'Trainee' disabled newby seeking advice from 'well practiced' disabled scooter users

[Oomiebumbum]

Hi all, I'm Annie, new to the forum, still quite new to disability, and very new to scooters
I recently had to cancel my Motability contract due to poor advice from the retailer/supplier, what I know know was a totally unacceptable 'trial ride' on the lovely shiny new scooter of my uneducated choice (I was allowed ten yards this way, turn around, and then go ten yards that-a-way) and my body weight, size and build (tiny size 4 - 6, weight 6.5 stone) were not taken in to the dealer's consideration at all. The scooter I had chosen was the Kymco Midi. Now the manager of the shop (not the guy shipped in from another town to cover for the day) has since told me he would have tried to guide me away from the Kymco, as he himself found it quite a hard, bumpy ride.
Hence my username! My first time nervously and excitedly venturing out properly on my posh new wheels was awful! I was bouncing around on the seat like a flea People were actually looking at me and doing a double take, honestly. I must have looked as though the battery was wired directly to my bahookie. Motability were great about it all when I explained, no problems cancelling.
BUT. Now I am basically housebound again, so I would be so grateful of your recommendations, experiences, and your ''Do not touch that scooter with a very long walking stick!''.
I really, really want a class 3, but definitely NOT one that will make me bounce around like I've got 10,000 vaults shooting up my nether regions.
So far, I am liking the look of the Liteway 8, and I also think the 3 wheelers look a little smaller and more manageable for me. The smaller the better, and so far, I think the liteway 8 is perhaps the smallest class 3? Just don't want to look like, and bounce around like a pea on a drum
Thank you sooo much if you have managed to get to the end of this!

[Flymo]

You're so light that you may find all but the softest suspension scooters ride harshly, as the suspension will be set up for a heavier load. It might be that you need specialist suspension with weaker springs than usual or 20-30kg of ballast fitted to get the dynamics of a scooter correct, though as a starting point I'd be looking with models with fully independent suspension, which might steer you away from the smallest models. A model with larger tyres might help - there's the potential of more cushioning. I'm a car and powerchair user who is, in any case, towards the other end of the size and weight spectrum.

This is definitely a job for a specialist dealer who is prepared to figure out an appropriate solution for your particular needs and give you a good test ride of at least 10 minutes. It might also be worth phoning a couple of the manufacturers to see what they suggest.


It may well be that a class 3 scooter is best for your needs, though you might find limited use for the 8mph feature as it is a legal requirement to set the 4mph speed limiter for use on pavement. However, I'd encourage you to look at the problem more broadly, in terms of how far you need to go and how you would get around when you are there.


It might be that a car or car and lightweight scooter combination is a better fit to your needs. If you have a car and scooter, you can have a hoist fitted to the car to load and unload the scooter. A car would certainly ride more comfortably than a scooter, though I have my doubts as to the utility of a car particularly if you want to use it to get around the centre of Southport. Parking is not that easy in Lord Street, the Esplanade and the surrounding area, especially at this time of year. A Blue Badge doesn't help much as there are so many of them in use in Southport. I found this to my cost - I got my only parking ticket ever during a conference in Southport whilst trying to get to a morning event at Christ Church.

A car is no good if you are still 300m from where you want to go and you cannot get that final 300m. A car is also much more expensive than a class 3 scooter, you need a full driving licence and there wouldn't be enough money left over from a Motability agreement on a car to fund the scooter.


I suspect a scooter is the correct answer, especially if you live relatively near most of your intended destinations. I would suggest hiring to try a few models out around the town, but that looks less easy than it would have been now that Southport Shopmobility appears to have closed. There are companies that will hire scooters commercially.


I hope others will be able to give you some suggestions on scooters that ride well for lighter users.

Whatever you opt for, I urge you to get insurance if you have a scooter or powerchair - accidents do happen, and you could be left facing huge bills if someone gets injured and you have no third party insurance. I would expect a Motability agreement to include insurance, though you should check this insurance includes third party cover and doesn't just insure the scooter for damage or theft.

If you land up getting your own insurance, specialist providers such as Fish Insurance can offer good quality cover at modest prices. I use them for my car and my powerchair - though have no connection other than being a satisfied customer.

[beau]

I would definitely discount 3 wheel scooters and those with small wheels as they tend not to be very stable. A way to counteract bouncing around could be to put the tyre pressure at the lowest recommended instead of the highest which will give some cushioning.

[Lighttouch]

As Beau says - avoid 3 wheelers as these, in my opinion, are very dangerous. If you approach a slight kerb at an angle the chances are you'll be tipped out.

I think you might want to look into a hybrid model which is a manual wheelchair that can be made to measure and a motor that can be attached separately.

The benefits are -
- the manual wheelchair of your choice can be folded and put in the boot of a car
- the company can show you different types of manual wheelchairs and custom make one to suit your size and weight
- better and easier to get around in tight areas as well as i the home
- cost - not cheap but worth it. Cost of wheelchair plus light drive at about £3,500

See if you can get a NHS Wheelchair voucher. If you have a favourite charity to help fund the equipment as well as going through Motability.

Here's a youtube clip of it in action.



Contact http://www.benoitsystemes.com/guide2.html

[Lighttouch]

If speed is your thing . . .

[catlover]

Have you looked into the TGA Eclipse? That's the one I am hoping to get. I'm fairly small although not as small as you and have tried that one out and found it works ok for me.

[Oomiebumbum]

Thank you all so much for your time and advice! I am now going to watch the video links, and also study and look in to everything else you have so kindly advised me about (That is when I manage to distract my very naughty Jackdaw enough to stop him banging the laptop keys so hard with his beak that I keep finding myself on another page, the stinker )
Can't believe how much there is to being disabled, lol, other than looking like I have grossly over starched my knickers and have shards of glass in my shoes when I try to walk unaided
I'm not a driver, so do not have a car unfortunately. However for the rest of the world, that is probably a blessing. I was amazed when I managed to make my two very bouncy journeys on my Kymco without managing to give someone else cause to need a mobility scooter
Thank you all so much,
Annie x

[Oomiebumbum]

Thank you all so much for your time and advice! I am now going to watch the video links, and also study and look in to everything else you have so kindly advised me about (That is when I manage to distract my very naughty Jackdaw enough to stop him banging the laptop keys so hard with his beak that I keep finding myself on another page, the stinker )
Can't believe how much there is to being disabled, lol, other than looking like I have grossly over starched my knickers and have shards of glass in my shoes when I try to walk unaided
I'm not a driver, so do not have a car unfortunately. However for the rest of the world, that is probably a blessing. I was amazed when I managed to make my two very bouncy journeys on my Kymco without managing to give someone else cause to need a mobility scooter
Thank you all so much,
Annie x

[firebird]

Catlover and OP - I would not recommend the eclipse although I am very pleased with mine. It is a class 2 boot scooter and has solid tyres and no suspension. Although it is extremely well built and reliable, I managed to manoeuvre up and down Foxton Locks with no difficulty (rather scary though!), will go over slightly rough grass etc., I don't think it would be comfortable enough for someone with a sensitive bum.

Another suggestion to make seating more comfy is to use a waffle cushion. These are used to avoid pressure sores and I have found mine very useful as I tend to sit for lengthy periods of time. I bought mine off eBay as they were less than half the price of the ones advertised by the mobility aids companies. You would be looking for the ehob waffle cushion, inflatable.

[reddivine]

Why Lighttouch, you sneaky devil, I see our 5 min chat converted you to the Benoit! MSLife 2016.........duelling wheelchairs on the dance floor?