Guide to Buying Stunt Scooter Bars
Your questions regarding the purchase of a new stunt scooter bar will be addressed. You'll gain insights into key factors like bar height, compatibility, and the material of the bar. Prepare to enhance your scooter with the finest bar available!
Overview
Overview
Selecting the Proper Scooter Bar Height
The height of a stunt scooter bar is crucial in choosing the appropriate bar. It significantly influences your riding style and comfort, necessitating careful attention to bar height selection.
Bar height is primarily a personal choice. For novices yet to establish their preferences, specific guidelines assist in picking the suitable bar height.
What should be the ideal height of stunt scooter bars? When standing with the scooter deck between your feet, the bars should ideally align between your hips and navel. This position guarantees comfort and optimal leverage for performing tricks. This height allows for a straight back posture while providing ample leverage. If you're a beginner undecided between two bar heights within the suggested range, we recommend choosing the taller option as it often offers superior control.
If you are contemplating whether to increase or decrease the size of the scooter bars—or if you're uncertain about opting for a taller or shorter variant of a specific bar—this table might prove useful.
Aspect | Taller Bars | Shorter Bars |
---|---|---|
Comfort | Less strain on the back due to maintaining a more upright posture | Requires the rider to lean forward, potentially increasing back strain |
Tricks | More control over grinds and manuals | Enhanced control for aerial tricks |
Stability | Greater stability | Increased agility and responsiveness |
Style | More suited for street style | More suited for park style |
Measuring Scooter Bar Height
The height is noted in the product details when buying a scooter bar but doesn't fully convey the total scooter height once installed.
To ascertain the complete height of your scooter with a newly fitted bar, measure from the base of the front wheel to where the base of the scooter bar will sit once mounted. This point's position relies on your scooter's compression system.
Method for measuring overall scooter height:
- SCS: Measure from the bottom of the front wheel to the mid-section of the clamp. Add this to the bar height for the total bar height of the scooter.
- HIC/IHC/ICS: Measure from the bottom of the front wheel to the bottom of the clamp. Total scooter height is the sum of this measurement and the bar height after adding the new bar.
If you require further information, we're pleased to help. See some helpful links below:
Selecting the Optimum Scooter Bar Width
For scooter bar selection, match the bar's width to your shoulder span. Measure across your shoulders and add an inch or two. This helps in finding a bar width that is comfortable. Bars that are too narrow may look unusual and cause wrist and shoulder discomfort. Conversely, bars that are excessively wide could impede certain tricks and make the posture uncomfortable.
If undecided about choosing narrower or wider bars, consider:
- Wider bars: Provide stability and ease when catching
- Narrower bars: Offer agility and ease of spinning
Measuring Scooter Bar Diameter: Oversized vs Standard Bars
Bar diameter is categorised as standard or oversized:
- Standard: 32 mm outer diameter / 28 mm inner diameter
- Mix: 35 mm outer diameter / 28 mm inner diameter (chiefly aluminium bars)
- Oversized: 35 mm outer diameter / 32 mm inner diameter
The weight and strength attributes of scooter bars differ based on their standard or oversized measurements. Typically, oversized bars are marginally stronger and heavier, whereas standard ones are lighter yet less robust.
Since aluminium bars need extra material for enough strength during intense sessions, many aluminium bars have a 35 mm outer diameter with a standard 28 mm inner diameter.
Ensuring Compatibility of Scooter Bars
Verifying compatibility with the rest of your scooter setup is important when selecting a new scooter bar. Compatibility is determined by checking the specifications to identify which compression system the bar supports.
- For an SCS setup, ensure the bar lacks a slit - an SCS adapter can be used to remove the slit
- For a standard size SCS clamp, the bar must have a standard outer diameter
- For an oversized SCS clamp with a standard size SCS bar, use an appropriate SCS clamp shim
Compression System |
Standard Bars 32 mm outer diameter 28 mm inner diameter |
Oversized Bars
35 mm outer diameter 32 mm inner diameter |
Aluminium Bars 35 mm outer diameter 28 mm inner diameter |
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SCS Scooter Bars |
Compatible if:
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Compatible if:
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Compatible if:
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HIC Scooter Bars |
NOT COMPATIBLE |
Compatible if:
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NOT COMPATIBLE |
IHC Scooter Bars |
Compatible if:
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NOT COMPATIBLE |
Compatible if:
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Should you possess an SCS setup and desire a bar featuring a slit at its base, an SCS Sleeve (also known as an SCS Bar Adapter) is available under our category of Scooter Compression. Furthermore, many HIC or IHC bars come with an SCS adapter. Check them out here:
We provide several guides relevant to the subject of stunt scooter compression and the compatibility of different parts. Seek answers within these guides:
Titanium Scooter Bars
Titanium scooter bars carry the lightweight quality of aluminium bars yet the strength of steel ones, making them a sought-after choice among seasoned riders. Their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio justifies investing in titanium bars for scooters. Rest assured that your bars remain intact during intense sessions, and their lightweight nature won't impinge on performance.
Being more expensive than chromoly or aluminium, titanium's remarkable characteristics mean producing titanium bars demands more resources, often leading to a heftier price.
Individuals new to titanium bars may initially be taken aback by their flex. While adjusting may take time, this attribute can enhance your riding style. Learning to appreciate the flexibility of titanium bars reveals its perk in shock absorption during heavy landings.
Notably, when breaking occurs (after extended usage), titanium bars do not exhibit gradual weakening like steel or aluminium but tend to snap suddenly. Observing any wear on titanium bars (usually post years of rigorous use) warrants immediate replacement.
Advantages:- Robust
- Lightweight
- Flexible
- More costly
- Flexibility (disliked by some)
- Prone to snapping upon eventual breakage
To explore our range of titanium bars, filtered by material:
Aluminium Scooter Bars
Aluminium stunt scooter bars are cherished for their lightness, ideal for riders focusing on agility and manoeuvrability. Their reduced weight is particularly beneficial during intricate airborne tricks and manoeuvres. Additionally, aluminium bars frequently come at an affordable price, making them a cost-efficient choice for those desiring trick-friendly bars.
However, aluminium bars have the downside of limited strength. They are more likely to bend or break compared to steel or titanium bars. To counteract this, aluminium bars often incorporate stabilisers like gussets or wedges around welded joints, strengthening the structure.
Advantages:- Lightweight
- Cost-effective
- Less durable
- Rigid / lacking in flexibility
If you're interested in exploring our range of aluminium bars, you can sort the category by material:
Chromoly Bars for Scooters
Steel stunt scooter bars, often referred to as chromoly bars, are widely recognised for their outstanding durability and cost-effectiveness. However, they tend to be heavier than bars fabricated from alternative materials.
While aluminium bars often feature gussets or Y-shapes for enhanced strength, chromoly bars can be crafted in genuine T-shapes thanks to the material’s natural strength.
Steel bars are frequently employed in street setups, even among professional scooter riders. Not every rider prioritises ultra-lightweight setups, so whether you're starting out or are an experienced pro, chromoly stunt scooter bars are a dependable option!
To lessen the weight, certain chromoly scooter bars employ butted tubing, meaning some bar sections have thinner tubing to decrease weight while preserving strength. Chromoly bars are ideal for beginners, and there is a chromoly bar for every compression system available.
Pros:- Durable
- Strong
- Affordable
- T-shape design
- Heavy
Visit our range of scooter bars and sort by material to view all our chromoly stunt scooter bars:
Choosing Between Y-Bars or T-Bars for Stunt Scooters
T-bars and Y-bars earn their names from their unique shapes. The decision between them is ultimately subjective, as neither is fundamentally better than the other.
T-bars are generally seen as a bit weaker because they lack gussets or bracing to strengthen the join between the handlebars and the down tube. Thus, T-shaped bars are commonly made from steel or titanium.
In contrast, Y-bars come with reinforcements that afford them slightly more strength. As a result, aluminium bars are often designed in a Y-shape.
Choosing T-bars or Y-bars is impacted by several factors, such as appearance, personal preference based on how they feel in use, and alignment with a specific scooter style or identity. Both types have their own benefits and are suitable for different rider preferences.
Backsweep & Upsweep
Backsweep refers to the angle at which the handlebar inclines towards the rider, while upsweep describes the bar’s upward angle. These features significantly affect scooter ergonomics, offering a more relaxed and natural position for the wrists.
Y-shaped bars typically include backsweep and upsweep, whereas T-shaped stunt scooter bars focus on simplicity and a straightforward design.
Check out our fantastic range of Y- and T-shaped bars: