Thomas the Tank Engine Tri Scooter

When our son started telling us about playing on the scooters at nursery, we decided he would like one for Christmas. His Uncle George decided to buy him one and it was fate that he would end up with Thomas the Tank!

Thomas Tri Scooter

Model no : MO4616 - there are a few designs available.
Age range - from 3 years onwards with adult supervision and protective equipment should be worn (helmet etc). This should only be used on the pavements and is not suitable for road use (common sense really). It is suitable for weights of up to 20kg. This scooter has been designed to be ideal for beginners. It requires to be assembled before use and everything is presented in a cardboard box with full instructions. The scooter is made from metal and plastic. The scooter features :

• Adjustable handlebar - from 63-69cm so you can change it depending on height of your child.
• Three tyres - one at the front and two at the back. The tyres are designed to be puncture proof.
• Anti-slip footplate

The model we have is available from Amazon priced at £25.66. Slight different designs can be bought from Argos and Tesco for around the same price.

My Thoughts

My son was so excited to receive his scooter on Christmas morning. Despite having a house full of presents and around 10 people over to see him, his Papa and Uncle Craig were instructed to build the scooter (and the tool bench). We don't let Daddy build ANYTHING as bits end up upside down and back to front. Anyway, this came flat packed with some little spanner things and the bolts. After a few choice words, the scooter was ready to be used after 10 minutes - it isn't too difficult to build according to my brother in law.

My son was spent the first month or so using this indoors. We don't have a garden but we like to go out long walks near where we live and Boo likes to take his scooter out with him. He also plays indoors with it as we have laminate flooring (poor neighbours). He now has a Thomas bike too so the scooter isn't used quite as much but sometimes it is too much hassle for him to drag the bike out.

Quality and Appearance

The finished scooter is lightweight yet sturdy. My son is 4 next week and it is the perfect size for him - he is quite tall so we adjusted the handle height to suit him as he has grown - this is fairly easy to do. It is definitely the perfect size for a pre-schooler. It stands up right thanks to the two back wheels and the larger front wheel. They are quick thick and sturdy and haven't deflated in anyway.

The design of the scooter appeals to my son. It is predominately blue and red. There is a large Thomas plaque which clips onto the front of the scooter. This comes off easily and I have lost count of the times that Boo has asked me to put it back on - it looks less appealing without it! The footplate is a good size and to give a rough idea of the length, if I put my size 8 foot on it, there is still space left at either side lengthwise. It is quite wide too. The foot plate has little indents which are anti slip and the picture of Thomas is still vibrant. The scooter has two rubber covered handles.

Overall the build is good. It doesn't look particular strong but the metal is sturdy. It is easy to wipe over and has remained in good condition with minimal scratches. It holds my sons weight well and even Daddy has had a go but I wouldn't recommend this lol! We have had to tighten the back wheels once or twice.

Scooting About With Thomas

My son usually wears his helmet when on his bike or scooter. He has never fell off yet but better to be safe than sorry. He loves his scooter and is now a pro at scooting about. The scooter is lightweight enough for him to carry but I carry it across roads and down stairs for my own peace of mind - my boy is too independent!

Boo can fit both feet on the plate and can comfortably grip the rubber handles. He generally likes to gather some speed by keeping one foot on the plate and using the other to push himself along the ground before popping both feet back on. He is very careful not to go speeding away down hills and isn't allowed near roads when on it as it is very easy for a child to lose concentration.

He enjoys going out on his scooter and can control it very easily. The wheels move at a steady pace and the ride is quite smooth. The wheels negotiate ground easily and laminate flooring but of course a little extra boost is needed on thicker grass. Generally, Boo can go the scooter perfectly well and always has fun on it. He does get a little bored after a wee while and I am thankful that it is lightweight and easy to carry home!

Conclusion

Overall we are impressed with this scooter. I can see it lasting until he goes to school then we may invest in a bigger scooter for him. It doesn't get left outside so won't rust. It is well priced and I would recommend it to children aged 3 - 5 and Thomas fans!

Thanks for reading :)