Learning how to ride a vehicle is always a bit daunting. But luckily for you, scooters are one of the easiest and fastest to get a hold-off. If you are want to learn How to ride a scooter then our basic tips and tricks, along with all the fundamental knows-alls will help you prepare for the roads like nothing else.
With a little help from us and regular practice on your part, we can guarantee that you can become an A-class driver in less than a week! Our goal today is not just teaching you how to ride your scooter, but to ride it like a pro! With confidence and style. Sounds good? Let’s start!
Preparation
Do not sit on your seat unless you have your helmets on. Try and find one that is quality certified against impacts and it is also comfortable to wear. An extra helmet for the passenger you will be carrying on your scooter is also necessary.
Clothes
Scooters may not look all that, but these things can reach speeds as high as bikes and cars. Normally, you want something to protect yourself from the harsh, cold winds and moisture on a rainy day. Consider wearing a jacket or raincoats on unfavorable weathers. Avoid wearing overly loose, dangling clothing.
Accessories
Some other things could invest on are a pair of protective glasses, a pair of hand gloves and possibly a very good quality, and rugged pair of boots.
Pre-check
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Learning to drive
1. Get your scooter started!
After all the pre-checks are done, it is finally time to get your scooter started. Hop on your seat and get comfortable. Next, turn the key of the vehicle and turn on the start/ignition switch and the cut off switch. Then, kick up the side stand so that the vehicle is no longer balancing on it. However, mind you that your scooter will still not start even after doing so. Why is that? Safety. It all boils down to safety. In order to finally get it started, you have to gently press onto the rear brake after following the steps before it. Here’s a quick recap:
- Turn the key
- Turn the engine cut off switch Safety steps before finally starting the scooter
- Pull up the side stand
- Press the rear brake (left brake)
And it has started! Congratulations on completing your first step.
2. Riding
You don’t want you to rev up the engine like a maniac and run like a horse just yet. Take it slow. Very slow, in fact, because scooters don’t have any clutch so it takes a while before they catch acceleration and deceleration.
You want to gently turn the throttle towards you, emphasis on the words gently, and voila! Your scooter will now slowly start to move forward. Now it is very important that you take a few small steps with both you’re your legs as you pull on the throttle. Then just when your scooter picks up the speed, lift your leg back up into their rightful place. Next, to stop, you want to turn the throttle away from you and apply both brakes, slowly. Then put your left/right foot or both feet out to balance the scooter as it falls to the side. Here’s a recap:
- Slowly turn the throttle towards you
- Walk forward
- Lift your leg back up when the scooter start to forward
- Stop
Repeat steps 1 through 4 over and over again. This will give you a feel for the controls and a sense of trust on your vehicle.
3. Speed and Acceleration
One thing that many learners don’t know is that riding the scooter at a speed too low can actually cause imbalance.
Speed equals stability. Hold your horses if you think we are asking you to rev up the throttle like there’s no tomorrow. Because we are not saying so at all. What we want is to accelerate the scooter just enough so that you are stable riding without wobbling and shaking. The secret here isn’t speed. It is CONTROLLABLE speed.
4. Making turns
When you are just learning turn, we highly recommend that you do not press on the throttle while turning the wheel of the scooter for some very obvious reason. Applying speed while making a turn will cause it to simultaneously run ahead. Instead, we recommend that you stop and walk on your seat while turning the head of the scooter to make the turns.
After you master the walking-and-turn motion, slowly transition into walk-less turns. Remember: NO throttle! Before you know it, you will be able to make U-turns as well!
5. Finishing off
If you want to park or pull over your scooter, the first thing you need to need is turning off the engine cutoff switch. Next, you take out the key and kick out the side stand. And that is pretty all there is to learn how to ride a scooter!
Things to know
- For absolute knobs and beginners who have no experience or knowledge whatsoever, the first and foremost step is to learn the controls and anatomy of their scooter. We cannot stress this enough, really. Generally, you have your front brake and throttle on your right hand side. Turn the throttle towards you to increase speed, and away from you to decrease speed. Simple right? Similarly, on the left hand side, you have the rear brake. Engine switch, horn, and beam switch are all indicted so you should have no trouble detecting them.
- Your license type will depend on the cc of the scooter you drive. Check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) office to learn about your licensing. Also, try and obtain a learner’s permit.
- Try and obtain a motorcycle license or endorsement if your scooter’s cc is over 50.
- You must be at least 16 years of age to be able to ride a scooter legally in most states. One may furthermore need to provide proof of residency, birth certificate, etc, as per local and states laws.
- Although more or less, all scooter laws are same and common in all states; some states may have special or unique laws. Learn about them to avoid hefty penalties, fines and possible jail time.
[…] article though. Our article is for those who either decided that they should go for an electric scooter or for those who are confused that whether you should go for an electric scooter or […]