What is compression?

In a stunt scooter, the compression system is a set of parts with which the handlebar is fixed to the fork and compresses the bearing located in the deck (in the so-called steering tube or simply steering).

For a better understanding, you should at least have a general understanding of the design of the scooter:

Structural elements of a stunt scooter: 1 - grips, 2 - handlebars, 3 - compression system, 4 - steering, 5 - fork,
6 - plugs, 7 - deck, 8 - sandpaper, 9 - brake, 10 - wheels.

So, from the front, the deck goes into the steering wheel (or steering tube). Inside it there are bearings that are responsible for transmitting rotation from the steering wheel. A fork passes through the bearings from below, compressing them to eliminate play, but not to interfere with smooth rotation. The steering post is attached to the fork on top. Actually, to combine all these components (frame, fork and steering wheel) into one whole, a compression system is needed.

It directly affects the reliability, durability and overall weight of the scooter, as well as the smoothness and speed of rotation of the steering wheel. The last aspect is no less important than overall reliability, because in a stunt scooter the steering column must rotate 360 degrees, and this feature is used when performing most tricks. Frequent rotations should not lead to looseness, creaking or crunching in the steering column.

Sometimes compression is identified with a clamp, that is, a bolted clamp. But this is only one of the parts of the system, located outside the steering column.

Scooter clamp with 2 bolts.

The clamp clamps the handlebars and forks on the scooter, and inside, other compression elements remain hidden from view, including bolts with washers, compression flasks, daisies, anti-play rings and other connecting components.

The compression system is considered a consumable item that needs to be replaced at the end of its service life. But, firstly, different types of compression have different levels of reliability and overall durability. Secondly, maintenance (tightening loose bolts, lubrication of steering bearings, etc.) allows you to extend the service life of your installed system. With this service you can slow down the rate of wear. But if, even after servicing, play and/or squeaks in the steering wheel remain, then it is recommended to replace the compression.

Popular stunt scooters

Today, sports scooters use 5 types of compression, namely:

  • threaded;
  • ICS;
  • SCS;
  • HIC;
  • IHC.
The most common types of compressions today.

Let's look at the features of each system in more detail.

Threaded compression

This is the simplest and most accessible system. The fork here is threaded and secured with nuts. The steering wheel is held in place by a clamp. Another characteristic feature of this compression is often the use of non-integrated (that is, not sealed) bearings, while other systems use integrated (sealed) bearings. The latter do not require lubrication and are less subject to wear, since they are not exposed to dust, dirt, or moisture.

Threaded compression is simple and accessible, but not very reliable.

Threaded compression is used on budget stunt models, as well as on classic scooters. The main advantage is accessibility. But there are more disadvantages:

  • low reliability due to the presence of threads;
  • tendency to weaken fixation and the appearance of backlashes;
  • difficulty of maintenance (as a rule, not only tightening the nuts is required, but also lubrication of the bearings). True, a similar system is often used on bicycles, so if you figured it out there, then there won’t be any particular difficulties on a scooter either.

The threaded system should only be considered by beginners, and only if you are not yet sure that trick skating is for you.

ICS compression

This is one of the lightest systems, which was quite popular and actively used before, but is now being replaced by competitors.

ICS compression is as light as possible.

In terms of reliability, this type of compression is better than a threaded one. It uses integrated bearings and a fork with a special mounting hole for a bolt, and the steering wheel contains a special anchor fastener - a “daisy”, which allows you to connect all the elements into one. A clamp is fixed on the outside, clamping the steering column and maintaining compression.

ICS is an abbreviation for Inverted Compression System, which translates as an inverted system. Accordingly, both the primary connection and the tightening of the compression bolt (and it is periodically weakened here) is carried out from below. To do this, you will have to remove the front wheel, which increases the complexity of maintenance. In addition, in some models the compression bolt is shortened, so for easy access to it you will need an extended hexagon.

Scooters with ICS are lightweight, making them suitable for lovers of park riding - for performing tricks on special ramps, acceleration, etc. It is worth considering that the popularity of this compression is declining, which means finding spare parts or a new system entirely can become a problem.

SCS compression

Such a system is considered the most reliable and durable today, but at the same time the most weighty (heavy).

SCS compression is a symbol of reliability for stunt scooters.

This compression includes:

  • integrated bearings;
  • a threaded fork or even a built-in anchor;
  • a fastening bolt with a “pancake” (a washer that increases the supporting surface). Fixes the steering rack with the fork;
  • special SCS clamp. Both the steering wheel and the fork hold from here, which increases overall reliability.

Another important difference of the Standard Compression System is the use of handlebars without a cut. It turns out that the steering column is devoid of one of the most fragile elements, therefore the risks of cracks, deformations or breaks are minimal here.

When looking for spare parts for SCS, you need to take into account that there are different clamps in size. Standard clamps are designed for handlebars with a size of 34.9 mm (oversized) and 31.9 mm (standard), as they are equipped with a special spacer to increase the thickness. There are also lightweight SCS clamps that are suitable exclusively for standard 31.9 mm handlebars.

Scooters with SCS are recommended for experienced riders and all those who count on a reliable “long-liver”. This compression withstands “meaty” street riding better than others: stunt riding in various city locations, such as steps, curbs, railings, street parapets, etc. True, scooters with SCS are usually more expensive than their analogues.

Scooters with SCS compression

HIC and IHC compressions

It is advisable to consider these two systems together, since the principle of connecting the fork and steering wheel is identical. They are the most common today because they are a hybrid of the most reliable SCS and the lightest ICS.

HIC and IHC compressions offer a good balance of reliability, weight and price.

The differences lie only in the diameters of the steering columns. Thus, HIC is intended for oversized handlebars (size 34.9 mm), and IHC - for standard steel (31.9 mm) and aluminium oversized alloy with the same internal size.

Compression involves special forks responsible for compressing the integrated bearings. Another characteristic detail is a special spacer (marked in yellow in the picture above), which compensates for the lack of fork size. The compression clamp holds the spacer and steering wheel in place.

In terms of reliability, HIC and IHC are not at all inferior to SCS due to the presence of a cut on the steering wheel and, most often, a not so massive clamp. But both systems are easier. Other advantages include easy installation and maintenance, and the variety of available spare parts, especially different clamps.

Scooters with HIC can be considered universal: suitable for all riding styles and riders with different experience levels. IHC models are often even lighter (since they use smaller size handlebars and forks), but overall strength suffers slightly because of this.

Scooters with HIC or IHC compression

Clamp and number of bolts on it

Not all manufacturers of stunt scooters initially inform buyers about the compression system used. In such a situation, you can at least guess what it will look like without disassembling it by looking at the clamp installed here and the number of bolts for fixing it. Here are some basic rules:

  • one bolt is most often present on the simplest threaded compressions;
  • A clamp with two bolts can have ICS systems (in most cases they have 2-bolt clamps), as well as HIC and IHC.
  • A 4 bolt scooter most often has SCS compression. So, this system always has a 4-bolt clamp. True, clamps from HIC and IHC can have the same number of bolts;
  • the most “unpredictable” in this aspect are IHC and HIC compressions. They can be equipped with either lightweight clamps with one or two bolts, or more reliable ones with 3, 4 or even 5. But most often, scooter manufacturers initially equip these systems with two- or three-bolt clamps.
Scooters with 4-bolt clamp

The clamps themselves are usually made of aluminium, and the bolts are made of steel with hex heads. And the higher the quality of materials used and the fit of parts to each other, the better the rider's riding experience will be.

There is also a direct relationship between the number of attachment points on the clamp and reliability. The more bolts, the less often compression tightening will be needed, the longer you can ride without the characteristic loosening of the steering column, the lower the risk of cracks, breaks, etc. But keep in mind that each additional bolt increases the final weight of the scooter by approximately 100 - 150 grams.

4 bolt clamp.

If you value lightness, then the best choice would be versions with 2-bolt clamps. When high reliability and ease of maintenance are a priority, then it is worth considering models with clamps with 3 to 5 bolts. But even here the SCS 4-bolt clamps stand out. Their design involves dividing the internal cavity into two parts. The upper one fixes the steering column, and the lower one fixes the fork. As a result, the loads are distributed more evenly, plus no cuts are required on the handlebars.

In conclusion, we note that in our general catalog, for an easy search for a suitable stunt scooter, you can sort the models by type of compression and/or number of bolts on the clamp.