Dragons 93 - 54mm V1 shape.
I was going to hold off for the 95s, but the shop had a 20% off sale.
I have a lot of wheels. SPF, STF 103 and 99s in multiple shapes/sizes, F4 101 and 99s in multiple shapes/sizes, NFG 95s and now the Dragon 93s. 54 is my go-to size, but I have 51-56mm.
I put them on and rode around the block. Not surprisingly, they were very good. Similar speed and comfort to the NFGs, which are nicer than any of the others on this pavement. And they slid - just like everyone says. It wasn't an actual session though - just fucking around for 10 minutes.
I usually skate at a transition park that is only 5 years old with super smooth concrete - so where the 93s are not remotely necessary. Perfect place to try them for the first real session.
I warmed up for 5-10 minutes on a board with F4 101 conical 54mm and Quantum Atoms. It's a good all around wheel and I've spent a decent amount of time on lately.
The Dragons are set up with just broken in Big Balls Reds, which are a pretty good bearing. First drop in was super odd. There isn't the noise I am accustomed to. Normally you get the audible feedback of exactly how fast you are going and that doesn't exist with these. Without the noise it SOUNDED like I was going slow, but I wasn't. They are softer and the feel matched that - which usually means slow, but they weren't. It was a super hard disconnect for my brain. They "felt" a little slower, but I wasn't having problems hitting as many walls as normal and I still seemed to be hitting them fast enough. I skated them for a lot of the session and had a good time. They didn't limit me, but I never got accustomed to the silence.
I did a super un-scientific coasting distance test where I rolled into the park on one particular line with no pumping to see how far I get. Dragons put me as far as the F4 101s. In the past I have done the same line with 52mm F4 99s and not made it as far.
I then pulled out another board with F4 99a conical 54mm and VXB Ceramics. F4 99s are just a little slower than 101s and if you didn't skate them back to back in this park you would be happy with the 99 speed. That's how the Dragons felt at this point. Similar in speed to the 99s.
Then I grabbed my bigger setup I often use at this park with SPF 104 56mm and Swiss 6. Per usual, this is just a faster setup here and so nice. But SPFs are useless if it's not a super smooth park. I'll still probably run SPFs here, but if I only had one board to ride everywhere, the Dragons would be a better choice.
I need to spend more time on them - but they are really good. Speed in smooth stuff like an F4 99, but faster on crust. Not a "quiver killer" wheel for me - but now I'm super curious about the 95s when they come out next month.