Why Am I Breaking More Parts? The "Progression Curve" of Freestyle Scooters

You just dropped a few hundred dollars on a high-end pro scooter. It’s lighter, faster, and looks incredible. Then, two month later, you snap a bolt or de-hub a wheel. You’re thinking: "My cheap Amazon scooter lasted a year! Did I waste my money?"

The short answer? No. You’re actually just getting better.

In the world of freestyle scootering, we can say there is a "breaking curve." As your skills increase, the stress you put on your gear changes. Here is why you’re breaking parts now, and why it will eventually slow down.

1. The Beginner Phase: The Learning Curve

Beginners don't usually break parts because of "raw power," but rather due to mechanical or technical errors and lack of maintenance.

• Flat-Spotted Wheels: Beginners often rely too heavily on the brake. Stomping on the brake instead of carving or foot-braking locks the wheel, sliding it across the concrete and wearing down a flat edge.

• Snapped Brakes: Difficulty landing with feet on the deck often leads to landing directly on the brake or the fender, snapping it.

• The "Rattle" (Loose Setups): New riders often haven't mastered scooter maintenance. Riding with a loose headset or compression puts uneven leverage on the fork and bars, leading to premature snapping.

The Verdict: These breaks are about learning how to control the machine.

2. The Intermediate Phase: The "Danger Zone"

This is the stage where riders break the most parts. Why? Because you now have the height and speed to do big tricks, but you haven't mastered the "clean" landing yet.

• De-hubbed Wheels: Once you start practicing Bri-flips (for exemple), you tend to land "sideways" or at the bottom of transitions. This side-load pressure rips the urethane right off the aluminum core.

• Snapped Aluminum Bars: Aluminum is the lightest material, but it has the least "flex memory." If you're practicing fly-outs and bail, sending your scooter 10 feet into the air to land upside down on the bars, they will crack.

• Folded Decks: Learning to grind (like boardslides or feebles) involves high-impact "clunking" onto rails and ledges. Intermediate riders tend to "stomp" their grinds rather than lock in smoothly, which puts immense stress on the deck.

The Verdict: You are in the most expensive phase of riding. You’re pushing your limits, and your gear is taking the hit for your progress.

3. The Pro Phase: Mastery and Longevity

You’ll notice that Pro riders often keep their setups longer than intermediates. While they go bigger than anyone else, they break less. Here’s why:

• Precision Landings: Pros land "bolts." By landing squarely over the wheels and absorbing impact with their knees, they take the stress off the deck and bars.

• Strength over Weight: Experienced riders often move away from "ultra-light" parts. They might choose Titanium bars or Butted Chromoly steel and slightly heavier decks because they know a few extra grams are worth the reliability.

• Natural Wear & Tear: For a pro, a broken part is usually just "end of life." They wear out grips, griptape, and bearings through sheer hours of riding, rather than accidental "hack" snaps.

The Verdict: When a Pro breaks a part, it’s usually because they sent a 20-stair gap or the metal finally reached its fatigue limit.

Summary: Is Your Scooter "Bad"?

If you are breaking parts, don't get discouraged. It’s a sign that you are moving out of your comfort zone. Your high-end scooter is built to be performance-oriented, which sometimes means it’s a precision tool rather than a heavy tank.

Pro-Tip: To make your parts last longer during the intermediate phase, check your compression every single session and try to focus on "silent" landings. The quieter you land, the longer your scooter lives.