Xootr CRUZ ULTRA kick scooter

Review from Sheryl at thingsiboughtthatilove.com

Two years ago, I ditched my car and moved from L.A. to Manhattan. I was looking forward to getting some exercise during my morning commute; however, I soon discovered that walking 50 blocks in the New York summer heat leaves you too stinky for the office. I didn't have storage space for a bicycle, and roller blades require balance, so there was only one solution: a foldable kick scooter.

A few weeks later, while perusing the discount rack at the Strand bookstore, I saw an older guy in bike shorts with a two-wheeled contraption folded over his shoulder. This thing looked like a Razor, but it had larger wheels and a convenient hand brake. Bike Shorts let me try the thing. It soared over sidewalk cracks, trash, and even a curb. I was in love. With the scooter, not the guy. He was wearing BIKE SHORTS. Ew.

The nearest Xootr dealer was NYCeWheels, on York Avenue. I decided to get the Venus model. It had a light-weight board that's easier to carry onto the subway. Plus, it sounded girlier.

My Xootr scooter has taken me pretty much all over Manhattan. I rode it through Central Park, where I raced a 7-year-old around the sailboat pond. Sucker. When the weather's nice, I take it along the Hudson bike path, while Buttner jogs beside me. Once, I rode it down to the Home Depot. As I folded it up, the guard commended me (in a Jamaican accent) for 'getting down with my funky self.' And, on September 11, 2006 I took my Xootr kick scooter down to the World Trade Center memorial site. I hate to admit it, but even a trip down there was kinda fun on a Xootr.

When I first got it, my Xootr was a bit of an oddity. Foreign tourists would take pictures of me on it as if I were the Statue of Liberty or the Naked Cowboy or a mime. But lately, I've been seeing more and more Xootrs, especially in the bike lane on Central Park West. In fact, I recently received a telephone message from a retiree named Judy inviting me to join a Xootr club. No thanks Judy, I prefer to fly solo. But I know someone else who might be interested - if you don't mind bike shorts.

Get a Xootr Venus kick scooter of your own!

An Invitation to New York City Xootr kick scooter Enthusiasts!

Would you like to get more exercise, learn new techniques, meet other Xootr enthusiasts, and have more fun on your Xootr?

You're invited to join the NYC Kick Scooter Group for free weekly rides around Central Park. The Group meets at 10am on Saturday mornings at the Loeb Boathouse, located on the left-hand side of the East Drive, north of the 5th Ave. & 72nd Street entrance to the Park.

NYC kick scooters one or more six-mile laps around the Park. Adults, children, families are all welcome. This is a fun, non-competitive fitness ride to create camaraderie among the City's kick scooter community, share techniques and experiences, encourage regular exercise on your Xootr scooter, and raise awareness of kick scooters as an enjoyable, economical and healthful means of transportation in and around New York City.

If you love to ride your Xootr, please join our Group on Saturday mornings. If you'd like to find members who live near you and stay informed of other kick scooter activities in the City, join the free Yahoo! NYC Kick Scooter Group by clicking NYC Kick Scooters and then clicking the blue "Join This Group!" button.

See you soon on your kick scooter

Xootr Know How

There are many deciding factors when it comes to picking a Xootr kickscooter. You can ponder over the price, weight, size, shape, personal appeal, or what it's made out of. Either way you look at it, these adult kick scooters are all different, but still very similar; a good reason why it's hard to pick the perfect Xootr. From what I see, people's main concern is the scooter's deck size,and if you are one of the people concerned with the width of the deck because both feet don't fit side-to-side, you should simply try riding different.
Try riding your kick scooter with you front foot straight (toes pointing to the front wheel) and the back foot sideways, (toes pointing to the side) all the while putting most of your weight on top of the back foot, making it easy for you to lean your Xootr to cut into your turns. You should push with your back foot, and can switch up your stance to accommodate any cramping or sore legs. Hold on and lean back when you brake.
Now that you know how to ride a Xootr, what else would you have to know. Well, considering most of the Xootr owners are commuters, weight is also important. From lightest to heaviest, their weights are as follows, in pounds:

Roma Kick Scooter: 9.96
M.G. Kick Scooter: 10.24
Venus Kick Scooter: 10.46
Cruz Kick Scooter: 10.88
Street Kick Scooter: 11.22

Price is also an obvious issue, and a common question. So, what really is the reason for the cost difference? Well, to start, materials used is a major factor. For instance, the Street, Venus, and Roma's deck are all made using a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool. They start with a 10 lb. (4.5 kg) block of aluminum and remove all but less than 2 lbs. of it. Resulting in lightly heavier, but stronger scooters; so strong, in fact, that the Venus and Street are bulletproof, and can be ran over by a truck without breaking.
The MG costs less to make, so even though it's the most advanced scooter, it is priced in the middle to make it available to as many people as possible.

Xootr tips: It is beneficial to lean on that back foot if you're going to be using the front hand-brake, which is generally not too strong, but can still give you enough forward momentum to throw your body forward. The reason they don't have a rear handbrake on the Xootrs, is because in the past with other push scooters (and some currently) a well functioning rear brake will result in "flat spots" on the wheel, transforming your scooter into what sounds like a motorcycle. They do, however, have a rear fender brake, which stops a little less efficiently, but assists the front brake so that its brake pad doesn't wear out as fast. With continuous usage after being worn down, the front brake can actually start corroding one side of the wheel; an easy fix for anyone who bought their Xootr at NYCeWheels , as they offer service on all products bought from them. (keep up the good work, Izzy!) The fender is also an understood must if you're going to be riding the Xootr everyday, rain or shine (or just wet), in order to keep the dirt and water on the roads or sidewalks off the back of your leg. Also, If you need to carry the Xootr kick scooter for extended periods of time, the strap and/or bag might be a necessity if you need to be hands free. The fender, bag, and strap are all available separate, or for an extra $50 when purchased as a kit for any model.