What is a downhill scooter?

A downhill scooter, also known as a DH scooter or downhill scooter, is a scooter designed for descending radical trails such as those found in alpine BIKE PARKS. It's not just any scooter that allows us to go down a simple mountain trail; that's what trail scooters are for.

Downhill scooters are mountain scooters equipped with all the downhill (DH) components and must meet essential requirements.

The frame must be extremely sturdy and free of obstacles between the feet. This minimizes the risk of accidents by allowing for quick exits, enabling a surfer-like stance, and providing room for the rider to move freely.

The frame should be protected on its entire underside by a replaceable plate to absorb impacts and scratches against rocks. If the deck extends beyond the frame, it should also be protected by replaceable guards.

The frame should be very low, just enough to allow the suspension to work through its entire range. It's essential for the feet to be close to the ground. The optimal height is half the pedal axle height of a DH bike. This makes scooters twice as stable as bikes, easy to mount and dismount in any situation, and key to delivering the sensation of surfing.

A very low center of gravity maximizes the pendulum effect, a physical law where the lower the weight is in relation to its supporting axes, the more it tends to stabilize. Bikes can't be very low because the pedals need to rotate, and hitting the ground could damage the chain or chainring (things that aren't useful during a descent). A lower center of gravity makes the scooter more stable, easier to ride, and therefore safer and more fun.

Ideally, the frame should be made of steel, preferably CrMo (chromoly). This material offers the best combination of strength and elasticity. It allows heavy riders to take big jumps without breaking or colliding with rocks or obstacles – it deforms but doesn't break. In contrast, aluminum is lighter but breaks suddenly upon impact or reaching its limit, causing dramatic accidents.

The board should be large: long and wide to enable proper rider placement and facilitate controlling the scooter's direction with the feet, using a surfer-like stance. A wooden deck is preferred over a metal one as it's more comfortable, lightweight, flexible, and cushions impacts on the shoe soles. By the end of a downhill session, feet would feel battered if they've been jumping all day on a perforated metal surface.

The board should be covered with material to increase grip, enhance comfort, and prevent feet from slipping. This material can be grip tape or nautical-grade rubber sheet. Rubber is preferable due to its greater durability, comfort, and impact-absorbing properties.

The rear wheel should be relatively small, around 20", to allow room for the rider when landing jumps, delay weight in radical descents, or lower the center of gravity to the maximum and feel the scooter gripping the ground. Larger rear wheels reduce rider mobility, so I recommend avoiding wheels larger than 24".

The front wheel should be large to avoid getting stuck on steps and navigate with ease. The ideal size is 26", while 24" is acceptable, but 27" or 29" would weaken the frame significantly, add more weight, break more easily, and reduce scooter agility.

Both wheels should be strong, with sturdy rims and a minimum of 32 spokes.

The tires should have good tread. Tire pressure should not be lower than 2 BAR to avoid frequent punctures and, worse, losing momentum due to excessive friction.

The front brake should be a minimum of 203 mm, while the rear brake is less critical and can be 160 mm.

The front fork should ideally be double-crown and of the highest possible quality. Advisable travel is 150 mm or more. The fork is the most important component, saving us in critical moments, making the scooter comfortable, and preventing excessive arm fatigue.

The handlebar should be very wide, minimum 680 mm, maximum 800 mm. A wide handlebar aids in controlling the trajectory, preventing vibrations or impacts from deviating the handlebar from the rider's intended position. Handlebar width depends on the rider's shoulder width. A person 1.5 m tall would use 680 mm, while someone 2.0 m tall would use 800 mm.

Rear suspension is optional if you're not aiming for high speed or prioritize control during jumps. Standing with slightly bent knees allows legs to absorb impacts to a certain extent. When significantly increasing speed on rugged terrain, rear suspension becomes necessary, or bikes will be faster. Rear suspension is also advisable for those seeking greater riding comfort or dealing with back or knee issues.

Rear suspension should have more sag than on any DH bike since we don't pedal. A scooter with a very upright front fork is not a good downhill scooter.

DOWNHILL SCOOTERS