With scooters at their height of popularity, it can be hard knowing which one to buy. You’ve got big ones, little ones, electric ones, folding ones, flashing ones, three-wheeled ones, even ones with Bluetooth speakers.
It’s a minefield knowing which will last the test of time against the toughest of critics…kids. So for this one, I’ve brought in some help. Amelia (aged 7) kindly offered to take the Arcade Pro for a test drive and let me know what she thought.
First, a little bit about the Arcade Pro.
Specifications:
– Customized Neck for Max Strength – 100mm Wheels – Solid Poly-carbonate Core Wheels with High Rebound 88a PU wheel skin – Responsive, Rear Nylon/Steel Brakes – Light 3D Stamped Steel Fork – Ages 7 to 107+ – Max Weight – 220lbs The headline for this model is ‘Built Tough’ and you can see why. This ain’t no cheap plastic ride-on toy. Even before you open the box you can tell by the weight that this scooter is built to last. When unwrapped, the scooter comes in just two pieces, the deck, and the handlebars. Simply attach the two together using the supplied hex key and you’re away. It also comes with a handy wheel stand which makes putting it together all the easier. Just make sure you line up the handlebars to the wheel or you’ll be traveling in circles.
It comes in four different colors, we chose to go for gold/teal as it looked the coolest in my opinion. The other colors available are black/red, black/black, and blue/green. The gold/teal version is bright and vibrant. On closer inspection, you can tell this paint is not going to fade. Donned with decal stickers and grip tape, everything looks like it’s there to stay and won’t be peeling off after extensive use.
Our Verdict: Of course, I had to take it on a little ride myself (I am under the max weight of 220 lbs after all) and I had a great time. Even with an adult riding, the wheels glide along smoothly using those ABEC-7 bearings. The handlebars were a little low for me and you can’t adjust them which could be annoying for any parents wanting matching scooters. This is where Amelia stepped in to give the Arcade Pro a rigorous review, and as she arrived with an already sizable bump on her head, I knew she wouldn’t be scared to put it through its paces. After a few initial false starts (mainly due to setting off on gravel), she was off!
Now, this scooter can MOVE. In no time at all Amelia was flying up the street with no sign of slowing down. Even on uneven patches, the wheels make light work of keeping up the pace and retaining a smooth ride throughout. The handlebars were responsive to turns and they didn’t have any wobble which we all know some scooters can suffer from. Amelia pointed out how much she liked the handlebar grips and how comfortable they were to hold. The stylish grip tape keeps you firmly planted on the deck so even in wet conditions, you’ll feel safe and confident that you won’t be slipping off.
I was initially concerned that with the scooter being so robust and weighing 7.5 lbs, it might be too heavy for kids to perform tricks and jumps. Not the case. Amelia had it lifted up easily and jumping up curbs wasn’t a concern. She didn’t feel like performing any backflips (probably how she got the first bump) but I was assured she could if she wanted. The brake is mounted on the back wheel and is designed to stop the scooter using foot pressure. Whilst the brake did work, it wasn’t the best. This is a testament to how fast the bearings are more than the quality of the brake. “It does take a few seconds to stop” states our guest reviewer, but again, she was going at some speed!
After a while zipping up and down, the inevitable happened. A fall. Amelia is as hard as nails and got straight back on, but the scooter did suffer some damage. As it’s made of metal, and slamming onto concrete, you’ll have to expect some dinks in the paintwork. It may not look good, but remember, this is built to take a slam. This scooter will also get straight back up and carry on riding. Built Tough.
What Amelia loved ❤️
Turns really niceTop speed is like 1,000,000 mphYou can go up curbsYou can go down curbsCould probably jump it over a car
What Amelia didn’t like as much 💔
It doesn’t fold down to fit in her school lockerIf you turn too fast, you fall
TLDR;
All in all, this is a sturdy, reliable, hardcore scooter for kids. You can use it for cruising the block, gnarly stunts, or racing your friends, the Arcade Pro can do it all. You don’t need to be an engineer to assemble this scooter as most of the hard work is already done for you. This scooter is stylish and solid! It will withstand whatever kids can throw at it. The wheels are super smooth and pick up speed without using tons of energy. To answer my first question, YES, this is the Hummer of the scooter world. Don’t forget, safety first, because we all know what kid + speed + concrete equals.
