If you found yourself an electric scooter to sport, all that’s left now is learning how to ride it. Make your experience as smooth and accident-free as possible as our team explains all the basics and professional tips you should now before you get on the roads.
How to Ride an Electric Scooter
1. Wear Protective Gear
The first step to riding an electric scooter similar to 36V motor Turboant X7 Pro is making sure your safety is secured. Before following the steps on how to ride a scooter, always don the right protective clothing. Make sure you’re wearing a bike helmet at all times.
We cannot stress how important it is to ride your electric scooter safely and wear proper safety gear, especially when you finally dare to take up higher speeds. On top of a bike helmet, it’s also advisable to wear gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards.
2. Familiarize Yourself With the Scooter
Before you learn how to ride a scooter, it’s also highly important you’re familiar with the model on your hands.
Safety
First of all, this ties in with the safety of your electric scooter. You want to know where the brakes (both the rear brake and front brake), accelerator), and lights are.
This way, you’re more familiar with how to control electric scooters. Most scooters also have folding mechanisms which you have to be familiar with. Not knowing these could cause you to fall.
Learning Curve
Second, this ties with the learning curve of riding a scooter. The more familiar you are with your model, the more familiar you’ll be with riding scooters, too.
This will also prevent you from the possibility you’d lose control of the vehicle. Understand how the bicycle works at different speeds, at which side and position you’d BEST be able to keep your balance, and how you’re going to control it with respect to your strong leg or weak leg.
3. Inspect the Scooter Before Use
Once you’re familiar with the features of your vehicle, the next step is making sure that it’s set to go. Here’s a checklist of things you should be inspecting on your bike before you use it:
- Tires are in good condition
- Folding mechanisms are locked into place
- Brakes should be properly adjusted
- Scooter does not have any weird noises or obvious damage
- Charged battery, enough charge for a few hours
4. Start on Flat Terrain
Next on the list: it’s finally time to get on your electric scooter!
Look for a flat and paved terrain with a few cracks, ruts, and bumps as possible to minimize accidents. A good choice would be occupying an empty parking lot.
While it may not be as fun as you may hope in the beginning, we promise it will still allow you to have a thrilling learning process. Also, you will learn faster if you let your foot begin with the basics.
5. Balance Your Feet on the Scooter
Once you’ve found a flat terrain to work on, balance one foot and the other on your high-quality lightweight electric scooter.
Both of them should be planted on the scooter’s deck, facing forward in the middle. Now, take as much time as you need to stay steady and comfortable. This will be important when you’re in scooters at high speeds, so just be patient with yourself.
6. Kick-off With Your Other Feet
Now comfortable with having both feet on the scooter? It’s time to break the ice.
Launch
Initially launch your scooter by kicking off from the ground and raising the kickstand. Then place your non-dominant foot on the deck of the electric scooter, making sure it’s facing forward.
Lean Forward
Now you can start moving at a reasonable speed. Lean forward and hold the handlebars at both sides. Then, place your strong leg onto the platform behind your weak leg.
Tip: Keep your knees slightly bent once the other foot is on to help you maintain your balance, too.
Accelerating
When stability has been set, press onto the throttle steadily to keep the scooter moving at a smooth pace. Allow your back foot (which is supposed to be your strong leg) to keep you steady.
7. Brake Slowly
Gotten the hang of riding at a steady speed? Now it’s time to figure out how to use the brakes. Pull on the brake lever with your left hand to slow down your electric scooter.
Caution: Just like with your throttle, make sure not to pull the hand brake abruptly either.
This will help you avoid falling to the ground or being thrown from your vehicle suddenly.You can also use the foot brake at the rear to slow down at a more gradual pace.
8. Try to Rotate for Turns
If you’re comfortable with riding scooters at this point, it’s time to learn how to turn.
After all, not all roads are flat and as straight as your favorite lot. One day, you’re going to deal with cars and turns. On that note, get on your scooter and drive at a steady pace. At this point, you know how to handle a scooter, so lead on a straight path. Now turn the handlebars at a slow and steady pace. And like the brakes, don’t make your turning movements abrupt.
9. Practice More
Just like all types of driving skills and none car stunts, practice makes perfect. Practice more on that straight path, and then slowly move over somewhere with more scooters around the area.
Soon enough, you’ll be riding across the streets with the rush (or lack thereof) of traffic upon you.
For a high-speed scooter, you can read our article about the speed of 150cc scooter here.
Pro Tips
- Use the handlebars to keep you stable, but keep in mind that your legs should be doing most of the balancing work.
- When accelerating hard, plant your weight onto your rear foot and use it to lean your body forward.
- Braking hard while turning is more likely to bring you to a fall or an accident. Make sure you're straight up before such a sudden stop.
- This should come unsaid, but make sure to get both a motorcycle license and a regular driver's license.
Safety Reminders
- When riding, always look out for grates. The tiny wheels of your scooter could get stuck on them, so try to avoid them especially when you're just starting out.
- Avoid wet roads.
- Traffic laws for an electric scooter are much more similar to those of cars than motorcycles, so always pay attention for such regulations.
- Don't get on an electric scooter with a passenger, and don't drive a scooter one-handed.
- As we previously mentioned, always wear a helmet and proper safety gear.
- Keep your scooter folded when not in use.
FAQ
Is it difficult to ride a scooter?
No, it is not difficult to ride a scooter such as the GoTrax GXL V2. In fact, most people can actually get comfortable in 10 minutes as long as they follow through with the basics.
How do you ride a scooter for the first time?
Whether you’re riding a kick scooter or an electric scooter, the basic steps of riding a scooter are the following:
- Get on.
- Kick off, non-dominant leg on the deck first.
- Once you're moving, bring your dominant leg to the back.
- Steadily press the throttle, and you'll be off.
- Brake slowly, and turn slowly.
Once you’re comfortable with these small steps, you’ll be riding a scooter for the first time in no time.
How do I learn to ride a scooter?
Get on a scooter, position your legs, move and adjust controls accordingly. Once you’ve gotten the basics, practice makes perfect. Start slow, get comfortable, then keep up the speed later on.
Conclusion
Now you know the basics of how to ride a scooter, it wouldn’t be so hard when you practice it. Whether you have a kick scooter or you’re sporting an electric scooter, we’re taking this opportunity to tell you once again that safety first [1], and of course, have fun!
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