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From runabout
. . . to Rambo
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Patrick McDonnell surveys the latest advances in the
scooter market, from street to the hilltop.
The market for scooters ranges the full spectrum from
pavement perambulation to serious all-terrain vehicles
that would give any 4 X 4 user pause for thought.
They serve users of all types from the scooter parked
on the high street pavement, with its owner more concerned
about the special offers at favourite supermarkets, to those
contemplating a 45° degree angle on an assault course.
The one constant that unites a multi-faceted market which
encompasses both the least sophisticated three-wheel runabout
and the most sophisticated six-wheel off-roader — is individual
mobility. Whatever your needs, Disabled Motorist charts the
choices available to the prospective buyers of these products.
For those whose main criteria is the ability to navigate and
travel the urban environment, micro-light tricycle formats are
favoured. 
Electromotion offers its MicroGlide which is easily
dismantled into four parts, and with a length of
only 37in it will fit into the smallest of hatchbacks.
The folding tiller serves as the carrying handle.
The MicroGlide has a turning circle of just 32ins.
Electromotion also markets its EasyGlide scooter
designed with a “Delta” tiller, allowing ease of use
for users with limited dexterity. The Easyglide features
a high-backed seat, with headrest and adjustable
arm rests which are adjustable for height, rake, reach
and rotation. The scooter has a range of 48km. 
Forever Active has two models in the micro-light
category with its Mini-Shuttle and Mini-Shuttle
Deluxe, although formulated to the tricycle template
both have a fourth wheel at the tiller. The Mini-
Shuttle folds to allow it to fit into a car boot. The
Mini Shuttle Deluxe offers a seat with a complete
backrest.
Guardian offers its Trek 3, available through
Sunrise Medical. Trek 3 consists of a platform, power
pack, with tiller control functions, and a moulded
foam monopole four position swivel seat, with flip
arms. It disassembles into four parts with no wires
or clips. Each section of the unit is equally balanced,
weighing 10kg each and capable of fitting into a
hatchback or saloon.
Guardian also markets a model with a fourth
wheel on the tiller, similar to Forever Active micro
lights. The brand new Garnet model is a lightweight
tubular design, which has an easily detachable seat
and a quick release battery. The Garnet breaks down
into three components for transport or storage. The
battery release eliminates the frustration of breaking
down the chair to access the batteries and undoing
stubborn battery cables. The battery can be charged
either through the joystick or battery itself. The
Garnet's controller contains a speedometer, battery level indictor, horn, ignition key and forward and a reverse
lever. All the scooter's power functions are at the user's fingertips.
The Garnet weighs 38kg.
FreeRider offers its take on the tricycle market with its
Companion and Knightsbridge ranges for the mobility challenged.
The Companion boasts easy to use controls featuring
smooth automatic braking.
In common with most manufacturers, Road-Knight offers its
minimalist Micron 3-tricycle form. The tricycle disassembles
into four lightweight pieces with no singular piece weighing
more than 13kg. The Micron 3 also sports an electronic regenerative
brake system and disc parking brakes. The Micron 3
has a maximum speed of 6kmh and a range of 16km before
charge. Road-Knight also offers a four-wheel variation on its
trike theme with its Micron 4, specifications are similar to the
Micron 3.
TGA Electric Leisure Superlight is a styled trike, with its
two 12-volt batteries in two angled carrier boxes beneath the
sprung seat. The tiller's shaped tubular mechanism has two
bars to control its speed, the harder the levers are pulled the
quicker the user goes, to a maximum of 6.5kmh, and a range
of 24km between charge. The Superlight also has a two speedmode
switch and lights and horn switches all within fingertip
touch. Braking is automatic — the user simply releases the
controls and the Superlight stops and engages its automatic
parking brake. Superlight also contains manual release for the
parking brake. The tricycle can be dismantled in seconds without
tools and will fit into a car boot. 
TGA also offers a striking variation on the tricycle theme
with its minimalist Buzz. This three-wheeler eschews a central
tiller steering mechanism altogether, and functions as both
a scooter and a wheelchair. Control and steering is achieved
by twin hand levers either side of the seat. The user simply
switches the Buzz on and by pushing down on the levers sets it
in motion. The further the levers are depressed the quicker the
Buzz accelerates, up to jogging pace of 12kph.
The Buzz is highly manoeuvrable thanks to this drive system.
Lift one lever to turn left and the other lever to turn right,
the harder you pull the tighter the Buzz turns. To stop, the
user simply pulls up both levers and applies the parking brake.
Buzz's operating system allows the vehicle to turn within the
power chair's own length, what we used to call in old money
— “turning on a sixpence”. The Buzz is equally at home gliding
around tight corners in the home, or negotiating bumpy
tracks and uneven terrain in the country. The wheelbase keeps
all three wheels evenly loaded. The Buzz has a nominal range
of 19km between charges.
In the medium levels of the urban scooter market, similar to
the 'B' class hatchback car market, comes the four-wheel
scooter. Electromotion has two candidates in this category
with its SuperGlide and UltraGlide four wheeled scooters. The
UltraGlide offers an ultra soft suspension front and rear with
full shock absorbing system for stability and kerb climbing
ability. It also features directional high intensity lighting. The
scooter has a maximum speed of 13kmh and a range of 56km
before charge.
FreeRider offers its Kensington and Kensington 'S' in this
sector. The Kensington 'S' features rear suspension for added comfort, with twin headlights
and a speed of 9kmh. The
Westminster range boasts
front and rear suspension,
with a triple braking system.
The Westminster has a 6 to
12kmh speed range for pavement
or road use with a lighting
system incorporated into
the contoured front moulding.
Forever Active has three
models in this category. The
first, its Discovery MKll, has
a substantial and solid tiller
control and a vestigial bonnet
containing its driving lights
and indicators, similar to the
front of BMW's Z4 roadster.
The other two models, the
Galaxy MKll and Enterprise
MKll deliver subtle variations
on the same theme. The
Discovery has a top speed of
6kmh, the Galaxy has a top
speed of 12kmh.
Road-Knight offers two
four wheeled scooters in this
sector, its Maxi-Plus 4 and
Magnum Plus 8. The Plus 8
has a durable, high-impact
ABS and front and rear
bumpers resistant to scratches,
chips and dents. The Plus
8-weight capacity is 181kg,
it has a 48km range before
charge and speed settings
at 6kmh for pavement use and 12kmh for road use. TGA's
Frontier model features a contoured modelled body and comes
with a list of standard equipment including a rubber foot mat,
front basket, rear of seat storage pocket, tiller shopping hooks
and a rear view mirror. The Frontier also sports hazard warning
lights, anti-tip wheels and even a fold down cup holder.
The Frontier also includes an electronic sleep mode facility
that shuts down the machine if the user inadvertently forgets to
switch it off.
Increasingly the scooter
market is involved with
recreational activities,
No longer are disability
challenged individuals content
to merely navigate the
urban environment. For
many, countryside activities,
for example fishing or
even obstacle coursing and
the associated challenges of
off-roading have come to
the fore. Previously, disabled
people involved with
angling would have to fish from a bridge, whereas
others could indulge their fishing from the river bank.
Then, of course, there are those who enjoy mountaineering.
Beamer Engineering markets its four-wheel reardrive
Tramper, that has negotiated the near 1,085m
heights of Snowden. The Tramper, available with a trailer
attached, offers the user large rear wheels to traverse uneven
terrain. Its enthusiasts include a disabled mountain climber, an
ornithologist, a photographer and a farmer who appreciates the
optional trailer for use around the farm and fields. The retrostyled
Tramper has a ground clearance of 165mm, it features
light accurate steering with the steering geometry optimised to
prevent “kickback” and “bump steer”. Control is by a rotary
twist grip, enabling light ergonomic non-fatiguing speed control,
especially when travelling over bumps and rough ground. 
Because of its all-terrain roles the Tramper has
a tripled braking system, using regenerative
braking, electromagnetic braking and independent
emergency drums which can
be operated by either hand. The
seat has an adjustment range of
180mm of travel. The dashboard
contains a highly accurate battery
condition monitor and
has a range of 48km before
charge.
EV Technology has its
all terrain Mini Crosser
available in three or four wheel models, equipped with independent suspension
and carrying capacity of 150kgs. The
Mini Crosser has a range of 35km before charge
with a top speed of 12kmh. Options include a
two wheel hinge lidded trailer, other options
include a larger battery capacity
model.
Permobil's Trax is an
advanced rear wheel drive
wheelchair in either a child or
adult version, with automotive
inspired coil-over shock
absorbers. The suspension
itself can be
adjusted to the users
weight providing
greater comfort
and stability. The
Trax boasts an
electrically adjustable
wheelbase length,
also an electrically operated
seat lift and servo assisted joystick
steering.
The Trax is configured to
clear obstacles up to 150mm
high. The Trax child model
is governed to a maximum
of 8kmh with the adult model the maximum is 14kmh with
a driving range of 49km before charge. The Trax user has a
number of options they can equip their machine with, including
rear view mirrors, a luggage box, a roll bar, crutch holder,
self adjusting belt, running time meter, arm rest bag, foot
straps, 4 point belt with quick release lock, a helmet, adjustable
head rest, trunk rest, knee stop and adjustable thigh rest.
The Wheelchair Corporation markets a vehicle that has
aspects of the scooter and a heavy-duty four-wheel drive
wheelchair with its Extreme 4X4. It sports 355mm low-pressure
knobbly tyres for better traction in adverse conditions.
The 4X4 can climb obstacles 155mm high. The four 24 volt, 4
pole motors are controlled by a fully programmable electronics
system, via a small joystick control. A variety of seats can
be fitted to the 4X4, with a camouflage base an option. Top
speed is 8kmh with a range of 30km before charge. The 4X4
has a maximum user weight of 181kg. A radical departure in
all terrain wheelchairs is the Magic Mobility manufactured sixwheel
machine, the Frontier, and the similar in concept is the
Jazzy 1420 from Forever Active. Both have two driven wheels,
if ordering the country option on the Frontier, the wheels come
with 355mm tyres with a knobbly pattern, domestic duty tyres
can be substituted for pavement and home use. All six wheels
maintain contact with the terrain through its AST equipped
articulated frame. The user sits above the drive wheels maintaining
a correct centre of gravity. Speeds of 10kph are achievable,
with a range of 30km before charge.
The Frontier also has a supportive seating system that uses
custom contouring. This incorporates an anti-thrust seat-front,
lateral contouring on both the padded seat and backrest. This
extra supportive wing bolsters on the backrest and built-in
lumbar support ensures the best in spinal and trunk positioning,
it weighs in at 118kg.
Today's prospective scooter and all terrain vehicles users
have a veritable cornucopia of choice in the scooter market
with models to suit the requirements and finances of all users.
Easy Mobility 0800 626829 Electromotion 01905 791200
Forever Active 01582 849100 FreeRider 01536 443888
Road-Knight 0800 1690600 Sunrise Medical 0138
4446688
TGA 01787 882244
All Terrain Scooters
Beamer Engineering 01794 885814 Club Car 01204
690644
EV Technology 01455 554242 Permobil 01484 722888
Wheelchair Corporation 0121 568 8999
The opinions on the products mentioned are those of the
manufacturers, and not those of Disabled Motorist.
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