The Thunder Thread

[JM]

Sorry, I’m not trying to be antagonistic or throw shade or anything.

 

I was Indy for 25 years, until I tried Thunder and they work perfect for me right now. Maybe it’s the 8.38/14.5wb and 8.25/8.38wb DLX decks that work really well with thunders.

Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

Who knows… anyways, all good fun. You skate, we’re friends.

[Big Brother]

NGL i miss my thunder 145 lows. I ripped on those and a 7.6!

[Rick Trapasso]

Sorry, I’m not trying to be antagonistic or throw shade or anything.

 

I was Indy for 25 years, until I tried Thunder and they work perfect for me right now. Maybe it’s the 8.38/14.5wb and 8.25/8.38wb DLX decks that work really well with thunders.

Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

Who knows… anyways, all good fun. You skate, we’re friends.

I like the 8.38 14.5 WB dlx with 149 team thunders. I am 6' 4" though so that setup works with my long legs

I feel like Indy pop is lighter though due to the shorter WB. Making the leverage of the tail greater and also decreasing the distance away the front truck is.

[rawbertson.]

when thunders are brand new they are insanely tight feeling, way too tight imo.
indys feel really loose to me right out the gate, imo too loose

I wouldnt say i skate better on one than the other, but i often feel more confident on the thunder setup approaching stuff. when the board is flopping around it can sometimes distract me. i do find the floppy trucks are more fun to just cruise around with though.

[Sedition]

Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

The energy thing is weird. It's different energy. Yes, a lower truck has a tail that hits sooner, and it takes less energy to make the tail contact the ground, but IMHO, that does not equal "pop." I'll go to an extreme to illuminate the point. Take a deck with no trucks, and put it on the carpet. Yes, you can "ollie" it, but it's really really hard, and you don't get much height, and you have to really to put a ton of force (energy) to get any kind of vertical lift. Now take a deck with trucks, and a super short tail (like 5" tail). The tail will hit much, much later, and will take more force to hit the ground, but it will also be a lot easier to "ollie" because you can get lift easier. Again, these are extremes, and everyone's "sweet spot" between lift, and how soon tail hits, is different. That said, I don't think a lower truck automatically means "less effort" to get in the air. Less effort to make the tail hit, absolutely, but there is a lot more an ideal pop than just making contact.

[rikki]

Expand Quote

Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

[close]

The energy thing is weird. It's different energy. Yes, a lower truck has a tail that hits sooner, and it takes less energy to make the tail contact the ground, but IMHO, that does not equal "pop." I'll go to an extreme to illuminate the point. Take a deck with no trucks, and put it on the carpet. Yes, you can "ollie" it, but it's really really hard, and you don't get much height, and you have to really to put a ton of force (energy) to get any kind of vertical lift. Now take a deck with trucks, and a super short tail (like 5" tail). The tail will hit much, much later, and will take more force to hit the ground, but it will also be a lot easier to "ollie" because you can get lift easier. Again, these are extremes, and everyone's "sweet spot" between lift, and how soon tail hits, is different. That said, I don't think a lower truck automatically means "less effort" to get in the air. Less effort to make the tail hit, absolutely, but there is a lot more an ideal pop than just making contact.

Exactly. And it's not just the height, either. I can't ollie for shit on a long tail. Yes, it hits the ground earlier and "lighter", but I can't get the leverage and "oomph" I need for a good ollie. I feel I would need to stomp my back foot like a madman to get good pop with a long tail, as opposed to having a nice rhythm with a normal (6.5-ish) tail.

That's just me, of course -- some people ollie over benches on anything.

[Sedition]

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Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

[close]

The energy thing is weird. It's different energy. Yes, a lower truck has a tail that hits sooner, and it takes less energy to make the tail contact the ground, but IMHO, that does not equal "pop." I'll go to an extreme to illuminate the point. Take a deck with no trucks, and put it on the carpet. Yes, you can "ollie" it, but it's really really hard, and you don't get much height, and you have to really to put a ton of force (energy) to get any kind of vertical lift. Now take a deck with trucks, and a super short tail (like 5" tail). The tail will hit much, much later, and will take more force to hit the ground, but it will also be a lot easier to "ollie" because you can get lift easier. Again, these are extremes, and everyone's "sweet spot" between lift, and how soon tail hits, is different. That said, I don't think a lower truck automatically means "less effort" to get in the air. Less effort to make the tail hit, absolutely, but there is a lot more an ideal pop than just making contact.

[close]

Exactly. And it's not just the height, either. I can't ollie for shit on a long tail. Yes, it hits the ground earlier and "lighter", but I can't get the leverage and "oomph" I need for a good ollie. I feel I would need to stomp my back foot like a madman to get good pop with a long tail, as opposed to having a nice rhythm with a normal (6.5-ish) tail.

That's just me, of course -- some people ollie over benches on anything.

Yup. Long tails are GREAT for tail slides....but holy hell, the ollie to get into them? NOPE.

[Murge]

Well I come to you for a little question.

I just went from AF1 144 with ace hard bushing that I think are 94 a on Spit RF 56 to Thunder HL 149 on Spit 54 CF. And the first exit was more than dangerous repeated bite.
 I didn't have the impression that thunder was also a squirrel ten years ago. Well I'm no longer the young man of yesteryear it's for sure but still. Especially since the goal was to gain stability.
To be precise, I never use my Kp nuts.

So should I really persist hoping for a hardening and clenche my teeth? Or go directly on a reconstruction kit?
But maybe 54 on thunder HL is too big with my 154lbs and my imbalances at the reception.
The question is of course in order to avoid buying a multitude of rings to test them all.

Thanks for your feedback and experience.

When I was having my affair with thunders I liked Indy blue 92a(?) barrel bushings on thunders. I was floating around 200lbs then.

[BeachChicken]

Here's a controversial take: I like both Indy and Thunder. Turn, performance, etc. It really came down to hating Thunder bushing bullshit recently and being a bit more stoked on how I was skating on Indys.

[back smith]

Here's a controversial take: I like both Indy and Thunder. Turn, performance, etc. It really came down to hating Thunder bushing bullshit recently and being a bit more stoked on how I was skating on Indys.

I like Thunder and Ace, even some others.. But Stage 11 Indys I just couldn't vibe with, tried bushing changes, risers and no risers..

The turn is different and I appreciate that someone might prefer that different feeling, and hey the trucks are available, good for the people who like them. But to say that it's "better" let alone 10/10 vs 7/10, that's just incorrect.

The popularity of Ace and Stage IV Indys makes me think I'm not the only one that doesn't vibe with Stage 11.

[Rick Trapasso]

Here's a controversial take: I like both Indy and Thunder. Turn, performance, etc. It really came down to hating Thunder bushing bullshit recently and being a bit more stoked on how I was skating on Indys.

I don't think there is anything controversial about this.

However, despite their finicky bushings I still prefer a stock thunder to a stock Indy.

[JM]

Spot on.

The lot of you.

Bushings, height, energy, pop, all of it.

That post about giving up on thunder bushings because of weather was really funny. I can’t stand the harder bushings when it gets cold.

[BeachChicken]

For me it was that due to crumbling, weather, etc every time I went to skate my trucks felt different and I was averaging pretty low lifespans in front bushings if I skated curbs a lot. Got really tiresome.

Also Indy Stage IV is a novelty/turn thing they're heavier than Stage XI and I don't know anyone that prefers them for popping a board really, but this doesn't mean XI is the best.

[Rick Trapasso]

In order to address these cold bushing issues, I'm considering keeping a pair of thunders setup with the thin flat bones washer on top just to use when the temps drop

[Big Brother]

In order to address these cold bushing issues, I'm considering keeping a pair of thunders setup with the thin flat bones washer on top just to use when the temps drop

I love bones soft bushings. might be a solution?

[Rick Trapasso]

Expand Quote

In order to address these cold bushing issues, I'm considering keeping a pair of thunders setup with the thin flat bones washer on top just to use when the temps drop

[close]

I love bones soft bushings. might be a solution?

I've sworn off bones bushings except for the set in my polarizer. And I'll probably replace those with something else once the hard part breaks through the soft part.

[rawbertson.]

Expand Quote

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Maybe it’s the higher Indy that is better for young strong legs (like Ben says) because there’s more energy needed to pop the tail, but the thunders are easier (take less effort).

[close]

The energy thing is weird. It's different energy. Yes, a lower truck has a tail that hits sooner, and it takes less energy to make the tail contact the ground, but IMHO, that does not equal "pop." I'll go to an extreme to illuminate the point. Take a deck with no trucks, and put it on the carpet. Yes, you can "ollie" it, but it's really really hard, and you don't get much height, and you have to really to put a ton of force (energy) to get any kind of vertical lift. Now take a deck with trucks, and a super short tail (like 5" tail). The tail will hit much, much later, and will take more force to hit the ground, but it will also be a lot easier to "ollie" because you can get lift easier. Again, these are extremes, and everyone's "sweet spot" between lift, and how soon tail hits, is different. That said, I don't think a lower truck automatically means "less effort" to get in the air. Less effort to make the tail hit, absolutely, but there is a lot more an ideal pop than just making contact.

[close]

Exactly. And it's not just the height, either. I can't ollie for shit on a long tail. Yes, it hits the ground earlier and "lighter", but I can't get the leverage and "oomph" I need for a good ollie. I feel I would need to stomp my back foot like a madman to get good pop with a long tail, as opposed to having a nice rhythm with a normal (6.5-ish) tail.

That's just me, of course -- some people ollie over benches on anything.

i have done some of my best manual > flip out and the tail didnt even hit the ground at all, but everything about the kickflip was perfect otherwise. it even got good height. so the tail doesnt even actually have to hardly hit the floor to ollie at all really.

[scab]

Heavy T2 tease in the Thunder ad in the newest bunt episode. "Something new coming this summer"... Can it finally be time?

[Scab Picker]

Heavy T2 tease in the Thunder ad in the newest bunt episode. "Something new coming this summer"... Can it finally be time?

Summer Drop 2

[Too Frank To Fred]

Heavy T2 tease in the Thunder ad in the newest bunt episode. "Something new coming this summer"... Can it finally be time?

June. Already in the catalog. Scroll back. Limited sizes though.

[Dmng]

Would be curious to see the catalog if anyone can dm it

[Mbrimson88]

Would be curious to see the catalog if anyone can dm it

Others have shared pretty much all there is to see and know on here anyway, as posted above too.

There were the four pics of it that have been posted back on page 96 - that is all the info that has been shown at this point, from an official point anyway.

Sizes in 147, 148 and 149

Out in June in USA and then however long it takes to get to the various countries after that, eg about three months or so for us in AU.


Link here to the original post:

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4356685#msg4356685

[myfeetarekillingme]

Not counting the IKPs, wasn’t the last major update/new truck they released the “147/149 hi II” back in the early 2010s? I was young and definitely not paying as much attention to gear back then so I don’t remember what actually changed with the release of the “II” other than they also stopped making the lo’s not long afterwards and the “hi II” just became the standard Thunder we know today.

Exciting times, I hope they live up to the hype 

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Would be curious to see the catalog if anyone can dm it

[close]

Others have shared pretty much all there is to see and know on here anyway, as posted above too.

There were the four pics of it that have been posted back on page 96 - that is all the info that has been shown at this point, from an official point anyway.

Sizes in 147, 148 and 149

Out in June in USA and then however long it takes to get to the various countries after that, eg about three months or so for us in AU.


Link here to the original post:

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4356685#msg4356685

Really surprised no 8.75.

[BeachChicken]

Well, not that many people that skate Thunders and skate 8.75. Way fewer than the sizes they're releasing.

[Sedition]

Well, not that many people that skate Thunders and skate 8.75. Way fewer than the sizes they're releasing.

Exactly. Taller trucks lend themselves better to wider ones, too. Would make more sense to make these in 8.75 than their current options, and capture some of that bigger board market.

[Big Brother]

Does anyone know what Royals are equivalent to 148 thunder hi with the tall baseplate?

[Too Frank To Fred]

Well, not that many people that skate Thunders and skate 8.75. Way fewer than the sizes they're releasing.

151s are pretty popular as far as I can tell. A good few vert skaters use 151/161. They'd also probably get more people trying them if they had wider sizes, as these new trucks will suit that bowl trolls and curb curmudgeons better than the existing geo.... perhaps...

And like Sedition, the new taller geo, could really benefit wider trucks. Anyway, my guess is they'll be out at some point.

[Lou Strux]

…they'll be out at some point.

📠📠📠

[scab]

Expand Quote

Heavy T2 tease in the Thunder ad in the newest bunt episode. "Something new coming this summer"... Can it finally be time?

[close]

June. Already in the catalog. Scroll back. Limited sizes though.

My bad, thanks for the heads-up.