Osprey BMX Adult Scooter

The Osprey is a solid bmx scooter designed to have both the manoeuvrability of a scooter and the all-terrain coverage of a bike. In other words, this scooter will easily handle off-road terrain, rolling easily over grass and other paths. Use it for a fun off-road jaunt. It also works well for commutes and journeys with challenging terrain along the way.

So, who is this scooter for? Osprey has tried to cover all ages, kids from age 5 plus as well as teens and adults.  Does it work for all of them? Well,  the minimum handlebar height is 88cm which will be too high for a 5 year old but will accommodate older kids without a problem. The top handlebar setting is 96cm so it will work also for some adults. But if you're on the taller side you will have to stoop when riding which won't be very comfortable. So smaller adults, yes - taller adults will want something with a higher handlebar.

The maximum weight capacity is 100kg which should work well for most adults who are in the right height range.

The scooter is well designed, strong and durable. It features a 20 inch large spoke front wheel and a 16 inch spoke rear wheels. The wheels have a strong grip and are ideal for off road. Front and rear caliper brakes offer quicker stopping power than other scooters. The high quality steel frame and deck is built to last. There is also a handy kickstand to keep it upright when stationary

The general consensus is that assembly is a nightmare, especially if you're not used to building bikes and scooters. However, there is a very helpful assembly video that Osprey have on Amazon and Youtube. Another alternative is to pay for a bike shop to do the hard work and factor this into the price.

Overall, if you can get over the assembly issues,  the Osprey BMX scooter is a decent off road scooter which offers good value for the price.

Bike Star Kick Scooter

The Bikestar is an all terrain scooter for kids aged 7 plus who measure between approximately 120 to 15ocm. This is a solid scooter which has received rave reviews from parents and carers. And there really is a lot to like about the Bike Star.  The steel tube framework is strong and sturdy and it's finished with a glittering metallic paint.

It's 12" (30.5cm) wheels on quality rims can handle woodland rides, rough ground and grass as well as smooth surfaces.

Who's the scooter for? 

This scooter is very much designed for kids in every aspect. The height adjustable handlebar will grow with kids and can be adjusted from 76cm to 90cm. The handbrake is suitable for children. Young kids can offer struggle with a handbrake at first as they tend to be quite big and hard for smaller hands to control. However, with a bit of practice, the Bike Star's handbrake is easy for young kids to use.

The Bikestar is also quite light in comparison to other scooters with air filled tyres. It weighs just 7.2kg. - yes that's much heavier than most rubber wheeled kick scooters but a lot lighter than other kick scooters with pneumatic wheels. A lighter scooter will be easier for young kids to handle and control.

Additionally, the skid proof footboard gives kids the confidence to ride safely.

The maximum weight capacity of the scooter is 100kg, so even though the handlebars may be low older kids, teens and adults under the weight limit can have a go.

How Quickly Can You Assemble the Scooter? 

Bikestar say the assembly can be done in 10 minutes with 90% of the assembly completed out of the box. Be aware you will need your own tools. It may be easy for people who are confident in assembling bikes and scooters but it likely to be more difficult if you aren't. There is an assembly video you can watch over on amazon that will help.

To sum up, this really is an amazing well-built, BMX style scooter for young kids. It's a perfectly designed and durable all terrain scooter for children with a super smooth and comfortable ride. 5 stars!

Swifty Air Scooter

If you're an adult looking for the creme de la creme of scooters for difficult terrain, the Swifty air scooter is just amazing. It isn't cheap but it's tough and has a superb design. Its light and will handle off road riding including canal paths, roads, streets, sandy coastal paths and dirt trails.

Who's it for? 

The Swifty is for adults. It will accommodate riders up to 6' (182cm) with riser bars available for 6'2" (188cm). The weight capacity goes up to 150kg, which is much more than the load capacity of standard kick scooters.

This is a scooter that has been designed with maximum strength and durability in mind but at 8.9gk it's also light enough to carry when you need to. Athletic riders could carry it uphill over the shoulder for a downhill trek. Swifty has had riders test the air scooter on mountains, rather impressively blasting down the rocky paths of Mount Snowdon. This thing can certainly take a lot of punishment.

You can use the scooter for commuting, going to the shops and weekend off road adventures. Having said this, if you're just looking for a light, portable commuter scooter for city streets there are lighter options that can fold and will do the job better.

The Swifty has 16-inch pneumatic wheels that are built for fast all terrain riding. The wheelsets are strong which makes them suitable for tough terrain.

If you're an adult looking for a scooter to push your riding to limit with off road trails, jumps and dirt riding, look no further - the Swifty air is the scooter for you.

Xootz BMX Scooter for Kids

The Xootz BMX scooter is designed specifically for kids with an age recommendation of 6 plus. The scooter has a weight capacity of 50kg and a top handlebar height of 84cm so it should accommodate the majority of kids up to around 10.

So why would you choose the Xootz BMX? 

It's perfect if you want a scooter for uneven terrain. Perhaps the paths aren't smooth near you or you need to go over gravel, a dirt path or other tricky terrain on the school run. The large pneumatic wheels will offer a cushioned ride, and roll over the bumpy terrain where smaller wheeled scooters would get stuck. It's also a fab scooter for exploring the outdoors, ideal for young adventurers.

What about size and weight? 

The scooter is large and heavier than most kick scooters for kids, weighing 8.5kg. It's fine to lift when you need to but you don't want to be carrying it around for long periods. It's not the scooter you want if portability is a required feature. You can't fold it. It measures 123 x 64 x 84cm, so you may get it in the boot of a car or you may not, depending on your car size. The front wheel is 16" and the back wheel is 12".

And the brakes? 

The Xootz features front and back caliper brakes, so it's easy to stop when needed. Many kids will prefer the hand controlled brakes of the Xootz.

One of the criticisms of the scooter is that the paintwork scratches easily so don't expect it to stay pristine. However, it is a scooter for the rugged outdoors so maybe the look will fit in with the purpose of the scooter.

Overall, if you're looking for a decent BMX scooter for kids this will tick the boxes.

Mongoose Expo Scooter

Mongoose is a US brand which is popular over in America and in the UK too. The Expo is Mongoose's all terrain offering to kids and teens. If kids are fed up with a scooter which gets stuck in the cracks on the pavement and want something that can handle dirt tracks and other tricky terrains this does the job!

It features 12 inches air tires which perform well when riding on paved and unpaved surfaces. Bmx bike style alloy caliper hand brakes offer confident speed control.

What is the Age Recommendation?

There are internet reviews of adults riding the Expo and whilst it can accommodate riders who weigh up to 100kg (220lbs), it's handlebars will sit too low for most adults to ride comfortably for long periods.

The scooter sits at 85cm (33.5") high which in my opinion will be fine for most kids around the 6 to 11 year age group (although there are reviews of some older teens ride this thing as well). The bars can be adjusted by 3" but you will need a 14 mm open-end wrench to do this. There is a stem nut that loosens a head stem quill. Pull bars up and retighten, there is a max height position stamped in the stem. The instruction booklet gives detailed steps on how to adjust the height if you need to do it.

Bear in mind that the scooter is heavier than standard kick scooters at 9kg (20lbs), this means that younger, smaller kids may find the heavier weight a little harder to manoeuvre.

Assembly is fairly straightforward with brake cables probably being the most difficult part to assemble. The owners manual is brilliant and provides written information and diagrams for building, maintaining and adjusting the scooter. If you do struggle, you can always pay a bike shop to do it for you.

How does it ride?

The fat, smooth air filled tyres are great for a comfortable ride. They absorb all the imperfections in the road easily and work well on all kinds of terrains such as grass and hiking trails too.

With sturdy and solid construction, the scooter feels durable to ride. It goes quick enough. Additionally, the front wheel turns 360 degrees which means it's fab to try a few tricks on as well.  Older kids will enjoy having a go at a wheelie or small jump. It is heavier than a stunt scooter, so you can't really go flying with this thing. If kids want to go on the skate park, I'd go for a dedicated stunt scooter. But for trying a few fun things on some trails it's great.

Perhaps one of the biggest complaints is that the braking could be stronger. Many kids will slow down with their feet, but this could be a deal breaker if you're trying to decide between this scooter and another one.

One other small gripe, there isn't a kickstand but this isn't a problem if you don't mind laying it flat for storage.

The overall verdict? It's a decent off road scooter for kids with a lovely, comfortable smooth ride. It's fun to ride especially if you're willing to have a go at a few tricks. But you will need to forgive the subpar braking capability and rely on slowing down before you stop.

Homcom Pink or Black Air Filled Tyres Scooter

If you're looking for a pink BMX style scooter, the Homcom comes is the right colour and it also comes in black if your prefer. But what else does it offer in terms of off road capability?

Who can ride this scooter? 

The scooter has an age recommendation of age 5 plus to adult. Personally, I think for there are better choices for 5, 6 and 7 year olds as the lowest handlebar height is 92cm which is quite high for a child. However, it should accommodate most adults as the handlebar extends up to 100cm. The maximum weight capacity is 100kg.

What's it like to ride? 

The 16 inch front tyre and 12" rear tyre give a smooth, comfortable ride. You won't need to worry about potholes and bumps in the road. The large wheels roll smoothly and will get you to your destination quickly and easily.  It can handle twigs, stones and cracks effortlessly. It manages uneven terrain but you may find that the hand grips aren't the most comfortable for the impacts off-road riding. The V type front and rear brakes aren't the highest quality but decent for the money you pay

Assembly

You're going to need to spend some time assembling the scooter as it arrives flat packed and the instructions aren't the best, so if you're a novice at assembling scooters and bikes you may need some help putting this together.

Overall Verdict

If you're looking for a scooter to handle the uncomfortable terrain on a school run or short journeys, it does the job well. If you're looking for a scooter to soak up the punishment of lots of off road riding, you probably want to look into another option. Comparing this scooter to the Swifty air is unfair as the price difference is great but you can see how the Swifty has really been put through its paces when designed and tested.

Overall, it's a decent scooter for the price but it lacks the quality finish that you will find on a more expensive option.