There is little to go wrong with a Swifty Zero kick scooter. No dirty chains to clean, no messy fiddly gears to adjust and few moving parts other than brakes, wheel hub and headset bearings. Yet, eventually you will need to carry out some basic maintenance to keep your Swifty running perfectly, particularly if you commute daily or use your scooter on a regular basis and especially if you ride off-road.
Before you start, a useful tip. If you have a folding workbench you can use it to hold your Swifty while you work on it. Lift the Swifty on to it and secure in place with a couple of large clamps. Makes things so much easier.
Nuts and Bolts
Before I look at some of the larger parts of the Swifty scooter, I want to look at some of the smaller, often forgotten parts. The first one is nuts and bolts. When buying a new scooter I would always suggest applying some grease to all the bolts. Just a touch will help prevent bolts from seizing up. Don’t apply to any bolts that have locking compound, such as brake bolts. It’s fairly obvious to spot. Still on bolts, check they are all tight and nothing loose or rattling about.
Frame and Forks
Not much to go wrong with frame and forks but you should still keep an eye on them. The only moving part of the headset bearing, that’s what allows you to steer and really it should last for years with little or no effort on your part. However, if you start to feel the steering a little loose or clunky, you might need to adjust the headset for play. There are plenty of good instructional videos online, but if not comfortable, your local bicycle shop or the handy bicycle enthusiast next door will be able to assist.
It’s also worth checking the frame itself for signs of wear and tear. Give the frame and forks a clean if need be, then look for any signs of structural failure in the way of cracks. You may also find that the underside of the frame gets scuffed and the paintwork damaged, usually caused by road kerbs or the like and this is only superficial but check anyway. By-the-way, Swifty scooters come with a 2 year warranty, so bare that in mind should you find any serious frame issues.
Brakes
The brakes are one of the few moving parts on the Swifty scooter that are likely to require routine maintenance. The first thing is to keep them clean. When giving your scooter a hose down pay some attention to the brake pads and clean out any dirt or debris hiding there. Next, if you find your brake less effective, they may need adjusted. This is easy to do and there are plenty of good videos on the Internet offering instruction. Try a search for “adjusting v-brakes” (without the inverted commas). If not technically minded, your local bike shop will be able to assist.
As well as adjusting the brakes, some other parts may also need some attention. Removing the inner brake cables and applying grease along the entire length is a good idea. Also lubricate and pivot points on both v-brakes and brake levers. Avoid getting any lubricant on the brake pads. Replace worn-down brake pads. Again use the Internet for help.
Wheels and tyres
Along with the brakes, the wheels are one of the most used parts of the scooter and need regular care and attention. Checking tyres treads for damage or embedded objects and checking the tyre pressures should be routine, at least once a week, if not before each ride. The wheels themselves should last for ages if you ride the scooter with respect and don’t expect too much from it, such a doing jumps and other silly stuff. However, spokes can loosen and should you notice the wheel wobbling from side to side when rotating, its time to get the wheel looked at and this is best done at the local bike shop. Wheel hub bearings should also last a good long time and can be easily checked by seeing if the wheel has any side to side play. Again probably a job for the bike shop.
Copyright ©2020 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.
