes. You really should have the control of having two brakes. For example on clean and dry pavement you should apply the front and rear brakes together in unison to stop the scooter. However if on a dirt trail or on wet or sandy pavement then you should primarily use the rear brakes to avoid locking up the front wheel and loosing control of the scooter.

3- Frame and Fork Construction

Frame and fork construction is an important detail when choosing an electric scooter. Electric scooters with frames or forks made from thin steel sheets have a history of bending or breaking under normal use. Electric scooters with frames and forks made from all tubular steel and thick plate steel construction have proven to be the toughest and most reliable electric scooter designs.

4- Chain Drive or Belt Drive?

Chain drive is the most reliable of the two systems and chains also last a lot longer than belts however the tradeoff is that chain drive electric scooters are a little noisy while they are being driven. The chain noise is usually a good thing though because it warns other people that you driving a vehicle down the road, sidewalk, or trail. But if you are expecting a nearly silent electric scooter then you will probably be very disappointed with chain drive. Belt drive is much quieter than chain drive. The tradeoff is that belt drive is not as reliable as chain drive, and that it will need to be replaced more often. However if you are looking for an electric scooter which is truly quiet then belt drive is the only way to go.

5- Chrome Plating Quality

All chrome is not created equal. Low quality chrome will start to rust and flake off after the scooter is stored in the garage for the winter or unintentionally driven in the rain. Most major brand name electric scooters will have high quality chrome however many smaller brand name electric scooters may have inferior quality chrome. For example we have an old Tomb Raider chrome plated scooter frame which has been stored outside for over 10 years and it has zero rust on it and look like brand new. On the other hand we have a Scoot-N-Go electric scooter frame that has been stored outside for just 2 years and it's chrome is completely rusted through and flaking off. Electric scooter manufacturers can make a little more profit if they substitute another less expensive metal for chrome when they are plating their parts, however those parts will quickly start to rust after being put to use. Chrome that rusts right away is not real chrome. Real chrome does not begin to rust for a very long time after it is exposed to the environment. Buying a scooter made by a well established manufacturer who has been in business for a long time is one of the best ways to insure that you get one with real high quality chrome.