Excellent choices for smaller children are the standard kick scooters. If you are looking to introduce your child to scooters kick scooters allow one to be in control of propulsion with a swing of a foot. However, when you get into motorized scooters there is a throttle normally on the right hand side handle. The introduction of a throttle can complicate the riding process, however if you are considering motorized there are many choices. Listed below are a few considerations with some suggested brands at the end of the article.

Things to consider when choosing gas or electric motor scooters in no specific order:

Gas versus Electric Power

Cost: When it comes to price the categories are, in ascending order: non-motorized, electric and then gas being the most expensive. Like the kick scooter the electric scooter offers less complicated parts, like gas there is a motor but without the issue of refueling. Some parents do not want their child to handle or be in close proximity to gas for a multitude of reasons, another reason to consider electric. Gas scooters are also a viable option if you are not concerned with gas, mainly due to the fact that they do not require a recharge.

Speed: Gas offers more velocity and accelerate to speeds upwards of 30 mph with electric producing 12-25 mph. Beginner riders usually focus on smaller units that offer the lowest speed possible, somewhere around 10 mph. Speed is highly dependent on the weight of the rider, terrain, and the size of the battery, if applicable. If you want to purchase a scooter for a teen you may want to consider buying a mid-line gas or electric scooter. Cheap electric scooters are readily available on the Internet so finding one should not be an issue.

Noise: This is an obvious choice if you prefer a quieter ride, go with electric motor scooters. Even smaller gas powered (50cc) are comparable to lawn equipment decibel levels.

Environmental Concerns: Electric motor scooters do not produce smog emissions like their gas counterparts. If gas still interests you but you’re still concerned about environmental impact, C.A.R.B. motors will produce less exhaust emissions

Convenience: Electric motors range from an hour to roughly 2.5 hrs of battery life and after that need to be charged. The gas scooter needs a certain mixture of oil per gallon but can be used consistently. So the value of convenience is the cost of refueling versus waiting for the electric motor to recharge.

When considering a purchase the consensus is stay with brands that have a reputable history of manufacturing quality scooters. Below are some brands you have a history of producing solid scooters:

X-Treme Scooters – X-Treme offers excellent quality scooters and, online, are just as popular as Razor. They are also the most affordable of the manufacturers when it comes to more "bang for the buck".

Razor - X-Treme has been in business nearly as long as Razor Corporation, though Razor are more recognizable due to the fact they are available in stores. They also make an excellent scooter but often a little pricier than X-Treme for a comparable unit.

EZIP/GoPed – EZIP and GoPed are the super cars of the scooter world. They offer insane components on fast scooters for an equally insane price. A top of the line GoPed scooter can cost upwards of $1,500+ for a fully tricked out scooter.