Trendy Bearing Tricks

**EBasil** · 09-12-2005 10:06 AM

So, I was recently exposed to the hottest new trend for "core" kick-flipper and ramp skaters: take off the outer shields on your bearings so you can hear them. Plus, the lore on the street is that it's easier for dirt to "fall out" of the bearings!

There are pro-skaters doing this, and talking about it in magazine interviews. It killed me to read how one is doing it to Bones Swiss bearings.

Prove you're not one of those "longboard nerds" that knows about things like bearing maintenance, durometer ratings and the effect of wheel design: pry off them shields and get to it!

**Directive0** · 09-12-2005 10:09 AM

maybe their just trying to pretend they're cool like the dogtown boyz by reliving the "open-ball" days?! Either way, thats hilarious.

**Mile_High_Mark** · 09-12-2005 10:14 AM

"... So many deserving of retribution... and there is so little time."

**mellowkat** · 09-12-2005 10:28 AM

It's ploy by the bearing companies to sell more bearings. Soon they'll be taking the cage out too!!

**Mile_High_Mark** · 09-12-2005 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by mellowkat

It's ploy by the bearing companies to sell more bearings. Soon they'll be taking the cage out too!!

Bingo.

**EBasil** · 09-12-2005 11:15 AM

Here it comes...

**crash** · 09-12-2005 11:32 AM

don't know how many exploded bearing pieces I've had to remove from the bowl at my park. kid there the other day that I swear sounded like my disk grinder on steel! now with this I will have to be on the lookout for even more.

**Captain Hampton** · 09-12-2005 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by EBasil

Prove you're not one of those "longboard nerds" that knows about things like bearing maintenance, durometer ratings and the effect of wheel design: pry off them shields and get to it!

Psssssh, longboarding is gay. (so said a kick-flipper in a group of four while I rolled home on my 30" Sugar T...

**radioactive_matt** · 09-12-2005 12:57 PM

thats unbelivably retarded. stunningly so. they all need a good slapping

**BobLoftin** · 09-12-2005 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by radioactive_matt

thats unbelivably retarded. stunningly so. they all need a good slapping

hhaahaha...

Man, next thing you know they'll be reintroducing loose-ball bearing wheels, complete with cone washers and everything.

Really, skateboarding needs to die again. Let it die, then we can rebuild it that way it should be.

**Mile_High_Mark** · 09-12-2005 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by BobLoftin

Originally Posted by radioactive_matt

thats unbelivably retarded. stunningly so. they all need a good slapping

hhaahaha...

Man, next thing you know they'll be reintroducing loose-ball bearing wheels, complete with cone washers and everything.

Really, skateboarding needs to die again. Let it die, then we can rebuild it that way it should be.

Re: loose-ball bearings

I remember when I spilled powdered graphite lube on my mom's carpet. To say that she was pissed was an understatement.

**CRASS** · 09-12-2005 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by BobLoftin

Really, skateboarding needs to die again. Let it die, then we can rebuild it that way it should be.

amen, brother. The times of our quivers coming into extreme handiness and the fanzines and underground skateparties will thrive!

Out the kooks!

**bean-a-reano** · 09-13-2005 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by EBasil

So, I was recently exposed to the hottest new trend for "core" kick-flipper and ramp skaters: take off the outer shields on your bearings so you can hear them. Plus, the lore on the street is that it's easier for dirt to "fall out" of the bearings!

There are pro-skaters doing this, and talking about it in magazine interviews. It killed me to read how one is doing it to Bones Swiss bearings.

Prove you're not one of those "longboard nerds" that knows about things like bearing maintenance, durometer ratings and the effect of wheel design: pry off them shields and get to it!

I have heard kids saying this at the local shop. I thought they got this idea from too much smoke..... wow.

**radioactive_matt** · 09-13-2005 10:40 AM

i saw a guy at the park doing this today! he was proper good at newschool skating, 360 flipped on the bank, shiny new deck and all so he may have been sponsered. i commented on it, and he claimed his bearings 'wouldnt spin with them on'.
couldnt you just get a bit of gravel in real easily and just lock up your wheel?

**Mile_High_Mark** · 09-13-2005 10:46 AM

Hmm...

Don't bother with spacers, or speed rings, etc... just remove the bearings' shields!

**uber_goober** · 09-13-2005 11:40 AM

If noise is what they want they could loosen their wheel nuts and listen to the chatter as the wheel slams in the hanger over and over and over. Which would be naturally followed by all the noise of them falling all over the place. (Not that I honesty want to see anyone get hurt.)

Which brings me back to the thought of a previous post...a bit of gravel in the bearing isn't exactly going to make your day.

**EBasil** · 09-13-2005 12:30 PM

Hey, when pro-riders are reporting they do it, "to feel more core"...kids in skateparks will, too. More bogus bearing lore to combat when they graduate to boards that turn and go fast...

Hey, if they want loud bearings, they should just ask Malakai Kingston for his "used" ones... they're "ultra core sounding".

**foo444** · 09-18-2005 10:15 PM

i bet it all started when somone crushed there bearings shields into the balls and had to take the shileds off to save the bearing and just told everyone they did it to be cool

**NoHillTooBig** · 09-21-2005 02:02 PM

so you can hear em? ive never removed bearing shields, but i most certainly still hear my bearings. whoever came up with that one deserves a "special" award.