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Pro Scooter Headset Buyer's Guide
This is our guide to pro scooter headsets. There isn’t much you can do wrong when choosing a new headset for your pro scooter. Just remember that the headset bearings enable your fork and bars to spin smoothly when you execute bar spins or throw your deck around in the air.
Acquiring basic knowledge about what a scooter headset does and how it’s installed is useful when you are looking for the best scooter headset. Time to upgrade your scooter? Get ready to learn the most important aspects of choosing the right headset for your setup.
Overview
What Is a Pro Scooter Headset
The headset is responsible for allowing the fork to spin smoothly inside the head tube of the deck. A pro scooter headset typically comes with the following parts:
- Crown Race: Scooter headsets typically come with a crown race, but most forks have a built-in crown race, rendering the separate crown race obsolete. The crown race is where the headset bearing rests on the scooter fork.
- Headset Bearings: The crucial components of the headset are the bearings, which come in pairs – one for the top and one for the bottom. These bearings are typically sealed to ensure longevity and smooth operation. If you come across a headset with open bearings, we recommend opting for a different headset with sealed bearings, as they last much longer.
- C-Ring: C-rings serve to stabilize the fork inside the headset by filling the void surrounding the fork tube. Compression presses down onto the C-ring, making it an indispensable part of the setup. If you ride with IHC compression, it's important to note that you’ll need a mini C-ring.
- Dust Cover / Headset Cap: The primary role of the dust cover is to protect the bearings from dirt and debris, ensuring they continue to spin smoothly.
What Is an Integrated Headset? Integrated vs Non-Integrated Headsets
Many scooter headsets are referred to as integrated, but since most scooter decks now have integrated bearing cups, the term "integrated headset" isn’t worth paying attention to in scootering. Decks are sometimes called integrated decks, and this implies that the headtube has bearing cups integrated into its shape.
Non-integrated headsets have two headset cages or bearing cups that are knocked into the headtube of the deck before installing the bearings. On entry-level trick scooters, you will sometimes find non-integrated headsets, whereas more performance-oriented complete pro scooters usually feature integrated headsets.
How to Install a Scooter Headset
Installing a headset on a pro scooter is pretty straightforward. In the video below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to installing an integrated headset.
You need to grease the bearing cups, place the headset bearings in the top and bottom, and then slide the fork through the headset. After that, you can install the C-ring and the dust cap.
Be 100% sure to put the bearings in the right way – they have a "tapered" shape that fits perfectly in the bearing cup of the deck.
Remember to use grease – it will make it easier to replace the headset and prevent wear on the bearing cup.
Compatibility of Pro Scooter Headsets
There aren’t a lot of variables to get confused over when it comes to finding the best compatible headset for your custom pro scooter. High-quality aftermarket headsets and scooter decks are all integrated and share the same sizes.
IHC is the only exception. Since IHC forks have narrower fork tubes, they require a mini C-ring. Chances are you already have a mini C-ring that came with your fork, compression kit, or pre-installed in a complete scooter setup. If not, you can find one right here:
Scooter Headset Maintenance
You can do a few things to maintain your headset and ensure smooth performance and maximum longevity. The performance of a properly installed headset depends on having smoothly spinning ball bearings. If you start to notice friction or suspect there’s dirt inside the headset, it’s a good idea to address the issue promptly, as it will only worsen over time.
Disassemble the headset:
- Remove the bar and compression.
- Carefully remove the fork. Be cautious not to bend the headset bearings.
Inspect the bearings:
- If the bearings are visibly damaged, it is recommended to get a new headset.
- If the bearings are dirty and greasy, clean them.
Clean the headset bearings:
- Soak them in a cleaning agent and stir them after the cleaning agent has worked for a few minutes.
- Let the bearings dry.
Lubricate the bearings:
- Apply a small amount of bearing lubricant once the bearings are dry.
- Spin the bearings to distribute the grease evenly.
- Wipe the bearing cups of your deck with a clean cloth, and apply new grease.
And voilà – it is time to reinstall the headset!
To get an in-depth guide to cleaning bearings, we recommend our guide:
Further Reading
We recommend reading our guide to scooter compression if you have any doubts about terms like SCS, IHC, or HIC:
The following guides also contain crucial information about scooter compression:
