Choosing between the different sizes of scooter wheels have left several people confused. To many, the wheel of a scooter ought to be big, while others opine that it ought to be small. This topic has brought a divide amongst emerging and regular scooter riders because they don’t know the differences between a big scooter wheel and a small one.
Aside from their sizes of course, the main difference between them is the performance. When I talk about performance, I mean speed and control. We shall discuss more on their differences in this article.
What is a Scooter, and Why Should You Own One?
If you are wondering what a scooter is, it is an electric-powered bike that makes transportation easy. Unlike a bicycle, scooters are way faster and can get into places without the rider losing his/her balance. Like a bicycle, it requires some expertise to ride it. However, they are not for long-distance journeys.
Scootering has become a convenient way to get around the city and to escape those rush hour heavy traffic jams that usually occur in the morning. Urban workers know how difficult it is to get ahead of traffic, even if they went early in their cars. This is why many car users now abandon their cars for a scooter.
In countries like Italy, more than half of the inner-city journeys are less than five kilometers. With short distances like this, the fastest means of transport is a scooter, especially foldable scooters like Kick.
To a worker, nothing beats leaving home and arriving at a workplace at the exact time. Scooters can access restricted areas and lanes that normal vehicles won’t conveniently pass over. But is time saving the only benefit of owning a scooter? No, there’s more than you can ever imagine. Let’s look at other benefits.
Ease of Parking
Owning a scooter saves you the stress of looking for a parking space. Not only will this maximize your comfort, but it will also save you time. Many urban cities have parking spaces for two-wheeled machines, and some of them allow you to park your scooter on the sidewalk.
Promotes Independence
Owning a scooter promotes total independence in addition to saving you time in traffic and making parking straightforward. Since you own one, you don’t have to depend on public transports to move around.
Lower Maintenance Costs
While I can’t compare the comfort and performance of a four-wheeled vehicle to a scooter, the latter is more economical. Purchasing a scooter is much cheaper. Plus, the maintenance costs and needs are lower than those of a vehicle. It will save you gas costs a great deal.
Lower Carbon Emissions
This may sound surprising to a few people. Scooters emit 50% less carbondioxide than their four-wheeled counterparts. Scooters also minimize traffic congestion by 50%, meaning that they reduce the chances of emitting pollutants into the atmosphere.
Ease of Use
Scooters are convenient to ride if you put some efforts into it. If you know how to ride a bicycle perfectly, learning how to move around on a scooter won’t be a problem. With a couple of lessons on road rules, you will be driving a scooter in no time. Like bicycles, scooters lack gears and the brakes are positioned on the handlebars in reverse.
Better Range Than Bicycles
Bicycles can do virtually everything a scooter can do, except that it can’t move faster. Also, riding a scooter takes less effort than a bicycle because you don’t have to move your legs rapidly on the pedal to propel it.
Develops the Body’s Balance
Interestingly, scootering also has some amazing health benefits. One of them is helping to develop body balance. If you are always tripping on things, scootering might help restore that body balance since riding it requires the movement of the muscles.
Makes Carrying Goods Easy
If you are thinking of how to convey some loads, such as books, scootering can help out. All you have to do is to place it on the board. This will help you to move your goods from place to place conveniently.
Owning a scooter can help with food and supply deliveries as well. If you want to earn some bucks on the sideline, you can sign up for food delivery services. With your scooter, you’ll be able to deliver the goods regardless of the factors timely.
Burns Fat
Although several people own scooters to ease transportation, moving on it is considered an exercise. The good thing is you don’t have to feel that you are exercising because of the fun derived from riding it. Research has it that scootering leads to weight loss and helps to burn down calories. So, riding regularly can get you in top shape.
Enhances Mental Health
Riding on electrical or motorized scooters is a good form of outdoor exercise. Exercising outdoors improves mental health. If you want to feel elated, relaxed, and anxiety-free, you should engage in scootering. Note that this isn’t a cure to mental illness. It’s a mental exercise.
You can easily mount on a scooter to explore the environment and the wide range of things happening in the neighborhood. This is another way to have fun outdoors.
Okay, that’s it! Now that you know the benefits of owning a scooter, let’s discuss the best wheel size for them. Is it large-sized wheels or their small counterparts?
What is a Kick Scooter Big Wheel?
A Kick Scooter big wheel usually comes in 120mm and 125mm sizes. These sizes were not available from the beginning, but due to the popularity of scooters and demand, more manufacturers went into the business of designing scooters with larger wheels. At last, 120mm and 125mm emerged.
What is a Kick Scooter Small Wheel?
A Kick Scooter small wheel comes in 100mm and 110mm sizes. These sizes are the most common, and that’s because the earliest known set of scooters had these sizes of wheels. Before scootering gained popularity, everyone rode on 100mm wheels, then the 110mm sizes. As scooters evolved, bigger sizes emerged.
Why Should You Buy Kick Scooter Big Wheels or Small Wheels?
The smoothness of a ride and maneuverability depends largely on the wheels. Small wheels are light and keep you close enough to the ground. If you love to maneuver, your choice will be small wheels. With small wheels, you can overcome bumps, stones, and other obstacles easily. Scooters with small wheels are designed for beginners because they offer a greater level of control.
On the other hand, scooters with large wheels carry additional momentum, meaning they roll faster than small wheels. Scooters with larger wheels are designed for more seasoned/advanced riders. The additional momentum results in a more aggressive riding. So, as a beginner, I will advise that you don’t go for scooters with large wheels.
Big Wheels or Small Wheels Differences
The differences between big wheels and small wheels lie in their speed, handling, and portability. Big wheels are faster and roll more smoothly. However, the level of maneuverability is not excellent. However, you will find it easier to jump over cobblestones and kerbs with comfort.
Small wheels roll slower, but have better maneuverability. This means that it’s easier to maneuver them in between obstacles even when they roll fast. For high-speed riding, they are not entirely the best.
The other difference between the wheel sizes is portability. Scooters with small wheels can easily be folded in a bag, whereas those with large wheels can’t fit into tight spaces. If you are planning short distance trips, larger wheels are the ideal option.
Big Wheels or Small Wheels Pros
The advantage a small wheel has over big wheels is the level of control. Because it doesn’t roll fast, it makes it easy to control. Big wheels roll faster and more smoothly.
Big Wheels or Small Wheels Cons
It isn’t easy to store or fit into a bag a scooter with big wheels. This means it’s not portable. Small wheels are not fast, making them a pretty bad choice for short city trips.
How to Make Your Decision?
Choosing between a big/large wheel and a small wheel depends on your preference. Do you need a fast scooter, a portable one, or one that you can easily control? Your riding expertise will also play a crucial role in your choice. If you’re able to answer the questions correctly, you won’t have a problem deciding the best scooter wheel size for you.
Finally
Owning a scooter can turn out to be one of the best decisions you have made. Not only does it allow you to get ahead of traffic, but it saves you some money on gas and general maintenance costs. Aside from that, it is beneficial to human mental and physical health. This shows the importance of having it in your parking garage. If you are yet to own one, I suggest you include it in your shopping list.