Scooter Services

eScooter Mechanical Repairs

Any vehicle will rattle itself apart given enough ride time. If things are starting to come loose, sooner is always cheaper to fix than later. Consider scheduling a basic tuneup.

Tires and brake pads are usually worth replacing but eScooter spare parts can be hard to find, especially if you need frame or suspension components. Depending on the make and model, some parts are not available at all. If you need replacement parts, you should always attempt to contact the original manufacturer, the reputable ones all have parts available on their websites. Some parts will only be accessible by contacting customer/technical support to minimize customers ordering the wrong part, which is very easy to do.

What Goes Into A Basic Scooter Tuneup?

I'll check for any loose or missing bolts and replace or tighten as necessary. Common bolts from my loose parts bin are free, new bolts by request at market price. I'll check air pressure if you have pneumatic tires. I'll check your brakes and make minor adjustments, as necessary. Then I'll test ride it to make sure it operates the way it should. If you're due for replacement parts, I'll advise how to proceed from there.

eScooter Electrical & Warranty Repairs

As far as electrical diagnostics go, if your scooter is out of warranty or can be replaced for under $500, you might be better off replacing it. There's a lot of grey area here but at a minimum, it's going to cost $60 to find the problem.

Most eScooter electrical components can not be repaired, only replaced. If the problem is a loose connection (~3/10), we might fix it as part of the diagnostic. But a bad motor controller or display can easily run $100 + some labor charge associated with installation. I want to fix anything that's worth fixing but parts and labor add up very quickly relative to eScooter replacement costs.

But consider all the rideshares you didn't have to take over the life of the scooter. Or the shoes you didn't wear through.

Buying Guide/Advice

See if any shops near you sell and provide service for scooters. That's almost always going to be the best brand in your location. Most of the eScooters I see anymore are pretty decent, what separates the good ones from bad is the level of support in the event something goes wrong.

If you're going to order online, here's the biggest thing to take into consideration:

Are they based in the US or China? US based operations are going to make the scooter cost more but will generally provide better and faster service for US residents. If for no other reason than because you're not waiting for timezone differences to catch up or for packages to literally ship halfway around the world. Find out where the customer support and warehouse are based. Sure, nearly all of these scooters are manufactured overseas, but if there is a US based warehouse shipping out parts, parts have already been imported and cleared customs.

In my experience; Segway, Ninebot, and Go-Trax are the top brands in terms of after-sales service. Segway will even pay labor for authorized service providers to do in-warranty repairs. Go-Trax is based in Scottsdale which makes getting warranty parts quick and easy if you're in or around Phoenix

1. Segway's self-branded standing scooters are basically mopeds. They're very nice, reasonably priced for what they are, and dealers have access to diagrams and parts lists. Top quality but highest price.

2. Ninebot is Segway's budget friendly brand. It does a really good job of balancing quality, features, and price points.

3. Go-Trax is one I've heard a lot of bad things about but I've only had good experiences with them personally and as a dealer. Go-Trax is far and away the easiest scooter to service. They were clearly designed by someone who knew something about what goes into fixing them. Currently, Go-Trax is the only brand which consistently uses a disconnect for the motor wheel. It's a nice detail on the little scooters but even more-so when you get into the big off-road scooters.

Honorable mentions: 

• Kaabo - some very nice, VERY FAST offroad-rated scooters. Basically standup dirtbikes. Pretty serviceable and the ones I've worked on had motor disconnects.

• Hiboy makes some good stuff at good prices if you take advantage of sales. They have a fair amount of spare parts available.

• iScooter/Volpam/Amazon Special - The $200 scooter on amazon is honestly pretty decent if you consider it disposable. If you ride it long enough to wear out the tires, putting new ones on is technically worth doing but most other repairs are not.