Which Bearings Are You Guys Running?

[Texas_Tone]

I don't love 6 ball bearings as they put more stress on the cages and always end up blowing out in my experience.

SKF won't feel as fast in hand because of the heavy grease, but in the world I come from (bikes) a good greased bearing is always lower drag. Mine have been great and absolutely do not require more maintenance than a normal oil based lube it's the opposite unless you pull shields off like a dummy.

Second the SKF, the set I’ve had has lasted me, I think I switched them to my bank mauler after snagging the eenox swiss (which have also been great), but yea the SKF are still kicking and anytime anyone asks I point them in that direction

[Chalupa]

SKF won't feel as fast in hand because of the heavy grease, but in the world I come from (bikes) a good greased bearing is always lower drag. Mine have been great and absolutely do not require more maintenance than a normal oil based lube it's the opposite unless you pull shields off like a dummy.

The two main spots I skate are extremely dirty, so I do have to clean my bearings frequently compared to most people. I never skate bearings shieldless, but I just took them out of my wheels and found three shields that were either slightly bent or chipped, which probably caused dust and dirt to get in there. Since the backsides of the bearings are sealed, the dirt likely stayed trapped in the bearings. If the shields weren’t damaged, they would have done a better job at keeping debris out. Bones and Quantum have spaces on the backsides, which allows more dirt in, but also allows debris to exit while riding.

I’m going to replace the shields and start using a pin instead of knives or box cutters to pry the shields off from now on. Hopefully, this fixes the issues I’ve had.

[codswallop]

Can I hear from some former shieldless riders? Were there any pros that you found out keep their shields on that you were impressed by?

I can't remember what it's like to have them on. The thing that will most likely turn me off is that waterlogged feeling/sound... Although that happens after cleaning and oiling shieldless bearings anyway so maybe it'll go away eventually with shields on too??

Smart VS Cool: yeah yeah yeah I understand it's smarter to keep the shields on, science etc but I'm an aesthetic person so the new look and sound just made more sense ~10yrs ago and still does

Just spent the most I've ever on a new set and am having second thoughts about taking the shields off. Haven't gotten them yet so when I set them up maybe I won't care anymore. Kind of sold on keeping them on but knowing that some old head/seasoned pro still keeps them on would seal the deal haha

[swongolianbbq]

Although that happens after cleaning and oiling shieldless bearings anyway so maybe it'll go away eventually with shields on too??

Dudes that get free bearings can be seen in a lot of setup videos just popping the shields, setting everything up and rolling with that

But I wouldn't recommend oiling shieldless bearings. Keep them shits dry

One of the reasons for it, definitely is the sound/feedback, but another is that if your bearing gets jammed on the session, you don't need any tools or whatever you can just put a little water in there and flush out whatever's clogging it

Here's a guy you may know that keeps the shields on -

[skateboarder4life]

Can I hear from some former shieldless riders? Were there any pros that you found out keep their shields on that you were impressed by?

I can't remember what it's like to have them on. The thing that will most likely turn me off is that waterlogged feeling/sound... Although that happens after cleaning and oiling shieldless bearings anyway so maybe it'll go away eventually with shields on too??

Smart VS Cool: yeah yeah yeah I understand it's smarter to keep the shields on, science etc but I'm an aesthetic person so the new look and sound just made more sense ~10yrs ago and still does

Just spent the most I've ever on a new set and am having second thoughts about taking the shields off. Haven't gotten them yet so when I set them up maybe I won't care anymore. Kind of sold on keeping them on but knowing that some old head/seasoned pro still keeps them on would seal the deal haha

i go back and forth. the sound definitely gets better with shields the longer you ride them and the less you clean them lol. it never reaches the ideal sound of shield-less but i've been pretty satisfied as far as sound goes.

[codswallop]

Expand Quote

Although that happens after cleaning and oiling shieldless bearings anyway so maybe it'll go away eventually with shields on too??

[close]

Dudes that get free bearings can be seen in a lot of setup videos just popping the shields, setting everything up and rolling with that

But I wouldn't recommend oiling shieldless bearings. Keep them shits dry

One of the reasons for it, definitely is the sound/feedback, but another is that if your bearing gets jammed on the session, you don't need any tools or whatever you can just put a little water in there and flush out whatever's clogging it

Here's a guy you may know that keeps the shields on -

Ok sounds like I need a lesson on this possibly cause I've heard before that no lube is required but after I had a bearing or two seize up after the acetone dried I thought that couldn't be right. This was with bearings fresh out the package never skated. So I started doing one drop. Did this with some Swiss recently and compared to someone with Swiss shields on and theirs rolled significantly longer. What I'm thinking is if shields on enables me to push less on a sesh so I can skate for longer it's not worth the feel/sound?? Idk haha

A testimonial from Mr. Worrest is sick!! Thanks for the link

[SwitchBenihana]

I've known a few riders that get bearings from a sponsor and pop the shields and one of them roasts through a set of Swiss in 3 months. He was amazed that mine lasted longer than 6 months and his sounded cool and weren't terribly slow, but his board definitely wasn't as fast as a normal ass set with shields on.

If the "dirt gets in and can get out" argument was true then why does every single bearing application that is exposed to dust still use shields even in cases where sraf reduction is huge? All bearings need to be cleaned and 90% of the time I've seen most people's bearings are slow because they need a single drop of lube not because they are dirty.

[rikki]

Popping shields from 70 dollar bearings is basically just poor economic management.

I keep the shields on and am currently three years in on a set of Swiss 6 and they just go. Expecting them to last for at least another three years.

Going easy on the lube (one drop per bearing) eventually results in a satisfactory sound that doesn't turn into constantly worrying about seized bearings.

Of course if you have the money, go for it.

[Slave IV]

What pros do might not be the best thing for regular people to follow especially if they are getting bearings for free. It’s easy for them to not care about decreasing the life of their bearings. They also consider bearings done prematurely since they can just get a new set instead of dealing with the hassle of cleaning them.

[swongolianbbq]

Ok sounds like I need a lesson on this possibly cause I've heard before that no lube is required but after I had a bearing or two seize up after the acetone dried I thought that couldn't be right. This was with bearings fresh out the package never skated.

If you're gonna do the no shields thing, when they're brand new, shake em in acetone, then spin them dry with canned air(really fun)

They need to be "broken in" so on the first day or so, they can get clogged a couple times but then they loosen up and don't seize anymore. I've dropped a drop of hand sanitizer in there since I always have that with me in my skate bag to un-sieize a new bearing. I find the new ones seize a lot more in a dusty indoor park or garage/warehouse

Definitely fucking up your bearings just to make them sound nice

I've went back and forth a lot on it and I determined that I like the sound enough to where I'm gonna keep doing it. Which is like once every 5+ years with swiss 6

I've blown up a lotta Reds though and other brands but the swiss 6 are pretty strong

[radcunt]

I just cleaned all my bearings (about 6 setups worth) while watching vanishing point and had a lovely time.  A satisfying task.  Thought I had more Swiss in the mix but only had a few.  The Swiss 6 are still the winners for staying smooth and fast for years

[propaganda]

$10 ccs bearings survived multiple rains for me nothing major. maybe I should stock up before the next bearing apycolosype. wait maybe I shouldn’t speak on it to manipulative market dynamics . actually these bearings suck really bad. ccs is worse than zumiez right?

[Mbrimson88]

$10 ccs bearings survived multiple rains for me nothing major. maybe I should stock up before the next bearing apycolosype. wait maybe I shouldn’t speak on it to manipulative market dynamics . actually these bearings suck really bad. ccs is worse than zumiez right?

I think it is all relative, in that a lot of shops will have a cheaper generic bearing, that may or may not be branded for their shop or business, but is often going to be a good one for the price.

Getting some better quality bearings come at a cost, some more than others, but for some people, weighing up those options, the cheap shop bearing might still be best for them, cheap, reasonable, easily replaceable if or when needed, etc.


Not knowing exactly what bearings either of those two places have, I base my speculation on all the cheaper shop bearings I have seen here or received from online orders over the years, but I think these days most are on the better side, at least the regular type with the removable rubber shields and nylon ball retainers, compared to the full metal bearings from back in the day.

There are still a lot of the base model or pricepoint bearings from brands that will perform about the same as any shop bearings, but could still be twice the cost.

[propaganda]

my shops new no shop bearings but im down for that
need to put them through rigirous scientific method testing but good first run for that ccs blue steel
i love reds and got a pack on ice rn but cant keep paying $25 for them to die every time it rains
i will start a riot if i pay $50 for some bearings and they seize after one rain

[swongolianbbq]

In the late 70s i think it was like, SKF or GMN for most popular

Then Bones swiss came out like, early 80s

At some point, I think in the 80s, NMB started being a popular option, through the early 90s when quickies came out

Then it seemed like in the late 90s it got really insane with like 758393859 bearing brands and models... pros rode bones swiss, and kids bought lucky, pig, fkd, ninja, speed demons, quickies, black Panthers, reflex, etc. I love that rune glifberg video setup interview from a few years back where he says he has his sponsor's bearings in, and you can clearly see that they say bones swiss on them hahah

I wonder if part of why the "no shields" trend happened, was that pros were still riding swiss while being sponsored by other brands. Take the shields off and you can't tell what kind it is by looking at it anymore. "These are shake junt bearings" sure

Then kids wanted to look like pros so they did it too

An older, drier broken in bearing WITH shields on still sounds pretty awesome

But like I've said before I've had a shield come off and get tangled up in the bearing while skating before, stopping me instantly and I slammed pretty hard

I still think bones swiss six are the strongest

And the bigger/softer your wheels are, the longer your bearings last

Like, somebody on 51mm, 101d wheels might break more bearings than somebody on 56mm 93a

SKF is the last of the 3-letter acronym bearings and could be a distant second place to bones swiss in my opinion, based on prestige/heritage alone.

I heard Modus bearings were made in Germany, is this true?

Also interested in Seismic 6-ball built-in bearings for my cruiser/rain board. Not sure what r&d goes into those or where they're made but they seem like they'd be good for that. I think most downhill skateboarders prolly just buy Zealous so there isn't a ton of information on the Seismics, which are more expensive

Idk, I know bones are expensive but they're the only ones I've had last more than five years

If you just skate transition it probably doesn't matter as much

[The Huffer]

I just cleaned all my bearings (about 6 setups worth) while watching vanishing point and had a lovely time.  A satisfying task.  Thought I had more Swiss in the mix but only had a few.  The Swiss 6 are still the winners for staying smooth and fast for years

Drugs involved?

[logjammin]

been beating the fuck out of these Olympia 6 balls and they won't quit. was having bad luck with finicky bearings by quantum and of course shitty bronson raws. but now I'm set on these, highly recommend

[Mbrimson88]

SKF is the last of the 3-letter acronym bearings and could be a distant second place to bones swiss in my opinion, based on prestige/heritage alone.

I heard Modus bearings were made in Germany, is this true?

I really don't know where they are made, but they are pretty good bearings, from the many sets I have had over the years.  From looking online, a few things came up, as per info below.


Modus thread (old) but quote from that here:

I like modus they may not be the fastest but the last, and wear wellat a good price point and they're Aussie so yeah.

Yeah, I’ve heard that, don’t know anything about it though - dyk what’s the history? The bearings are made in China (like most except Bones Swiss and SKF), and seems they ship from their main site from the US (of course it’s available shops worldwide), and they’ve got a stacked team like GT, Cyrus, Tom Knox, Rowan, a bunch of top Aussies, even Ben Nordberg! Anyways, anyone know what’s the Aussie connection, history?

Then a bit of info from a shop site:

Modus Bearings are designed and headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, by Australian professional skateboarder Brett Margaritis. While the brand is Australian-owned and operated, the actual manufacturing of their precision bearings—like many major skate hardware brands—takes place in specialized overseas production facilities, often utilizing Swiss methods and materials.

[Llewellyn Moss]

In the late 70s i think it was like, SKF or GMN for most popular

Then Bones swiss came out like, early 80s

At some point, I think in the 80s, NMB started being a popular option, through the early 90s when quickies came out

Then it seemed like in the late 90s it got really insane with like 758393859 bearing brands and models... pros rode bones swiss, and kids bought lucky, pig, fkd, ninja, speed demons, quickies, black Panthers, reflex, etc. I love that rune glifberg video setup interview from a few years back where he says he has his sponsor's bearings in, and you can clearly see that they say bones swiss on them hahah

I wonder if part of why the "no shields" trend happened, was that pros were still riding swiss while being sponsored by other brands. Take the shields off and you can't tell what kind it is by looking at it anymore. "These are shake junt bearings" sure

Then kids wanted to look like pros so they did it too

An older, drier broken in bearing WITH shields on still sounds pretty awesome

But like I've said before I've had a shield come off and get tangled up in the bearing while skating before, stopping me instantly and I slammed pretty hard

I still think bones swiss six are the strongest

And the bigger/softer your wheels are, the longer your bearings last

Like, somebody on 51mm, 101d wheels might break more bearings than somebody on 56mm 93a

SKF is the last of the 3-letter acronym bearings and could be a distant second place to bones swiss in my opinion, based on prestige/heritage alone.

I heard Modus bearings were made in Germany, is this true?

Also interested in Seismic 6-ball built-in bearings for my cruiser/rain board. Not sure what r&d goes into those or where they're made but they seem like they'd be good for that. I think most downhill skateboarders prolly just buy Zealous so there isn't a ton of information on the Seismics, which are more expensive

Idk, I know bones are expensive but they're the only ones I've had last more than five years

If you just skate transition it probably doesn't matter as much

Wow, simple concept I'd never considered. Bigger softer wheel = absorbs more impact to lessen the force before it gets to the bearing + a 56mm makes fewer revolutions than a 51 especially over the life of each? Probably less tension and stress on the bearing. Seems like softer wheels slide less and ride slower would be a factor too.

That was an interesting recap of bearing history. I remember the saturated bearings market of the early aughts. I'd bet all the entry level options from Lucky, Speed Demons, FKD etc came from the same factory same mold same components.

Yet I just checked CCS and see they stock 20+ companies selling bearings. Huh.

[rikki]

People who won't buy good bearings (read: Bones Swiss) because they are "expensive" end up spending a lot more money in the long run because the shitty ass bearings from brand XYZ they keep fruitlessly experimenting with will just seize the fuck up or explode ad infinitum, all the while the "expensive" bearings keep on spinning.

[TwisT]

People who won't buy good bearings (read: Bones Swiss) because they are "expensive" end up spending a lot more money in the long run because the shitty ass bearings from brand XYZ they keep fruitlessly experimenting with will just seize the fuck up or explode ad infinitum, all the while the "expensive" bearings keep on spinning.

As someone who currently rides Bones Swiss, and always goes back to them (even though I've claim they are overrated). The fun is in the journey. I know bones Swiss are great. Great is boring.

[Fast_Freddie]

been beating the fuck out of these Olympia 6 balls and they won't quit. was having bad luck with finicky bearings by quantum and of course shitty bronson raws. but now I'm set on these, highly recommend

Which Quantums did you have issues with?  I have had the same set of isotopes for about 4 years now without issue... regular cleanings, and lube

[codswallop]

Expand Quote

Ok sounds like I need a lesson on this possibly cause I've heard before that no lube is required but after I had a bearing or two seize up after the acetone dried I thought that couldn't be right. This was with bearings fresh out the package never skated.

[close]

If you're gonna do the no shields thing, when they're brand new, shake em in acetone, then spin them dry with canned air(really fun)

They need to be "broken in" so on the first day or so, they can get clogged a couple times but then they loosen up and don't seize anymore. I've dropped a drop of hand sanitizer in there since I always have that with me in my skate bag to un-sieize a new bearing. I find the new ones seize a lot more in a dusty indoor park or garage/warehouse

Definitely fucking up your bearings just to make them sound nice

I've went back and forth a lot on it and I determined that I like the sound enough to where I'm gonna keep doing it. Which is like once every 5+ years with swiss 6

I've blown up a lotta Reds though and other brands but the swiss 6 are pretty strong

I'm replying a month later but wanted to thank you for sharing!

So I've been rocking the shields on my new Swiss bearings since my last post (~month ago) and I'm feeling fickle because it's much better. Way faster (duh) VS shields-off and still sound great... Not the water logged feeling/sound I was expecting or at least it went away so fast I didn't have time to notice it. Unintentionally tested my former shieldless bearings on a new cruiser setup and the louder sound was dissatisfying haha not to mention felt slow. Obvious next step is to get shields-4-life tatted right above my arse. That was fun

[logjammin]

Expand Quote

been beating the fuck out of these Olympia 6 balls and they won't quit. was having bad luck with finicky bearings by quantum and of course shitty bronson raws. but now I'm set on these, highly recommend

[close]

Which Quantums did you have issues with?  I have had the same set of isotopes for about 4 years now without issue... regular cleanings, and lube

vectors

[propaganda]

$10 ccs bearings survived multiple rains for me nothing major. maybe I should stock up before the next bearing apycolosype. wait maybe I shouldn’t speak on it to manipulative market dynamics . actually these bearings suck really bad. ccs is worse than zumiez right?

ok new update feeling very bad on my board. think its the bearings idk. should a took a pic looks like too much space on inner ring. switching to quantum for now. hoping to set up a freshie wednesday and im a go reds.

not really bad at my ccs's but cant be my top dawg. never felt this feeling before. btw if anyone wants to loan me some desigmner bearings so i can understand, i am open and accepting

[propaganda]

Expand Quote

$10 ccs bearings survived multiple rains for me nothing major. maybe I should stock up before the next bearing apycolosype. wait maybe I shouldn’t speak on it to manipulative market dynamics . actually these bearings suck really bad. ccs is worse than zumiez right?

[close]

ok new update feeling very bad on my board. think its the bearings idk. should a took a pic looks like too much space on inner ring. switching to quantum for now. hoping to set up a freshie wednesday and im a go reds.

not really bad at my ccs's but cant be my top dawg. never felt this feeling before. btw if anyone wants to loan me some desigmner bearings so i can understand, i am open and accepting

Ignore, don’t think it’s my bearings maybe trucks sorry ccs