The Evo street rider benefits from a rear footbrake plus a handbrake, and it comes with a kickstand, which is handy when taking a break to refuel. Scooters’ popularity sees no signs of waning either – not only are they a fun way to exercise outdoors, during kids’ early development days, scooters can help improve balance, gross motor skills and steering. The wheels are 200m and were up to the challenge, coupled with quality ABEC 7 bearings to allow our tester to glide. Those not DIY inclined will be pleased to hear this is a tool-less design, despite its multifunctional nature, as there are three modes to choose from: ride-on, walking bike and scooter. Truth be told, those on the fence are likely to become converts, with kids’ scooters being the unsung hero of the monotonous school run, or elongating precious family walks, so they can be cherished for longer.

Best known for its innovative pull-along kids’ suitcases, as such a reputable brand, there was certainly a level of expectation when it came to testing its scooter.Outside North American, Honda sold this scooter under a large number of names included ‘Tact’, ‘Lead 50’, ‘Melody Deluxe’, ‘Vision’ and ‘Vision-X’. Whether it’s three-wheeled or two-wheeled, a first scooter or an upgrade, we’ve found the best scooters for smiles all round. To make the Aero 50 more comfortable, Honda added a plusher leading-link front suspension, in addition to wider bodywork and a bigger seat. Our seven-year-old tester is transitioning to a two-wheel scooter but was drawn to this three-wheel design from Trunki.

We recruited a younger tester to try out the ride-on element, and his reluctance to give it back is testament to how good it is. The brightly coloured scooter has great child appeal, but our only gripe is that the paint can chip away quite easily on the frame if it’s not handled with care. Using the lean-to-steer method, it’s a great introduction for a first-timer, but you can also lock the steering by pressing the button at the front, which is helpful for those finding their feet.

Unlike most of the other scooters we tested, it doesn’t have a long shelf life – our slight four-year-old was a good size for it, as were her younger friends, but two years of use is probably the maximum. For almost half a century, Honda has been committed to making transportation powerful, dependable, sophisticated, and, above all else, fun. There’s the traditional rear footbrake, a handbrake and easy-to-grip rubber handlebar, so our tester felt in control.

The trick, as our 13-year-old demonstrated, is to swing your waist and hips left and right, in turn. The Evo V-flex is suitable for those aged seven years plus, with a maximum weight of 70kg, but there’s certainly a knack to it, which our middle tester didn’t master. Under normal city conditions, the scooter has ample power to keep ahead of many other two-wheeled commuters and on the highway, the Yamaha Aerox 155 settles into a steady cruise.

The ’87 Elite 50 (SE50) and ’88-’93 Elite LX/SR (SA50) share a virtually identical engine, so you can use parts intended for these scooters as well.