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(More customer reviews)I bought my A5 Lux in early December, 2008. Even in Denver in the winter months, there are many days suitable for scooting, and I've put about 100 miles on my A5 since then.
Bottom line: I like my A5 very much, I'm glad I bought it, and I would make the same choice again. I would choose it over a Xootr or a Know-Ped. (Amazon sells both of these, too. I encourage you to check them out.)
Before buying the A5, I used one of the early Razor models (bought in year 2000) with 98 mm diameter inline skate wheels. I don't know the model designation. I'm not even sure they had model designations back then.
Contrary to what has been said by a previous reviewer, I see no decline in quality between my year 2000 Razor and the A5. I am a civil engineer, and have been repairing and maintaining my own bicycles, motorcycles and cars for about 40 years, so I think have a pretty good understanding of machines. My A5 looks to me to be very well made. Everything operates smoothly, and the machining, fit and finish seem to be flawless. I think the quality of workmanship and materials is very good.
As an example of the quality of the A5 compared to the older Razors, I uploaded a photo of the attachment of the folding mechanism to the platform. The A5 has a continuous weld along the entire length of the joint. My old Razor had only a short weld at the front and another short weld at the rear. Obviously, the continuous weld is stronger. I would call that an improvement in quality.
I'm 5'11" and 165 lb. I use the A5 for commuting and just for fun. When I commute, I carry a backpack that typically weighs around 15 lb; so the total weight on the scooter is around 180 lb. The rated capacity is 220 lb, and the A5 feels very sturdy carrying me and my backpack. I think the 220 lb rated capacity is realistic and probably even conservative, though I wouldn't recommend exceeding it.
The A5 with it's 200 mm diameter wheels is night-and-day different from my old Razor. The A5 is much easier to push, and coasts farther when pushing, and faster down hills. The larger wheels are also much less likely to get caught or thrown by debris on the pavement, uneven pavement, or large cracks. That said, it can still happen. Obviously there is a limit to what any scooter can handle, and the skill of the rider is also a factor. The rider must use good judgment. I'm just saying that, all else being equal, the A5 handles adverse conditions much better than scooters with inline skate wheels. I feel much safer on my A5, and wouldn't go back to my old Razor for anything.
The A5 wheels and bearings have very low rolling resistance. The tires are solid urethane and very firm. This accounts for the low rolling resistance and high-performance, but also gives a harsh ride; possibly a little harsher than my old Razor. As anyone familiar with high-performance road bicycles knows, it's a trade-off: you can have high performance or a soft ride, but not both. Xootrs, which have similar urethane tires, are also reported to give a harsh ride. If you want a gentler ride, get a Know-Ped.
The handlebar height is fine for me. The maximum height above the platform is 36.5", measured to the top side of the grips. The quick release adjustment allows you to set a lower height if you wish. The minimum height would be 27.5".
The deck width is 4.5". You can't put both feet completely on it side-by-side. For some people that would be important for alternating between legs for pushing. To minimize fatigue, you need to be able to alternate which leg does the pushing and which is the standing leg from time to time. (Surprisingly, it's the standing leg that gets tired: all those up and down motions.) The platform on a Xootr MG or Know-Ped is wide enough to put both feet completely on the platform side-by-side, which makes it easy to switch legs.
With the A5, you can just stop to switch legs (easy, but not very efficient), or develop a technique to do it while moving. I have a couple of such techniques. One is to plant the foot of my pushing leg on the ground, step forward off the deck with the foot of the standing leg, then pick up the foot of the former pushing leg and put it on the deck. This is good for slow to moderate speeds only. I use this a lot when I'm going uphill. This technique requires coordination and practice; and if you miss, you may get hurt. If you don't feel comfortable with it, don't use it.
The other method sounds complicated, but it's much easier to perform than to describe. I do this when I'm moving too fast for the first technique. I put my weight on the ball of the foot that's on the deck, and pivot the heel of that foot outward just past the edge of the deck. That opens a space on the back part of the deck. Then I put the heel of the other foot on the deck in the space behind the first foot. The toe of the back foot is pointed outward and extends just beyond the edge of the deck. I shift my weight to the heel that is on the deck and move the front foot completely off the deck. The maneuver is completed by pivoting on the heel that is on the deck to bring the toe of that foot onto the deck.
Although you can't put both feet *completely* on the A5 deck, I am able to get both feet on it enough to feel comfortable when coasting. I uploaded a photo to show what I mean. I get about half of each foot on the platform, which feels surprisingly secure. You wouldn't want your feet hanging off the platform like that if you're pushing the scooter, but it helps you stay comfortable on long downhill glides.
The top of the platform is 2.5" above the pavement. A low platform height is desirable for pushing efficiency. The lower the platform, the less you have to bend your standing leg to push. Remember: it's the standing leg that gets tired. The platform height on Know-Ped is reported to be 3.5" (specs on NYCeWheels web site; I don't think Amazon takes kindly to people including links to other web sites, but Google will find them). I think I read somewhere that on a Xootr MG it's 2.5", but I am not able to find the documentation to back that up now.
The platform itself is very thin, but it is strengthened by two thin metal ribs on the underneath side. (I uploaded a photo of these.) The ribs protrude about 0.9" from the platform, leaving a ground clearance of 1.6", exactly the same as my old Razor with the inline skate wheels. This is adequate most of the time. If you encounter a situation that needs more than 1.6" of ground clearance, chances are you should just plant your pushing foot and "step" (lift) the scooter over the obstacle. You lift the scooter and your foot in contact with the platform together, and just step it over the obstacle. It hardly slows you down at all.
One of my few negative comments about the A5 is the length of "footroom" on the platform. This is the length of the platform available to actually put your foot, between the connection to the steering tube in front, and the rear wheel. It measures 13", and I find it barely adequate. I uploaded a photo of my shoe on the platform. There is very little room to spare at the front and rear of my foot. This means that when I switch feet on the platform while in motion, I have to be pretty accurate about where my foot lands on the platform. It's a bit of a challenge, since I don't look at my feet while I'm making the switch. I wish they had made it an inch or two longer.
Another negative comment I have concerns the brake. Like my old Razor, the A5 has only a rear fender-stomp brake. You step on the rear fender, which presses against the rear wheel and slows the scooter down. The braking on the A5 is pretty poor. It is less effective than the brake on the old Razor. I'm not sure why, but I suspect it has to do with the material the tires are made of. With the A5, if I'm traveling fast, I have to start slowing down for a stop quite a bit sooner than I did with my old Razor. At low to moderate speeds, the brake is adequate. Overall, it works; you just have to get used to how long it takes to stop and allow adequate distance. Xootrs and Know-Peds have a hand-operated brake that acts on the front wheel; the A5 has no front brake. I haven't ridden a Xootr or Know-Ped, but no doubt their braking is much better.
It was because of these negatives that I gave...Read more›
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