Everything you need to know about titanium stunt scooter bars 2022
TL;DR - Titanium stunt scooter bars have grown in popularity over the last 10 years as riders keep pushing the limits of the sport, which leads to the question. What's the best size of titanium scooter bar for me? In this guide fresh for 2022, we take a deep dive into the best size of by riding style, height, and level of experience. Helmet up and let's get to it.
2022's Updated List Of Everything you need to know about sizing titanium stunt scooter bars
Read on or skip ahead using the quick links to learn what to consider when choosing the best size of bars for you
Quick Links [Jump To]
- Why do I need a titanium scooter bar?
- Why are titanium bars so expensive?
- Do I need titanium bars if I am starting?
- What bar height is best for me?
- Should the slit be on the side on titanium bars?
- How to cut titanium scooter bars?
- What compression are titanium scooter bars?
- Will titanium bars fit IHC compression?
- What is HIC compression?
- What is SCS compression?
Why do i need a titanium scooter bar?
As with many things, you do not need titanium scooter bars to enjoy riding your scooter. Most riders that take the sport seriously have them due to their low weight and strength, which allows riders to perform tricks more easily. Comparing steel bars with titanium bars is like comparing doc martins to Nike running shoes for marathons. There are times when steel bars come in handy when riding the street, for instance, but if you are a dedicated park rider who takes their progression seriously, titanium bars are a must.
Why are titanium bars so expensive?
In brief, titanium is expensive to source and work with. There are cheap options out there; this is due to the different grades of titanium. Not all grades are the same strength; not all ti bars are the same. Even though they look very similar
Do i need titanium bars if i am just starting
No, we'd recommend at least a year of dedicated riding before you look at investing in titanium bars. Parents usually have to fork out for the premium bar, and they want to be sure you will get full use out of them.
What bar height is best for me?
Generally, your bars should be between your hips and your waist. This can differ due to personal preference and riding style. Every rider is different; an excellent way to find out is to ride your friend's scooters, see which height you like best and ask them how tall their bars are. Another way to determine the best size is to measure your current bars and add or subtract the difference you would like in your new bars. The guys at the vault scooters have an in-depth video on this exact topic below.
Should the slit be on the side on titanium bars?
Traditionally slits have always been at the back of the bar, inline with where the clamp is, we put it at the side so the clamp is not inline with it, this puts less pressure on the slit and makes the bars last longer.
How to cut titanium scooter bars?
Cutting titanium is not easy; it requires special machinery to enable you to 'cold cut'. If you overheat titanium, it loses its structural integrity and can cause your bars to snap prematurely. Here is a video of cutting titanium bars when we had a scooter shop a few years ago.
We recommend only cutting your bars at home if you have the right tools, machinery and experience.
What compression are titanium scooter bars?
Typically titanium bars are oversized, which allows them to be used on HIC and SCS compression. We would always recommend using SCS compression as the slit in HIC compression can be put under a lot of constant pressure causing cracks to form. SCS bars typically last much longer, so you get more for your money. (or maybe your parents do)
Will Titanium bars fit my IHC scooter?
In short, yes. Most titanium bars are oversized due to the scooter as a whole being stronger with HIC and SCS compressions. Titanium bars are expensive you want them to last. We recommend changing to SCS compression so you get the most out of your bars
However, you can get IHC to HIC adapters which allow you to run IHC forks with HIC bars. We recommend getting the adapter which is the same as your forks. eg. a blunt ihc to hic adapter with blunt IHC forks. This gives it the best change of working correctly. Another alternative is to put a HIC shim over your IHC compression and then treat your setup as HIC.
What is HIC compression?
Hidden internal compression, or HIC, is where an oversized bar has a slit in the bottom to allow a clamp to tighten the bar to a fork. The reason a lot of people prefer HIC over SCS is that it is slightly lighter.
What is SCS compression?
A standard compression system or SCS is where a bar is oversized or undersized without a slit. The bars fit together differently than in HIC or IHC compressions systems; the fork and bar do not meet, and the bar and knife are clamped into an SCS clamp separately rather than clamp bar fork all clamped simultaneously as with HIC and IHC. SCS is thought to be the strongest of the compression systems as it does not have a slit which can suffer damage.
Here is another video from the guys at the vault on the different compression systems:
Now you know all there is to know about titanium scooter bars.
Check out our range and pick the one that will suit your setup best. If you would like further clarity, please get in touch via email or by shceduling a call.
Enjoy your Ti bar experience!