Crisp Scooter Review

I was recently sent the Crisp Ultima Black Chrome model scooter to review.  Crisp, a brand already established in Australia and the UK, has branched out to the US now.  Not only do they make completes but these guys also have a line of aftermarket parts.  The Ultima Black Chrome retails for $369.99 off Warscooters.com. 

Pros:
-Deck dimensions.  I really liked the length and width (4.25) of the deck.  The headtube angle is pretty versatile at 82.5 degrees as well.  The sides of the deck are also triangular (like the Addict deck) so they’re good for fingerwhips.
-Semi-integrated threadless headset.  Threadless is a must for any kind of scooter these days, Crisp is on its way to getting it right by having it semi-integrated as well.
-Wheels.  They seem to be pretty fast (rolling on ABEC-9 bearings) and smooth as well.  They’re pretty hard too so I couldn’t help but do powerslides everywhere. 
-Bar design.  Crisp was able to take the BMX style design and really make it their own, instead of straight copying Rads.  Pretty much everyone at my local park said they liked the look of the bars.  Oh, and they’re 4130 chromoly, just how they should be.
-Grips and griptape.  These are two things that most people change right away on their scooters.  But on the Ultima the grips are actually pretty soft, and the griptape is devoid of any crazy logos or designs.  It could be a bit grippier though, but like I said, most people change it out right away anyway.

Cons:
-Bar height.  This is just a personal thing, but at only 20.5 inches tall, I didn’t dig the bars.  Most younger/smaller riders should be good with it though, as well as the width (19 inches). 
-Bottom of the deck.  It has these "grind rails” that seem to be anti-grind rails. Maybe after riding it longer they wear down and becomes a non-issue, but I seemed to stick a lot on rails and certain ledges.  The deck also has this strange gusset on the headtube that seems totally unnecessary. 
-ICS.  I understand that internal compression systems CAN be dialed, but I’ve never experienced it.  And it’s a bit of a hassle taking of the front wheel to tighten your headset.  I’d like ICS to be phased out of the sport someday, replaced by HIC and SCS. 

Bottom Line:
To close out, I do think the Ultima is a good alternative to Maddgears, Razor Ultra Pros, Grits, and other completes.  There were a few things on it that bugged me, but nothing too major for a complete.  It also has a chrome paint job so that’s cool.  You can get one over at War Scooters.