Transitioning to the Micro Sprite Kick Scooter
My review of the Mini Micro Scooter was very positive and as the years have gone by the number of those scooters that I have seen around the streets and at school has just continued to grow and grow.
The Micro Scooters are everywhere!
When I wrote that review, I knew that they were great performing scooters because I could see it with my own eyes, but I obviously didn’t know how well they would stand up to 3-years’ worth of heavy riding.
Well, i’m pleased to say that all 3 Mini Micro Scooters remain in great condition. Aside from the usual scratches that you would expect to see on a 3-year old scooter, they all work just as well as the day we bought them. During those 3 years we have not had to mend or replace a single part on any of the scooters, and this show just how well built they are.
Sadly, there comes a time when all good things must come to an end, and last year it became obvious to me that the boys had outgrown their Mini Micro Scooters and needed to move up to larger ones. You know when your child has outgrown a scooter when they are having to reach down to grab the crossbar even when it is on its highest setting.
Since we had been so pleased with the Mini Micro Scooters, the natural first place to look for a replacement was the Micro Scooter company.
It was then that we faced the dilemma of whether to continue with a larger 3-wheel scooter, or transition the boys to a 2-wheel kick scooter. The Micro company makes both a 3-wheel scooter called the Micro Maxi and a 2-wheel scooter called the Micro Sprite Kick Scooter.
The boys had only ever really got on with the 3-wheel Mini Micro and they were used to its unique “lean and steer” mechanism. They had never really used a 2-wheel scooter, but I knew that they would want to progress to one eventually. I just didn’t know whether or not the time was right.
Since the Micro Sprite Kick Scooters are made by the same company that made the Mini Micro scooter, I was very confident that they would be built from high quality parts and would withstand a lot of abuse.
So, the only concern that I had was whether or not I had made the correct decision in choosing the Micro Sprite over the Micro Maxi. Would the boys would manage the transition from 3-wheels to 2-wheels without too many injuries!
The Micro Maxi looks like this …
The Micro Sprite Kick Scooter – First Impressions
When the Micro Sprite Kick Scooters were pulled out of their boxes, it was pretty obvious to me that they were just as well made as the Mini Micros. They felt sturdy and you could just tell that the product itself was not going to be the problem if the boys didn’t get on well with them.
Rather than waste time writing lots of boring descriptions of the Micro Sprite’s basic features, you can read about them all here.
So, it looks like most other 2-wheel kick scooters and has the same basic features as the other 2-wheel kick scooters on the market.
Just to fill in the gaps, the company states that the Micro Sprite is suitable for use from age 5 and upwards and there is a maximum rider weight limit of 220 lbs. It is also very light to carry and folds up like this …
So, how did it go?
The Micro Sprite Kick Scooter – First Attempts
The boys’ first attempts to ride their Micro Sprite Scooters were pretty disastrous.
Having spent 3 years steering by leaning in the appropriate direction and being able to just stand with both feet on the scooter deck without falling off, the added complexities of the Micro Sprite were causing them all sorts of problems.
They just could’t grasp the fact that they actually had to turn the crossbar in the correct direction rather than simply leaning and, as a result, they just kept falling off.
They also couldn’t get to grips with the narrower deck and the fact that you had to be a lot more precise with your kicking off motion if you wanted to remain in a straight line.
I was feeling pretty foolish at this point and seriously considered trying to return them for the 3-wheel Maxi Micro version instead. The boys, however, were determined to keep trying, and so they did.
The Micro Sprite Kick Scooter – 2 Weeks Later
I should have known better than to underestimate their ability to learn how to ride these scooters after a little practice.
Now, it took them a good 2 weeks to get the hang of the new narrow deck and the very different steering and pushing method, but they did it in the end.
I am so relieved that I didn’t just send the Micro Sprites back as, now that they know how to ride them safely, I can see that they are the most natural progression for 7 year olds who have outgrown their Mini Micro Scooters.
The boys have reached the age where they want to think about doing a few jumps and other basic tricks, and you just can’t do that with a 3-wheeler.
Note: Although my kids like to try some basic tricks on the Sprite, it is not actually a proper trick scooter. There are kick scooters that are specially designed for tricks, if your child is a little more serious about their scooting!
The Micro Sprite Kick Scooter – My Verdict
There is a steep learning curve for any child that has previously only ever ridden a 3-wheel scooter like the Mini Micro.
If your child is determined enough to learn how to use a 2-wheel kick scooter, the Micro Sprite is a great choice and you should resist the temptation to take the easy route and buy a larger 3-wheel scooter. The boys just love their Micro Sprite scooters now and I just know that I would have regretted buying them the Micro Maxi scooter instead.
If, however, your child is perfectly happy to just cruise around on 3-wheels or lacks the desire to learn to ride a 2-wheeler, I would recommend the Micro Maxi instead.
Either way, you can be very confident in the build quality of any scooters that are made by this company.
Micro Sprite Kick Scooter – Color Options
Buy the Micro Sprite Kick Scooter
Check Best Price of Micro Sprite Kick Scooters
Find the Micro Sprite Kick Scooter in the UK
Leave a Comment
If you have anything to say about the Micro Sprite Kick Scooter, please just leave a comment in the box below
Did you choose a scooter over a bicycle? If yes, why? The progression to 2 wheelers sounds similar to that of a kid progressing from a tricycle to bicycle.
Scooters are more compact, I suppose. Scooters also make more sense in a city area. If you live in the suburbs I always had the impression bicycles are preferable.
There is no reason to just choose a kick scooter or a bicycle. For very young kids its is much easier to learn to ride a 3-wheel scooter than a bicycle and I find that they are much more flexible when you have a large family. For example, I used to go for scooter rides with 3 kids (aged 3-5 years) to the local park via a smooth tarmac path that goes right through a beautiful moor. In order to get to the path we needed to ride through some residential streets with lots of traffic. Imagine the carnage of having 3 kids wobbling around on the pavement when compared with the relative ease to 3 kids on 3-wheel scooters.
So, scooters give them much more freedom at an early age than bicycles. When you need to cross busy roads as well, it is much easier for them to just jump off their scooters than have to keep getting on and off a bike.
Finally, when they eventually get tired and start complaining that they can’t carry on, having to carry 3 kids scooters is a lot more fun than having to carry 3 kids bikes! It is also easier to manage multiple kids on scooters if you are also on a scooter – if they fall off, you can just hop off to help rather than having to dismount from a bike and prop it up against a wall etc.
Hey there! I have a nephew and he really loves scooter. He’s 4 years old and his birthday is coming soon. I’m looking for a birthday gift but I can’t choose which one should I buy. But after I read your article I think that this micro sprite kick scooter is the perfect gift for him. This scooter cost a little bit but do you think that it will last for a long time? Thank you for your response.
John,
The Micro Sprite scooter is a very well built product, just like the other scooters that are made by the Micro Scooter Company. Just to give you my experience, I have 3 Micro Mini versions in the garage that are about 4-5 years old and they are in excellent condition – no repairs or replacement parts have been required and they work as well as when we first bought them. We have had a couple of Micro Sprite Scooters for over a year now and, again, there are no signs of problems with them. If you read the User Reviews, you won’t find many people complaining about the build quality of the Micro Sprite Scooters.