You are searching avidly online for a kick scooter for either your child or as a gift for someone else. During your search you keep running across some cheap electric scooters but you’re questioning the safety of motor scooters. Let me make this clear – less speed does not equal a safer ride. Ask any parent with a child that rides a skateboard; jumps, grabs, flips and rail riding (a.k.a. "grinding") are just a few risky skateboarding maneuvers exercised on a board no quicker than a kick scooter. In no uncertain terms, the kick scooter can essentially do similar tricks. The metal surface provides an excellent support for grinding and its light aluminum frame is easily hoisted into the air for jumps.

In contrast, kids electric scooters can actually be safer due to the construction. To support and protect the electric motor and batteries, electric motor scooters are normally made out of thicker aluminum. Consequently, there is an increase in weight and rigidity, which will be discussed later in detail. This is not to say that "electric scooters are safer than kick scooters" but the heavy bulk of electric motor scooters limits certain tricks. For instance, jumps, grinds, and flips are dramatically (if not completely) limited due to the weight of electric motor and batteries.

Take for example, the X-Treme X-140 that is restricted to 10 mph but noticeably slower with a load and terrain. It weighs nearly 20 lbs and at full throttle is equivalent to a light jog. The average weight of a six-year old child ranges between 35-40 lbs, meaning that these cheap electric scooters weigh about half the child's weight. The beginner electric motor scooters, such as the X-140, offer a safe speed at which kids can have fun. The important safety measures to remember is wearing protective gear, such as helmets and pads that will protect your child no matter what they ride.

There is a legitimate concern when introducing kids to new toys. We all know that when a child receives a scooter, bike or skateboard their first instinct is not to think of safety. One recommendation would be to purchase the smallest electric scooter for children around the age of six. Cheap electric scooters, like the X-10, are excellent compromises between safety and speed. For older children and especially kids in their teens, the larger capacity scooters X140+ are more viable options. Larger electric scooters offer more power but the rider is usually heavier so the actual speed increase is nominal.

For those parents that really do not mind their son or daughter on a more powerful unit need only buy a larger unit. The X-140 (140 indicating the watts, 140 watts) can easily support a 35-40 lbs child but for more acceleration and power the X-250 will certainly handle the job. A word of caution, the increase in power may only be 5-7 miles per hour on an electric powered scooter. However, the increase in bulk is noticeable and a child’s ability to maneuver the unit is compromised. If you are not concerned about the increase in power in bulk, just remember to outfit your child in some type of protective gear.