MF500 FREERIDE SKATES: Maintenance and repairs

On the MF500, we provide a brake with the product, but it isn't mounted. The skate is intended for intermediate riders and for doing freeriding, where most people don't bother with a rear brake. 

A rear brake can be used for a particular braking technique, but there are other ways to stop without using this brake (snow plough, hockey stop, etc.). At a more advanced level, skaters tend to use the rear brake less, instead opting for other techniques. 

But to make skating accessible to as many people as possible, we've still chosen to include a brake with these skates. 

Whether you want to adjust its position to suit your preferences or you need to recentre it after an intense ride, the MF500 skate's frame can be easily adjusted.
Intense riding can cause vibrations that budge your skate's frame slightly out of place. Remember to regularly check that your frame is correctly centred on the boot.

It's easy to adjust your freeride inline skate's frame:
1. Remove the wheels that sit over the frame's screws: the back wheel and the second wheel from the front.
2. Use a 4 mm Allen key to slightly loosen the two screws between the frame and the boot.
3. Centre the frame
4. Fully tighten its screws
5. Put the wheels back on

And you're done! Easy, eh? All that remains is to head out for your freeride.

When riding on asphalt, the inside of your wheels will get worn away. It happens every time you brake or push off against the ground, and is an inevitable part of skating. It can reduce the wheel's lifespan and make skating less comfortable.
To reduce this wear and make your wheels last longer, we therefore recommend regularly swapping your wheels around (every 3 rides or so).

How to swap around the 8 wheels on the MF500 skates
1. Remove the wheels and lay them out in front of you in the order in which they were on your skates (front and back of the skate, inside and outside of the foot, and left and right foot).
2. Swap the back two wheels of the left skate with the front two wheels of the right skate.
3. Swap the back two wheels of the right skate with the front two wheels of the left skate.
4. Put the wheels back on in their new order, trying not to lose track of what's what (front right wheel becomes back left, its outside becomes its inside, etc.).
5. Handy tip: use thread lock to keep the screws tight and to protect the thread.

And just like that, you're ready to roll. Remember to swap the position of your wheels every 3 rides or every 30 km. Just remember, inside becomes outside, front becomes back, and left becomes right. Once you've got the hang of it, we promise it'll only take a few minutes. 

Whether you want to adjust its position to suit your preferences or you need to recentre it after an intense ride, the MF500 skate's frame can be easily adjusted.
Intense riding can cause vibrations that budge your skate's frame slightly out of place. Remember to regularly check that your frame is correctly centred on the boot.

It's easy to adjust your freeride inline skate's frame:
1. Remove the wheels that sit over the frame's screws: the back wheel and the second wheel from the front.
2. Use a 4 mm Allen key to slightly loosen the two screws between the frame and the boot.
3. Centre the frame
4. Fully tighten its screws
5. Put the wheels back on

And you're done! Easy, eh? All that remains its to head out for your freeride.

Whether you're replacing damaged wheels or adapting the size or hardness of a wheel based on the ground or your riding conditions, changing the wheels is a basic skill that everyone should master. It's one of the first things you'll need to do to look after your equipment.
But as you'll see, it's really quick and easy.

How to change the wheels on the MF500 skates
1. Start by unscrewing all 4 wheels using a multitool and an Allen key. On most skates, the brake is attached to the rear axle, so you'll need to remove this too.
2. Use the multitool to remove the bearings if you need to reuse them. If your future wheels already have bearings or you've bought different bearings, you can leave them on the wheel and remove any dust with a dry cloth.
3. Insert a bearing onto one side of a wheel then turn it over.
4. Insert the spacer (the metal cylinder) so that it's aligned with the hole on the first bearing, then insert the second bearing. If the spacer moves a little, don't worry. It'll get realigned with the bearings when you insert the axles. Using a spacer is optional but recommended because it keeps a gap between the bearings and offsets the pressure exerted by the bolt that holds the wheel in place. Most bearings can go any way around, but please check the packaging if you're unsure.
5. Put the wheels back onto the frame and insert the axle then the screw. Please note that one of the axles is bigger. This one is for the back wheel and holds the brake bracket. Remember to use the biggest axle for the back wheel.

Easy, eh? Remember to swap the position of your wheels every 3 rides or every 30 km

You might want to change the bearings on your inline skates to change the glide performance or to replace broken bearings (that won't turn properly or that are making a grating noise). It's very easy to do but you'll need the right tools to get the bearings out of the wheel cavity.

How to change the bearings on the MF500 skates
1. Use a skate multitool and a 4 mm Allen key to unscrew the axles and remove the wheels. Remember to lay the wheels out in front of you in the order they are on your skates. If you've already rotated them around a few times, it might be time to change them (see video tutorial).
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2. Insert the multitool into the centre of the bearing and push sideways to lever it out. The bearings might be reluctant to come out, but be patient and try turning the tool to exert pressure in several different places.

3. That's the hardest part over! Insert the new bearings (push them in using the multitool, if necessary) then put the wheels back onto the axle and then onto the skates.

Your new bearings are now ready and raring to go.