Newb advice? (fat tire)

[ford442]

Hello all,
First post here. I'm browsing around for a cheap means of local range transportation and I've landed on the "Fat Tire" escooter. I assume you know the one? Ads range from calling it 800w to 1000w. Right now I'm looking at it for about $1900 on ebay. The long "scroozer" / "kooter" / SEEV / "Fat Tire" retail scooter.
Anyway - I know NOTHING about the field of these. The closest dealer is like an hour drive from me. So, any points would be valuable to me.
I have never even ridden a scooter. I see the price, the motor power, the ads, and the validity of using a scooter.
Do you guys like the product as a cost effective way to buy a scooter? Should I worry about it's stock seat? light? battery?
Are there stores besides ebay I should look into first? I have to use Paypal CREDIT to make payments...
Here are the ads I'm down to on ebay -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-wheel-electric-chopper-motorcycle-batmobile-scooter-max-speed-27mph-/282317914180?hash=item41bb758044:g:B9kAAOSwubRXK9-U
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SSR-Motorsports-SEEV-800-Electric-Scooter-/182274993288?hash=item2a706fac88:g:-~EAAOSwENxXnQDo
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fat-Tire-Harley-Style-Cali-electric-eco-scooters-long-range-Pro-Limited-Edition-/112183269404?hash=item1a1ea4d81c:g:xU8AAOSw44BYEVHE

Are these the same? Is there a 1200w / 1500w version to be aware of?

Hope to hear back!

 

[tomjasz]

Crap
Crap
Crap

 

[DRMousseau]

OMG!!! These would be kinda nice,.... if I lived in Taiwan and could afford one.

Heck, these are pricy for the states even!!!! Probably cheaply built too. Heck,... no real safety codes to meet, other than limited mfg liabilities. And with no pedals,... they are NOT bicycles or even mopeds. There is NO PLACE allowed to use these, except private property.

Nope,... not for me!

 

[ecycler]

Overpriced junk.

I zoomed by one of these the other day in the bike lane. He was probably going 10mph max. It looked very heavy/clunky and kind of clownish in the bike lane. Why would you want this over an ebike?

 

[ford442]

well, it seems that ebikes start to get more expensive if you're choosing a decent frame with good gearing and then a good motor. and i'm not that much of a bike enthusiast.
before i thought that there was an option to get these for like 1200. however, not, so, i'm winding around to asking whoever before i jump in on the thing.
thanks for the input so far. any other suggestions would be welcome. i just seem to have narrowed through the choices of a more moped-like thing or stick scooter or other odd vehicle then other similar scooters are often for dirt bike kind of madness which is not what i'm going for so much. just the scooting assist and throttle to get from her to there and around....
it looks like the SEEV-800 is better. more $$ and no light/custom seat has the proper wheels. eWheels seems to have lesser wheels/motors with no metalic rims..?

 

[ford442]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Big-wheel-electric-scooter-moped-max-speed-27-mph-40-MILE-RANGE-1500W-Fat-Tires/381945723902#shpCntId

 

[kneedeep]

Cant say that I have ever seen one of those before but not legal to drive anywhere way to much money for so little. Where are you what country?

 

[amberwolf]

The problem you're going to have with anything remotely like these is that they are not a legal type of vehicle anywhere I know of.

That means that there is no place you can ride it outside your home's yard, etc., where you couldn't be stopped and ticketed (or even have it siezed in some places) and then be stuck walking the thing back to your house, and finding alternate transportation (including to the courthouse to pay the fines and see the judge).

Now, it might not happen that way; you might get ignored by all the law enforcement, and left alone. But I wouldn't bet that much money on it.

I think you are better off going for an actual moped or scooter and registering/insuring it, and getting the m-class license for driving/riding it if you don't already have it.

Otherwise, you'd be better off looking up what your locality's laws are for motorizing a bicycle and either buying one premade or building your own.


That way you can safely ride around where you need to go without worrying about being stopped by law enforcement all the time, or having your money taken from you (either by fines or by having your ride siezed, either one of which would suck).


You mgiht want to go here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=66302

and copy the questions from the first post of that thread into a reply here in your thread, along with your answers, so we can help you figure out what might actually work for your needs and budget.

 

[DRMousseau]

E-technology has brought a lot of developments in huge varieties,... Segways, wheelchairs, scooters of all kinds, boards, skates, mules and more, in every manner of dreams. But without significant social, economic, AND environmental needs,... few will be accepted for general public use ANYWHERE! The "fat tire scooter" above probably has a huge market in those countries and cities where those needs exist,... unfortunately, the U.S. and it's crowded cities isn't one of them to be very social or acceptable of such, or anything similar.

Segway still struggles after nearly two decades,... and it's designed and built right here in the U.S. and was intended to meet those "future" needs!!!! But we're lucky to even have an acceptance of wheelchairs,.. and "traditional(?)" e-bikes are very slowly gaining some social acceptance, though many communities still struggle socially with common bicycles, while we try for more acceptance in expanding high tech designs of recumbents and trikes. The real "outlaws" are considered to include everything else, and nearly all are restricted to off-road and private recreational use,... "JUS KEEP 'EM OFF THE STREETS AND SIDWALKS!!!" UGH! Even your simple roller-blades and skateboards can't gain a public acceptance.

You ARE really better off going the commercially available moped/scooter route that "acceptably" meets established registration, ins requirements and statutes. But I see no reason that modern technology, E-bikes and others can't be jus a bit more "acceptable".