Speed wobbles can be a real pain when skateboarding, and they can even be dangerous if you don’t take them seriously. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you out.
This article will explain to you how to stop speed wobbles on a skateboard step by step with all the causes and solutions so that you won’t have to deal with it again.
However, before you start to fix a wobbly skateboard you should know what speed wobbles are and how they happen. If you know this you can take those particular steps to avoid them in the first place.
What are speed wobbles?
A speed wobble is a type of vibration that can occur when you ride a skateboard or longboard at high speeds. Speed wobbles result from the board’s wheels losing contact with the ground. If you don’t know how to handle them, they can be extremely dangerous.
What causes speed wobble on a skateboard?
Many reasons can cause you a skateboard speed wobbles:
Skateboard size
If you own a small board, it will be more challenging to control it at high speeds. It’s only because your body weight isn’t evenly distributed over the board, which causes the wheels to lose contact with the ground and the board to wobble. You can also read our guide on what size of skateboard do I need if you’re confused in skateboard size selection.
Riding Surface
The surface on which you’re riding also matters. Whenever you ride on uneven surfaces such as bumps or cracks in the pavement, the wheels lose grip with the ground , and this results in wobbling.
Loose Trucks
As you know, the trucks connect the wheels to the deck or board; therefore, if the trucks are loose, this can also cause a speed wobble.
The speed wobbles occur when the trucks are loose, which causes the wheels to be unable to turn or rotate properly, which causes them to lose contact with the ground.
Note: This is the most common reason found in most wobbling skateboards, hence check this out first in your board also. Additionally, this is the easiest to fix and can be performed by yourself at home.
Wrong Foot Positioning
If you’re not positioned correctly on the skateboard, this can also cause speed wobbles. When you’re riding, your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and you should be in the middle of the board.
When you’re not positioned correctly on a skateboard, you will lose balance, which will cause the wheels to lose contact with the ground and start wobbling.
Incorrect Wheel Size
You can also cause speed wobbles by using too small or too big wheels for your skateboard and riding style. If you want a good riding experience, the wheels should be the same size as the trucks, and they should be centered on the axle.
Small wheels can cause the skateboard to lose traction on the ground. If the wheels are too big, they can make the skateboard unstable and challenging to control.
Riding At Very High Speed
If you’re riding at a very high speed, this can also cause speed wobbles, even if you have a perfect skateboard. The faster you go, the more difficult it is to keep the skateboard stable and balanced, which leads to start shaking and wobbling. This is because the wind resistance is too much for the skateboard to handle.
These are some of the main reasons for skateboard wobbling, now let’s see how to not get speed wobbles on a skateboard.
How to stop speed wobbles on a skateboard: Solutions
As you have seen above, different reasons can cause speed wobbles on a skateboard. Therefore, the solution is also different for everyone according to your problem.
The first thing is to identify what causes you to speed wobbles. Once you identify your wobbling skateboard cause below, we’ve shared all types of problem solutions that will help you avoid speed wobbles on a skateboard, so apply one according to your problem.
Note: If you aren’t able to identify the problem in your skateboard for speed wobbling, you can also try out all these solutions, one will definitely work for you.
1) Trucks Tightness
According to the above listed reasons for speed wobbling on a skateboard, if you find the problem in trucks tightness, either loose or tight, here is the solution for it.
To fix this, you need a wrench that helps you tighten or loosen the trucks as per your riding style and need. When tightening the trucks, make sure not to overtighten them because it will make them uncomfortable to ride.
If your skateboard trucks are loose, tighten them slightly and check them by riding around in a circle. If the speed wobbling continues, you should try tightening them a bit more. In the opposite scenario, if your trucks are too tight, loosen them up a bit and ride around to test. If you’ve no idea how tight should skateboard trucks be you can go through our guide in the previous article.
2) Wheels Balance
Another factor that can cause speed wobbling on a skateboard is an unbalanced wheel. An unbalanced wheel can create a lot of vibration, which can eventually lead to speed wobbling. Therefore, if you find your wheels unbalanced, it is important to check the balance of your wheels before you start skating.
To check the balance of your wheels, spin each wheel one at a time and observe it carefully. If the wheel is wobbling, it means they are unbalanced, and you will need to adjust it by tightening and loosening using the wrench.
3) Wheels Alignment
If your wheels are not properly aligned, then it can also cause speed wobbling. Therefore, it is important to check the alignment of your wheels as well.
To check the alignment of your wheels, place your skateboard on a flat surface and observe it carefully. If the wheels are not aligned, then you will need to adjust them.
4) Practice in the right way
If you’re experiencing wobbling at high speed skateboarding even with having a perfect skateboard, you should practice in the right way before going fast.
Start by skating slowly and gradually increase your speed. Remember to stay in control and always be aware of your surroundings.
If you feel like you are about to speed wobble on a skateboard, then slow down immediately and try to correct your balance and standing posture.
5) Body tilt
Another way to stop speed wobbles on a skateboard is to keep your body tilted slightly forward when you skate. This will help you stay in control of your skateboard and keep your weight evenly distributed.
If you start to speed wobble, then quickly lean forward and shift your weight to the front of the board. This should help you regain control and avoid falling.
6) Stay relaxed
It is essential to stay relaxed when skating, especially when going fast. If you are tense, you will be more likely to lose control and wobble.
So try to stay relaxed and enjoy the ride!
7) Leg Position properly
Your legs play an important role in keeping you stable on a skateboard. When going fast, make sure that your legs are positioned properly.
When you are standing on the board, you should bend your front leg and put your foot near the nose. Likewise, you should also bend your back leg to close your back foot to your tail.
8) Proper weight distribution
Another important factor in maintaining stability is to distribute your weight properly. Before you go fast you should know how to balance on a skateboard and distribute weight evenly. If you don’t know, first practice that.
9) Replace The Defective Part
If you find any of your skateboard parts are broken or not fitting with your riding style, simply replacing them is a solution for this.
For example, if your skateboard wheels are broken or too large, and you like to ride fast, then you have to upgrade to new smaller skateboard wheels. Similarly, look out for the bearings, trucks, and deck.
10) Get the right skateboard or longboard
Even by applying all the above tips, if you are still facing speed wobbling, that means your skateboard is about to finish or not suited for your riding style.
The only solution to this problem is replacing the complete skateboard and choosing one according to your riding style.
For example, if you like to commute a long distance at a higher speed you need the best commuting skateboard, here the standard skateboard won’t work and might give you speed wobble. Similarly, the skateboard size also matters like if you’re 10 years old and using an adult size board, you’ll definitely lose balance at higher speed and experience wobbling, so for you, it’s recommended to have the best skateboard for 10 year old.
Bonus: Reduce your riding speed
After trying all the tips shared above, if you’re still facing speed wobbles on a skateboard, the only option left is to reduce your riding speed. This may seem like an obvious solution, but it’s often overlooked. If you’re wobbling at high speeds, it’s usually because you’re going too fast for your skill level. Therefore, it’s better to slow down and focus on becoming a better rider before trying to go fast again.
FAQs
There are many reasons for occurring speed wobbles on a skateboard, so there are various ways to avoid speed wobbles. The most effective ways to avoid speed wobbles on a skateboard are tightening trucks, getting the right size skateboard, avoiding riding too fast, avoiding rough roads, and standing with the right posture that distributes weight accordingly on board.
Yes, electric skateboards can have speed wobbles if ridden on rough roads or over speed, but it is less likely due to the increased stability. If you experience speed wobbles on your electric skateboard, make sure to reduce your speed and focus on becoming a better rider which demands time and practice.
Conclusion
Speed wobbles can be a scary experience, but you can easily stop speed wobbles on a skateboard altogether by following the tips shared in this article. Remember to take it slow at first, master the basics like balancing, practice with safety, and maintain your skateboard in good condition for better control on board.
Once you identify the reason for the speed wobble, you will be able to avoid them and enjoy the ride even at a higher speed. Therefore, you should determine the cause of your skateboard wobbling and solve it using this single article.
I am James Buckridge, the founder of skateboardidea.com. Skateboarding is my passion, and I have years of teaching experience in this field. Our vision and mission is to provide you with accurate information on everything related to skateboarding. Catch me on Twitter & Pinterest.