Kick Scooter Classifications

By Jeffrey the Barak.

This article was written in 2012 but has been revised and shortened in 2022, because while ten years has brought new categories and new considerations, the original article had a little too much detail. As I begin this rewrite, I am also moderator and admin on a Facebook group called Let’s Kick Scoot, where enthusiasts from around the world share happy posts about human-powered scooting.

As you may have gathered from the-vu.com, I am very enthusiastic about the simple and wonderful human-powered vehicle that we call a scooter, and far less enamored with the machines we call bicycles.

Even today, in the United States, scooters are so rare you hardly ever see any. However, there are many types of scooter out there in the world. This article is intended to be an introduction to the world of scooters and to help you make that decision to start using one or more on a regular basis.

Before the appearance of the Razor scooter in 1999 there were almost no scooters in the US, despite the brief BMX scooter craze of the 1980s. It was the introduction of electric scooters to the public streets that gave a boost to the acceptance and popularity of non-electric kick scooters in the US.

There are no official classifications for scooters, and some may fit into more than one category, but this is just my own personal impression of what is available. I have come up with several classes of non-electric human-powered scooters.

  1. Folding scooters with inline skate wheels
  2. Pro-Scooters for use in skate parks
  3. Scooters with small solid urethane wheels
  4. As above but with mechanical suspension
  5. Scooters with small wheels and pneumatic tires
  6. Scooters with medium or large sized wheels and pneumatic tires, for cruising or racing
  7. Downhill scooters
  8. Dog Scooters 

1) Folding scooters with inline skate wheels

Razor model A4

The brand name Razor typifies this type of scooter and due to a worldwide craze at the end of the 20th century. They are ubiquitous. The origins of this scooter led to two of the top world brands, Razor (USA) and Micro (Switzerland). It was the availability of the inline skate wheel that made the first tiny folding scooters a possibility. Over the years various sizes have appeared and we put the larger-wheeled varieties into a separate class

2) Pro-Scooters for use in skate parks

Envy Prodigy S8

After it became clear that scooters are good for tricks, something stronger was needed and so the multi-million dollar pro-scooter industry appeared. With strong, rigid, non-folding frames and very strong components, these small tools can withstand the pressure without immediately being destroyed. Not really practical for a long slow scoot along the road, but this is actually by far the biggest category for adult human-powered scooters. Despite their strength, smooth concrete is needed to get the best out of them, and they cannot be ridden on rough or degraded surfaces. The standard wheel size seems to have evolved to become 120 mm but there are smaller wheels still out there.

3) Scooters with small solid urethane wheels, or adult folding scooters.

Razor A5 DLX

We can also call these adult folding scooters, or commuter scooters, although many a child uses them daily. Solid here means there is no air tire (tire US, tyre UK). Examples are Razor A5, Xootr, Micro Black etc. These are commuter scooters ideal for the last mile. You can fold them up and carry them into work, school, train, bus etc., and unfold for that distance between home and station, or bus stop and work.

In the same size category, but with different wheels there are anomalies such as the Razor A5 Air with 200mm air tires, and the Know-Ped with solid rubber 6 inch tires.

Once a hard urethane wheel grows to 180 mm, 200m, 230 mm etc it becomes less dangerous in a micro terrain of cracks, pebbles and bumps. These scooters are very usable on sidewalks and streets, but they have very poor grip on damp or wet surfaces.

Compared to air tires, urethane tires need a fairly dry and smooth road, and they lose much less energy due to the compression of an air tire, so they can be faster or easier over the same course, as long as it remains smooth and dry.

Convenience is the key to their success. They are light weight and easy to fold, so you are more likely to have one with you and therefore use one.

4) As above, but with mechanical suspension.

Oxelo Town 9 EF v2

Usually achieved with a sprung front fork and a lever arm rear fork, this heaver and more complex variation uses the frame to spare the rider from some of the vibrations of the hard wheels. A popular example is the Oxelo Town 9. With extra weight and complications, there is a price to pay, and also some deck heights are too high.

Perhaps with less vibration a rider gets less tired, so they can use that saved energy to squat further for a more tiresome kick.

5) Scooters with small wheels and pneumatic tires

A typical 12.5″ BMX Scooter

I mentioned earlier the 1980s BMX scooter craze. With 12.5 inch standard air tires, this class of scooter remains popular. Ranging from notoriously poor quality cheap examples from Mongoose, Kent, and similar to high-end, well-engineered shrunk-down Czech foot bikes, the 12.5 incher is a great class of scooter. One interesting variation recently was the Boardy, which uses a flexible plywood board to completely replace the steel frame which would normally link the front and back ends.

6) Scooters with medium or large-sized wheels for cruising or racing, or foot bikes

Mibo Universe
Amish 24 inch

Once we go up to 14″, 16″ tires and above, we have the foot bike class. Some are for lower speed errands and jaunts, like the American Amish scooters, some are for general recreation, some are for distance touring, and others are for high speed racing.

At first glance something in the larger end of this class may seem like too much to kick, but for those who prefer scooting to cycling, these vehicles are like magic carpets. The perfect conveyance.

Many have a larger front tire and smaller back tire, making them less unwieldy, but high mileage riders will tell you that two large wheels, eg 26″, are the most efficient.

Foot bike racing is quite a thing in Europe, and this sport evolved from kicksleds or snow scooters.

7) Downhill scooters

Gravity downhill scooter

This is our first niche category. Using one of these to ride along a bike path or down the street would be very tiring with extra weight and a deck that is so high that the road can feel out of reach after half an exhausting mile. 

But this extreme clearance and angled deck makes bombing down a ski run in summer less dangerous. As long as you don’t have to ride uphill, this is a fun ride.

This is the class of scooters that can benefit from mud tires, which are an energy liability on street scooters.

8) Dog scooters

Pawtrekker suspension disc-brake dog scooter

For mushing. Your dog can be your engine if your large scooter features the right harness. To bring your best friend into your scooter passion, this is the category for you.

Other types of human-powered scooters

There are of course other things, not any of these eight types, that we might still call scooters. Some have skate-truck based front or rear steering, and are hybrids of scooters and skateboards, eg. Micro Kickboard. Some have levers and pedals that make them like scooters, but are not propelled with a kick as are scooters, so are they even scooters?

Above are my own eight scooter classifications, heavily edited from the original version of this article. Different types for different functions. It is a scooter world after all.

Author Jeffrey the Barak is the publisher of the-vu and has had around 26 scooters at the time of this last edit in 2022.

39 thoughts on “Kick Scooter Classifications”

  1. A great article, until the part about talking to water. People who talk to water are seriously deranged. I’m sending the police right now. I have a great Kickbike but will probably also buy a smaller folder after reading this. Its just what I need actually.
    Fergus.

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  2. I started out looking for an e-bike for commuting via our public transit system which has special cars on all the trains that allow you to roll your bike onto the train (The platform has ramps that match the floor height of the bike-car’s floor.

    But after looking at the weight and complexity of these e-bikes, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to go with a scooter, which then led me to foot bikes.

    After reading your EXCELLENT explanation of the various types, I decided that I want to buy a foot bike.

    Unfortunately, in Dallas, TX, I’ve never seen a single scooter commuter or a foot bike at all.

    I’m wanting something I can ride 0.5 miles to the train station, and then 1 to 3 miles on the destination end – Or, 1.0 miles each way to the grocery store. Or, maybe out for some cruising (but that’s least important). Given my description above of our public transit system, the size of the scooter isn’t a big issue (within reason).

    So, I have a few additional questions for your:

    Once you get up into to the larger wheel sizes, how much difference does the wheel size make? I’m guessing that from a safety standpoint (getting thrown over the handlebars), it doesn’t make much difference. I’m not as concerned about speed as I am about the ease of pushing it with my kicking foot.
    What about the models that have two large wheels as opposed to one large wheel and one small wheel? Is there a significant difference between the one-big/one-small models and those with two big wheels? Would there be any advantage to a model with a big front wheel and a medium rear wheel?
    What about the weight of the foot bike? I’ve seen the Footbike Express which is very cheap ($130), but weighs 20lbs compared to their lighter model which is 15 pounds. The Footbike Express is so cheap, I’m tempted to buy one just to see how I like using a foot bike, but I don’t want to buy something that discourages me because it isn’t very functional.
    If I’m going to be riding it on the street and on sidewalks that have the ramps at the corners for wheel chairs, etc., do I have worry about the deck being too low, or should I simply look for a foot bike with the lowest possible deck?
    What about brakes? Are rear brakes important? What are the safety considerations for the various brake types? What about the foot-operated rear brakes?

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    1. Hi Geoff.

      Firstly I am delighted that this article has helped you decide to get into scooting. Your distances and situations are just about perfect for a scooter. Secondly I hope that other readers will also reply with advice and experiences.

      For wheel size, larger is smoother, but honestly even with a 12.5 inch smooth tire, as in non-knobby tire, I have never really found a need for anything bigger. But if I was going to import one of the European options then a 14″ front would be appealing.

      As for two large wheels, as I said, I had that Sidewalker City for a while, and people with Amish scooters really love them, but only the large front wheel is important and having a smaller back wheel seems to be no problem for the world’s scooter racing athletes.

      The weight of a footbike can be higher than that for a folder because they just seem to want to go go go. But they will remind you how heavy they are when you get to a hill. If that bargain Footbike brand footbike is only 20 pounds, don’t worry, it is light enough. I would say go for it. They may even be losing money at $130.

      No you do not have to worry about the deck being too low. You just have to watch where you are going and remember that if you miss noticing a step down, you could plant the frame and suddenly stop. But much better to keep your eyes open and scan ahead than to have to suffer the pain of a high deck.

      On a footbike class scooter you definitely need front and rear brakes because at times you will be traveling very fast and that crazy dog is just waiting to step in front of you for the insurance money. Foot brakes are more for cruisers like the Amish or the Ride Current, or for small rides with solid tires.

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  3. Wow! That was a really fast response.

    After reading your response and thinking about it, what I want is something for cruising – which seems to me would be ideal for the short commutes I do. (I actually have my office in my home and only occasionally go to a client location – although for the next three months, I’ll be going to a client site 2 days per week. It’s less than a mile to the train station and less than a mile to their office from the train station on the other end.)

    Seems like I need something that will allow me to stand upright, with relaxed shoulders, a little bit of cargo capacity, and a low enough deck for a comfortable and easy kick.

    It looks to me like the Footbike Express (and maybe the Kickbike City) may not allow me to stand in a more relaxed posture – but I’m not sure how to measure it and I’m having to do all of this from research and speculation because no one around here has even heard of these things, much less seen one. I’ve found a dealer that sells both Kickbikes and Footbikes, so I’m going to phone them Monday.

    The only thing sold in Dallas that I can put my hands on are the Razors and the 16″ or smaller Toucan.

    I’m 5′ 8″ tall and weigh about 200lbs. (I know, but I weighed 240 before I sold my car!).

    MY CONCLUSION AT THIS POINT: I looked at the websites you listed and found all kinds of beautiful and interesting foot bikes and scooters. My conclusion is that none of them comes close to the deal on the Footbike Express for $150 including shipping. It’s so cheap, that I think I could buy it, assemble it, and then sell it for what I paid if I didn’t like it.

    If I don’t like the standing position, I can get another headset easily enough.

    I’ll keep in touch as I progress down this path.

    Thanks, again for your time and interest.

    Geoff

    Like

    1. Geoff,

      As long as the bars can be 36 inches high, you will not be hunched over like a racer. You need to have your hands lower than your elbows for the best ride. See what deal you can get when you call that dealer, but first check Amazon etc. so you can compare. You probably will not need a bike-shop assembly and tune up. There is not much to either scooter and there are videos online. And its not much of a risk because you can always turn around and resell them for a small loss if you feel its not the right solution for you.

      Like

  4. Okay so I want to ride a scooter now. Have not had one since I was a little kiddie, but I’ve been browsing, and now I have read this and I can’t think about anything else. Why did I ever stop? Damn you bicycle seductress. I need one scooter from each category right now! Santa?

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  5. Dude, this article rocks. I have tried a foot bike and it was a great ride, but it is as big as a pedal bike and that’s the problem. You have to hitch it, carry it, store it, load it. I ride a Know-Ped and I can hop switch and outrace many bikers without ever having rough ground issues.

    The Know-Ped is perfect, lightweight, and portable. Portable Portable Portable.That’s the main point here. If I could make a bigger scooter disappear and then reappear when I needed it, well then its better, but since I can’t, the Know-Ped is la bomba baby. Even the manufacturer under-appreciates the Know-Ped. They are gasser and zapper heads man. They don’t even respond to customer service calls for the lowly Know-Ped. Its like they make one and spit the taste out. Fools I say.

    the-vu is cool man. Keep ’em comin’.

    Like

  6. I do ride a GopedKnowped and it does the job, and I know that Razors are no good. So I am now tempted to find something with a larger wheel and air tire. Thanks for this article. It is very helpful. Like you, I am very uncomfortable riding bicycles. I’d rather walk for two hours than sit in one fixed position on a saddle for 20 minutes.

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  8. Hi the-vu.

    I’ve been riding a scooter lately in Miami. Its an old 1980s style 12 incher and it looks a bit silly, and the tires keep going flat, but I would have to say I prefer it to cycling. I might import one of those Czech 12 or 14 inchers and make this a permanent transportation choice. Nice article by the way, and what an interesting magazine you have here.

    Flyhat.

    Like

  9. Amazing. I rode a scooter as a child, big, metal, white rubber tyres that always went flat, but something about it stayed with me and I always hankered after such a thing. Well this article has revealed to me that scooters are alive and well. Since I never see any I assumed they were history. Now I have followed the links in this article and am regularly browsing those sites and forums, as well as this one!

    Thank you so much.

    Like

    1. In the USA, Amazon.com has the widest selection today. Look at the Grow-Ped or the Kickboard for solid tires scooters or the Toucan for air tires. Very soon there will be YedooUSA.com but it is not open at time of writing. That will be worth your wait.

      Like

  12. Which scooter would you recommend as far as the deck height is concerned? Kickbike, Footbike, Mibo? I currently have Belize Toucan 16″, and the 6.5″ deck height is killing my knees, while small wheel size increases jolting on uneven sidewalks. So I am looking for something with 26″-28″ front wheel and relatively low deck, with about 2″ ground clearance… Thanks!

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  13. I’m going to enjoy reading this post on scooter classifications, but back about 1950 I had a “Skeeter”. It had four small wheels–two in front and two in back. The foot-board was a thick aluminum casting with grooved cross-hatching for traction. The steering guide was a long vertical tube in front which you tilted to the right or left for turns. Kind of a scooter with training wheels, I guess.

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  14. Hello!
    I’ve just started thinking about buying a scooter for short distances commute combined with other transports.
    I see that the sidewalks I would ride on are pretty inconsistent and it would be common that I would have to go uphill some parts.
    Would you say that a scooter can still be suitable for me?
    Would it be possible to find a light weight, foldable, reasonable sized wheels with not so high deck, all that for $200 max?
    Also, I’m an adult weighing about 70kg and 1.70 meters high.
    I think I’m looking for a unicorn scooter. haha

    Any help would be appreciated, thanks a lot.

    Like

    1. Debora. Yes any small folding scooter is good for scooting between bus and train rides. Larger wheels are better for sidewalks but you need to be able to fold and carry quickly so KickPed, Know-Ped, Xootr, Razor A5 etc. are all okay, assuming you are in the USA. Whenever a hill gets too steep, you just step off and walk.

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  16. Yes, I am in the UK. But I would even consider buying from abroad if it was really worth it.

    It does have good reviews, but I’ve also stuck in my mind that I would prefer pneumatic wheels to feel really safe on the sidewalks and when needed to ride on the street.
    I’ve looked at the Razor and the Xootr, and while the wheels are good in diameter, I feel like I would feel safer with wider ones (fatter), you know?
    How does changing the wheels work? Are they standard fitting for any scooter or would I have to buy from the same brand?

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    1. I would not plan on customization, especially changing to wheels that the frame was not designed to work with. No way to put a real tyre in the same room as a Xootr! It is true the ride on 12.5″ pneumatic tyres is infinitely better than any small solid tire, but to find a lightweight folding scooter will be difficult. The Mibo Tiny Top may be the one you want to invest in. Spend some time on letskickscoot.com’s forums and in their reviews to hear many voices. The Czech Republic is where most of the best choices come from.

      Like

      1. You’re right, I just thought about that afterwards. Nuisance getting a wheel for which the scooter wasn’t designed.

        That’s why I said I’m looking for a scooter that doesn’t exist. With pneumatic tires they become heavier models…and pricier. Well, I’ll just have to compromise something.

        I’ll keep researching more, I’m bound to be satisfied with one of them.
        Thanks a lot for your help!

        Like

  17. Great article about scooters Jeffery.

    The right competition for the Sidewalker, would of been the Kickbike sport G4, not the racer.

    Earl

    Like

    1. Thanks Earl.

      Not sure if there was a G4 at time of writing. But the article is comparing whole classes as opposed to individual models.

      Jeffrey

      Like

  18. Hello, I have two active 7 yo’s who, like me, love riding bikes, scooters, etc. However my wife is not crazy about getting on a bike. So when we ride she walks and inevitably what was supposed to be a family event turns into a solo walk for her. We want her to be able to participate with us. She has expressed some interest in a scooter. As a bday gift I have my eye on two models and I wanted to get your feedback. We live in an urban area where she will likely ride mostly on sidewalks, an occasional cruise through a park on a paved path/road. Primary uses would be cruising around with family, a quick jaunt for coffee or dessert and maybe small errands (pharmacy, grocery). So which model do you recommend?
    http://www.eco-wheelz.com/catalog/sidewalker-26-city-kick-scooter-p-311.php
    or the 20” Amish made scooter
    http://www.letskickscoot.com/home/articles/Amish_scooter_models.cfm

    Like

  20. I had a Kickbike City Cruiser (original model) and loved it. It got stolen, so I ended up getting a Kickbike City Cruiser G4 (revised model). The original had a 28″ front and 18″ back, and the G4 City has 26″ front and 16″ back. I may be imagining it, since I don’t have the original for comparison, but it seems to me that the original rolled better and easier than the newer model. If so, I’m seriously tempted to get a 38″ or 42″ boneshaker and see if I can modify it into a kickbike! Such a large wheel ought to do some serious rolling, right?

    Like

  21. Hi! Love all your scooter articles and I am close to purchasing a footbike at this point. For months I was thinking it would be a Swifty Scooter, but I think a Footbike of some sort will be best…

    To the person from Dallas, Custom Scooter in Plano Texas, a bit up the road, sells several Footbike models!

    …Over a year ago I tried several for the first time and they were as fun as I thought they would be. Their owner watched a bit surprised as he watched me “hop switching” on on my first ride in his driveway! &I had been reading and watching videos on scooters for a year!)

    So, I am a 5’11”, big-boned gal of 190lbs, with joint issues, and I am looking to commute 6 miles each way to work. In the last year have had to walk this numerous times due to catastrophic car issues, so I know I can do this on a footbike…

    …I have several competing use cases: most of the time I will be commuting in a relatively bike-unfriendly place, hopefully in my work clothes/skirts (I’m an engineer). Then I will be put-in a few miles a day with minor “around the corner” shopping. And a few times a year I will be putting in a several miles a day in a campground setting as I volunteer for festivals, scooting from venue to venue with mics, cables & such…

    …What to buy? What to buy? Well this is a carefully planned “capital” purchase, because I cannot afford to collect these:

    The Clix with its small wheels is a lovely machine, but I’m really too big for it – it did not feel secure in pavement and it would be hopeless in a campground.

    The City G4 is soooooo cute (and priced right!) but I wonder if it could manage the packed campgeound soul? AND I wonder if I’m too tall to use it comfortably?

    The Sport G4 fits ALL my uses, AND I’m interested in fitness, BUT I think I want an upright kicking posture more often. Again the price is right! But it’s not as cute as the City G4 sigh

    The Cruise MAX seems wonderful, but will it be overtiring on my daily road commute? (I brisk walk my 6 miles in 1.5+ hours, and I’m hoping to scoot this in 30+ minutes without too much sweating!)

    …Anyway, soon I will be able to afford what I want (in this range). Hopefully I can try all three of these soon. (I tried the Clix and Cross Max 16 months ago.)

    Any words of advice anyone?

    Blessings & Joy from Pantego Texas USA!!
    Renée

    Like

    1. The Cruise Max is not any more tiring, it is just intended for a slower and more relaxed and upright scoot, rather than the bent-over full-speed at all times experience that something like Race Max would encourage. I have enjoyed my Cruise Max since buying it, but tend to select my electric scooter for most rides these days.

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  22. Hi Jeffrey,
    I am an old gal in my late 50s. I want to buy a kick scooter but the more I read about scooters, the more confusing I became. I am 5′ 4″ and weigh about 156 lbs. I will use the scooter to go to CVS, grocery store, etc, as far as 10 miles round trip. My budget is around $200. I don’t drive, so the scooter will be my main mean of transportation. I have a folding small scooter, the 3-wheel Globber Ultimum, and it turned out I never have to fold it whenever I board a bus (its small wheels limit the distance). I just slide the deck under my seat and I hold onto the handlebar. The current scooter with small wheels absorbs all the cracks and grooves of the uneven sidewalk and makes my knees hurt after scooting. I honestly avoid riding on a bus because of the pandemic. I will ride my scooter on the sidewalk that is uneven full of cracks and grooves concrete sidewalk. I avoid riding it on the street, that’s the reason I won’t buy a bike. I live in Massachusetts, and I am ready to have a 2-wheel scooter. Do you think I should go for an electric one due to my age? I honestly want to add a bit of exercise to my daily routine without destroying my knees. Could you please help me? Thanks so much in advance!

    Like

    1. Hi Scootergal. Electric scooters are so different, and much more dangerous. I am 64 and recently quit riding electric. Rubber air tires will help with the rough ride you are experiencing. I would recommend you get a Razor A5 Air. I have had no trouble with mine and it might be my favorite little scooter right now. Please join the Facebook group “Let’s Kick Scoot” and see what others think. If you are definitely not taking the bus, then a larger footbike could be for you, but you’ll have to carry a lock and chain for when you get there.

      Like

  23. Hi Jeffrey,
    Thanks so much for your prompt response, btw, I just clicked to join the Facebook group. So you are a Razor A5 Air user! I looked at it and it looks perfect for me, thank you for your advice. But I still have some concerns and you are the perfect person to ask about Razor A5 Air because you use it. The first one is, can I ride that Razor A5 air for 10 miles round trip? I am afraid of getting a flat tire because I never own a bike. Plus, the wheels are small and some of the sidewalks are rooted-up. The second question is, I read somewhere that scooters with inflatable wheels need more kicking because the wheels have more resistance, and the problem is the sidewalks here are rarely flat. Some of them are hilly, so the kicking will be “epic”. The third question is, what’s about Razor A6? Thanks again and I look forward to your response.

    Like

    1. I ride my A5 Air on an at-home course but I ride it for approximately 3 to 6 miles a day in a figure-eight. A puncture is very unlikely here, but out on the street, if you keep your tire pressure right and scan ahead for nails and glass, you will be unlikely to get a puncture. If you ever did, you could just fold the scooter and walk. You will burn more calories with air tires over the same distance, but the payback is no vibrations in your skeleton so it can be less tiring overall. If you are ever in a hurry, then a scooter is not the right choice. Hills are simple to deal with. Dismount and walk if it is a very steep climb, and the same for downhill if it means exceeding your comfortable maximum speed. I did buy an A6 but I didn’t like it. The big wheels are unlikely to trip, but it is the same hard urethane wheel ride. I have reviewed many of these on the-vu. On YouTube there are very long and comprehensive reviews of A5 Air and A6 by “Have A Nice Ride!” https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1qatCfgQlHZH_7jxa1X3rA.

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