Razor Dune Buggy Review – Is It Worth Buying? Posted in: Product Reviews, Ride-ons – Tags: razor dune buggy, ride on toys main

Introduction to the Razor Dune Buggy

Go-karts and kids’ buggies have been around in the market for a long time. These are scaled down versions of what we adults play with but are designed with the safety of our little riders in mind. Dune buggies particularly have a very special appeal.

Just looking at one, and you’ll realize it instantly: Big wheels for off-road tires, open but tough tubular body designed for light weight and durability – every bit of a dune buggy screams FUN. The very idea of the ability to go anywhere deeply resonates with the human spirit of freedom. Dune buggies can take you anywhere, whether on a beach or an off-road track. Plus, they are cheaper than go-karts. So, what’s not to like?

This boils down to one question: Is it worth buying your kid a dune buggy? The answer is a resounding YES.

There is just so much fun to be had in such a little vehicle that your kid will remember you as he reaches your age as of reading this article. The other question now is which dune buggy to buy for your child.

While dune buggies have been in the market for so long, it was only recently that they became more popular thanks to several breakthroughs in the manufacturing process and other technologies that increase the safety of these products. So which dune buggy is ideal for your kid, you ask? Perhaps Razor USA, LLC has the answer...

Razor is a company based in California. Established in 2000, Razor formerly specializes in scooters (both electric and kick), e-Bikes, hoverboards, skateboards, and accessories. Part of their sales pitch is they claim to have “reinvented the wheel” in a sense.

By bringing unsurpassed technical innovation and design to the market, Razor has captured the hearts of many with their Model A scooter. Several years down the road, Razor has sold 34 million kick scooters and 13 million electric scooters worldwide since 2000. Not a small feat. Since then, Razor has been at the forefront of global scooter innovation.

Since then, Razor is using that same level of ingenuity in designing innovative, top-of-the-line motorized kids toys at very reasonable prices. The Razor Dune Buggy, for instance, is a fine example of Razor engineering. This might be your kid’s ideal form of entertainment during the summer months.

Nothing beats having a cool breeze on your face when speeding down a road at 9 miles per hour. If we adults can have all the fancy sports cars and motorcycles, why can’t our kids have as much fun as we do? Of course, safety is always an issue – nothing responsible parenting can solve.

 Plus, the Razor Dune Buggy is built tough for safety and also to endure the harshest of scrapes, bumps, and so on.

The Low Down on the Razor Dune Buggy

The product page of the Razor Dune Buggy reads as follows:

VINTAGE-COOL

This vintage-cool ride will give older kids and teens plenty of buggy thrills. Eight-inch knobby pneumatic tires and terrain following rear suspension come together for a smooth ride.”

PURE FUN

The ultimate in electric-powered back country cruising. Operation is a breeze thanks to the hand-controlled accelerator and hand operated rear disk braking system.  Parents will also appreciate the side roll cage, which creates a barrier between the rider and the outside, and the padded bucket seat, which includes a seat belt for added security.”

POWERFUL FUN

Features a reduction drive for maximum torque along with a variable speed, chain driven motor to give riders unlimited fun. And another added bonus, the Dune Buggy’s light, yet durable tubular steel frame, makes for easy vertical storage.”

Features:

   • Top speed of just under 10 miles per hour

   • Built-in safety belt

   • Padded bucket seat for comfort

   • Well-constructed tubular steel frame

   • Powerful 350-watt electric motor

   • The battery lasts up to 40 minutes on a full charge

   • Tall safety flag so other vehicles may easily notice this on the road

   • 8-inch knobby pneumatic tires

   • Adjustable top speed

   • A hand brake and throttle controls

   • Maximum weight capacity of 120 pounds

   • For ages 8 and up

So now that we have the technical stuff, handled, what do we think of the Razor Dune Buggy?

Tech specs were rather limited: Max weight capacity is 120 pounds. The battery life is decent at 40 minutes on a full charge. The top speed is just under 10 miles per hour. The product page also suggests an age range of 8 years and above. Here’s a more detailed look.

Razor Dune Buggy Build Quality

Unlike us adults, kids are generally carefree when handling their toys. A product like the Razor Dune Buggy is expected to take as much punishment as it can with every ride. We are happy to inform you that the Razor Dune Buggy incorporates a very rugged tubular steel frame that can handle every bump and scrape thrown at it from every imaginable angle.

Weighing at a hefty 65 pounds, your kids will have a hard time putting a dent to this heavy-duty beast. The weight also keeps the Razor Dune Buggy stable and upright during very tight turns, keeping your kid safe during these rough maneuvers. The half roll cage body is also designed to provide structural rigidity and makes it easier for your kid to get in and out of the vehicle.

Thanks to the tubular steel frame, expect this product to last far longer than many other competing brands which are made of strengthened plastic that breaks after a few uses. The quality of construction of the steel frame is also very notable for being well-built, something you don’t see often at this price point. Very impressive, I might say.

Razor Dune Buggy Design

When it comes to design, Razor has come up with some outrageous-looking products, especially with their scooters. However, Razor also has some toned-down and minimalistic designs in their catalog such as the Eprime electric scooter which exudes an air of sophistication despite its sub-$400 price tag.

Thankfully, the designers of the Razor Dune Buggy took the classic, minimalistic approach – just a simple half roll cage with a rear-mounted motor and no chunky bits that stick out. The minimalistic design also showcases how the tubular steel frame is well-made.

It looks rugged and appears that I can take a huge amount of punishment. Plus, the welding points look very solid as well. This level of quality is rarely seen in any buggy of this price range and that is very impressive, to say the least.

Razor Dune Buggy Safety Features

First, Razor has included a safety flag on this product. What it does is it is supposed to make the Dune Buggy more visible to other vehicles in the area and also for the parents who are watching close by. Since the Dune Buggy is designed with a low profile, the safety flag definitely makes this vehicle more noticeable – which is good news for any concerned parent.

Speed throttle and rear disc brakes are easily accessible on the steering wheel. The plate floorboards are also well-made. From a design standpoint, this is well-thought-out when it comes to safety concerns and practicality.

Top speed is also adjustable by using the Allen wrench that comes along with the Razor Dune Buggy. You can set a limit to the speed and even adjust braking controls using the Allen wrench. When you feel your kid is ready for higher speeds, you can easily set the speed limit back to a higher setting.

At this price point, there are only a few products that offer the same level of safety as the Razor Dune Buggy. This has to be one of the safest dune buggies in the market today. Sometimes we wish the top speed can be adjusted remotely but the Allen wrench makes it already too easy for us that we feel that a remote isn’t necessary at all.

Razor Dune Buggy Performance

The 350-watt motor offers plenty of power for off-road adventures but is only limited to 10 miles per hour for safety reasons. For a young daredevil, that is already plenty of speed but not too much that it puts them at serious risk.

On asphalt, this thing is such a beast. It even chews through grass and gravel like they were nothing. Muddy terrain does not seem to slow the Razor Dune Buggy either, thanks to the powerful motor.

Throttle and brake response are also top-notch. The 350-watt motor behind the bucket seat effortlessly brings it to top speed and the brakes guarantee that the vehicle will stop when you needed it to stop.

Razor Dune Buggy Battery Life

Fortunately, with great power comes with a decent enough battery life of up to 40 minutes. This might be poor to some but we think it's good enough to let your kid have at least less than an hour’s worth of hammering the dirt.

One caveat though is you have to charge this thing for a longer period once you receive it because it has been sitting in storage since its construction. An 18-hour first charge is recommended by the company to get it topped up. Afterward, it will take 5 hours to fully charge the battery. Meanwhile, other similar products only have a first-time charge of 12 hours.

Again, once fully topped, the battery will give you enough juice to run the Razor Dune Buggy up to 40 minutes. Other similarly-priced products offer less run time than this little red monster.

What We Like About Razor Dune Buggy

The Razor Dune Buggy is jam-packed with features normally found on more expensive competitors in the market. We love the fact that it shunned the outrageous aesthetic found on most of their products and employed a rather classic, minimalistic look that bares some of its key features such as a durable tubular steel roll cage, padded bucket seats with safety belt, and the powerful 350-watt motor in the back.

We also appreciate that the weight of the vehicle also contributes to its safety. Combined with its low center of gravity, this vehicle is very stable and will not fall over when making tight turns so there’s less risk of injury. The tubular frame looks very sturdy too and the quality of construction is superb. We love the fact that the Razor Dune Buggy was designed to be tough to resist all levels of abuse anyone can throw at it.

The powerful 350-watt motor is incredible on this vehicle. It offers a lot of power and easily conquers difficult terrain so nothing will stand in your kid’s way when having some outdoor fun. While the 40-minute battery life is decent, we could have asked for more but given at this price point, we think it’s completely acceptable.

We also love the fact that the Razor Dune Buggy can hold up to 120 pounds which means older kids can use it too. The powerful 350-watt motor has no trouble even when the vehicle has reached its maximum weight capacity.

What really grabbed our attention was the ability to effortlessly adjust the vehicle’s maximum speed using the provided Allen wrench. This feature adds a whole new level of safety. Once your kid gets a hang of it, you can turn it back to a higher setting using the same effortless method with the Allen wrench.

What We Don’t Like About Razor Dune Buggy

The Razor Dune Buggy is such a wonderful product that we really only have a few things in mind when it comes to what we don’t like about it. The first two things we would like to discuss is the capped top speed of only 10 miles per hour and the decent, but limited battery life.

 While 10 miles per hour is great for younger kids, the Razor Dune Buggy’s max weight capacity of 120 pounds means older kids might want to have a go with it and may find the capped speed a bit slow.

Also, we could wish for a longer-lasting battery life of 40 minutes but a bigger battery might add more weight to the vehicle which may hinder its overall performance. At this price point, however, we cannot really complain.

Lastly, the vehicle’s low profile, while it makes for a more stable ride, can be a hindrance when encountering large rocks along the road but thankfully the Razor Dune Buggy comes with a very durable floor plate.