Are you Mobility Scooter shopping? Do you have trouble getting around like I do? Have you been shopping for a Mobility Scooter, but can’t decide which one to get because there are so many to choose from?
Have you watched youtube videos of some able bodied person showing how easy it is to break down or assemble their scooter?
Have you noticed that they never tell you about the shortcomings of their scooter?
Would you like to hear about an excellent mobility scooter from someone who actually uses it?
Well, you’ve come to the right place. I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and my wife bought my mobility scooter about 7 years ago. I try not to use it any more than I have to, because it is good for me to walk when I can, but when I’m having a bad day or I have too far to walk, or if I just don’t know how far I have to go, it’s great to have the freedom to get around using my go go mobility scooter.
It fits in my vehicle
One thing I love about my scooter is that it comes apart into small, relatively light, pieces so it can fit in any vehicle. I have had it, along with luggage for myself and my wife in the trunk of a compact rental car. It fit just fine.
I drive a Honda CRV and I can load it by myself without taking the base apart, as you can see in the picture.
I like my scooter so much that I chose my last vehicle because I can load it as shown, facing forward, and it fits nicely behind the seat. The CRV has and adjustable back seat so I can make it fit. The back seat passengers lose an inch or so of leg room, but that seems a small price to pay for the freedom my Scooter gives me.
Because I can load it and unload it by myself I can do errands or shopping that I wouldn’t even think about doing without it. My wife likes it too because I can go to the store (even a big store) by myself.
It is easy to take apart
Click this video to see how easy it is to take apart and put back together.
(click on the JW player to play the video)
It is easy to put together
Click this video to see how easy it is to take apart and put back together.
(click on the JW player to play the video)
I fly with it and gate check it (like a stroller)
That’s right. My mobility scooter has actually traveled more miles by air than it has by ground!
I have flown from my home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Vancouver, BC, to Toronto, On, to Seattle WA, to Los Angeles, CA, to Las Vegas, NV, and to Mexico, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
Since it comes apart so easily, I just let the airline know and I drive it to the door of the plane and take it apart for the baggage handlers during the pre-boarding time. The baggage handlers bring it back to me, in parts, at the other end, and I put it together and am on my way.
Airports would be too big for me without my scooter, or I would be dependent on others to push a wheel chair. But with the scooter, it is no problem at all. I can even set it up to pull my own suitcase.
The only catch is I have to be there early to let them know I have it, and I have to board first and exit last. I think that is more than made up for by the priority access I get going through security and customs!
Areas for improvement
My scooter is great! But is it perfect? Not quite! It does have some areas for improvement:
- The first is the seat. It looks cushioned but it is actually pretty hard. The good news is that the newer models have a better seat.
- It is kind of a bumpy ride. There is no suspension and the tires are solid rubber, so if you drive it like a wild man (like I do sometimes) it is kind of hard on the back from all the jarring. If you slow down a bit it’s not so bad.
- One other thing, it doesn’t work that well on the beach or in the snow. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised… After all its not an all terrain vehicle. I can usually get by in the snow to get it from my vehicle to the mall or the airport, but the beach is not good! The only time I tried it, it didn’t work anyway, and I got sand in the ‘works’ and had to pay to get it working again, so don’t take it to the beach!
Batteries: I have found that I need to replace the batteries every 12 to 18 months.
The specs say the battery should last longer, but that’s not my experience!
When the scooter was new, and when the batteries are new, they last about five hours of continuous use on a single charge. That is enough that I basically don’t worry about it for a day because even when we’re out and about there are lots of times the scooter is stopped.
Charging for the recommended 14 hours happens overnight and I am good for another day.
However, after a year or more that behavior changes.
When the batteries are old, the scooter works for about an hour, and then it runs down very quickly. I might get an hour and 15 minutes.
The strange thing is when I have the technicians check the battery, they say it is working fine, and for the first hour it does. The scooter works very well and will ‘clip right along’ as though everything is good.
But then it seems to hit a wall, and very quickly slows down and eventually stops. No-one seems to be able to tell me why this happens (and I even think some of them don’t believe me) but it does.
My solution, when it starts to happen, I have new batteries put in. I just had to get used to the fact that it was going to cost me about $150 per year. Again, for the freedom I get, that is a small price!
The latest version
The newest version is the Go-Go Ultra X 3-Wheel Travel Mobility Scooter – Blue
It has a better seat, with arm rests and is softer. I question whether the arm rests would survive the treatment mine has taken (especially flying), but the comfort is a factor.
They have also improved the mechanism to connect the two parts of the base. With my scooter there is a turnbuckle that has to be released, and an electrical plug that has to be disconnected, and then you flip the back part backwards to disconnect the two parts.
The Go-Go Ultra X 3-Wheel Travel Mobility Scooter has a snap that you release and the front part just lifts off. Less fiddling!
If you like my Go Go Mobility Scooter, and want one of your own, you can get it here:
Go-Go Ultra X 3-Wheel Travel Mobility Scooter
Who Might Not Want This Scooter
I love my Go Go Mobility Scooter, but it isn’t the right scooter for everyone. You might not want this scooter if:
- You are too tall or too heavy. The scooter is quite small and works well for me at 5 foot 4 inches and 150 pounds. It is not rated for anyone over 250 pounds, and for someone taller, say 5 foot 10 inches or taller, might find your knees are up around your ears when riding it.
- You or your helper can’t lift the pieces. I am relatively fit, other than my MS makes it tough for me to walk, so I can lift the heaviest piece at 35 pounds. If you can’t, or you don’t have someone who can do it for you, you might not want this scooter.
If those reasons don’t apply to you, then click one of the links below to order one:
Go-Go Ultra X 3-Wheel Travel Mobility Scooter