Scooters are a beautiful, eco-friendly mode of transportation that people should use as often as they can. They bring many benefits to the table and are suitable for both youngsters and adults. They don’t have a complicated body and require several parts to work properly. Those main parts are the scooter decks, bars and grip, fork, wheels, bearings, clamps and headset.

Deck

Having the right deck is key for having a strong and durable scooter. It can make a big difference in the scooter’s balance, weight, speed and how comfortable you feel while riding it. There’s a variety of durable decks for scooter when riders need to replace the old ones. They come in different lengths, weights, widths and foot space.

The deck’s length mainly depends on your height and riding style. Shorter decks are mainly used by trick scooter professionals because they spin quicker. Longer decks, on the other hand, are more comfortable to stand on and will give you a higher hop. The deck’s length can vary from 50-60cm, but the most common one is 55cm.

Its weight is also important. A lot of riders prefer to have a lightweight deck because it allows them to perform tricks easily and manipulate the scooter without a lot of effort. However, there’s a difference between a lightweight and an unstable deck. Heavier ones will give you a more solid surface to stand on and a smoother ride. The weight also depends on your size and weight.

If you’re a street rider, you’ll feel more comfortable with a wider deck. With a wider one, you can handle rails and ledges more easily and have better balance. If you’re a track rider, you’ll enjoy a narrower deck. Narrower decks are also lighter and are better for inside rails. Again, your height can make a difference. Taller riders need a wider deck.

The distance between the axle hole centres of the fork and the rear is known as the wheelbase. It’s the most important measurement to consider when choosing the deck’s length. The three elements that affect the wheelbase are the headtube angle, blunt space and length. All of them bump up the length at times without making the scooter longer.

Bars

If you want your ride to be easy, fun and comfortable, it’s important that you find the right handles for the job. Height is crucial. There’s a general rule that the bars should end around your hips or waist while you’re standing on the deck. The right bar height has an impact on comfort, performance and balance.
If the bar is too high, you’ll have trouble controlling the scooter. If it’s too short, it’ll be uncomfortable to ride. The bars’ width depends on the rider’s personal preferences. It’ll be ideal if they’re the same width as your shoulders. A narrower bar works if you’re doing technical tricks. And a longer one is good for no-hands tricks.
There are two main bar diameters, standard and oversized. Standard ones have an inner diameter of 28mm and an outer one of 32mm. The oversized ones’ internal diameter is 32mm and the external is 35mm. There are bars with a rake, which means they’re bent back a little. This is something you might need some time to get accustomed to.
The three main materials for bars are alloy, aluminium and titanium. Allow ones are cheaper and available in standard and oversized diameters. Aluminium ones are stronger, lightweight and durable. Titanium bars are the strongest and most durable, just like titanium is the best material for decks for scooters.
Last but not least, keep in mind the compression styles. Some require more maintenance than others and won’t always be compatible with the bras you have. The most common ones are SCS, HIC and IHC. IHC is lightweight, stable and easy to break down when you need to travel and transport it. HIC is very solid and easy to work with. SCS is good for standard and oversized bars and is durable and easy to work with.

Grips

Your bars become more comfortable and secure when you add some grips. They come in a variety of colours and textures to fit your unique style. Their purpose is to also absorb some of the shock when you land on the scooter. They also protect the bars’ ends in case of an accident. Using them will extend the life of the bars and of the scooter in general.

Clamps

Scooter clamps can be standard and oversized depending on the bar’s you’re using them on. Some of them come with a shim that can make the clamp suitable for multiple handles by changing their size. Shims are mainly used in SCS clamps to make them compatible with oversized and standard bars.
Clamps can also have different heights. This is a very important part because it has to match the size of the slit inside the downtube. When it fits right, it stabilises the downtube around the fork. If these two elements don’t match, the clamp will loosen all the time.

Headset

The headset is the part of the scooter that allows you to spin the fork and the handlebars. These bearings handle a lot of stress. There are 3 main types of headsets, threaded, threadless standard and threadless integrated. The threaded ones are basic. They’re made of steel and have ball bearings. However, they might not give you a smooth performance.
The threadless standard type has a top cap that makes it suitable to be combined with a threadless fork. They aren’t very common. Threadless integrated headsets are the most commonly used ones. It uses industrial bearings which are usually fully sealed. They give you a very smooth performance even at maximum tension.

Forks

There are two main types of forks made for scooters with suspension and scooters without suspension. They can be made of materials such as steel, aluminium and titanium. Aluminium is lightweight but can get damaged easily. Steel is stronger, heavier and won’t break easily. Titanium is a bit more expensive but very durable.
The forks can be standard, threadless, and ICS (Integrated compression System) forks. Standard ones are very common and often made of aluminium or steel. They’re durable but can be quite heavy. Threadless forks are lightweight, strong and perfect when doing tricks. ICS ones are the newest type which is strong and lightweight at the same time.

Wheels

The wheels are the base of the scooter. They should be made of high-quality materials, sturdy and strong enough to withstand a lot of wear and tear. The three main wheel sizes are 120mm, 110mm and 100mm. If you’re a beginner, a smaller size will suit you well. When you’ve gained some experience, you can go bigger.