I’ve been riding scooters almost every day since I got my first one a few years back. Now, when I see someone get on an electric scooter for the first time, I notice the many new riders making the same common mistakes I made in my earlier days of riding my electric scooter.
It could be your foot position, posture, or anything. If you’re a beginner, I don’t want you to make the same mistakes. That’s why, with my personal experience and observations, I made this article for you.
Now, you might be wondering, what are those common mistakes new e-scooter riders make?
Stay tuned, as here we’re about to offer you some practical solutions to these errors in a detailed manner. These are the things that I wish I knew when I started riding. I bet you don’t want to miss these.
13 Common Mistakes Electric Scooter Riders Make
In my initial days, I made a few mistakes that could have been easily avoided. One big mistake was not wearing proper gear like helmets and knee pads. And, I literally paid the price for that.
You won’t believe it, but I didn’t wear it until I hit a pothole. And when that accident happened, I realized how important safety gear is. From that day, even if I have to ride just 100 meters, I always wear safety gear first before jumping onto my scooter.
Also, whether you miss your protective gear, occasionally break traffic rules, or both, let’s learn how you can stay away from those frustrating mistakes.
Below I have listed the main factors that you must keep in mind when you start riding an electric scooter.
Note: The list is based on the continuous feedback I’ve got and my compilation of common mistakes made by new e-scooter riders.
Mistake 1: Not Wearing Safety Gear
Any type of two-wheeled vehicle rider needs to wear safety gear, electric scooter riders are no exception. At the same time, many riders don’t realize how dangerous electric scooters can be.
Particularly, it can’t be ignored in urban environments where collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles are common.
Protective gear such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards is a must-have for preventing head injuries, abrasions, and fractures.
Helmets protect the head of the rider in case of a fall or collision in an accident. Helmets come in various forms, such as bicycle, BMX, and motorcycle helmets.
Bicycle & BMW helmets are lightweight with good ventilation and can withstand the impact of a low speed of 20 mph. These helmets are designed for bicycles and kick scooters, which travel at low speeds.
On the other hand, motorcycle helmets are heavier due to their hard material for better protection. They can withstand an impact exceeding 20 mph speed.
If you own a high-speed or off-road electric scooter, we recommend you invest in good riding gear. This can include helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, riding boots, and wrist guards.
However, if you feel wearing a full protective kit is a little too much, then as an e-scooter rider, you should wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt to have a little protection against potential scrapes if you fall.
But we still recommend you wear protective gear because it gives you the most amount of protection against potential mishaps.
Mistake 2: Poor Maintenance of the Scooter
Many riders think that maintaining electric scooters means charging them regularly, but this isn’t true. E-scooters are just like other EV vehicles. They need to maintain and check all the components on time. Ignoring the maintenance of electric scooters can cause their downgrade, and even it might become dangerous.
Make a habit of cleaning your electric scooter, lubricating all the moving parts, checking the effectiveness of the brakes, and washing it every week if you use your escooter as a commuter. For off-road riders, you should clean your e-scooter as you do off-roading.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Traffic Rules
Not following the traffic rules and regulations is another common mistake electric scooter riders often make. Not paying attention to traffic signals, riding on sidewalks where prohibited, and failing to give side to pedestrians can lead to accidents, injuries, or legal consequences.
You can follow the same traffic rules and regulations as bicycles and cars. First of all, familiarize yourself with the electric scooters’ traffic rules and regulations, which are applicable in your region. In some states, riding an escooter on sidewalks is prohibited, so check your state laws.
Follow traffic lights, signs, and lane markings to make safe interactions with other road users. There’s no room for exceptions when it comes to safety on the road.
Mistake 4: Lack of Riding Skills
Most new e-scooter riders often underestimate the importance of learning riding skills and just hope the scooter expects a smooth riding experience, but this is not the reality you will face. Lack of training and practice can only cause unstable rides, loss of control, and bumping into obstacles or pedestrians.
So we recommend you learn a few basics of riding an electric scooter, such as balance, steering, and braking, which are essential for building confidence and avoiding accidents.
Practice riding it in an empty parking lot, and don’t ride in public streets until you feel comfortable going through various streets and scenarios.
Mistake 5: Overloading the E-scooter
The average load capacity of an electric scooter is 320 lbs, which is sufficient to carry an adult of 200 lbs with few extra accessories, but exceeding the load capacity limit can drastically reduce the performance and safety of the scooter.
I see many riders riding their scooter carrying one more person in the back, which puts too much stress on the motor and body frame. It reduces the range and battery life, putting you and your escooter at risk.
As a new rider, you should not make the same mistake and be aware of the weight capacity specified by the manufacturer. A balanced and firm distribution of the load can help ensure stability and increase the safety of the ride.
Mistake 6: Not Taking Proper Riding Stance
Not taking a proper riding stance will give an unstable riding experience. So it is important to take proper foot placement. There are mainly three types of foot placement:
- Standard Foot Placement: This means putting your left foot forward and right foot back.
- Goofy Foot Placement: Place your right foot forward and left foot back on the deck.
- Side-by-side Foot Placement: Place your both feet in parallel on the deck. This is not used by most of the riders due to the higher risk of accidental damage.
So which foot placement should I choose on my electric scooter?
Place your right foot forward if you live in a region where driving is on the right side and place your left foot forward if driving is on the left side. This is because if you get hit by an object like a tree or pole, the first body part hit will be your shoulder and not the chest. This provides you with a safer option.
Mistake 7: Not Bending the Knees
I tell you from my personal experience, I always keep my body rigid and stand straight to maintain balance, but this is one of my biggest mistakes, as I feel all the bumps on my knees and back. Over time, this gives me intense pain.
So you can learn from my mistakes and keep your knees slightly bent because it works as a natural shock absorber, giving you the ride smoother over uneven roads and putting less stress on your knees and back.
Mistake 8: Trying Advance Tricks as a Beginner
Many new riders cannot resist the temptation of learning tricks they see someone else do. For example, back flips, briflips, and kick less are some of the advanced tricks only pro riders can do.
These advanced tricks require a solid grip on foundational scootering knowledge along with the essential skills and confidence to do them.
Ignoring the initial steps in pursuit of thrilling stunts may hamper your scooter riding growth. It can result in dissatisfaction and boredom. So spend enough time learning the basics first and then go towards the advanced ones.
Mistake 9: Riding With One Hand
Riding a scooter with just one hand can lose control of your e-scooter and increase the risk of accidents. Many riders use one hand for various reasons, such as carrying items or using their phone. Items you carry shift or become unstable. It causes you to lose focus on the road ahead.
Always keep both hands on the handlebars while riding your kick scooter. This lowers the possibility of mishaps or crashes by ensuring better control.
If you still need to carry items, consider using a backpack or installing a hook or basket on your electric scooter. Make sure both hands are on the handlebar while riding the scooter.
Mistake 10: Riding in the Rain
Riding an electric scooter can be tempting in rainy weather. But think about it, battery and water are not good friends, so if you meet both of them together, the battery can get wet, resulting in a short circuit, and even worse, it may explode.
We know that e-scooters have some protection against water, such as Apollo Air, which has an IP66 rating for water resistance. However, we have never seen electric scooters protected from water damage under their warranty.
If you don’t know what an IP (Ingress Protection) rating is, in simple terms, an IP rating is a code that shows how protected your electric scooter is from solid objects like dust and liquids like water.
The first number in the IP rating shows the protection against solid objects from 0 to 6 rating, in which 0 means no protection and 6 means no ingress of dust. The second numbers show the protection against liquids from 0 to 9 rating, in which 0 means no protection and 9 means it can handle hot water from different angles.
In this example, the IP66 ratings show that the e-scooter has a 6 rating against solid objects and a 6 rating against liquids.
In general. Riding an electric scooter in the rain is unsafe because of slippery roads and reduced visibility. It’s best to avoid riding in the rain altogether and wait for dry conditions to ensure a safe and easy ride.
Mistake 11: Right E-scooter in the Wrong Terrain
If you drive a sedan in off-road terrain, it will get damaged. They are made to drive on roads, the same goes for electric scooters. If you try to do off-roading with your commuter escooter, it will get damaged and give you a bumpy ride.
The dry footpaths and roads usually give the greatest possibility of traction, while wet surfaces like metal, sand, and leaves can be extremely slippery and more dangerous to ride on.
Particularly, wet leaves can become like ice and make the scooter unexpectedly slide out. Off-roading should be done with caution, as there is a separate type of electric scooter available known as an off-road electric scooters equipped with robust suspension and big trucks that are designed for rough terrains.
Mistake 12: Wearing Earphones While Riding an E-scooter
We love to listen to music while walking, running, or doing different activities to avoid boredom. But, is it safe to listen to music while riding an electric scooter? Yes, it is safe to listen to music while riding an electric scooter.
But wearing earphones and listening to music will only distract you from surrounding noise and prevent you from hearing pedestrians and other vehicles coming from your side or back. Not knowing your surroundings can be dangerous and can lead to an accident so avoid wearing earphones while riding.
If you really want to listen to music, you can install a speaker in your escooter, but don’t blast the music sound, as it again prevents you from hearing surrounding noises.
Top 5 Tips to Maintain Your Electric Scooter
As long as you have a positive attitude and some skills, riding on an electric scooter can be enjoyable. But, what about its maintenance?
If you’re looking to ensure your e-scooter stays in its best condition, it’s crucial to take good care of it. Follow our few tips to keep your electric scooter in its best shape:
Regular Cleaning Your Scooter
Cleaning your electric scooter is a must, especially if you ride it more often. This is because the mixture of mud and water will cause rust on the metal parts. Ultimately, it leads to the loss of the scooter’s strength. So, do your best to see that a scooter is cleaned after one or two uses.
If you ride your electric scooter on a daily basis, you should clean your electric scooter every week. But if you use it on weekends or do occasional rides then cleaning your scooter every month is enough.
When cleaning you should pay close attention to the parts that usually have dirt and dirt traps like the frame, wheels, and other parts. More specifically, make sure the wheels are not blocked by any obstacles that would prevent you from riding smoothly.
Always Oil the Moving Parts
You need to apply lubricating oil on metal parts such as the headset bearing, suspension forks, and folding parts of your electric scooter.
Lubrication helps reduce damage and friction. It maintains ease of operation and performance of these moving parts. Also, by applying oil on the moving parts consistently, you will give your scooter a longer life span.
Check and Tighten any Loose Nut and Bolts
It is important to check the bolts, nuts, and screws of your electric scooter regularly to make sure they are properly tightened. These parts can get loose with use and vibrations over time. They potentially compromise the scooter’s stability and safety.
So, checking nuts and bolts and tightening them up in a few minutes before each ride is advisable. It will prevent accidents and maintain optimal performance.
Keep the Handlebars Clean
The handlebars are the essential parts of the scooter that provide control and stability. Make sure you scrub down the handlebar grips often to take off dirt, sweat, and other particles that stick as time goes on.
If a grip starts to feel like becoming oily or worn out then, I recommend replacing it to maintain a secure and comfortable grip when riding a bike.
Check the Deck and Frame for Signs of Damages
Always check the deck and frame of your electric scooter for any signs of damage like cracks, dents, or bends. These structural parts carry the weight of the rider and undergo significant loads during rides. All these defects can cause safety issues and affect mobility.
If you spot any damage, immediately respond by repairing or replacing those parts so that the overall construction and safety of the electric scooter can be maintained. A complete inspection before each ride would be a good way to detect any problems early. As a result, it will prevent accidents or more serious damage in the future.
That’s it. By adding these maintenance tips into your routine, you can prolong the life of your kick scooter and be able to ride safely and smoothly for years.
Conclusion
Let’s wrap up this article by saying that, to learn how to ride an electric scooter, one will need to be determined, have a lot of practice, and always be safety conscious.
And, if you are looking to avoid your mistake while using an e-scooter, your first step is to know about it. By understanding common mistakes and using what experts say, riders can enjoy a safe and easy riding experience.
First of all, you should keep in mind to have safety gear. Then, always take care of your electric scooter and practice good riding techniques.
All these will help you move city streets comfortably and safely.
Note: Remember, safety should always be your top priority when riding an electric scooter. So ride responsibly and enjoy the journey.