Good Housekeeping Tests Hot Scooters, Minibikes

Aug. 10, 2004 -- Riders of motorized scooters, minibikes and Go Karts went to the emergency room over 550 times last year. Yet these speedy vehicles are a hot trend, especially among kids and teenagers, often riding them without helmets and in streets where they are illegal to ride.

More than 530,000 of these motorized transporters have been sold in the United States since late 2003 for anywhere between $100 to $500 each.

Some cities have banned these mini-vehicles on city streets and sidewalks, while others have adopted strict safety rules. For instance, California requires riders of motorized scooters be at least 16 years old and wear helmets, and the state does not allow riding after sunset.

As a result of some of the apparent dangers involved in riding motorized scooters, minbikes and Go Karts, the Good Housekeeping Institute engineers evaluated scooters, Fun Karts and motorized bikes in a laboratory.

The engineers had six volunteers who rode some of the scooters during the evalutation. Four of the volunteers were between the ages of 13 and 15. The other two were between the ages of 26 and 27. The engineers measured braking time, speed and braking distance when testers rode them.

Motorized Minibikes:

The Good Housekeeping Institute tested two motorized minibikes, the Razor Pocket Rocket and the Honda Minimoto.

Razor Pocket Rocket: The minibike averaged a top speed of 11.1 mph in three Good Housekeeping Institute tests The test showed an average braking distance of 31 feet 11 inches (3.9-second braking time). Testers said their posture felt awkward and they felt uncomfortable riding at fast speeds. The bike costs $229.99 and is meant for riders of 12 years of age and older. Its maximum speed is 15 mph and it has a maximum weight limit of 220 pounds.

Honda Minimoto: The test showed the minibike averaged a top speed of 8.3 mph in two Good Housekeeping Institute tests. Tests showed it had a braking distance of 9 feet 4 inches (1.9-second braking time). Testers said their posture felt awkward and they felt uncomfortable riding at fast speeds.