Hi. Do upgrading bearings make much of a difference? I'm looking for min rolling resistance.
I've got couple of budget cruiser boards - both costing £80. Replaced the wheels with a set of kryptos and some OEM pennies. Both made a huge difference. Will spending £25-£30 on a set of bones reds be a good idea? I've never ridden branded bearings before. The original bearing spin smoothly between the fingers without load but I'm a heavy lump.
Mini logo bearings are every bit as good as reds for about £10.
Ive always had good industrial nsk etc types but tried some reds for the first time and they really are way quicker. Guessing the lube and cages or lack of maybe just makes them spin to win.
I have got andale, independent, bones and mini logo ones on various set ups and I rate the andale ones. They are the abec 5 pretty budget ones and are great. Mini logo come in second and are decent too.
I have never paid over £20 for bearings because I'm a cheapskate.
cheapskate
Arf! Good one 🙂
We always used to buy SKF back in the 70s. The ones in my Sims Comp IIs still spin freely. 😀
Reds were my default back in the day, no idea what's around these days but they were way better than anything else I'd tried...
The only bearings I've used that made a noticeable difference is Bronson. They held speed very well. Everything else was much of a muchness. Minilogos were pretty good for the money.
I give the mini logos a go. Now to find a local skate shop which is open...
I reckon it's the law of diminishing returns thing. Half decent budget ones (eg Mini Logo) will be a big improvement over crappy ones on a cheap setup. The jump from them to Reds (or whatever) will be much less pronounced.
I have Reds on one setup and Death on the other, the Death one rolls much better but then it also has 60mm soft wheels instead of 53mm rock hard ones.
highest abec rating you can stomach
Yes decent bearings are worth it. Can't recommend any skate brands as I got a lifetime supply of SKF ones when I was younger that will see me out. They're not skateboard specific but are much better quality than any abec rated skateboard ones I previously used.
"We always used to buy SKF back in the 70s. The ones in my Sims Comp IIs still spin freely. "
+1, and they don't cost the earth either. a quid or two per bearing if I recall from a couple of years ago...
SKF are probably as good as anything out there and they're only a couple of quid a bearing...
Bones make/sell bearings?
Abec rating means little for skateboarding terms.
I recently put these in my short board street cruiser…seem good and all hardware built in. Cheaper non ceramic version also available.
One wet ride and my Abec 7’s became useless
https://vandemlongboardshop.co.uk/products/zealous-ceramic-bearings
Always skf.
I've moved to softer wheels now I'm an old git
Guessing the lube and cages or lack of maybe just makes them spin to win.
A lot of bearings you can prise the shields off and lube up until your heart's content. Used to be quite common practice.
I can't imagine there being a hugely noticeable difference between brands. I never had the money for expensive gear when I was younger though, so I can't speak directly from experience, but a skateboard wheel really doesn't push a bearing to its limit. Same as on bikes...
That said, my older, less skint self would probably buy them. Treat yourself.