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Guide to Buying Pro Scooter Bars
Diving into our all-encompassing guide for purchasing pro scooter bars, aiming to streamline your experience in selecting the perfect scooter bar from a vast selection.
We are here to address your inquiries about acquiring a new pro scooter bar. You'll gain insight into pivotal elements such as bar height, compatibility, and material type. Prepare yourself to enhance your scooter with the top bar available!
Overview
Overview
Selecting an Ideal Scooter Bar Height
The height of pro scooter bars is vital in picking the appropriate bar. Your riding comfort and style are profoundly affected by this, so it's essential to pay close attention to bar height when making a decision.
Initially, bar height is based primarily on personal likes. Those new to scootering, who haven't yet developed their own preferences, can lean on certain principles for guidance on selecting an appropriate bar height.
What bar height suits your needs? While standing with the scooter deck beneath your feet, pro scooter bars should ideally extend to a point between your hips and navel. This ensures comfort and optimal strength for tricks. At this height, a straight back posture is maintained alongside ample leverage. For beginners contemplating between two bar heights that both fall within this guided range, opting for the taller option is generally recommended for enhanced control.
If you're reflecting on whether to size up or down when purchasing new scooter bars—or find yourself uncertain about choosing a taller or shorter version of a particular bar—this table may provide clarity.
| Aspect | Taller Bars | Shorter Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Lesser strain on the back due to a straighter posture | Necessitates a forward bend, which may increase back strain |
| Tricks | Enhanced control for grinds and manuals | Better control when tossing the scooter mid-air |
| Stability | More stable | More agile and responsive |
| Style | Street focus (in general) | Park focus (in general) |
Measuring Scooter Bar Height
When obtaining a scooter bar, the height will be indicated in the product's specs. Nevertheless, this figure alone doesn't clarify how tall your scooter will ultimately be once fully assembled.
To ascertain the complete height of your scooter post-bar installation, measure from the lowest point of the front wheel to where the bottom of the scooter bar will sit when mounted. The placement of this point is contingent on the scooter's compression system.
Steps to measure overall scooter height:
- SCS: Measure from the bottom of the front wheel to mid-clamp. Add this total to the bar height for the complete scooter height.
- HIC/IHC/ICS: Measure from the bottom of the front wheel to the clamp's bottom. Add this to the bar height to know your complete scooter height after installation.
Need further insights? We’re glad to assist. Here are a couple of handy links:
Deciding on the Correct Scooter Bar Width
When determining the width of your scooter bar, it should align with the width of your own shoulders. Measure across your shoulders, from one to the other, and add approximately one or two inches. This ensures a suitable bar width that isn't awkward or discomforting. Bars that are too narrow might appear odd and strain your wrists and shoulders. On the flip side, overly wide bars can impede trick performance and cause discomfort due to an excessively broad hand stance.
Considering whether to go for a narrower or wider bar? Bear in mind these aspects:
- Wider bars: Offer more stability and are easier to catch
- Narrower bars: More agile and effortless to spin
Scooter Bar Diameter: Standard Versus Oversized
The diameter of a scooter bar can be categorized as standard or oversized:
- Standard: 32 mm outer diameter / 28 mm inner diameter
- Mix: 35 mm outer diameter / 28 mm inner diameter (commonly found in aluminum bars)
- Oversized: 35 mm outer diameter / 32 mm inner diameter
Primarily, the variance between standard and oversized bars lies in their weight and strength characteristics. Typically, oversized bars are marginally stronger and heavier, while standard bars are known for being lighter but a bit less sturdy.
Aluminum bars add a unique angle since they necessitate additional material for formidable durability in intense ride situations. Most on the market exhibit a 35 mm outer diameter with a standard 28 mm inner diameter footprint.
Scooter Bar Compatibility Considerations
Picking a new scooter bar mandates ensuring harmony with your existing setup. Investigate the specifications of a scooter bar to ascertain its support for a specific compression system.
- If using an SCS setup, ensure the bar lacks a slit - SCS adapters can remove this issue
- With a standard-size SCS clamp, a standard outer diameter is required
- For oversized SCS clamps preferring a standard SCS bar size, a compatible SCS clamp shim is necessary
Below, find tabulated requirements for bar compatibility with SCS, HIC, or IHC compression systems. From left to right, follow directions referenced to your current setup, verifying compatibility with specific bar sizes and any extra requirements, like the necessity for a slit or not.
Standard Bars32 mm outer diameter 28 mm inner diameter |
Oversized Bars35 mm outer diameter 32 mm inner diameter |
MIX (Most Aluminum Bars)35 mm outer diameter 28 mm inner diameter |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| SCS Compression
|
Compatible if:
|
Compatible if:
|
Compatible if:
|
| HIC Compression
|
NOT COMPATIBLE |
Compatible if:
|
NOT COMPATIBLE |
| IHC Compression
|
Compatible if:
|
NOT COMPATIBLE |
Compatible if:
|
If you're smitten with a bar having a slit within an SCS setup, purchase an SCS Sleeve (also recognized as an SCS Bar Adapter) from our Scooter Compression section. Many HIC or IHC bars come with an SCS adapter. Check them here:
We have various guides significant to pro scooter compression and corresponding part compatibility. These guides answer a wide array of questions on the subject:
Titanium Scooter Bars Overview
Combining the lightweight nature of aluminum with the sturdiness of steel, titanium bars have become a favourite among seasoned scooter enthusiasts. Titanium bars are notable for their excellent durability-to-weight ratio. There's no need to worry about these bars snapping during intense sessions, and the lightweight quality ensures excellent performance.
The premium pricing of titanium bars outstrips that of chromoly or aluminum due to the high manufacturing demand associated with their standout strength and qualities. Consequently, a higher investment is expected.
Experienced riders often note the flexible quality of titanium bars. While adaptation may be necessary, this feature can ultimately enhance your riding technique by absorbing some impact through the bar for hard landings.
A significant distinction between titanium bars versus their steel or aluminum counterparts is that once they reach their breaking point after extensive use, there's an observable snap rather than a gradual bend. Once you see signs of deterioration in titanium bars (usually only after prolonged use), a replacement should be considered immediately.
Pros:
- High durability
- Low weight
- Flexibility
Cons:
- Costs more
- May be too flexible for some
- Prone to snapping upon eventual failure.
To browse titanium bars specifically, filter the bar selection by material here:
Aluminum Scooter Bars Details
Favoured for their light mass, aluminum pro scooter bars cater to riders focusing on agility and handling. Lighter bars afford better chances to perform complex tricks and aerial moves. Additionally, these bars tend to be more economically priced, appealing to those on a budget seeking trick-ready bars.
Aluminum bars' lesser strength is a notable downside, featuring an increased vulnerability to bending or breaking compared to steel or titanium. To counter this, stabilizers such as gussets or wedges are often added, providing reinforcement.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Not as robust
- No adaptability/flexible resistance
For viewing available aluminum bars, tweak the filter settings by material:
Insights into Chromoly Scooter Bars
Pro scooter bars made of steel, often called chromoly bars, are renowned for their exceptional durability and cost-effectiveness. Despite this, they tend to be heavier compared to bars crafted from other materials.
Chromoly bars can be made into true T-shapes due to the material's natural strength, unlike aluminum bars, which frequently employ gussets or Y-shapes for extra reinforcement.
Street setups commonly feature steel bars, and even professional pro scooter riders favour them. Since not all riders focus on ultra-lightweight setups, chromoly pro scooter bars present a dependable option for both novices and experienced pros alike.
Some chromoly scooter bars are designed with butted tubing to mitigate some of the added weight. This design feature includes thinner tubing in certain areas of the bars to maintain strength while decreasing overall weight. Chromoly bars are ideal for those new to the sport, as you can find compatible chromoly bars for every compression system.
Pros:
- Durable
- Strong
- Affordable
- T-shape
Cons:
- Heavy
Visit our range of scooter bars and sort by material to explore our chromoly pro scooter bars:
Which to Choose: Y-Bars or T-Bars for Pro Scooters?
The names of T-bars and Y-bars stem from their unique shapes. Deciding between the two is largely about personal preference, as no type is fundamentally better than the other.
T-bars are often viewed as slightly weaker because they lack gussets or braces to reinforce the junction of the handlebars and the down tube. This means T-shaped bars are typically made of steel or titanium.
Conversely, Y-bars have reinforcements, making them marginally stronger. For this reason, aluminum bars are frequently designed in a Y-shape.
The choice between T-bars and Y-bars often hinges on aesthetics, personal preference informed by how they perform during use, and their fit with a scooter rider's specific style or identity. Ultimately, each style has its benefits and caters to different rider preferences.
Understanding Backsweep & Upsweep
Backsweep describes the angle of the handlebar oriented towards the rider, whereas upsweep refers to the upward angle of the bar. These attributes greatly influence scooter ergonomics, offering a more comfortable and natural position for the wrists.
Typically seen in Y-shaped bars, backsweep and upsweep enhance comfort, while T-shaped pro scooter bars focus on simplicity and a minimalistic design.
Explore our selection of popular Y- and T-shaped bars:
