Review on Razor A5 Kick Scooter: Unleash the Power with Air, DLX, & Prime Models by Gary Reed

This is the third Razor scooter I have owned. I'm a fairly tall adult male who uses scooters to go a mile one way in San Francisco. First a note on scooters: they are awesome! About 2-3 times faster than walking in the city. A 20 minute walk should turn into a 7-10 minute scooter ride. Obviously, they're slower than bikes, but unlike bikes, you can (a) ride them on the pavement, making them much safer; and (b) easy to take on the train/subway by stowing under the seat or in the overhead compartment. They are also relatively light, making them easy to transport. Unlike a skateboard, you don't need to exercise to use it. What about electric scooters? They're good, but they're heavier, less portable, and offer little to no movement. In general, scooters are a great option for commuting and as such are becoming increasingly popular. My previous scooters were Razor A5 Luxes (Lux?). The first worked about 18 months before the collapse, the second about 12 months. Even though they look like kids, the A5 Lux is a pretty good quality scooter for $60-$80. They handle similarly and have similar features to older scooters that cost around $200 (see Xootr or Micro Kickboard scooters for comparison). The main downside of the A5 Lux, as I mentioned earlier, is its looks. The blue version has crazy colors and branding all over it like it was made for a high school student. Which was probable. The red version is slightly better, but the Razor's color combination and branding still doesn't make it look like it was made for adults. I'm a lawyer and I've become embarrassed about taking a kid's scooter to work (or worse, after work or to networking events around town). I've been thinking about spending $200 on Xootr or Micro Kickboard for a while. Then I discovered the new Razor A5 Prime, Razor A6 and Razor A5 Lux DLX. Here is my impression of all three. The price of A5 Lux DLX is about the same as A5 Lux. The main difference is the addition of an "anti-rumble technology" and a more neutral black and silver color scheme. The A6 has bigger wheels. Instead of 8-inch wheels, they have 10-inch wheels. It's good for rough terrain, potholes, etc., although the regular 8-inch wheels handle most roads well. They also have taller handlebars, making them a good option for very tall people (I'm 6ft and don't have anti-rattle tech in there. The A5 Prime is probably different from the others. They really target the "Adult" demographic with this one. My demographic. It has a unique paint job, black and shot with a few red accents. The handlebars are slightly taller. Unlike other models, the handlebars don't come off and the foam grips that are on the handlebars driver's side are angular and thicker (palm touch. It has an updated kickstand which is made of rubber and goes straight down instead of to the side. At least those are the differences on paper. Here's what I noticed while actually using the A5 Prime Using it for a couple of weeks it costs $110 and I compare that to where I could buy an A5 Lux DLX for about $80.PROS+ I like the ni The detachable handlebar makes this more robust. + very durable construction. There is less risk of breakage than the A5 Lux.+ The color scheme is really more mature than the A5 Lux.+ The kickstand is a cool concept if it takes some work to execute (see below). The stands on the other models were mostly useless, but this one really works. + The handles are much better than the foam handles of other razors. + wide stand is good. + Rattles a little less. Although most of it is removable. At least on my model, the folding mechanism is worse. The latest version had a pull tab that clicked easily into place. Due to the rattle-free screw technology, it cannot be tightened so easily in this case and does not snap into place as clearly. On one occasion I tried to move before it locked (it appeared to be locked) and nearly fell when the front end collapsed on me. Now I need to double check before I start, which I haven't done before. Uncomfortable - see photo of tab. The custom grips are an improvement over the cheap foam grips found on most razors, but I still don't really like them. I replaced them with black ODI grips as pictured. This thing is heavier than the A5 Lux, probably 30-50% heavier. A smaller person might not like carrying it around. The footrest is lower, and the footrest (covered in rubber) is even lower. It gets you damn close to the ground. The rubber on my footpeg was already torn from contact and I felt like I was hitting more things than on my previous scooters. See photos of damage in just a few weeks. Management seems slower and more viscous. This may be due to the increased weight, but in my opinion you are not that quick on it. Overall I think this is a solid scooter for the price but I probably wouldn't choose it again. I would probably choose the A5 DLX if I wanted something cheap, or the Xootr/Micro if I wanted something more sophisticated.