Electric scooters are a lot of fun! A great scooter is a smooth ride, is really simple to pick up and use and, because they’re electric, they’re environmentally friendly too.

But how do you pick something that’s right for you, and what should you think about before taking the plunge? Don’t worry. Our experts at Currys sure know their e-scooters and we’re here to make picking your first scooter a very smooth ride!

Just follow our guide and by the end you’ll be in-the-know and ready to take the plunge. Here’s what you should think about…

How fast do you want your scooter to go?

Right now, the scooting speed limit is 15.5mph, with some areas having a lower max speed limit. Just remember that your scooter is only allowed on private land with the owner’s permission. You can’t currently use them on public footpaths or roads.

Even if you’re not a speed demon, don’t be put off by a more powerful model. Just look for a scooter that has different speed settings. On the lowest setting, your scooter will go along at a fast walking pace. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can try out some higher settings.

How far do you want to go on your scooter?

How far an e-scooter can go on one charge is known as range. Most adult e-scooters can do between 10 - 20 miles, with slightly higher end models easily able to run a marathon or more! But when you’re looking for the magic range number, bear in mind that these are based on a rider around 70kg on flat ground at a moderate speed. So, if you’re carrying a bit more weight or you like to zip along a bit faster, take that into consideration and go for more range than you think you’ll need.

Flat ground or hills?

Motor power (in Watts) is often a good indicator of speed and acceleration, but it will also tell you something about the scooter’s ability to climb hills. The more power it can produce, the steeper incline it can handle. Not a problem if you’re only using your scooter on totally flat surfaces. But if you have hills in mind, look for max hill incline too – usually given in degrees.

What kind of scooter brakes?

Obviously, you’ll want your brakes to be good. But there are three main types of brakes – each having different things going for them. Some scooter may use more than one of each type, but it’s definitely worth knowing what each one means when you come to choose your scooter.

Foot brakes: This is as manual as it gets. To brake, simply place your foot down on the rear mud guard. This is a surprisingly effective brake but not one for beginners – as it takes practice to do this and stay balanced.

Disc/ drum brakes: These are effective brakes but may wear down over time and might have to be replaced. Both these breaks do well in wet conditions - though we’d never advise scooting through puddles as most e-scooters aren’t built to handle puddles.

Electric/ regenerative brakes: These are slightly less effective than disc/drum brakes at higher speeds but work well for slower scooters. The upside here is that they’re very low maintenance.

What scooter weight do you need?

Often, it’s the case that heavier scooters are a bit more powerful and so will go faster and further. It’s like the difference between a moped and a touring bike.

But a lighter scooter may be more useful if you have to pick it up and carry it or fold it up and store it away. Weight is usually given in kg and if you’ve ever weighed a packed bag for a holiday, you’ll know how much weight you can comfortably pick up and take with you.

Looking for a comfortable ride?

Silly question? Not entirely. A smooth ride is much more important if you’re planning to cover long distances. Maybe not such a big deal if you’re doing doughnuts in the garden!

If you’re after a comfy ride, there are a lot of things to look for that will help make that happen. You might not want to end up with a bone shaker!

Go for…

• Larger wheel size: Small wheels can be big trouble on a rough surface, so bigger wheels are a must. Look for a scooter with larger diameter wheels – 8.5-inches is a decent rule of thumb.

• Pneumatic tires: Air-filled tyres are better shock absorbers than solid airless tyres. The drawback with anything air-filled is that it’s more susceptible to punctures. So, while solid rubber tyres may be a bumpier ride, they’re far lower maintenance.

• Good suspension: If you’ve driven a care or even ridden a bicycle, this is a no-brainer. You’re unlikely to find good suspension on cheaper e-scooters, so it’s really how much you want to invest.

• A scooter that can hold you: You need a scooter built for you. So, when shopping for one, make sure that you get a deck width and length that you can comfortably stand on – especially if you’ve got larger feet and are tall. Try to pick handlebars that are roughly the same width as your shoulders so you can stand comfortably, too.
  
  Just check out the dimensions and always go larger than you think you’ll need.
  
  Scooters will usually also list how much weight it can take. This is important to note – especially if you’re a heavier rider.

Looking for a kids' scooter?

Everything above still applies, but we've also got a separate guide on how to choose an electric scooter for kids. We're helpful like that!

There’s definitely more to learn about e-scooters, but if you’ve thought about all of these features, you’re about ready to pick your first electric scooter.

So, have fun and get scooting!