kwackers wrote:Pete Owens wrote:I would agree on the speed issue.
And actually front wheel braking wouldn't be safe. The combination of the high centre of gravity of the rider not far behind a very small wheel means very little breaking force would be needed to tip the rider over the front. These things of necessity will have very poor braking so cannot be allowed to go fast.
Have you ever ridden one? The brakes aren't that bad.
Nope, but it is basic physics.
The angle from the centre of gravity to the front wheel contact point determines the maximum braking force before you tip. This is the limiting factor with bicycle braking. The steeper the angle the lower the possible force thus the lower the deceleration. With a scooter the front wheel is much closer, the angle steeper thus the braking performance necessarily inferior.
A lot do have front brakes and most of the common "proper" ones use the front hub motor for regen braking.
I've ridden one with front brakes and I've never come close to tipping it over, all that happens is the front wheel locks.
Did you attempt an emergency stop from full speed on a downhill section?
Did you compare the braking performance with a bike at a similar speed?
Or did you just pootle around at a modest speed gently slowing down in a planned manner
If your front wheel locks then you are skidding; that reduces the braking force and makes control difficult.
As you brake you naturally lean back.
There is no naturally about it. If you are standing on a moving platform that stops then you will naturally be thrown forwards. You need to anticipate this.
Bicycles are just as prone to tipping, in fact I use to rely on my panniers to help prevent it!
They are indeed prone to tipping - it is what limits our braking ability - but nowhere near the same extent as a scooter - its basic geometry.
It is the very fact that we are aware of the limitations of bike brakes that we should be concerned about escooter braking.