Three-wheeled scooters: types, rating of the best models and selection criteria

Scooters are a fairly widespread form of transport and are very popular in urban environments. However, operating a scooter requires the ability to maintain balance, which is simply beyond the power of young children. The creation of three-wheeled models completely solved this problem, making the scooter the favorite fun of kids and their parents.

The three-wheeled scooter is a very simple structure, consisting of a steering wheel, deck and wheels, and is distinguished by its reliability and high maneuverability. Despite its simplicity, it is an ideal option for training motor skills and coordination in toddlers and a great way to spend leisure time for older children. The most popular 3-wheeled models have won among children under 5 years of age. This is due to the fact that a scooter often acts as an excellent alternative to a children's tricycle, comparing favorably with it in its compactness, light weight and ease of control.

It often happens that kids, especially under 3 years of age, are reluctant to get on a bike, unless it is equipped with a pusher handle. It is physically difficult for a small child to pedal, which is especially noticeable when the toddler is seated on a brand new, just bought and not yet "circled" bike. As a rule, such problems do not arise with a scooter, and even 2-year-old children quickly figure out what's what and start driving on their own.

As a material for the manufacture of three-wheeled scooters, they use steel, aluminum alloy and high-strength plastic. Plastic models are much lighter than their metal counterparts, but fail faster and are designed for babies up to 3 years old.

The wheels of scooters are made of polyurethane, plastic and rubber. Plastic wheels make the scooter much lighter and cheaper, but they rattle a lot when driving on asphalt or tiles. Inflatable wheels with rubber tires have excellent shock-absorbing effect and are absolutely silent. Their disadvantage is the need for constant monitoring of tire pressure and rubber integrity. Polyurethane wheels are considered the most practical and comfortable: they do not make noise, do not require maintenance, perfectly dampen road irregularities and do not wear off.

The steering wheel of a three-wheeled scooter is made of metal and equipped with soft grips or plastic handles. On most models, it has a telescopic design and is adjustable for the rider's height. The rear wing acts as a brake system for children's models, when pressed, the wheel stops. Adult and teen models are equipped with full manual rim or disc brakes.

The platform for the feet (deck) on most models has a corrugated, rubberized or rough design, which ensures reliable grip of the sole with the surface of the scooter. Its width depends on the size of the vehicle and should ideally fit both feet. An equally important part of the scooter is the folding mechanism. The presence of a movable unit allows you to easily fold the product, thereby providing convenient transportation and storage, and, if necessary, quickly disassemble.

High consumer demand for three-wheeled scooters due to a number of undeniable advantages of these compact and light vehicles.

• Due to their small size, scooters can be transported in public transport and taken with you to the store. Plus, unlike most bicycles, they fit perfectly into passenger lifts.
• Riding a scooter is much easier than riding a tricycle. A child at any time can quickly descend to the ground without resorting to the help of an adult.
• The cost of tricycle scooters is much lower than the cost of bicycles, which makes them even more popular and affordable.
• Due to the presence of the third wheel, the models have good stability and do not require the skill of maintaining balance.
• Due to the simple design and the absence of complex components, scooters rarely break and serve for a long time.

This causes an unpleasant squeak, which increases with speed. The disadvantages include the presence of backlash, which is especially typical for models in which the paired wheels are located in front and are connected to the steering column by means of a reciprocating axial spring.

Besides, in folding models, the movable unit loosens over time, which leads to the mobility of parts relative to each other, which of course should not be. However, a more significant drawback is the likelihood of the scooter stumbling on its side when passing sharp turns, as well as the risk of flying over the steering wheel when hitting an obstacle. Loss of stability is more typical for models in which twin wheels are located at the rear, and "flying" through the steering wheel is more common in models with front-mounted twin wheels, which is due to the forward-shifted center of gravity.

The classification of three-wheeled scooters is made according to the following criteria:

• the location of the wheels;
• age differentiation;
• type of drive.

With regard to finding paired wheels, they can have a front and rear location. The anterior one is considered to be more stable and is found on children's models for preschool age.Control is provided by a returnable axial spring of the swing-tilt mechanism, which instantly "informs" the wheels about the change in the position of the steering wheel, after which they obediently turn in the desired direction. Scooters with rear twin wheels are great for rough roads. They are not very stable when cornering, but thanks to the classic steering wheel, which is connected directly to the wheel fork, they are distinguished by higher maneuverability and cross-country ability.

The age classification divides scooters into 3 categories:

• children;
• teenage;
• adults.

Models for children represent the largest group of three-wheeled vehicles and are produced in a large assortment. Teenage models are represented mainly by butterfly scooters, or, as they are also called, triders. The deck of such models consists of three parts, one of which is static and adjacent to the steering column, and the other two are movable about a common axis and equipped with small wheels. The movement on the triders is carried out due to the sliding-apart of the floating decks, while the rider does not touch the ground with his feet and is on the scooter all the time.

Adult tricycle models are the smallest category and are represented by electric and inertial models.

The next feature of the classification is type of drive. According to this criterion, foot models are distinguished, driven by repulsion from the ground, and electric scooters. Electric models are equipped with a rechargeable battery and can reach speeds of up to 35 km / h. They are often fitted with a comfortable seat, which adds comfort and makes them very popular. On a single charge, such models are capable of covering from 25 to 30 km, depending on the capacity of the battery.

The modern scooter market offers a huge selection of three-wheeled models from different manufacturers. Below are the best samples, positive reviews of which are very often found on the Internet.

Hasbro children's 3 wheel pink scooter. My Little Pony is designed for kids 2 years and older. The model is capable of withstanding a weight of up to 60 kg, is made of aluminum and equipped with polyurethane wheels with a diameter of 124 and 80 mm. The scooter is controlled by tilting the steering rack, the height of the steering wheel can be changed from 60 to 80 cm, the size of the deck is 32x13.5 cm. The luminous wheels are equipped with strong ABEC 7 class bearings, do not slip on the asphalt and do not make noise when driving. The model can be folded compactly, has a rear foot brake, is available in dimensions of 58x27x60-80 cm, weighs 4 kg and costs 4,599 rubles.

Children's three-wheeled scooter with a steering wheel Trolo MAXI 2017 is available in orange-blue color and is intended for children from 3 to 8 years old. The model is designed for a weight load of up to 50 kg, has a telescopic handlebar that can be adjusted to a height of 60 to 90 cm. Luminous wheels are made of polyurethane, have a diameter of 120 and 80 mm and are equipped with ABEC 5 class bearings. The deck has a size of 32x14 cm and is equipped with anti-slip coated.

Teenage scooter-trider Razor Powerwing Sweet Pea is an original and highly thought-out model. The rear wheels are set slightly at an angle, which allows you to enter a controlled drift on it, in other words, to drift. The product is equipped with a hand brake, is designed for height from 110 to 180 cm and can withstand up to 65 kg of weight. The scooter has a large and comfortable 35 cm wide handlebar that can be extended to a height of 79.5 cm. The wheels are equipped with ABEC 5 class bearings, the frame is made of durable steel, and the fenders are made of high quality polymers. The scooter is made in China, weighs 2.9 kg, has a 6-month warranty and costs 8,000 rubles.

Adult butterfly scooter Razor Powerwing DLX designed not only for adolescents, but also for adults. The maximum weight load is 70 kg, while the weight of the scooter itself is 4.9 kg. The model is designed for users up to 190 cm tall, equipped with a retractable handlebar 34.5 cm wide and equipped with a folding mechanism. The height of the steering wheel changes from 73 to 89 cm, the warranty is 6 months, the cost is 10,900 rubles.

Three Wheel Electric Scooter SF-8 Comfort Lite designed for adults and adolescents over 12 years old. The model is equipped with an electric motor with a power of 250 W, a lead-acid storage battery with a voltage of 24 V and a capacity of 12 A / h. It takes 6 hours to fully charge the battery, and the scooter can travel up to 25 km on a single charge. The product can withstand a rider weighing up to 80 kg, has a folding frame and is easily transported in the trunk of a car. The movable unit is so simple that even a child can assemble and disassemble the scooter.

The model has wide pneumatic wheels in size 9 "and a large comfortable steering wheel, which is very easy to turn. The telescopic handlebar has an indicator of the residual battery charge and it is technically possible to install a luggage basket. The scooter is equipped with a spring-loaded rear suspension, hand disc brakes, side turn signals, headlights, rear brake lights and a horn.

When choosing a three-wheeled scooter, you need to pay attention to a number of important points.

• The model should be bought strictly according to the age of the child. It is not recommended to purchase transport "for growth", as the kid is not able to drive a too large scooter.
• You can buy a scooter on plastic wheels only if you plan to ride on a smooth asphalt road. In other cases, it is better to choose a model with rubber or polyurethane wheels.
• The rear brake fender on a child's scooter should be deep enough to grip the wheel as tightly as possible. From any position, the foot must accurately hit the brake and not move the wing to the side. If instead of a wide voluminous wing a straight narrow bar "sticks out", then it is better to refuse to buy such a scooter, since it will not be able to provide safe braking.
• The scooter deck must be wide enough to accommodate both feet. You should not choose too wide strips, since the child will be uncomfortable with pushing off the ground.
• The handles should be made of anti-slip material, and the handlebars should be adjusted for the child's height.
• The weight of the scooter is of great importance. It should not exceed 4 kg for children's models and 8 kg for teenagers and adults. The exception is electric scooters, which weigh in the range of 22-25 kg.
• As for the size of the wheels, for older children the optimal diameter is 12-15 cm, for kids - 8-10 cm.

There are a few simple rules to follow when using a three-wheeled scooter.

• Before the first ride, you need to make sure that the handbrake is working and test the operation of the rear brake fender.
• Then you need to adjust the height of the steering wheel in accordance with the height of the rider.
• If a small child is going to ride a scooter, then he definitely needs to purchase knee pads, elbow pads and a protective helmet.
• It is undesirable to use a scooter in rainy weather. This is especially true for models with rubber wheels, which are not very stable on wet asphalt.
• After each ride, the scooter should be wiped with a clean cloth and checked from time to time for grease in the bearings.