14 Common Mistakes New Electric Scooter Owners Make
Are you a new electric scooter owner? If so, be sure to avoid these 14 common mistakes! Making these mistakes can cost you time, money, and even your safety. Let’s take a look at what you need to know in order to avoid common mistakes new electric scooter owners make!
If you have just purchased an electric scooter, then it’s important to learn about some common mistakes new owners make. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you will be able to have a much more enjoyable experience with your new vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- The most important item to have when riding an electric scooter is a helmet. Despite your best efforts, accidents can still occur.
- Not knowing how much (or how little) pressure their tires should have is one of the most frequent problems experienced by novice scooter owners.
- Proper maintenance is essential if you want to keep your electric scooter functioning smoothly and for as long as possible.
1. Setting up the scooter incorrectly
This is one of the most common electric scooter mistakes made by new electric scooter owners. If you have just purchased a new electric scooter, make sure you read the manual carefully before setting up your new ride. You should also take time to check if there are any issues with the battery or charger and get it replaced if needed.
2. Control the turn by turning the steering wheel slightly
Not knowing how to control the turn by turning the steering wheel slightly. The handlebars on electric scooters are engineered to be turned in order to make them go straight or turn. Turning your body can result in a loss of balance, which could lead to an accident or injury. If you are riding electric scooters and need to turn, use your hands on the handlebars.
The more pressure you apply on one side of the handlebar, the faster your scooter will go in that direction. The same principle applies to turning right or left. Be sure to turn your body in the direction you want to go. This will help prevent accidents and injuries from occurring while riding your scooter.
3. Not wearing protective gear
It’s important to wear protective gear when riding an electric scooter. While the wheels are smaller than those on a bicycle, they can still cause serious damage to your body if they come in contact with it at high speeds.
Electric scooters are a great way to get around town, but they can also be dangerous. If you were to fall off, you could easily sustain serious injuries. To prevent that from happening, make sure you’re wearing protective gear.
A helmet is the most essential thing to have when riding an electric scooter. No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen. When it does, it’s best to protect your head as much as possible with a helmet.
You should also wear goggles or glasses for eye protection. The wind generated by the scooter can cause debris to fly into your eyes and cause severe damage if not properly protected.
You should also wear gloves so your hands don’t get cut up by broken glass or other sharp objects on the road or sidewalk.
4. Accelerating immediately
One of the biggest mistakes new electric scooter owners make is accelerating immediately after starting. This is a bad idea because it can result in an accident, especially if there are other people around. The best thing you can do is give yourself some time to get comfortable with how your vehicle handles before you start going at full speed.
5. Having the wrong foot position
This is a common mistake that new electric scooter owners make. They have their feet too wide apart on the scooter, which makes it difficult for them to control it. You should have your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, with one foot in front of the other. If you have your feet too far apart, you will be unable to use your legs properly when accelerating and braking. This makes it harder for you to control your electric scooter, so keep this in mind when learning how to ride an electric scooter.
6. Distributing weight incorrectly
New riders often put too much weight on the front wheel and not enough on the rear wheel. This can cause the front wheel to lose traction and skid out from under you. To avoid this problem, make sure you distribute your weight evenly between both wheels when riding.
7. Controlling turns poorly
Many people have trouble controlling their turns when riding on a scooter for the first time. The key is to lean in the direction you want to go, rather than leaning back. When you lean back, it can cause your vehicle to tip over.
8. Riding with one hand
This is a big problem because it puts your body in an unnatural position, which can lead to neck and back pain. It also makes it harder for you to control your electric scooter. Riding with one hand on the handlebars is extremely dangerous because it limits your ability to stop quickly. You should always keep both hands on the handlebars at all times while riding your electric scooter. You need to be able to control your vehicle and react quickly if something goes wrong — which is why so many accidents happen when people are driving one-handed or texting while they ride.
9. Wearing headphones while riding
The reason for this mistake is that it makes you unaware of the road. You could be distracted by music, or by your phone, and not hear the cars passing by or other noises around you. It’s easy to get distracted while listening to music or podcasts while you’re riding your scooter, and it can lead to accidents. If you do want to wear headphones while riding, try using earbuds instead of full-sized headphones or earphones — they won’t block out as much noise around you and will be safer for both yourself and others on the road.
10. Not Having The Correct Pressures
One of the most common issues for new scooter owners is not knowing how much (or how little) pressure their tires should have. Depending on where you live and what type of terrain you ride on most often, this number can vary quite a bit. If you have any doubt about what pressure should be on your tires or how often they should be checked and adjusted, ask someone who knows more about this subject than you do (like an experienced mechanic).
11. Not Looking After Your Battery
If you want to keep your electric scooter running well and for as long as possible, then proper maintenance is key. In particular, you need to look after your battery. A good rule of thumb is that an electric scooter should be charged at least once every two weeks. This allows the battery to maintain its charge and gives it time to recuperate from any damage caused by riding or charging too much. If you don’t take care of your battery, it will lose power over time and eventually stop working altogether!
12. Not Knowing Your Electric Scooter’s Modes
The most common mistake that new electric scooter owners make is not knowing their e-scooters modes. There are three modes for every e-scooter: ECO mode, FAST mode and POWER mode. ECO mode is the slowest speed of your e-scooter while POWER mode is the fastest speed of your e-scooter. FAST mode is somewhere in between.
If you’re unsure about how to use these modes and which one to use at any given time, check out this article on how to operate your new e-scooter properly.
13. Not Starting Slow And Picking Up The Basics
Many people try to jump right on their new electric scooter and go for a long ride. You should start out slow and learn how to use the brakes properly before going on any long rides. You also need to be familiar with how the throttle and acceleration work so that you don’t accidentally speed up or slow down while riding.
14. Using Your Rear Mudguard As A Brake
You may think that using your rear mudguard as a brake is just a good way to slow down or stop quickly, but it can actually cause serious injury or even death when done improperly.
The problem with using your rear mudguard as a brake is that you’re turning on your brake lights every time you do so, which means that other drivers won’t see them flashing in time to avoid hitting you from behind. It’s also illegal in most states for safety reasons.
Ride properly to keep yourself safe
The most important thing you can do as an electric scooter rider is to ride safely and responsibly. This includes wearing a helmet, using lights at night, and obeying all traffic laws — including stopping at stop signs and red lights. You should also keep yourself visible by wearing bright clothes and staying off sidewalks whenever they’re not allowed. This will help ensure that other drivers see you on the road.
Trust Your Charger
When it comes to electric scooters, you should trust your charger. It’s essential that you only use a certified one, and preferably one designed specifically for the model of scooter you own. If possible, buy one from the manufacturer or an authorized dealer. If you have the option, choose a charger that’s UL-approved. This means it meets national safety standards and can be used with confidence. If you’re not sure about your scooter’s charger, contact the manufacturer for guidance.
Know Your Range
Before you go on a ride, it’s important to know your scooter’s range. Your battery will be able to travel a certain distance before needing recharging. This can vary from model to model, so be sure to check the specifications before buying. You should also consider how much weight you’ll be carrying with you, as this will affect how far you can travel on a single charge. Electric scooters are limited by their range, which is the maximum distance they can travel before needing recharging. You should always know your scooter’s range so that you can plan accordingly. A good way to do this is to check the manufacturer’s website for information on specific models.
Develop Good Riding Habits
Electric scooters are convenient, but they can be dangerous. You should develop good riding habits such as wearing a helmet and following all traffic laws whenever you ride your electric scooter. This will help keep you safe while riding an electric scooter and make it easier to get around town.
This also means taking care of your scooter by keeping it clean, storing it in a cool, dry place and not letting it get damaged or dropped. You should also learn how to maintain your scooter’s battery so that you don’t end up stranded on the side of the road with a dead battery.
Common Mistakes New Electric Scooter Owners Make FAQs
How common are electric scooter accidents?
In recent years, electric scooters have become a popular means of transportation in many cities around the world. While they offer a convenient and environmentally-friendly way to get around, they also come with a certain amount of risk. A 2020 study published in JAMA Surgery found that the incidence of annual e-scooter injuries in the US climbed from 4,582 in 2014 (before the emergence of ride-share scooter companies) to 14,651 in 2018.
The most common injuries were fractures, lacerations, and contusions/abrasions, and the majority of those injured were male (75.8%). While the number of e-scooter injuries is still relatively low compared to other forms of transportation, it is important to be aware of the risks before using one. Wearing a helmet and following all traffic laws can help to minimize the chances of being injured while riding an e-scooter.
Do electric scooters break easily?
The answer to this question depends on the type of electric scooter that you are buying. There are many different types of electric scooters out there, and each one has its own pros and cons.
Electric scooters are relatively new technology, and as such, they aren’t very well-established. There are a lot of factors that influence this, but one of the most important is the fact that electric scooters are still very new to the market. Because there are so many different models available on the market, it can be difficult to tell if they will break easily or not.
Why is my electric scooter not going as fast as it should?
If you are using a battery-powered electric scooter, there are some things that can cause it to go slower than normal. The most common reason for this is that the battery is not fully charged.
If the battery is less than 80% charged, the scooter might not go as fast as it should. If you have been riding the scooter for more than 30 minutes and it still does not go as fast as you think it should try charging your battery for at least 10 hours before going on another ride.
The second most common reason for a slow ride is if your tires are low on air or flat. Make sure that you check your tires before each use to make sure they are inflated properly and have enough tread on them to prevent slips while riding. You should also check to see if there are any objects lodged in between the wheels and frame of your scooter that may be causing problems with performance or speed control during use.
Conclusion
Electric scooters can be a lot of fun, but they aren’t necessarily the easiest thing to ride. This can be especially true for newer riders or those who haven’t ridden an electric scooter before. Ultimately, getting familiar with your new electric scooter is important.
Take the time to learn how it works, practice how to take care of it, and talk to other users or forums to gather information on common mistakes. That way you can protect your investment and get the most out of it. We hope you found this article to be helpful as you navigate the world of electric scooters.
