2. Performance: Power and Speed -
Once you know the weight class of the scooter you need, it is now important to determine the terrain or environment where you intend to use the scooter so you can select the grade of performance that is required. More power is needed for climbing hills or steep ramps, riding over grass, or other uneven surfaces and a rear wheel drive type scooter is going to be the best. Although most scooters appear to perform well on the showroom floor, this reveals little about how they will do in the field. It is important that the power of the scooter match your weight and how you intend to use it.
For instance, a larger rider looking for exceptional performance outdoors should first consider scooters like the Pride Hurricane for its large 4 pole motor and 13 inch diameter wheels. Another option going even larger would be the Pride Wrangler. The Wheelcare Sportster is another good option to look at in large outdoor scooters. All these scooters have a top speed of at least 9+ mph.
The larger person looking for more emphasis on performance indoors would probably look at a scooter like the Pride Maxima (450 lbs), new Legend (350 lbs), Pacesaver Espree Atlas or Titan, and Merits Pioneer 3 and Pioneer 9. These are large 3 wheel scooters which can handle the weight and also have the overall dimensions to maneuver a big person well indoors.
People in the 250 to 300 lb weight class probably have the greatest selection of both 3 and 4 wheel scooters with adequate power for both indoor and outdoor use.
Ranger Solo and Safari, Pride (Legend-Victory-Sundancer), Pacesaver (Passport-Premier-Plus 3, Merits Pioneer 3, CTM 570 all have adequate power and are available in 3 wheel versions for greater emphasis indoors and 4 wheel versions for greater emphasis outodoors.
People in the 250 lb and under class not only have the option of using the above models but also have a selection of compact scooters available which our heavier friends cannot use. These include the Superlight, Caddy, Sporty, and Pride compacts
(Revo, Sonic, Go-Go, Rally, Sundancer).
When it comes to speed, most scooters are rated for about 5 mph. If you like to go faster, then get a scooter which is rated to do so. Most manufacturers only make 1 or 2 scooters which are rated for over 6 mph since the scooter cannot be classified as a medical product if it does. Pride Hurricane (9+ mph) and Wrangler (10 mph), CTM-HS 890 (9 mph), Merits Pioneer 9 and Pioneer 10 (9+ mph) and the Wheelcare Sportster ( 9.8 mph) are the "cruisers". One thing to remember, though, is that there is quite a difference between getting thrown off a scooter going 5 mph and one going 10 mph! Safety must be given more consideration with a faster scooter as operator errors can have much more serious consequences. The manufacturer is not responsible for operator errors and the responsibility for choosing a faster scooter lies with the purchaser.
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