So, you’re asking about those cheap electric motor scooters, huh? Yeah, I went down that road. Let me walk you through my little adventure with one of those things. It was an experience, that’s for sure.
It all kicked off when my rusty old car finally decided to call it quits. Just up and died on me. The garage quoted me a repair bill that made my eyes water – seriously, it was more than the heap was worth. And at that point, cash was, let’s just say, super tight. I had this little side hustle delivering leaflets, just to make ends meet, and walking everywhere was killing my time and my feet. Public transport around here? Don’t get me started. It’s a mess. So, I needed some wheels, fast and cheap.
My Hunt for “Cheap”
I hit the internet, like everyone does. Typed in “cheap electric motor scooter.” Wow, talk about a rabbit hole. You see all these flashy ads, scooters looking all sleek and modern, prices that seem too good to be true. And you know what they say about things that seem too good to be true. “Cheap” often means you’re gonna find out why it’s cheap, the hard way. I wasn’t expecting a luxury ride, but I also didn’t want something that would fall to bits if I looked at it funny.
I found this one model. Looked half-decent in the photos, and the price was unbelievably low. It was from one of those websites where you click “buy” and just cross your fingers, hoping something actually shows up. I took the plunge. Then came the waiting game. Felt like ages. When the box finally landed on my doorstep, it looked like it had been used as a football by a team of angry gorillas.
Unboxing and the Joy of Assembly
So, I dragged it inside and started unboxing. First impression? “Hmm, this thing is light.” Way lighter than I thought it would be, which isn’t always a good sign for something that’s supposed to carry a grown adult. And the instructions! Oh man. Looked like they’d been translated through about seventeen different languages, none of them English. I spent a whole afternoon, a lot of head-scratching, and probably a few new swear words I invented on the spot, just trying to piece it together. Of course, there was a screw missing. Had to dig through my “random bits and bobs” jar to find something that would do the job.
Once it was all bolted together, sort of, it was time for the moment of truth.
Riding the Beast: The Good, The Bad, and The Really Annoying
So, what was it like to actually ride this thing? Well, here’s the lowdown:
- The Good Bits: It actually worked! It moved, it was pretty quiet, and for those short trips delivering leaflets, it was kinda fun, I gotta admit. Plus, it cost pennies to charge. My delivery times definitely got better, which was the whole point.
- The Not-So-Good Bits: The battery life. Whatever they claimed on the website, cut that in half. Maybe even more if there was a slight breeze against me. And hills? This scooter hated hills. It would slow down to a snail’s pace, groaning like it was about to have a heart attack. And suspension? What suspension? I felt every single bump, every pebble, right up my spine.
- The Ugly Truth: Things started to go wrong pretty quick. A wire jiggled loose within the first week. Then the brakes started making this awful squealing noise, and they didn’t feel as sharp. A piece of plastic trim just cracked and fell off one day, for no reason at all. It turned into a constant game of “what’s going to break today?” I got pretty good at fixing little things on it, not that I wanted to.
Honestly, it felt a bit like that time I bought a super cheap toolkit. Looked okay, had all the pieces. But the first time I tried to use a screwdriver, the metal bent. You get what you pay for, right? This scooter was the same deal. It technically did the job, but it was a constant source of worry and tinkering.
That leaflet gig didn’t last forever, thank goodness. I managed to scrape together enough for a decent second-hand pushbike eventually. And you know what? That bike has been way more reliable. Go figure. So, cheap electric motor scooters? Yeah, I’ve had my practice with them. Practiced my patience, mostly. And my ability to fix things with duct tape and hope. If you’re thinking about getting one, just be ready for an adventure. And maybe keep a toolbox handy.