New Mobility Scooters

Power scooters have the ability to transform lives. Seniors and those with physical handicaps who have depended on others in the past to get them to their favorite store or visit a friend down the block, can now do all that, and much more, by themselves – thanks to handicap scooters.

Furthermore, the way many mobility scooters are designed today, users can easily travel distances in the range of several miles, with many scooters featuring foldable and portable structures which can be easily disassembled within seconds to be taken on a cruise ship, airplane or car.

Of course, as one might imagine, there are a number of fantastic brands to choose from when it comes to new mobility scooters, and the choices can be somewhat overwhelming, to say the least.

Our new scooter lineup here at Scooters’N’Chairs offer some of the best known household brands that people have trusted for years. Here’s a quick overview:

Pride Mobility – Pride has been an industry leader for quite some time when it comes to scooters for elderly, offering a variety of models to meet multiple budgets and needs. Their latest model, the Jazzy Zero Turn, however, has been engineered for the budget-conscious, with its ability to turn sharply like a 3-wheeled scooter, making U-turns in confined spaces a complete breeze.

Drive Medical – Drive is another brand that has received many accolades over the years, thanks to the lightweight and foldable range of new scooters. The newest ZooMe Auto Flex model can be folded within 15 seconds and taken anywhere with you, thanks to its heaviest piece weighing just 55 lbs.

EV Rider – EV’s sporty and compact designs have appealed to seniors everywhere, particularly those who love their scooters not just for their functional use also for the recreational freedom they offer. Among the newest models to arrive from EV is the Mini Rider 4-wheel, a hot favorite today that offers plenty of loading/unloading flexibility to those who prefer not to disassemble their scooter while traveling.

Merits – Power scooters under this brand meet and satisfy a plethora of budgets and needs, with the latest variant being the Roadster Deluxe; a lightweight three-wheeler that’s very easy to get on/off, thanks to its adjustable tiller, and an impressive maximum driving range of 6 miles for entry-level price tag.

Afikim – Afikim mobility scooters are known the world over for their beautiful and eye-catching designs, and happens to be a top choice not among the elderly but also service and warehouse workers. One of the manufacturer’s latest models is the S4 fully cabined scooter, providing the ultimate protection against wind and other harsh weather elements. The windows offer clear and pristine visibility while the factory-fitted heater ensures that you stay nice and cozy throughout the 28-mile distance that it’s capable of traversing after a single battery charge.

Tzora – The Tzora Titan range of scooters are some of the most beloved power scooters among folks of all ages, because they make for such fantastic and powerful machines that are particularly well-suited to outdoor use. Their newest range, the Titan, offers a 3-wheel configuration for enhanced maneuverability in confined areas and a rugged 4-wheel configuration for fun and exciting off-roading. Check out any online review and you’ll see that the Tzora Titan has received 4-5 star rating by 80% of users, on average.

Luggie – Sometimes, all we need is something a little basic to get us around; a highly portable, lightweight and easy-to-ride scooter, and that’s why so many people have fallen in love with the Luggie. The compact but durable aluminum chassis and tiller, along with the solid free 4 wheels and total weight of 55 lbs. would suffice the needs of most seniors looking to zip around from destination to destination.

Amigo – The brand has been known for making some of the most light and compact 3-wheel scooters, which also boast great portability, allowing you to fold and take them with you on trips. Amigo scooters are some of the most reliable, lightweight and compact scooters you’re going to find in the US market, not to mention one of the most functional mobility scooters when it comes to a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces.

Buying a New Power Scooter – Things to Consider before Purchase

Despite the fact that we have top brands on offer, it’s always important to focus more on what your individual needs are, rather than focusing on one or two leading brands alone. These needs may vary from your weight, height and lifestyle to portability and other scooter features that may prove to be handy.

Height, Weight, Distance Range and Travel Speeds

If you’re going to be doing a lot of traveling or prefer to take your scooter in the back of a car with you, then you should look for a foldable scooter that features a no-hassle design – something that’s easy to fold and unfold, without having your fingers getting caught in the frame. If it dismantles instead, then you’d want to ensure that its heaviest component weighs at around 50 lbs. or less.

You’ll also need to consider if your scooter is compact enough to be stored in a closet or the back of a car. Some scooters are noticeably larger which means you can certainly put them in the back of your car, but you may also require someone to help you load it up.

Another consideration is your height and weight. Fairly tall individuals generally prefer 3-wheel scooters as they can comfortably rest their legs on either side of the tiller. Three-wheelers also have a lighter “heaviest part”, which makes them easier to fold or disassemble, and carry around.

Our new mobility scooter range has models that can withstand weights of anywhere between 250 lbs. to 300 lbs. Ensure that you go with a model that ‘just’ meets your weight criteria. For example, it makes more sense to go for a scooter model that can withstand 250 lbs. if your bodyweight is around 200 lbs.

In any case, refer to the detailed specifications sheet for each model and run some comparisons between different models to see which ones have the right weight, dimensions, wheel configurations, travel speeds and maximum range to meet your daily needs.

Other questions to ask yourself might be:

•         Where will I mostly ride my scooter?
•         How long will I need to ride it at a time?
•         How often will I need to recharge batteries?
•         Does the scooter already come with what I need or will I need additional accessories such as a larger seat, storage basket, batteries or side view mirrors?
•         How long is the manufacturer’s warranty and what does it cover?
•         Are spare parts for my model easily available and where does it go for repair?
•         What’s the turnaround time should I require any repairs not covered under the warranty
•         What kind of after-sales service can I expect
•         Will my scooter be fully assembled at the time of delivery or will I have to put it together?

If the answers to any of these questions or others are not answered under each scooter description and spec. sheet, then please contact our team and they will be happy to address your queries.   

3-wheels vs. 4-wheels

Three-wheeled scooters are very compact and lightweight and offer improved maneuverability over four-wheeled ones. They boast very short turning radiuses, meaning that you can do 180° turns and U-turns with ease. They also have a lighter “heaviest component” and allow taller people to ride more comfortably.

Four-wheeled scooters are heavier but this offers a few distinct advantages. They offer better grip on outdoor surfaces, particularly uneven ones that you’ll typically find in gardens, parks, beaches or other places where there’s uneven terrain. Four wheels also offer improved stability and sturdiness, especially at higher speeds.

Included or Not Included with the Scooter

Just to give you an example, most scooters come with storage baskets and ample seating as well as leg room, which suffices for most folks. However, some elders prefer to carry their phone with them with the added luxury of answering calls without ever having to take their eyes of the road or pavement. Others enjoy taking their favorite drinks with them, while some users require extra storage space and even side view mirrors to make the experience safer and more fun.

You might also have longer travel distances to cover, so larger, fully charged spare batteries can prove to be very useful. If the model you’re interested in does not already include the extras you need, then we offer a complete range of mobility scooter accessories to make the experience safer, as well as more exciting and immersive. Simply contact our team and let them know what accessories you require for your specific model.

So Many Brands – Which One is the Best?

We might say that Drive Medical makes some of the best mobility scooters on the market today. Or we might recommend EV or even Afikim as the “undisputed best power scooter” of them all.

To be fair, it comes down to user needs. With that said, we have randomly handpicked a few brands from our lineup and discuss some of their key traits to help you understand why they are the preferred choice for elders across the nation.

Merits

Merits offers plenty of affordable and practical scooters with varying features – one of their latest ones is the Roadster Deluxe, which features a lightweight and sporty 3-wheel design. Comfort is always a high priority with the Merits brand – the Roadster Deluxe comes with a loop tiller that has a throttle level, allowing you to control direction using the palm/finger grip. The tiller can be adjusted in a number of positions, allowing you to easy get on/off the scooter.

Perhaps one of the best things about Merits is their affordability, with the Deluxe Roadster falling somewhere between an entry-level and lower-midrange price tag of $1,046. It supports a number of aftermarket accessories such as canopies, covers, cane holder and walkers, or oxygen tanks. The 6-mile maximum travel range and 4 mph top speed are sufficient for most users.

EV Rider

EV Riders have appealed to seniors for many years now, whether they just want to travel around town on their own or suffer from minor musculoskeletal issues, which means a scooter that requires minimal effort to operate.

The City Cruzer is among their latest offerings, which is capable of carrying a maximum weight of 300 lbs. with a top speed of 5 mph and maximum travel distance in the 12.5 mile range. Featuring a wide seat and a very impressive 38.6” turning radius for improved indoor maneuverability, it offers great stability and sporty looks which is coupled with one of the best value-for-money scooters of 2019 with the $1,399 price tag.   

Drive Medical

DM offers a comprehensive range of quality elderly scooters, all of which are ideal for mobility and recreational use. However, the ZooMe Auto Flex Folding three-wheel scooter featured in our new mobility scooter lineup has been specifically designed for elders or those suffering from physical limitations.

With a mid-price range of $2,349, you’re getting an impressive 13-mile travel range with a top speed of 4 mph. The scooter comes with a wireless key fob, allowing you to fold and unfold it within 15 seconds at the touch of a button. It is a lightweight and collapsible scooter perfect for the frequent traveler.

Pride Mobility

Pride is a well-known US manufacturer that makes a wide range of handicap scooters appropriate for indoor and outdoor use. The Jazzy Zero Turn featured in our new power scooter range is an economically priced scooter which has unbelievable maneuverability. The exclusive iTurn technology allows it to make sharp turns and complete 180° turns, thanks to its 38.25” turning radius. This means that you can do complete 180-degree turns within a space measuring less than 40” across.

For a small and compact scooter, it can easily withstand individuals weighing up to 300 lbs.

To learn more about the other models from our new power scooter range, please don’t hesitate to contact us.