All the speed, strength and durability skaters need. Why do NiNjA ABEC 3s outperform most other brands ABEC 7s… because quality and performance are more important than ABEC ratings. Ultra-low friction machined nylon retainers, super hardened and ground to perfection AKS balls, super honed and polished raceways using superior high carbon steel (SUJ2), full contact metal shield on one side for easy serviceability with labyrinth inner and outer ring geometry to resist contamination. USO = Ultra Speed Oil; a super lightweight synthetic speed oil that resists thermal breakdown, resists spin-out and will not attract contaminants… micro-filtered. NiNjA 3s are designed for exceptional skating performance, every day… the best value in the skate industry.

NiNjA Bearing Maintenance

(1) Dirt and moisture will hamper the performance of your bearings and even damage bearing components, particularly NiNjA’s exceptional ball and race surface finishes. Keep the inside of your bearings lubricated, moisture-free and as dirt-free as possible. After each day of skating simply spin your wheels to determine if they’ve slowed down or are making any noise. If so, they need cleaned. Failure to clean your bearings in a timely manner can permanently damage even NiNjA’s superior quality and finish.

(2) NiNjA Bearings have a rust inhibiting surfactant built into them, but if subjected to excessive moisture or dirt, immediately remove the moisture or dirt from the bearing using compressed air or blowing cool (NOT HOT) air from a hair dryer through the bearings. Caution: Be very careful not to allow the ball bearings to spin at an accelerated rate while applying forced air as they can develop a dangerously high rate of spin rather quickly. It is usually recommended to remove the bearings from the wheels, and force air through both sides. If this removes all the moisture or dirt, then simply re-lubricate your bearings with either a few drops of NiNjA ultra Speed Oil or enough NiNjA Duramax Speed Gel to fill the gap between the balls and nylon retainer. Do not remove the nylon retainers from your NiNjA bearings as you may damage the retainer or alter its geometry resulting in increased friction. NiNjA’s Grease (Duramax Speed Gel) bearings come with both sides shielded, so it will be necessary to remove only the colored polymer shield by using a tiny eyeglass screwdriver to gently pry and pop off the colored polymer shield. Once re-lubricated with more DSG, allow an hour of skating to redistribute the grease for “break-in” and increased speed.

(3) If #2 above isn’t adequate, thoroughly soak and swish your bearings using a safe container. Cleaning solutions vary. Generally, the use of citrus based cleaners is discouraged as they leave residues, tend to actually promote corrosion and are biodegradable only prior to use, not after. Gasoline should NEVER be used due to volatility. Acetone should only be used with a high degree of skin protection and vapor reduction as it is easily absorbed by the body and is a threat to your central nervous system. So what can we recommend? With quality rubber gloves, eye protection and ventilation with no open flames or source of sparks, mineral spirits (paint thinner) is a good choice. Mineral Spirits are good de-greaser with relatively low flash points that dissolve debris and leave the least amout of residue. One method is to soak the bearings in the solvent for 15-20 minutes then swish the bearings for a minute or two. Remove the bearings and tap them open side down to make sure all debris is removed. If necessary, repeat this process again in clean solvent. After your bearings are clean use Isopropol Alcohol for a final rinse to remove all remaining solvent residue and to prepare the steel surface for re-lubrication. Do not spin your bearings much during the cleaning process, and until after final re-lubrication. Allow your bearings to dry or blow cool air through them to speed the drying process. Once your bearing are completely dry, re-lubricate with NiNjA USO or DSG.

• Which Bearings Should I Choose?
  Bearings enable the wheels to turn and there is a vast range on the market. They usually have an ABEC rating and generally range from ABEC1 to ABEC9. According to Ninja, "ABEC is an acronym for the Annular Bearing Engineers Committee, a US organization which long ago developed a rating system based on the tolerances of a bearing’s inner and outer diameter, width and width variation, radial run-out, side run-out, and raceway run-out. Unfortunately, several factors which greatly influence bearings performance in skating use are not directly measured by the ABEC system; ball size and uniformity, lubrication, shield construction, material composition, and construction durability." So ABEC ratings are not always an indication of how the bearings will perform in the harsh skating environment. A higher rating means the bearing is made with tighter tolerances, and can spin faster, but the truth of the matter is skateboarders never come close to the maxing out the speed of their bearing, even when you bombed that super death hill. Bones bearings are considered to be in a class of their own. Bones does not specify ABEC ratings because they are specially designed for the unique stresses of skateboarding and therefore bones calls them "Skate Rated."
  
  
  
  While most brands rate their bearings with the ABEC system, there are also Swiss and ceramic. These bearings offer the best speed and durability, but cost considerably more because they are made with extra precision. Ceramic bearings are special because the balls in the bearing are made of ceramic not metal which helps reduce wear caused by heat and friction. While Swiss bearings are made with extremely high precision.
  
  
  
  Most street riders use ABEC3 – 5, this gives them a solid, durable, and fast bearing depending on the brand. Most people who long board or just ride casually will go for the higher ABEC bearing because they provide a faster ride and will not encounter much impact. If you are looking for long lasting fast bearing, check out Swiss, ceramic or Bones. Bearings are available in packs of 8 (2 for each wheel).