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awesome write up thanks for the comparison. And tying in the SML as well. Any experience with OJ keyframe 87a and how they fit in?
Sure thing! Keyframes feel about the same as 86A Rictas speed-wise on smoother surfaces but just a tad harder and slower on rough surfaces. Regarding build quality I think the Rictas are much better. Keyframe cores are slightly off-center, made of cheaper plastic and the shape of the wheel isn't the same on both sides. On one side you get the rounded conical edge and the other side has a sharp conical edge that often has air bubbles in it and I've shredded/chunked with mild curb contact. I've pretty much sworn off Keyframes and Spitfire 80HD Charges because of their build quality. Also, the ground finish of the Rictas makes them a bit easier to get into a slide than Keyframes.
I'm wondering about this. I had a set of Ricta 86's and Keyframes at the same time. Ended up selling the Rictas. Although the center set was a plus, I found the classic/donut shape of the Rictas to be inferior as a rough spot/cruiser wheel. The conical shape of the Keyframe worked much better for me. Mind you I didn't keep the Rictas long enough to put serious wear on them, I found the overall construction to be very equal between the two. They are poured in the same factory by the same company after all. I'd 100% put Keyframes above 80HD Chargers in every way, which indeed are total crap. I've had my Keyframes for about 8 months now, and that setup takes regular slappy abuse, no signs of chunking out or abnormal wear and tear. Maybe you got a dud set?
I was wondering recently why dual durometer wheels fell out of favor, is it just a gimmick to sell us more wheels?
No clue other than Autobahn going bust, but with them back in action maybe we'll see some from them. Spitfire tried it ages ago on F1s but had shit quality control with cores popping out all the time (ricta did as welll waaaaaaaaaaay back when naturals were popular); Ricta, and now Powerflex are all that's left for
hard, cored, wheels.
Cored wheels offer a (hopefully) perfect bearing seat (no wobble...you know who you are 'big wheel co.'), supposedly roll faster, absorb more shock than a regular pour, hard wheel (with a hard out/softer inner core giving you a cushier ride but still giving that hard wheel slide and control). I've also never seen any write-ups or science to back any of that shit up.
However, a proper bearing seat does seem the most logical across all duros, and you can easily make the case for big ass soft wheels having a core to net the most secure seat for the bearing (instead of the soft squishy wheel bearing seat that might deform under load/stress). They're also a bit lighter.
I've skated Ricta's chrome cores many times (and like them) when they were the chalky, teeth chattering kind, and speed rings with shitty urethane until they switched to NRG which were fantastic wheels and super fucking light, but then they vanished and it's just been pro nyjah chrome core wheel for sale forEVER until the recent drop.