When I was growing up, older kids got to speed around on mini-bikes powered by lawnmower engines, while I pedaled furiously on my Big Wheel. Thanks to cheap electronics, children now have access to a wealth of motor-driven vehicles, such as the Razor E100 Glow electric scooter. We know so – The E100 still has a lot to offer kids who like to dip their toes into the electric scooter area. It’s a simple model that has everything a younger person might need in moderation. Something that we think is great with this model is the handbrake which most kids are used to from their ordinary bikes and the twistgrip throttle is easy for them to handle. Razor, the scooter company that probably brings back memories of kicking and coasting down the block to your friend’s house for a playdate, is expanding its line of adult electric scooters.
Inside is a 35V 5200mAh lithium-ion battery that’s quoted as lasting up to 15 miles of driving on a single charge. That’s 10 miles across a city, on sidewalks, and not all flat land. There are two ways to brake – one is a gradual slow-down via a thumb pedal not unlike the pedal that makes the scooter accelerate. razor scooter The other is a heel brake like we’ve got on most scooters. At a price of about $130, £120 or AU$259, the E100 may not be too expensive for a holiday gift, although a bicycle will likely last longer. The E100’s main drawback are its batteries, which will require regular use and charging to maintain their power.
Look for a headlight that shows the way ahead and a brake light that illuminates when the brakes are applied. The scooter can accelerate suddenly while in use, causing the rider to lose control. The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a risk of smoking, catching fire and/or exploding. The e-scooter’s handlebar grips can loosen or crack, posing fall and injury hazards. The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
The front brake was a simple caliper, similar to that on bicycles. Under the deck, the specifications noted that there were two lead-acid batteries. The E100’s motor turns the rear wheel with a chain drive. Lead-acid batteries, the same type used for decades to power starter motors in cars, seemed a little primitive to me in this era, when lithium-ion appears in most electronics. The E100 lacked much of anything beyond its brake, accelerator and kickstand.
It’s not ugly or embarrassing looking — in fact, the olive green body is a nice touch. And it’s got the safe, secure feeling of a bike with the compactness of a kick scooter. The 8-inch pneumatic front tire is a good shock absorber, and the tire is big enough that I know it can make it over larger cracks in the road. Minor bumps did not interfere with my grip on the handlebars. These razor scooters are built for kids, so the makers expect rough use from the riders. Keeping this in mind, the manufacturers have invested in creating a sturdy steel frame body.
If you’re less than the maximum load capacity, then give it a try. But a more important difference is the shock absorption and general performance of the scooters on not not-so-perfect surface. The front pneumatic tyre in both the E100 and E200 ensures good shock reduction. On an unpaved road, the rider will soon notice the E90’s lack of shock absorption. So, for their safety and to prevent accidental takeoffs, the makers have opted for the kick-start function. Maybe it just feels so strong because the scooter is quite light (26.5 pounds!) and so you expect it to be a weak little thing.
The only immediate giveaway that this isn’t the same as the scooter gathering dust in your parent’s attic is that the wheels look much larger. The shiny aluminum deck, colorful wheels, minimalist foot brake, and folding stem all harken back to the scooting days of yesteryear. Please allow 3-10 business days for your order to arrive.
If you’re looking for an electric scooter and your price range is within the $400 mark, this is the scooter I’d recommend above the rest right this minute. Then there’s the E-TWOW electric scooter that’ll cost you closer to $1000. That one’s about the same size as the Razor E Prime III, and it weighs about the same, too. They’ve designed their fair share of exceedingly successful scooters over the past decade. They know how to design scooters, and they’ve created a machine that looks and feels good with this E Prime III as a result.
In fact, you may find yourself using the rear foot brake for more gentle stops, since the motor braking comes on quite strong. This scooter has a 250-watt electric motor that propels it at speeds as fast as 15 mph. The seat post and cushion are removable so you can transition to a ride-on scooter. The handlebar and headtube fold for carriage when a quick release latch is opened. The real comparison should be between the various electric scooters we’ve tested over the past few years.