Inmotion RS Clicking or Creaking Sound? Here Is How to Fix It

If your Inmotion RS has started making a clicking or creaking sound, usually from the folding area of the stem when you roll over bumps or lean on the bars, do not panic. This is one of the most common things we help RS owners with, and it is almost never a broken scooter. It is maintenance. Two simple things fix it and keep it fixed: the folding mechanism bushing, and greasing the joints on a schedule. Here is the exact sound in a short clip so you can match it to yours.

What that clicking sound actually is

A folding scooter has a folding joint at the base of the stem, and that joint takes every bump, every lean, and every hard acceleration. Over time two things happen. The folding mechanism develops a tiny bit of play, and the pivots and contact points dry out. Once there is play in a dry joint, every little movement lets metal shift against metal, and that is the click or creak you hear. It is annoying, but it is normal wear, and it is completely fixable.

Fix 1: Install the folding mechanism bushing

The single most important part for a tight, quiet front end is the folding mechanism bushing. It sits in the folding joint and takes up the slack, so the stem locks up solid instead of shifting under load. This is the part that stops the click at its source.

Folding Mechanism Bushing for Inmotion RS

Takes up play in the folding joint so the fork stays tight and quiet. Keep a spare on hand.

$10.00

Get the bushing

Fix 2: Silicone paste on the steering bearing

A lot of RS clicking comes from one specific spot: the steering bearing at the top of the stem, hidden under the round black cap where the stem meets the fork. When that bearing dries out, it clicks with every little steering input. Refreshing it with silicone paste is very often the exact fix that makes the click disappear. Here is how.

1. 1
   Find the round black cap at the top of the stem

   Look at the top of the stem where it meets the fork and steering. You will see a round black cap. That cap sits right on top of the steering bearing.

2. 2
   Remove the screw underneath the cap

   Take the cap off and remove the screw underneath it to expose the bearing. Keep the screw somewhere safe so you do not lose it.

3. 3
   Apply silicone paste to the bearing

   Coat the bearing with silicone paste so it turns smoothly and quietly. Silicone paste is the right choice here, and a light, even coat is all it needs.

4. 4
   Tighten the screw back on, very tight

   Reinstall the screw and tighten it down firmly, then refit the black cap. This part matters: a loose screw here will bring the click straight back, so make sure it is properly tight.

Fix 3: Grease the joints every 500 to 1,000 miles

The bushing takes out the play. Grease takes out the friction. The joints and pivots on your RS need fresh grease on a schedule, and the right rhythm is every 500 to 1,000 miles depending on how hard and how wet you ride. Clean grease lets the joints move smoothly and silently, keeps water and grit out, and makes your parts last far longer. Skip it and the same dry, creaky joint comes right back.

Here are the critical areas to hit each time. Take your time, wipe the old grease off first, then apply fresh grease so the pivots move cleanly.

1. 1
   The folding hinge

   The pivot at the base of the stem, where the folding mechanism and the bushing live. This is the number one spot. Keep it clean and greased.

2. 2
   The steering headset

   The bearing under the black cap where the stem meets the fork. A dry one clicks and can feel notchy. This is the spot from Fix 2, and it likes silicone paste.

3. 3
   The handlebar clamp and folding latch

   The clamp that holds the bars and the latch or hook that locks the fold. These contact points click when dry, so grease them too.

What grease to use

Use a quality automotive, vehicle-grade grease, the same class of grease you would trust on a car. It holds up to load, heat, and weather far better than a light household lubricant, and it is what keeps these joints quiet for the long haul. A good general-purpose automotive grease is exactly right for the folding hinge and the clamp and latch points. For the steering bearing under the black cap, use silicone paste as described in Fix 2, since that is what that bearing likes best.

A simple maintenance rhythm

Put it together and it is easy to stay ahead of the noise. Keep a good folding mechanism bushing in place so the fork stays tight, grease the folding hinge, headset, and clamp every 500 to 1,000 miles, and keep your bolts snug. Do that, and the click and creak simply do not come back. A quiet scooter is a well-maintained scooter.

Not sure which sound you are hearing, or want us to walk you through the greasing? Reach out to us. We service these scooters every day and we are here seven days a week.