Our picks for best scooter bars

What is a scooter bar?

Pro scooter handlebars are one of the most important parts on your entire scooter. This is the part you hold on to and lean into when landing tricks. It is important your handlebars are strong because they take a lot of force against them; especially on hard landings. Strength isn’t the only thing that matters though.

You want your handlebars to be balanced with the overall weight of your scooter. If your bars are too light it will make the whole scooter feel unbalanced unless the rest of your parts are equally light. Same thing goes for heavy bars; heavy bars with a light deck will make your scooter front heavy and unbalanced.

Some pro scooter handlebars have a built in “backsweep” like the tilt sentry bars. These bars are typically better for street style scooter tricks because they make for a more vertical and relaxed riding position. Backsweep can make bar focused tricks slightly more difficult. Generally speaking, park riders prefer bars without backsweep. This is because the bars require less total travel to perform aerial tricks such as a bri whip.

Types of scooter bars

Y Bar

A Y bar is a normal handlebar with a bit of an angle; similar to the crown of the letter Y. These bars typically have extra supports called gussets that attach the top of the bar to the base of the bar. We do this because Y bars tend to be made out of aluminum which is prone to bending.

Some brands make steel or titanium Y bars. Because these materials are stronger, they tend not to need the support gussets. Occasionally you will hear people refer to these as bend bars. Basically this shape falls under the Y bar category, but is shaped like a T with a bend in the middle.

Find In Stock Scooter Y Bars

T Bars

T bars are the classic scooter bar that comes to mind for most people. It’s not too difficult to figure out where this name comes from - the bars are literally shaped like the letter T. Steel and titanium are the materials of choice for these bars because they need to be very strong.

When using a lighter material like aluminum extra support is needed. This will either be in the form of gussets or a thicker wall where the welds are to prevent bending and cracking. Occasionally you see brands use this same support structure to reduce weight with thin wall steel bars.

Bar twists are an example of a trick that is much easier to perform with T bars because there is plenty of space to grab without accounting for a bend in the bar. T bars normally have no angle or backsweep to them which puts you in a more aggressive riding position - resulting in a more athletic stance and making many tricks much easier.

Find In Stock Scooter T Bars

Oversized Bars

Oversized bars have a total diameter of 35mm, but the inner diameter varies. You will find two different options of inner diameter depending on if the bars are meant for IHC or HIC. It’s worth noting you will only ever find aluminum bars in an oversized version because of the thick walls required for support.

IHC is a compression system that involves a thinner fork and will require your bars to have an inner diameter of 28mm.

HIC is a compression system that involves a thicker fork and will require your bars to have an inner diameter of 32mm.

SCS is a compression system where the bars are not attached to the fork. Therefore, the inner diameter of the bars does not matter as long as the bars fit in your clamp. With oversized bars you need an oversized clamp, but don't have to worry about a clamp shim.

Standard Bars

Standard bars always have a 32mm outer diameter with a 28mm inner diameter. These bars are designed for either IHC or SCS compression systems. It’s worth noting, you will not find standard size aluminum bars, because they need a thicker wall which reduces the inner diameter.

Because standard bars are limited to a 28mm inner diameter they are required to be run with IHC if they have a slit and SCS if they have no slit.

If your SCS clamp is oversized there are shims available (and usually included) that will allow you to run standard size bars.

Standard Compression System (SCS)

Pro scooter bars should not have a slit in them when riding SCS. If your bars do have a slit and you are riding SCS you will need to insert a shim to seal the slit.

You have your choice of riding standard or oversized handlebars when riding SCS. The only limiting factor is whether or not your specific clamp fits the size you want to run. Oversized SCS clamps typically come with a shim so you can run standard size handlebars.

Bars without slits tend to be stronger and less likely to break at the base.

Internal/Inverted Compression System (IHC)

Pro scooter bars must have a slit to run IHC. Like we discussed earlier, IHC also requires your bars to have an inner diameter of 28mm.

Bars with a slit tend to be less strong and more likely to crack at the base. We don’t recommend adding a slit to your bars because it voids all warranties, so find bars that already have a slit manufactured into them.

Hidden Internal Compression (HIC)

Pro scooter bars must have a slit to run HIC. Like we discussed earlier, HIC also requires your bars to have an inner diameter of 32mm.

Bars with a slit tend to be less strong and more likely to crack at the base. We don’t recommend adding a slit to your bars because it voids all warranties, so find bars that already have a slit manufactured into them.

Best Scooter Bars 2022

Best T Bar No Slit | SCS | Proto Retro Lites V3 Bar

PROTO reTro Lites V3 handlebars come in at 30″ tall x 24″ wide, making it one of the largest “T” bars in the industry. Not only did the PROTO retro V3 increase substantially in width and height from the V2, it also increased the thickness of the 4130 chromoly tubing used for the crossbar and the steering column to increase strength. These reTro’s come with a flat black powder coat. Complete with a laser cut PROTO logo.

Buy Proto Retro Lite V3

Best Y Bar No Slit | SCS | Vokul Titanium Y Bar

These titanium handlebars from Vokul are absolutely insane. Lightweight and super durable, these bars are perfect for park or street riders. Coming in with raw T bars and neochrome Y bars there's a little something for anyone! These titanium bars come with no slit which makes them extra durable!

Buy Vokul Titanium Y Bars

Affordable T Bar No Slit | SCS | Wise T Bar

Heat Treated T-bars are simple and strong. These oversized bars are compatible with SCS out of the box & HIC if you add a slit. The Wise logo welded on the bars is a complex design that makes its beauty. Comes without slit.

Buy Wise T Scooter Bar

Affordable Y Bar No Slit | SCS | Raw Bar Vegas V5

This bar is handmade in France, known to be extremely strong. It is oversized with no slit, so ready for SCS, but with a slit it can be HIC.This bar is butted which makes it lighter than most bars on the market. Branded with a vinyl sticker that can be easily removed for an even cleaner look.

Buy Raw Vegas V5 Scooter Y Bar

Best T Bar with Slit | IHC | Ethic Trianon Bar

The Ethic Trianon bar was the very first T-bar from Ethic DTC. The world's first ICS chromo bar with the star welded.Even though the bar is ICS it is still compatible with SCS (with an adapter) and IHC.Made to be strong and simple.

Buy Ethic Trianon T Scooter Bar

Affordable T Bar with Slit | IHC | Root Industries T Bar (standard size)

Preferred by most, the T-Bar is a classic staple in the scooter industry. Even though the overall design of the product is familiar, Root Industries have brought some unique to the table. Root Industries set itself aside from the competition by offering an outstanding quality T-Bar, with elegant color options, all at an affordable price. Backed by months of rigorous testing, both in the lab and at the skatepark, Root Industries has developed another fantastic component with lightweight specs and two fit-all sizes.The Oversized/HIC variant of the two sizes (Regular and XL) comes WITH A PRE-CUT SLIT, enabling quick & easy installation with HIC-style setup.

Buy Root Industries T Scooter Bar

Best Y Bar with Slit | IHC | Envy Reaper V3 Bar

The Envy Reaper Bars V3 are some of the lightest pro scooter bars on the market. Weighing in about 30% lighter than chromoly steel bars, with a thick durable wall, these Reaper Bars V3 are perfect for any park rider running IHC. Many pro riders run the Reaper Bars V3 and put them to the test with performance and durability. Given the awesome price, quality, durability, and reputation of these bars, it's no wonder they are the most used aluminum bars in the world.

With a thick 3.1mm wall and amazing aesthetic, these are some of our favorite aluminum bars at United States Pro Scooters. If you want to see the Envy Reaper Bars V3 in action; look no further than pro scooter riders Jon Reyes, Will Scott, and Flavio Pesenti. It's also worth noting that these are some of the tallest IHC bars available so they may need to be cut to size by an EXPERIENCED pro scooter technician. Luckily aluminum is pretty easy to cut through and your local scooter shop should be able to do it no problem.

Buy Envy Reaper V3 Y Scooter Bars

Affordable Y Bar with Slit | IHC | Versatyl Bloody Mary Bar

The Versatyl Bloody Mary V2 Alu bar is the self proclaimed lightest bar in the world (lighter than any titanium models for the same size) and still very strong.

Buy Versatyl Bloody Mary Y Scooter Bar

Best Y Bar with slit | HIC | Root Industries RP TI Bar

Back in the day when freestyle scootering was nothing but a niche hobby that only a handful of enthusiasts participated in, the options for scooter customization were practically non-existent. Today, the amount of innovation in this ever-growing sport knows no bounds - and even something as simple as T-shaped handlebars is no exception. Root Industries would like to introduce the lightest bars the company has ever produced - the Titanium Ti bar. Weighing a fraction of what traditional chromoly bars weigh, while maintaining a durable and stylish structure, these versatile handlebars mean serious business when it comes to riding park, street, or anything in between. Long-lasting and sleek, there’s no reason not to give this incredible product a try.

Buy Root Industries RP TI Y Scooter Bar

Affordable Y Bar with Slit | HIC | Drone Shadow 2 Bar

Taken from the Icon 1 complete scooter, these bars are super lightweight, stylish and affordable. These bars are built to perform and put to the test by some of the best European riders.

Buy Drone Shadow 2 Y Scooter Bar

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