Kick Scooter Bearings for a Smooth Ride

Scooter bearings ensure that your wheels rotate freely and quickly. Each wheel requires two bearings, and although your scooter will come with them pre-assembled, they will wear down over time and need to be replaced. Each bearing contains small balls inside, which help distribute the weight load when riding.

Push scooter bearings are typically made from steel or ceramic. Steel bearings are the most popular as they are durable and suitable for regular day-to-day use. Ceramic bearings generate less heat and friction and can often spin faster compared to steel. However, steel bearings are almost always the more affordable option.

What to Look for With Scooter Bearings

When searching for scooter bearings, you will frequently encounter the term “ABEC”. This is essentially a measurement of the quality of the bearing on a scale of 1-9. The higher the number, the greater degree of “precision” of the bearing, meaning it should achieve smoother rotations. However, bearings with a lower ABEC rating are likely to be super robust, so just because a bearing has a lower rating does not mean it won't work for your setup.

You will also often see the number 608. This refers to the size of the bearing. It’s by far the most common bearing size for scooters, skateboards, and skates, with an inner diameter of 8mm, and an outer diameter of 22mm.

To ensure that you’re not changing bearings regularly, have a look at our Bearing Cleaning and Lubrication Guide to help keep them maintained. If you think that your scooter could use a new set of wheels, then check out our Kick Scooter Wheels category.