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Butt Scootin’ Boogie

 

Modes of Green Transportation Around the Arena

 

Cowboys have always been masters of transportation. Perhaps they’ve been inspired by the wide-open spaces that span vast areas of America.  Or maybe they’ve been “moved” by the speed and stamina of the little doggies, whose git along can outpace any man on foot.

 

If you don’t have to…why walk?

 

First came the horse.  Then came the buggy.  And as wheels got bigger and better, the buggies turned into buckboards and wagons.  And those evolved into pickup trucks that could carry a weary Cowboy and his gear down the trail, road or highway. In many ways, the traditions of transportation for the Cowboy have not changed much in the past 100 or so years. Sure, now he hauls a living quarters trailer; now the horse gets a ride. And when they get to the destination…

 

With the sizes of the arena facilities growing bigger and better, the “getting around” at large mounted shooting events has inspired many a Cowboy to opt for alternative modes of transportation. A scooter will get you around quickly and efficiently–and at the end of the day, a simple twist of a lever turns these motorized, aluminum and plastic ponies into compact devices that easily store in your mobile tack room or in the back seat of the pickup.

 

We took a look at some of the devices available today and were surprised at how many affordable and clever little scooters where out there. Taking a ride on the “greener side,” we decided to focus on a handful of electric scooters that are relatively inexpensive (say, up to $500 or so) and easy to acquire (most manufacturers will ship direct to your home).

 

The Razor E Series Electric Scooters keep you on the move for up to 40 minutes of continuous use. Built with “green” commuting in mind, the Razor E300S electric scooter features twist-grip acceleration control and a detachable seat for easy cruising. With larger deck, frame and tires for adult riders, the E300S is Razor’s speediest electric scooter – traveling up to 15 miles per hour and up to 11 miles from a single charge. The environmentally friendly electric power engages a super quiet chain driven 250-watt motor. Completely “foldable,” the Razor weighs in at 52lbs and includes a battery charger and its very own tool kit.

 

Razor offers a range of electric scooters for ages eight to adult (E100, E200, E200S, E300 and E300S) with prices that range from $139.99 for the E100 to $269.99 for the top-of-the-line E300S.  www.razor.com

 

The latest in product innovation and future technology comes in a little package called the X-360. This is X-treme Scooter’s premium selling get-around and features a three-battery system equaling 36 volts. The X-360 comes standard with a chain driven 600-watt motor direct to the rear wheel. It has 13" chrome mag wheels, head and taillights, brake lights and front and rear blinkers. It weighs in at 59 pounds and gets riders up to 20 minutes of continuous ride at a max of 17 mph. The X-360 has an MSRP of $399, and X-treme offers models from the X-140 at $140 to the X-560 at $449. www.x-tremescooters.com.

 

Currie Technologies makes a range of electric scooters branded as I-Zip, E-Zip or Schwinn. They are well built and offer trouble-free travel for years. The E-Zip 650 with an MSRP of $349.95 has seen much use on the mounted shooting circuit. This scooter’s powerful 650-watt motor, sturdy double-wall frame and fork, long-life batteries, and intelligent controller with diagnostics and auto-off feature can get up to 15 mph and carry you up to twelve miles on a single charge. Coming in at 72 lbs, this little workhorse can carry Cowboys of up to 260lbs and then fold into a compact package for storage almost anywhere. E-Zip offers models 400 through 1000 with a price range from $279 for the E-Zip 400 to $569 for the E-Zip 1000. www.ezipusa.com

 

The HCF 705 is an excellent scooter for transport. The dual front and back suspension makes the 705 ride like a small motorcycle. The 705 is well built and still extremely lightweight for a scooter with suspension weighing in at about 52 lbs. The 705 has a maximum cruising speed of 15.6 mph for about 11 miles and comes standard with a seat for comfortable riding. Msrp for the 705 is $499. HCF also offers 707, 735 and 737 models capping off at $695. www.bernsonev.com

 

The Zappy Express is the latest ZAP Advanced Transportation vehicle. A powerful electric scooter with a comfortable seat, the Zappy Express offers a spring-loaded kickstand, adjustable handlebar height, and convenient carry pack. It weighs in at 72 lbs and can travel at speeds up to 17mph for about 4-6 hours on a single charge. The Zappy retails at $399 and can be shipped to your door. www.bigkidtoys.com

 

All of the low priced, lightweight electric scooters can be purchased on-line and shipped directly to your home or office. The scooters are also available at Walmart, Costco and other large superstores. For the price, this mode of “green” transportation can’t be beat. And as for portability, they take up less room than a bale of hay and can be lifted easily for convenient storage.
Now the only problem…which color?

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