[bones bearings]
The only thing negative we can say about [Bones Bearings] is today’s price. it is high because the Swiss have to charge this much to make money, and we have to pass our increased cost long to you. I know this puts Bones Swiss out of reach for many skaters and so I have been searching for a bearing that approaches the performance of our legendary Swiss at a lower price.
When I considered where I might find such a bearing, I thought of China because I have visited this rapidly developing country a number of times to help introduce skateboarding to the Chinese. While there, I discovered that parts of China are highly developed, possess good manufacturing equipment, and are capable of producing high quality items at low cost. So I started a search in China for a bearing manufacturer capable of producing a great skate bearing with a little help from us.
Two years and many tests later, we have come amazingly close to the performance of our own Bones Swiss for about half the price using a Chinese bearing manufacturer to our design specifications. We call this product Bones REDS™.
I know that most Chinese bearings offered to skaters today were selected for their low cost, not their quality and performance. This has resulted in a number of nicely packaged, poor quality Chinese bearings being successfully promoted with big ads in skate mags. These companies don’t want you to know that their bearings are just the cheapest bearings they could buy placed in a pretty box and they don’t even tell you where they are made.
I mention this because Bones REDS™ are not a low quality bearing in a pretty package, but could be mistaken for this before you ride them just because they are made in China. What we are doing with Bones REDS™ is similar in concept to our affordable Mini Logo decks and wheels many of you have enjoyed this past year—great product at a rock bottom price.
Bones REDS™ have very low friction, are made from the same fine materials as our Bones Swiss, are designed to the same specifications, have similar high speed ball retainers, have a single shield for easy cleaning and come pre-lubed with Speed Cream™ to make them fast and long lasting.
We are proud of Bones REDS™ and so we are not afraid to say our affordable bearings are made in China... the homeland of Chin. Bones REDS™ should be available in your local shop. I know you will be pleased with the price and the performance of Bones REDS™.
