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