| Motor scooters are vehicles with small wheels and a | | | | traveling short distances around the neighborhood. |
| low-powered gasoline engine geared to the rear | | | | Braking occurs when the back fender is stepped on, |
| wheel. The first patents for "foot powered" scooters | | | | putting pressure on the back wheel and stopping its |
| date back to 1921. Up to that time there were no | | | | movement. This type of motor scooter is made for |
| motors attached to the scooter. They were | | | | kids or adults and can also be used to perform tricks |
| propelled by "foot power." | | | | on. It is very compact in size and can be folded for |
| The old-fashioned foot-powered push scooter was | | | | storage in small places. |
| updated to a Razor motor scooter under the | | | | A unique feature of freestyle folding motor scooters |
| direction of Gino Tsai, whose father was a | | | | is the "kicktail," a portion of the foot deck that |
| mechanical engineer for the J. D. Corporation in | | | | extends over the back wheel. This is what provides |
| Shanghai, Taiwan. His motor scooter took about 5 | | | | the leverage for performing tricks. Motor scooters |
| years to design. | | | | with "kicktails" are called freestyle scooters and |
| Gino Tsai claims that the reason he invented the | | | | usually have hand brakes due to the fact that the |
| Razor motor scooter was due to the fact that his | | | | back fender allows for the performance of tricks |
| father had to walk for miles every day around the | | | | instead of braking. |
| huge bicycle factory that he worked for because of | | | | Electric scooters are generally bigger and heavier. |
| his short legs. To solve this problem he updated the | | | | Because of the extra weight they consume more |
| old-fashioned push scooter into what we now know | | | | power and can only go shorter distances when |
| as the modern Razor motor scooter. | | | | compared with the folding scooters. After about 10 |
| When Gino finished the development of his motor | | | | or 15 miles it may be necessary to recharge the |
| scooter he began to market it to the public. It quickly | | | | battery. |
| became a huge success with customers waiting as | | | | These electric, or battery-powered, motor scooters |
| long as six months for their orders. | | | | are often used to travel short distances around the |
| Why was the Razor motor scooter so popular? The | | | | neighborhood or perhaps on a school campus or |
| Razor scooter was made from lightweight airplane | | | | other confined environment. They are particularly |
| grade aluminum which can support over 1000 pounds | | | | popular among the elderly, handicapped and disabled. |
| without bending. It is foldable, which means it can be | | | | Instead of being confined at home these elderly or |
| stored in very small places. It has small polyurethane | | | | handicapped people can now have some of their |
| wheels and a low-powered engine. Braking is | | | | former independence returned to them. Motor |
| activated by stepping down on the rear fender. | | | | scooters of this type are usually called mobility |
| Today there are many different brands and models | | | | scooters. |
| of motor scooters. We have electric scooters and | | | | Gas powered motorized scooters are usually more |
| gas powered motor scooters. They are very | | | | powerful and can attain higher speeds than the |
| versatile and functional, serving many different | | | | folding scooters or electric scooters. They can also |
| purposes. They are patterned after motorcycles, but | | | | travel longer distances when a larger fuel tank is |
| have smaller wheels, lower-powered engines and can | | | | included. Gas scooters may not be permitted in some |
| be "stepped through," unlike the motorcycle. | | | | areas so it is wise to check out the laws and |
| The most commonly seen style of scooter is the | | | | regulations in your area before purchasing a motor |
| "folding," or "foldable," scooter. These are | | | | scooter. |
| two-wheeled models that are typically used for | | | | |