Well, I finally bought an EV...

"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr) 11/24/2018 at 12:20 • Filed to: scooter, ev, electric

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...it’s a   !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the model that most of the scooter sharing companies use. I was going to wait for spring, when I could actually, you know, use it... but it’s on sale for $449, and tariffs had raised them to $600 normally.

I’ve ridden one of Bird’s scooters , and realized, “yes, this is a tool I’d like in my transportation toolbox”, so yeah.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 12:31

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now you just need to get yourself a helmet with a blue flashing light

*weeeewooooweeeeewoooo*

Chuckles > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 12:31

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I was wondering how much it would cost to own your own Bird scooter. At a certain point, if you're regularly paying 5 or 10 bucks to use a Bird. It kind of makes sense to get your own.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 12:37

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I noticed it's FWD.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 12:44

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Dat disc brake tho

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 12:55

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If you bring a camera, now you can shoot and scoot.

bhtooefr > Chuckles 11/24/2018 at 13:01

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Yeah, the payoff period is shockingly short - 90 day at $5/day of use.

Of course, Bird, Lime, et. al. have to pay people to collect and charge the scooters at night, as well as pay to repair or replace damaged scooters (both due to much higher usage, as well as neglect and vandalism), making costs higher.

None of the scooter rental companies operate in my immediate area, though , so it’s a moot point anyway - if I want a scooter, I’m buying one.

And, there’s a couple other advantages to having my own scooter. I don’t have to worry about any dumbass other than myself abusing it, I can fold it up and take it inside with me, and know I’ll have it for my return trip (without having to pay to keep one reserved). I can also fold it up, stick it in the car, and go anywhere with it.

The downsides would be... you can just park a rental scooter when you’re done with it and not worry about taking it inside with you  (beyond putting it in a safe location, and at least Bird makes you take a photo of how you parked it), and if a rental scooter breaks, you can just park it, lock it, and find another one, whereas if you buy it and it breaks, you’re carrying it with you.

bhtooefr > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/24/2018 at 13:04

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Yeah, that improves regenerative braking, avoids power oversteer being an issue (but of course prevents you from drifting it), and on some of them likely simplifies the electrical design (not this one, though - most of the FWD scooters have the battery and all of the electronics in the stem, this one has the battery and electronics down in the deck).

bhtooefr > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 11/24/2018 at 13:05

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Most of them have a tire brake on the rear fender, which frankly is kinda janky.

The Bird I rode (which was this model), I found I wasn’t using the rear brake much, but having an actually good rear brake is a good backup IMO.

Chuckles > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 13:09

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Bird doesn’t operate in my area, and even if they did, I’m about 100 pounds too heavy to ride one anyway.

There are definitely other cost considerations in owning versus renting. If you used it daily for a  commute, owning probably makes sense.

bhtooefr > Chuckles 11/24/2018 at 13:11

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Oh, I’m too heavy too, didn’t stop me from being one of the dumbasses abusing it. (Less than that, but still.) And, Bird’s weight limit is lower than Xiaomi’s (which I’m also above, but hey)...

Chuckles > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 13:17

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If they were in my area, I'd probably try one. But if I was buying, I might be more comfortable on an electric bike of some sort.

bhtooefr > Chuckles 11/24/2018 at 13:52

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Yeah, electric bikes definitely have their advantages - larger wheels even when they’re folding bikes, and actually getting more exercise because you’re pedaling.

I considered maybe putting a front hub motor on my Dahon, but it doesn’t fold that small (when I had a Miata, it didn’t even fit in the Miata at all, unless I had the trunk open and the bike standing up in the trunk ) , and I didn’t want any cables crossing the hinge, which would be pretty much necessary if I made it electric.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > bhtooefr 11/24/2018 at 15:17

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A coworker of mine bought a house a few blocks away from our office.  I’m trying to convince him to get something like this for commuting.