Do you want to ride an electric scooter together with your kid? No problem, because there are some electric scooters for kids as well. There are various models designed for kids but also some that can be safely used by kids. Let’s see what specs you need to be careful at when buying an electric scooter for your 11-12 year old kid.
But remember, safety first! Do not let your kid unsupervised because riding an electric scooter can be even more dangerous than a normal kick scooter. The reason is that electric scooters are usually much faster than kick scooters. In this article, we will focus on electric scooters for 11-12 year old kids.
We will look at the specs and other things you need to consider before acquiring an electric scooter for that age. So, let’s begin with the specs and then I will present you some excellent choices for your kid.
Specs for a kid electric scooter
Height, Size & Adjustments
In order to discover the optimal height and size for an electric scooter, let’s see what’s the average height and weight for a normal 11-12 years old. We can then look at what the current electric scooters on the market offer us.
Girls
| 11 yrs | 81.5 lb (36.9 kg) | 56.7″ (144 cm) |
| 12 yrs | 91.5 lb (41.5 kg) | 59.0″ (149.8 cm) |
[Source]
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Boys
| 11 yrs | 78.5 lb (35.6 kg) | 56.5″ (143.5 cm) |
| 12 yrs | 88.0 lb (39.9 kg) | 58.7″ (149.1 cm) |
[Source]
Your kid doesn’t need a huge electric scooter. We must choose wisely the size and weight so it can be easy to carry for both you and your kid. The ideal weight would be around 17-20 lbs (or 8-9 kg), but, unfortunately, most electric scooters weigh more than that. See average electric scooter weights article and the 15 examples of electric scooter weights.
The lightest one is the CHO electric scooter which is designed for kids and teenagers as it weighs only 10 lbs (or 4.5 kg). The price is also very attractive. I’ve put the link to Walmart listing so you can check it.
Another light electric scooter is the Fluidfreeride Mosquito (link to their website). Still it weights a considerable 22 lbs (or 10 kg). Another downside is that it doesn’t have adjustable height. However, I think it will be fine for a kid over 55 inches (or 140 cm) in height.
A scooter over 30 lbs (or 15 kg) would be way too much for a 11-12 year old kid and sometimes, even for adults if you need to carry it. A Nandrobot X4 for example weights 33 lbs (or 15 kg).
So, as we can conclude, an electric scooter between 17-27 lbs (or 8-12 kg) will do for a 11-12 year old kid.
Speed
You don’t want a QIEWA electric scooter for your kid (as they reach over 60 mph). Ideally, you want something that you can set multiple levels of speed. For example, UScooter ECO (which weighs about 11 kg) has 5 levels for speed (L1 / L2 / L3 / L4 / L5). They each correspond to a maximum speed (5 km/h, 10 km/h, 15 km/h, 20km/h and 25km/h).
This way, you can begin with the first speed level and increase from that once your kid gets used to his new electric scooter. Also, you can restrict the maximum speed when riding in crowded places.
A safe speed for your kid would be about 6-9 mph (or 10-15 kph) depending on how experienced your kid is handling scooters.
Brakes
The best brakes on electric scooters are disc brakes. However, disc brakes add some extra weight on the electric scooters and usually come only with more expensive ones. Braking with the regenerative brake or emergency brake (rear wheel) would not be a problem if your kid doesn’t speed up more than 6-9 mph (or 10-15 km/h).
Deck and Handles grip
The deck and handles are important for your kid safety. Even though they are looked over by adults as we have more control over ourselves (at least we think so), they are important for kids. A big deck will give your kid more balance and rubber flanged handles will prevent slipping.
Best 5 Electric Scooters for 11-12 year olds
Before we dive in into recommendations, I must specify that most electric scooters are not made for kids. The only manufacturer who is really interested in the kids and teenagers market is Razor. They have custom electric scooters made for kids so that’s why they make the top of the list here. The rest of them are still solid options which will work well, but keep in mind they are not designed for kids.
1. Razor Power Core E90 Electric Scooter
One of the best electric scooters for your kid to start with is the Razor E90. It has a large deck and great handles as it’s designed for kids. The battery lasts about 80 minutes, but reading the reviews on Amazon, most users complains are about the battery. The minimum age is 8 years old, so it should be perfect for 11-12 year olds.
The weight respects our criteria as it only weighs 21.6 pounds (or 9.7 kg) and the size is 32 x 13 x 33 inches (or 812mm x 330mm x 838mm) which is perfect for a kid.
The maximum speed you can reach on this scooter is 10 mph and this is a safe speed. Unfortunately, you need to get used to the acceleration as it’s only a push button with no variable control. Another disadvantage is that it can’t be used once the battery dies as the wheel is directly connected to the electric motor so the friction is high.
It’s a user friendly electric scooter as you can get going with it in 2 minutes. There is a nice button in the right hand side to accelerate and a lever on the left hand side to brake. It’s maximum load is 120 lbs (or 54 kg) so I don’t think your kid will have any problem. Most 11-12 year olds are about 90 lbs (or 40 kg) so you have a margin of safety.
Make sure you follow all instructions for charging it, and charge it overnight as it requires a long time. As the user manual says, the recharge time for the Razor E90 electric scooter is up to 12 hours, even if the light turn green. Two more things to be aware is that the recommended charging time is 24 hours and you need to charge the battery immediately after riding in order to prolong it’s life.
Overall, it’s one of the best electric scooter for kids that you can find. The best thing about it compared to other scooters is that it’s actually designed for kids.
Check out this video review of the Razor E90 electric scooter:
2. Razor Power Core E100 Electric Scooter
If you are not satisfied with the Razor E90 performance you can always go for the E100 version. If you think the E90 it’s too slow for your rides, this is a little bit more powerful. Speed is only 11 mph (17.7 kph) which is not a big increase but the acceleration is faster.
Compared to Razor E90, it has a rubber front wheel which will offer more comfort riding it. The E90 has a hard plastic wheel which is not as smooth as a rubber one especially on rough terrains.
Razor E100 is a little bit more expensive than E90 version but if you think the specs are worth the extra price you can go for this version.
Check the current price on Amazon here.
3. VOYAGER Night Rider Foldable Electric Scooter for Kids and Teens
4. TianRun R3S Electric Scooter Foldable Carbon Fiber Commuter E-Scooter Bicycle for Adult Teenage
Another great option for a 11-12 year old is the T i anRun R3S Electric Scooter. As other electric scooter for kids, it doesn’t have a high top speed, it’s only 10-13 mph depending on environment conditions and rider’s weight.
The estimated range is between 10 and 13 miles (16-21 km) which is more than enough for a kid. This one has shock absorbers which translates to a smoother ride when bad road conditions.
The weight is 25 lbs (or 11.5 Kg) and the size is 980mm*390mm*1040mm. It supports riders up to 220 lbs (or 100 kg) so it can be bought as a long term scooter for a teenager.
Charging time is another benefit of this scooter. It takes between 3-6 hours to fully charge, comparing to Razor which takes 12 hours or more.
5. Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter w/ Premium Li-Ion Battery
This one is not made for kids, but it can be used by them because it’s lightweight and the size is appropriate.
6. Voyager Proton Foldable Electric Scooter
This one is one of the lightest electric scooter you can buy for your kid. It weighs only 18 lbs (or 8.1 kg). This size is 39.1 x 8.1 x 18.2 (or 231mm x 206mm x 462mm) inches and the maximum load is 220 lbs (or 100 kg).
The maximum speed on this one is 15 mph (or 25 kph) and with a fully charged battery you can travel for 10 miles. The speed is adjustable, so you can use it as well and limit the speed when your kid is riding it.
The main disadvantage of this scooter is that it is a rough ride on uneven terrain or bad road conditions. It has hard rubber and plastic which is not comfortable.
Check the current price on Amazon here.
7. ROCKETX 8″ Electric Scooter
The weight is 24.6lbs (or 11.2 kg) and the unfolded size is 38 x 16 x 41 in (or 965mm x 406mm x 1041mm).
The speed is safe for a 11-12 year old kid as it’s only 12.4 mph (or 20 kph).
It fully charges in 2-3 hours and the range is up to 13 miles (or 21 km).
There are two disadvantages on this electric scooter. It doesn’t have a backlight so you can’t use it for night rides unless you buy an extra light. Also, the brake is not the best so be aware if quick reaction is needed like in crowded places.
The user reviews also seem satisfactory considering a kid’s needs. But, probably not the best electric scooter for a serious commuter due to it’s speed and brake issues.
8. UScooter ECO
Shaofu Folding Electric Bicycle
Yeah, I know, not an electric scooter, but this thing is too awesome.
One of the best foldable electric bikes is the Shaofu Folding Electric Bicycle. This is an electric bike for kids, but it can be used by teenagers and (small) adults as well. It has a max load of 265 lbs (or about 120 kg) which is enough for a lot people. It combines the exercise with the mobility. This bicycle folds very well and it occupies very little space.
Useful electric scooter accessories for 11-12 year olds
Helmets and protective gear
You need to make sure your kid is safe riding the new electric scooter. The minimum necessary safety equipment for riding an electric scooter is a helmet and elbow/knee pads. Get a strong MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) helmet which can protect your kid in case of falling. Also, some elbow and knee pads would certainly help prevent injuries.
Electric scooters can be faster than kick scooters so we need to protect our kids. Read more about other helpful electric scooter accessories in this post.
Handle grips
If the scooter you’ve just bought doesn’t have handles with a good grip or anti-slip material you can buy some covers in order to make them more safe and kids friendly.
Lights
Not all electric scooters come with a light attached, so you can buy a universal light for your electric scooter in order to be safe on night rides.
Bell
A bell is also needed in order to prevent dangers and scare away any pedestrians that stand in the way.
Why would you buy an electric scooter for your 11-12 year old?
- Birthday gift (I sure would have been happy to receive it as a kid)
- Camping trips
- City visiting
- Country side exploration
- Go to places a little bit too far to walk
- Ride together for fun
- Ride to school
Frequently asked questions about electric scooters for kids
1. How old should you be to ride an electric scooter?
Most electric scooter companies (including Razor) recommends a minimum age of 8 years old. If you kid is not over 8 years old, it would be better to start off with a kick scooter as they are more suitable for little kids. Also, they are not as fast as electric scooters.
2. Is it safe for a kid to ride an electric scooter?
Yes, as long as you keep an eye on them and train them to respect the safetly rules, kids don’t have a problem riding electric scooters. Most kids are already used to kick scooters so the only thing they need to be careful at is the speed. It’s easier to lose track of how fast are you going on an electric scooter than on a kick scooter
3. Are electric scooters bad for health?
You may think that your kid won’t be as fit if it rides an electric scooter instead of a kick scooter or bike. But, remember that electric scooters are for distances that are a bit too far to walk, so you would go with the car anyway. I don’t suggest using them excessively for short distances.
4. Can we ride on the same scooter?
Why take a second electric scooter for your kid if you can ride the same right? Well, electric scooters are not made for two persons and most manufacturers stricly phohibit riding two persons on the same scooter. Even if the second person is a kid. So the answer to this question is NO.
5. Seat for kid on an electric scooter
There are electric scooters which have seats, but they are designed only for one person only. If you really want to ride the same vehicle, the best choice would be to get a bike with a rear kid seat. This way, both you and your kid can ride safely.
Safety tips for kids on an electric scooter
1. Ride slow
Start riding it like a normal kick scooter if the e-scooter allows it. Some don’t, like the Razor models. This is the best way to get some quick experience using them, especially if your kid never used one before.
Limit the electric scooter to a low speed like 5 mph or 10 mph first if it has this feature. You can increase this when your kid learns to handle it well.
2. Brake before the corners
Watch the corners, there can be pedestrians or other vehicles and that’s not a fun meeting place. If you don’t have enough visibility it’s better to stop and get down of the scooter.
3. Ride on safe tracks
The best place to learn riding is in an empty parking lot. If that’s not available, try around the house. Don’t let your kid ride in crowded places before it has the full control of the vehicle.
Conclusion
As we saw, the kids electric scooter market is smaller and we don’t have much options. But, as electric scooters become even more popular than they are now, more and more teenagers and kids will start using them for short rides to school or around the neighborhood. Hopefully, there will be more options in future to choose from.
>>> BEFORE YOU GO! Check out our article about the best electric scooter accessories here <<<
This was very helpful. thank you.