Scooters or Freestyle scooters have slowly invaded most skateparks in the world. And it is not surprising since they are tremendously fun and easy to use. Despite the fact that most freestyle scooters are built very robustly, they have a series of parts or components that must be checked from time to time, not only to enjoy your skating sessions to the fullest, but also to extend their useful life of your scooter
How to adjust your freestyle scooter Headset
A key component of our scooters is the headset. A well-maintained and properly set-up headset helps the fork spin freely within the steerer tube and helps eliminate head roll, which is the most common (and often frustrating) headset problem on freestyle scooters. The headset must be adjusted correctly to apply the necessary pressure so that it works in the best way. If the bar wobbles, feels too loose, or feels too tight, we recommend adjusting the compression system (IHC) to suit your preferences.
1. Start by loosening the clamp nuts with a 5mm Allen key and remove the handlebar by pulling it up and off of the fork.
2. Insert a 5mm Allen key into the nut that holds the compression system. Keep the steering system wedge fixed to prevent it from turning freely and turn the Allen key. To tighten the headset, turn the Allen key clockwise and to loosen, turn it counterclockwise.
You should be able to easily turn the fork by hand without the handlebar attached. If you feel resistance, or feel like the fork turns “jerky”, there may be too much pressure. In that case, you should loosen the steering system. Similarly, if you feel that the fork may rock forward or sideways within the headset, you may need to slightly tighten the headset on your freestyle scooter. Take your time to find the sweet spot and until turning the bar feels silky smooth!
How to adjust the handlebars of your freestyle scooter
First of all, we recommend that you check that the handlebar is correctly positioned. An ill-fitting handlebar can be either too loose or too tight, which can limit your ability to turn and perform tricks. To prevent this from happening, we have broken this process down into 4 simple steps:
1. Start by sliding the handlebars over the fork stem. If it’s too tight, loosen the clamp nuts with a 5mm Allen wrench.
2. Next, slide the handlebar down until it is flush with the top of the headset. It is important that the back of the clamp is aligned with the slot in the back of the bar stem, this allows you to evenly tighten the handlebar. The front axle of the fork should always be furthest from the base.
3. Make sure the front wheel is aligned with the base. Keeping the wheel in this position, move the handlebar so that it is at a right angle to the base/wheel. Keeping everything in that position, lightly tighten the lower clamp nut to hold the handlebar in position.
4. Finally, tighten the rest of the clamp nuts, working your way up the barand tightening each nut a little at a time to maintain even pressure. Once you get to the top, repeat this process until the handlebars are completely secure.
Final checks and general maintenance tips for your freestyle scooter
You are almost ready to skate! But before you can start rocking out at the skatepark, here are a few extra tips to help you keep your scooter in tip-top condition and make sure you’ll be able to skate really hard on it.
The most important thing is to make sure all locking nuts and bolts are tight, the brake works properly, and the wheels are secure. You should check your freestyle scooter regularly as over time the self-locking threads can lose their effectiveness and components such as wheels and bearings can become worn or damaged. In order to keep your wheels running smoothly, we recommend turning both the front and rear wheels and braking gently to avoid leaving the wheel square.
Bearings used in the headset should be cleaned and oiled regularly to prevent damage. However, the bearings used in the wheels are equipped with a sealed cap, so they do not need to be greased very often, but it is preferable to clean them from time to time to remove any sand or dirt stuck to them.
Now that you know the basics of maintaining your freestyle scooter, here are a couple more things to keep in mind to keep your scooter in top condition for as long as possible. First, you should try to use the heel of your foot to brake, not your toes, as this will give you more control and strength. Also, always store your freestyle scooter in a dry place and wipe it with a soft, damp cloth after use to keep it clean and prevent rust.
We also recommend using water to clean your scooter, as solvents and some cleaning products can corrode it.
Finally, if you need to replace any damaged or worn component, please contact us first in case there is any compatibility problem.
Do you need help repairing or improving your Freestyle Scooter? We have a professional freestyle scooter repair shop at your service!
We hope you enjoy your freestyle scooter to the fullest and, REMEMBER, always use PROTECTION!!!
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Note: Pictures courtesy of https://www.slammscooters.com/
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