Razor A5 Lux Scooter

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 31 x 12.5 x 5 inches ; 10 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B004C6BGII
  

By : Razor
List Price : $109.99
Price : $68.88
You Save : $41.11 (37%)

Product Description

The Razor® A5 Lux scooter is updated with extra-large 200mm urethane wheels and ABEC-5 high-speed bearings. The aircraft-grade aluminum construction includes folding handlebars, a rear fender brake, and a super-strong T tube, built to support riders up to 220 lbs. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

 

Razor A5 Lux Scooter

 

Product Features

• Folding scooter with extra-large 200-millimeter urethane wheels
• Aircraft-grade aluminum construction supports up to 220 pounds
• Folding handlebars; rear fender brake; super-strong T-tube
• ABEC 5 high-speed bearings
• Recommended for ages 8 and up; 6-month warranty

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.)
<Added April 24, 2009: Since I first published this review, I've heard from a couple of others who own it that their scooters were not properly adjusted when they received them. This made the steering column feel wobbly and loose. When properly adjusted, the A5 Lux will live up to the description in my review. With such a small sample, it's hard to say how common the problem is. In fairness to Razor, the owner's manual (which you can download at Razor.com.) says you should perform these adjustments before riding and gives clear, easily understandable instructions for them.
Just be aware that if you buy an A5, to get good results you need to check/perform a couple of adjustments when you first get it. These adjustments are simple and can be done with tools most people would already have. See the notes on my photos of the folding mechanism and quick-release for more info.
If the steering column still feels loose after making the adjustments described in the owner's manual, the problem may be a loose headset. Adjusting a headset requires the skills and tools of a bicycle mechanic, and a bike shop would probably charge you for it. The problem with a loose headset, besides the unwanted movement, is that the steering bearings can become damaged. If you get a scooter with a loose headset, you might want to exchange it.
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 the A5 four stars rather than five.
So why... Read more›

I was deciding between the Razor A5, the Pro, the Xootr (and all its variations) and the Know-Ped. And, of course, just plain old walking, but what's the fun in that?
In the end, I'm a cheap, stingy guy and wanted to figure out what would carry my weight without breaking, for the lowest price. The Razor A5 Lux does the trick.
I actually tried the Xootr -- it's an awesome ride, and if you have $200 to shell out, go for it. I didn't feel like sinking another Benjamin into what amounted to an adult toy -- although I think "adult toy" has some other connotations that I'm not intending here.
Anyhow, what's nice about the Razor A5 Lux is that it folds up quickly -- no separate pin to pull out and lose (like the Xootr), there's a built in spring-loaded pin that you pull up, and snaps back in once it's folded. The whole thing is compact enough, once folded, that I can bring it on a moderately crowded subway to only get curious stares rather than nasty glares.
I do wish there were a better way to carry the thing -- a shoulder strap, a convenient handle somewhere. The vertical part of the scooter still spins around when you have it folded up, so you can inadvertently have the bottom part swing around and, thwack, land in court because you've just assaulted someone with an adult toy. And that would just be embarassing.
The ride is pretty good. On the streets of New York City, the wheels are large enough to manage the occasional cracks and pits. The rear brake is handy, and slows the scooter down instead of stopping it. Believe me, this is a good thing, since when you get going fast (down even a slight incline), if you stop, the inertia of your body will pitch you over the handlebars if you stop too suddenly.
But as for the ease of getting around and the low-friction-ness of the deal, well, I've tried the Xootr, and while it's not as super-smooth as that ride, it's pretty close. Put it this way -- I wouldn't pay an extra Benjamin to get the ride of the Xootr.
Another thing: to echo another reviewer, the handlebars are indeed a bit narrow for my taste, but also make it that much more unobtrusive on the subway or bus.
One thing I don't really like, but can't figure out how they could make better, is that you're basically standing on one foot most of the time -- which can get pretty tiring. Try standing on one leg for 20 seconds, and you'll see what I mean. It's not a deal-breaker though. I switch standing legs at street corners or whenever. The photo they put in the Amazon description here, though, is funny, because there's no way this dude could be kicking/pushing effectively with either of his legs if he were riding side-saddle as shown. The photo basically implies that he's riding downhill, or else has magical abilities to propel wheeled vehicles and toys.
Finally, the handle-bar height -- I'm 5'9", and this works just fine for me -- it's tall enough with the thing fully extended.
So, all in all, if you're looking at this for a kid, rest assured that it can tolerate the stress that grown men can throw at it. If you're looking at this for yourself, say, for a commute in a sidewalk-capable city like New York City, then this is a decent, economical solution. If you happen to have more cash lying around, go check out the Xootr -- I think nycEwheels has some in NYC, if you're on the East Side. And if you happen to have even less cash lying around, then consider speed-walking or running instead of scooters altogether.

 

Razor A5 Lux Scooter

 

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