MOTO COMPACT Folding Scooter mechanical model kit

The Moto Compact folding scooter from Ugears is a clever, spring-driven addition to our family of two-wheeled DIY wooden models. For many youth, a motor scooter is their first form of motorized transport. It represents freedom, mobility, a fun way to get to school, activities, a first job. It's a ticket to explore the world beyond the neighborhood where you grew up. Capture that feeling of youthful freedom when you build this smart little folding scooter.

Motorized scooters took off in popularity when Audrey Hepburn took a ride through Rome on Gregory Peck's iconic Vespa ("wasp" in Italian) scooter in the 1952 film "Roman Holiday." Though mostly a novelty in car crazy North America, motor scooters remain an important form of transport in many parts of the world, especially Europe, Asia, and Latin American.

The Moto Compact folding scooter 3D puzzle packs quite a bit of power for its size. The wooden model scooter is driven by a spring-loaded engine, and is able to travel 2 m (six feet) on a single wind-up. The handle bars can be placed in one of three positions to send your Moto on a straight course, or curving to the left or right. Because this is a Ugears model, and because we delight in packing as much mechanical action as we can into our wooden DIY models, the Moto Compact comes loaded with great features, including front and rear suspension, and sophisticated folding capability for safe and easy transport.

To fold up your Moto Compact, grip the front and rear sections of the bike and push them together, which also collapses the handle bars to their tucked-away position. The folded scooter can now be slipped into a pocket and carried, or it can rest on its kickstand, which flips down from the left side of the body.

To start your scooter, grip and pull the front and rear sections slightly apart, which raises the handlebars. Press the driver's seat down to engage the "stop" mechanism. You can now wind the motor using the ratchet knob on the bike's right side. Raise the kickstand and lower the small guide wheels underneath for balance. Set the bike on the floor or other smooth surface, then hold it gently while pressing down on the passenger seat at the back, which serves as the "start" button. This pops the driver's seat up and engages the main gear—let go quickly and watch your scooter zoom off!  After the scooter has stopped, if you want to start it again just repeat the cycle.

The Moto Compact folding scooter will appeal to anyone who loves two-wheeled transport: bikes, scooters, motorbikes and motor scooters. It joins the Ugears Bike (a classic cruiser) and the Scrambler (a dual-sport motorbike) in our family of DIY wooden motorbike models. Are there any kids (or grownup kids) who love bikes in your circle of family and friends? The Moto Compact folding scooter will make a great gift idea for their next birthday or holiday. The Ugears Moto Compact has 192 parts, is rated "Medium" difficulty, and is a fun, moderately challenging DIY project for hobbyists or for families to work on together.