These days, many people are looking for eco-friendly and cost-efficient ways to commute daily, whether it’s due to air pollution taking over big cities or fuel prices rising. Transportation is a daunting aspect of everyday life, and scooters are some of the trendiest alternatives to vehicles.
Having a scooter in the city is a fun and cool way to reduce dependency on gas stations and get from point A to point B easily and conveniently, without facing any traffic congestion. Commuter scooters are designed to be comfortable as a means of transport for longer distances. Pro scooters, also known as stunt scooters, can be used for transport purposes, but are mainly designed for riders to use in the skate parks for performing tricks.
Whether you want to improve your ride or build your pro scooter from scratch, it’s important to be familiar with the core components that make up its construction. To improve your scooter ride’s overall feel and performance, choose pro scooters bars crafted with comfort in mind. To help you navigate through the wide array of options that have come a long way since the sport’s early days, here are a few tips you might find useful.
Select the Perfect Height
The bar height is a matter of personal preference, however, if you’re a beginner, certain guidelines can help you make the right decision. The ideal height that ensures comfort and optimal leverage for performing tricks is somewhere between your hips and navel when standing on the ground with the scooter deck between your feet.
The height of the scooter bar can affect your riding style and comfort. To determine the right scooter bar height, measure from the bottom of the front wheel to the point where the bottom of the scooter bar will rest once mounted. If you’re considering two bar heights that fall within the recommended range, opt for the taller one as it offers better control and can be cut to your desired height if necessary.
Choose the Right Width
When it comes to the width of the bar, make sure it matches the width of your shoulders. It’s okay to order one that is a little, but just a little, wider than your shoulder width because a bar that is too wide can be uncomfortable. Luckily, it can be cut and narrowed, while a bar that is too narrow might lead to discomfort in your wrists and shoulders and can’t be modified to make it wider.
Understand the Different Styles of Scooter Bars
They come in four primary styles and each one of them has certain advantages. Selecting the right one usually comes down to personal preference, experience level and riding style.
T Bars
This choice is ideal for beginners and those looking for a minimalist look. A classic design that brings together stability and simplicity. T bars are well suited to tricks such as bar twists, and generally don’t have an angle or back sweep.
Y Bars
This option is a great solution if you need some extra support during intense rides. The Y bars feature reinforcements that make them slightly stronger than T bars. The additional supports are called gussets and they connect the top and the base of the bar.
Standard Bars
These bars have an outer diameter of 32 mm and an inner diameter of 28 mm. They work well with ICS, ISC, IHC and SCS compression setups.
Oversized Bars
They feature a total diameter of 34.9 mm. The inner diameter varies depending on whether the bars are made for IHC or HIC. They are slightly stronger and heavier than standard-sized bars.
Choosing between the two is influenced by several factors including personal preference, aesthetics, and alignment with your style or scooter rider identity.
Compression Systems
Keep in mind that your compression set-up needs to be compatible with your pro scooter bars. The following are the most common compression systems:
- IHC (Internal Compression System) – a compression system that requires the inner diameter of the bars to be 28 mm and needs a thinner fork.
- HIC (Hidden Internal Compression System) – a compression system that requires the inner diameter of the bars to be 32 mm and needs a thicker fork.
- SCS (Standard Compression System) – a compression system in which the bars are not fixed to the fork, so the inner diameter of the bars is not important as long as they fit within your clamp.
Different Materials to Choose From
Aluminium Bars
They are ideal for riders who prioritise agility and manoeuvrability. The low weight of these pro scooter bars is a great advantage when it comes to performing more complex tricks and manoeuvres in the air.
Chromoly Bars
These are steel pro scooters bars and as such happen to be a highly durable solution that’s well-suited for beginners. Also, they can be seen in street setups and used by professional pro scooter riders as well.
Titanium Bars
Most often, titanium bars are used by experienced scooter riders as they’re light enough not to hinder their performance, and strong enough not to break during wild sessions.
Final Thoughts
In the end, it all comes down to your needs and personal preferences, whether you just like to flow around or like to do “park’’ style tricks and constantly improve your scooter riding skills. The right balance of strength, weight and affordability is crucial for selecting the perfect bars.
