UPDATE… After using this Scooter over the entire summer I really do like it more. Great exercise and safe!
Like I said, it can be assessed in a couple of ways. As a scooter, it is absolutely the best that money can buy, at least in North America. People tend to look at it as a bike without pedals or a seat, though, which is erroneous. Visually, it has that bike-like appearance, which makes it seem like an unusual bike more than a fairly normal scooter. Compared to a regular bike the Kickbike is actually a lot more fun. The standing position is more comfortable, and the kicking action involves a more natural range of motion.
I initially invested in the Kickbike line because my wife has a chronic case of sciatica, and we live in a city loaded with bike paths. The best fit for her was the City G4, because it has the more upright posture, and she likes the basket for her stuff. While the Kickbike is not totally pain-free for her (most things aren’t) it is still a workable solution. A regular bike simply would not work at all for her. The important thing is that she enjoys riding it, and she likes the way it looks, with its shiny white paint.
Now, for the numbers. I’m a 6′ 1″ man, at 180 pounds. Up until now my life has been relatively sedentary. My sense of balance is well-below average, but I learned to ride proficiently in one day. On fairly level terrain my maximum speed is 16 mph, and my average speed is 9.4 mph. My max downhill speed, so far, is 21 mph. That’s a thrill, by the way. I took these measurements early on, so things may have improved since then. On the first day I was absolutely winded after a mile and a half. Now, I can ride all day without stopping. The longest trip I’ve measured is about 19.4 miles, but I’m sure I’ve done a lot longer trips than that. My little wife, on the other hand, at 5′ 2″ has a slower cruising speed at 5.7 mph average, and 10 mph max on level terrain. Anyone reading this is sure to fall somewhere between my numbers and hers.
Also, this Kickbike can be stored well on a Delta Cycle Michelangelo Two-Bike Gravity Stand Storage Rack. It works quite well.