Bones Big Balls Reds Bearings

Bones Big Balls Reds Bearings

Six bigger balls for a faster, tougher Reds.

Bones Big Balls Reds use six larger balls instead of the usual seven smaller ones. Like a bigger wheel, a bigger ball turns fewer times to cover the same distance, so there's less rolling friction and a higher top speed. They suit street, park and transition skaters who want more speed and strength than standard Reds.

The six balls are about 17% larger than standard, which makes the bearing stronger and helps it keep rolling through dirt that slows smaller balls down. They're built to Bones Skate Rated specs, with removable non-contact rubber shields for easy cleaning, a removable high speed nylon ball cage and Bones Speed Cream lubricant.

Key Features

• 6 larger balls: about 17% bigger than standard
• Higher top speed: bigger balls, less rolling friction
• Stronger: bigger balls handle impacts better
• Rolls through dirt: larger balls are less bothered by grit
• Removable rubber shields: non-contact and easy to clean
• Speed Cream lubricant: ready to roll

Specs

• Rating / standard: Bones Skate Rated (no ABEC rating)
• Size: 608 standard, 8mm bore
• Ball count: 6 per bearing, about 17% larger than standard
• Shields: Removable non-contact rubber shields
• Retainer: Removable high speed nylon ball cage
• Lubricant: Bones Speed Cream
• Spacers / washers: Not listed in pack contents
• Sold as: Set of 8 bearings, with instructions and sticker

About Bones

Bones Bearings comes from George Powell, the engineer who co-founded Powell Peralta in 1978. In the early 1980s he went looking for a faster, tougher skateboard bearing and worked with a small Swiss manufacturer to build one for skating rather than for machinery. That bearing became Bones Swiss, and the thinking behind it became the Bones Skate Rated standard.

Today Bones Bearings is part of the Skate One family in Santa Barbara, California, alongside Powell Peralta and Bones Wheels. The range runs from everyday Reds through Super Reds, Big Balls and Race Reds up to ceramic and Swiss-made bearings, all built to Skate Rated clearances, tolerances, materials and lubricant. Riders choose Bones because they roll well, last, and are easy to clean and service.

FAQs

Do these fit all skateboard wheels?
Yes. They're standard 608 size skateboard bearings with an 8mm bore, so they fit almost every skateboard, cruiser and longboard wheel on a standard 8mm axle. Each wheel takes two bearings, so this set of 8 does all four wheels on one board.

Why six balls instead of seven?
Bigger balls roll fewer times to go the same distance, so they create less rolling friction and reach a higher top speed. They're also stronger and less affected by dirt.

What does Skate Rated mean?
Skate Rated is Bones' own standard. ABEC is an industrial rating that only covers machining tolerances for high RPM machinery, and it says nothing about the side loads, impacts and dirt that skateboard bearings deal with. Bones builds to its own Skate Rated clearances, tolerances, materials and lubricant instead, so there is no ABEC number on the box.

How do I clean Big Balls Reds?
Flick the removable rubber shield off with a pin, soak the bearings in citrus degreaser or isopropyl alcohol, then dry them completely. Add two or three drops of skate bearing lube, refit the shields and spin them in. Keep them out of puddles and wet grass, and clean them when they sound gritty or start to slow down.

Do I need spacers?
Spacers aren't listed in the pack, so add a set if you want them. Spacers sit on the axle between the two bearings in each wheel, so the bearings stay lined up when you tighten the axle nut. Lots of street skaters ride without them, but they help bearings spin freely and stop them being crushed if the nut is over-tightened.

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