Xootr Mg Kick Scooter

Concept: 4 out of 5
Execution: 4 out of 5
Yeah, but: It might be cool, but I'm secretly afraid that it's really dorky.

The Long Version: Scooters are nothing new, but Xootr still came a little late to the party: the Razor had already dominated the market with its children's toys. This scooter is a completely different vehicle, made for adults and very high quality. Forget what you think you know about small-wheel transportation.

The Xooter Mg is named for its one-piece magnesium deck - at least thats where the Mg comes from, there's really no explanation for the "Xootr" part. It rolls beautifully, can go forever down even mild grades, and does very well over sidewalks and roads alike. (Uphill and headwinds can be a challenge.) Larger bumps, curbs, and the occasional pothole are solved by just putting a foot down and 'stepping over' the obstruction. With reasonable effort I can keep up with slow bicycles and pass people on rollerblades. I've used a GPS to check my speed, and I'm most comfotrable moving at about 15-18 km/h. Over a typical distance scooting averages out to be twice as fast as walking, which is better than it sounds since it takes just as long for traffic lights to change and having a scooter just means that I spend more time waiting for them.

An ideal scooter distance is between 1-5 kilometers. Anything shorter isn't really worth the time savings, and anything longer would be better served with a bike or public transit. It's possible to ride the scooter long distances - my personal best is 16KM - but it takes some training. I was surprised to learn that kicking isn't the hard part: it's the hundreds of up-and-down motions with the standing leg that accounts for most of the effort. The instructions say to alternate legs every so often, but I'm usually not very diligent and I'm more confident around potholes, people, and streetcar tracks when I can put my right foot down. The scooter is very quiet, unlike a skateboard which gives pedestrians fifteen minutes' notice, so expect to startle people and behave accordingly.

It's worth noting that the Xootr Mg is a lousy cargo vehicle. Any bag carried in the hand or on the handlebars will swing wildly and hit the steering column. It is also nearly impossible to ride with only one hand on the bar. This means that anything carried for moderate distances or at a normal speed needs to be worn in a secure sling pack or backpack, which means added weight for all of those hundreds of step-up exercises. This isn't the end of the world, and I typically carry an extra five or ten pounds of stuff without problems, but it's not like a bike with a rack and panniers. For quick trips close to home, I can make it the few hundred metres from Cora's Pizza or the local convenience store with something in my hand, but it's slow and awkward. And no, even I wouldn't put a basket on the front. That would look dorky.

(Updated: my thanks to Jeff who left a comment below to let me know about a basket-equipped Xootr. I still have some doubts about the look, but it's probably just fine when the scooter's being ridden. My problem is that I only see my scooter when I'm not on it. Jane H's note about the new Crossrack is also worth checking out, as it will hold a standard bike pannier.)

I highly recommend the carrying strap that you see on the front of mine. The real advantage of a scooter over a bike or rollerblades is how easily it goes away when you don't need it any more. Bikes need to be parked and locked, and are always at risk of being stolen. Rollerblades (sorry, "in-line skates") usually can't be worn indoors, meaning that spare shoes need to be carried and used. But it's a ten-second job to fold the scooter - it can be done while walking - and then the strap lets me carry it slung with no effort at all. It's a little bulky for narrow shopping aisles, but easy to walk with when I'm coming home loaded with groceries.

Xootr also sells a fender. I had it installed at one point, but took it off because I couldn't make it stop clanking every time I hit a bump larger than a crack in the asphalt. The brakes disappear when the wheels get wet, so it's not that much of a sacrifice, and I don't miss the 'rear brake'. For safety at night I've added a front light and a lot of black reflector tape.

My two complaints, besides the fender, is that there's occasionally a creaking when the deck flexes, and that after a couple of years of light use the pin that holds the folding hinge in place has stopped working properly. It's a neat design with a spring-plunger to lock and unlock it, but it's stopped springing back, and no amount of WD40 or persuasion has helped. I've ordered a replacement - $12 with shipping - and have been using my keys to pop the locking mechanism back into place until it arrives. Not a big deal, and I'm happily using it for my commute to work and any solo trips around the neighbourhood.

(Updated: The new pin has been received, after only moderate drama courtesy of UPS, and it has given the scooter new life. I had forgotten how much the ability to quickly collapse the scooter adds to its versatility. I'll use it to do a slow easy roll down the halls of Spadina Station and can go through the full-height turnstiles without breaking step. Even without collapsing the handle, folding the scooter makes it much easier to navigate through the congested aisles of the local 7-11.)

It's nearly impossible to not smile while riding this scooter. It's the same kind of feeling as when I had my first bike: freedom and speed for no effort. If something tragic happened to my Xootr, I'd buy a new one immediately - especially now that they're making the decks in different colours.

But wait, there's more! A second installment of my Xootr MG review is on-line. Six months and five hundred kilometers later, how did it hold up? Find out now!

And there's still more! I've also bought the Xootr Swift bike, and its review is also on-line. Read it here!