The Thunder Thread

[JM]

I'm a huge nerd (gear reviewer for a living), but often worry I'll bring too much of my technical side from that and kook it.

No way. Shoes and gear is the place. Bring it on.

[skatebruh]

I’ll have to try those Ace Inverted bushings this winter when my stock Thunder bushings freeze up.

[TheCrimsonShroud]

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I'm a huge nerd (gear reviewer for a living), but often worry I'll bring too much of my technical side from that and kook it.

[close]

No way. Shoes and gear is the place. Bring it on.

I want to muddy the waters and bring Ace and Venture into this. Kinda rank the big four in a few categories.

Thunder: 1st for quick/responsive turn, 2nd most stable, 3rd for turn depth

Ace: 2nd for responsive turn, 4th for stability , 1st for turn depth

Venture: 4th for turn response, 1st for stability, 4th for turn depth

Indy: 3rd for turn response, 3rd for stability, 2nd for turn depth

So it really just depends on what you value. There are other considerations, of course—height, weight, WB pushout. But those variables are sort of outside the scope of this discussion.

In my case I feel like Thunder and Indy offer the best middle road of attributes. I would rather have some stability and a more responsive truck though, so I prefer thunder. In all honesty I like Indy the least because they have all of Ace’s “weaknesses” but don’t carve as well. If I’m throwing caution to the wind and riding a surfy truck why go halfway with it?

[rawbertson.]

for me its just
indy: good , but bit heavy. need the standard for maximum height so i can ride big wheels.
af1: too low + bit heavy
venture: cant turn
thunder t1: cant turn, too low
lurpiv: feels ghost poppy (maybe just need to try it again with short wb board though). shit kingpin clearance but i dont think it ruins the truck (but something they oculd maybe improve on in the future)
t2: pretty ideal truck for me

riding 60mm radial full on here no risers now so far so good (i was doing 58mm on t1 before and this seems to feel slightly less deadly so far)

[SwitchBenihana]

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I'm a huge nerd (gear reviewer for a living), but often worry I'll bring too much of my technical side from that and kook it.

[close]

No way. Shoes and gear is the place. Bring it on.

[close]

I want to muddy the waters and bring Ace and Venture into this. Kinda rank the big four in a few categories.

Thunder: 1st for quick/responsive turn, 2nd most stable, 3rd for turn depth

Ace: 2nd for responsive turn, 4th for stability , 1st for turn depth

Venture: 4th for turn response, 1st for stability, 4th for turn depth

Indy: 3rd for turn response, 3rd for stability, 2nd for turn depth

So it really just depends on what you value. There are other considerations, of course—height, weight, WB pushout. But those variables are sort of outside the scope of this discussion.

In my case I feel like Thunder and Indy offer the best middle road of attributes. I would rather have some stability and a more responsive truck though, so I prefer thunder. In all honesty I like Indy the least because they have all of Ace’s “weaknesses” but don’t carve as well. If I’m throwing caution to the wind and riding a surfy truck why go halfway with it?

You didn't include pop feel and for me the margins are there for Indy and Thunder at 1/2 respectively. Indy also pinch grinds better than Ace and Lurpiv for me so they become the ideal all around. I don't like the T2 pop feel as much and prefer the Indy turn ever so slightly, but they rank higher than Ace for me for sure and probably now tied with T1 actually.

[jamesmocapaldi]

It's been a while since I've ridden thunders regularly but yesterday I was forced to ride my cruiser after snapping my main setup with ventures during the session. My cruiser has old broken-in thunder bushings that had been skated previously and removed/re-added over time.

Idk why but anytime I rebuild a set of thunders with used thunder bushings I feel like they're so stiff when pushing (can't do micro adjustments with one foot) and then once I lean into a turn, the bushings crumple like marshmallows and feel like the bottom of the deck and my wheels are magnetized to each other. Is this just how old thunder bushings are (or all old bushings) or is this just T1 geo and me not liking it? Maybe it's the old bushings plus the shape of thunders bottom bushing?

I have some Ace hard bushings I was considering putting into them but I was kinda hoping to save them for run in my ventures.

[SwitchBenihana]

I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

[TheCrimsonShroud]

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I'm a huge nerd (gear reviewer for a living), but often worry I'll bring too much of my technical side from that and kook it.

[close]

No way. Shoes and gear is the place. Bring it on.

[close]

I want to muddy the waters and bring Ace and Venture into this. Kinda rank the big four in a few categories.

Thunder: 1st for quick/responsive turn, 2nd most stable, 3rd for turn depth

Ace: 2nd for responsive turn, 4th for stability , 1st for turn depth

Venture: 4th for turn response, 1st for stability, 4th for turn depth

Indy: 3rd for turn response, 3rd for stability, 2nd for turn depth

So it really just depends on what you value. There are other considerations, of course—height, weight, WB pushout. But those variables are sort of outside the scope of this discussion.

In my case I feel like Thunder and Indy offer the best middle road of attributes. I would rather have some stability and a more responsive truck though, so I prefer thunder. In all honesty I like Indy the least because they have all of Ace’s “weaknesses” but don’t carve as well. If I’m throwing caution to the wind and riding a surfy truck why go halfway with it?

[close]

You didn't include pop feel and for me the margins are there for Indy and Thunder at 1/2 respectively. Indy also pinch grinds better than Ace and Lurpiv for me so they become the ideal all around. I don't like the T2 pop feel as much and prefer the Indy turn ever so slightly, but they rank higher than Ace for me for sure and probably now tied with T1 actually.

That is just so subjective (fixed from objective; I was typing at work) and I was trying to keep the discussion firmly in the realm of generally agreed upon terms in regards to turn. As far as pop feel, for me it’s Venture and Thunder at 1 and 2 because I pop better with a lower truck and longer wb. I know plenty of people need it the other way to feel comfortable.

[SwitchBenihana]

Turn is subjective as well. I prefer the Indy turn to Ace and I don't ride tight trucks. I wouldn't have given it the same score as you did and the point is that all gear is subjective past a point. For me Ace turn "more", but I like the carve arc of Indy or Lurpiv more and both wheelbite less for me.

Pop feel could be just as objective if you're just saying "lighter to heavier" based on WB extension on the same board and you match it to preferences the same way you matched turn.

[Unkle Fleak]

I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

I’ve tried cylinders in thunder. They don’t really work. Might have been too tall. Idk. I just remember I couldn’t turn.

[JM]

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I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

[close]

I’ve tried cylinders in thunder. They don’t really work. Might have been too tall. Idk. I just remember I couldn’t turn.

Maybe different height that caused it to not turn from geometry going wonky?

I have barrel Ace bottom bushings in right now (they are same height as standard) Once they break in I’ll report back about the turn.

 

[rikki]

Turn is objective as well.

Turn, if anything, is subjective when talking about skateboard trucks. E.g. "Ventures don't turn" is an opinion, not a fact.

[Schinken]

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I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

[close]

I’ve tried cylinders in thunder. They don’t really work. Might have been too tall. Idk. I just remember I couldn’t turn.

I ride indy 90a bushings(cylinder +cone)+ washers in my 149 & 151 and it feels nice. The turn is a little restricted at the end but I get way less wheelbite even when riding fairly loose . It was the best thing I ever did to my trucks. Before the change I hated thunder trucks.

[SwitchBenihana]

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Turn is objective as well.

[close]

Turn, if anything, is subjective when talking about skateboard trucks. E.g. "Ventures don't turn" is an opinion, not a fact.

Thanks for catching the typo, that's what I meant.

[Xen]

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I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

[close]

I’ve tried cylinders in thunder. They don’t really work. Might have been too tall. Idk. I just remember I couldn’t turn.

Same, didn't like it at all, felt like it removed everything I liked about OG thunders/removed what they offer, much like putting conicals in Indy, not bad persay but they lose a little something  for a faster dip.

[JM]

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I've never understood why Thunder use a conical bottom bushing to start with. I can't remember many companies doing it when I started skating and they're a lower truck so having a cylinder would help against wheelbite. Does any other truck company have so many noted bushing issues? Not that they're from that but a less cupped top washer would go a long way.

[close]

I’ve tried cylinders in thunder. They don’t really work. Might have been too tall. Idk. I just remember I couldn’t turn.

[close]

I ride indy 90a bushings(cylinder +cone)+ washers in my 149 & 151 and it feels nice. The turn is a little restricted at the end but I get way less wheelbite even when riding fairly loose . It was the best thing I ever did to my trucks. Before the change I hated thunder trucks.

okay maybe the ace bushings need some time to soften up, but they felt tight.  I could turn... but really not easily and fluidly.

maybe more break in?

[rawbertson.]

I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

[fulfillthedream]

I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

yea man that drives me crazy. i used rubbing alcohol for my ventures and it still didn't come off all the way.

[JM]

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I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

[close]

yea man that drives me crazy. i used rubbing alcohol for my ventures and it still didn't come off all the way.

Magic. Only need a little.

[Dan Gerous]

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I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

[close]

yea man that drives me crazy. i used rubbing alcohol for my ventures and it still didn't come off all the way.

[close]

Magic. Only need a little.

That, or lighter fluid, or acetone, or nail varnish remover...

[FrAnKenFrEd]

I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

Sticker or no sticker, love the look of those T2s. That is truck porn right there. Nice curves and angles.

[Mbrimson88]

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I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

[close]

yea man that drives me crazy. i used rubbing alcohol for my ventures and it still didn't come off all the way.

[close]

Magic. Only need a little.

[close]

That, or lighter fluid, or acetone, or nail varnish remover...

Yeah I think some of those would be a good option, maybe better than me just peeling off the sticker as carefully as I could and then rubbing off the rest of the adhesive residue before setting up any of the Thunder trucks I have set up / had recently.

I guess that happens more on Thunder and Venture, as all the new technology has the bright little stickers to go with it.

Funny how I see some people who never take those stickers off and all I want to do is clean their trucks for them.  Thankfully I don't go that far.

[FrAnKenFrEd]

Ace: 2nd for responsive turn, 4th for stability , 1st for turn depth

Having spent decades on Indys, Stage 4 to 11, and now Ace and Thunder, (haven't tried T2 yet and not sure I will) I personally find Ace to be more stable on center than Stage 11... I put it down to the lower height. I'm one of those ex-Indy wankers... Nothing against them, its just Ace and Thunder do what I want better, feel better and look sexier... If there is ever a Stage 12, I'd likely hit it...

[Mbrimson88]

.

I had been tinkering around with a lot of inverted truck options recently and decided to put a hex head (same as a normal kingpin size) in the round Thunder trucks inverted kingpin, so I can use a normal skate tool with it.

Basically I put a nut on the end of it, which helps hold the hex positioning, sit the grinder flat on the floor and turn the kingpin so the hex nut is the guide, take it down a little at a time, not to over do it and then check in the skate tool to see how it is going.  This one was not the first one I did, so I am pretty used to how far I have to go now.

Turned out pretty well and is fairly easy to do, as per the pics and the video - although not about to try to become a YouTube guy any time soon, the video was a little too long to upload to Instagram, so I thought I would upload it there instead, as a few people had been asking how I did it, when I showed them the pics of the completed product.

These were from well used trucks, not new, so the kingpin heads look quite scratched up, but when doing new ones, the kingpin heads are still very clean and new looking once I am done.

[Mbrimson88]

.

Here's a brand new set, solid kingpin version too, now with hex head.  Might look like the last pic I uploaded of these same trucks, only now with the hex head instead of the round head.






First pic here all the way back on page 129 - the T-II talk has really taken the Thunder thread half a dozen pages in no time.

https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4410791#msg4410791

[rocklobster]

@Mbrimson88 stop doing DLX's homework for them, they're going to sell these to us as Thunder OG IKP 2.0 in 2026

Cool work as always, any problem can be solved with a Dremel

[Rick Trapasso]

I really hope they stop putting this sticker on the trucks… I have to use a scour pad to clean it off now

Yea, that shit is super annoying. I used rubbing alcohol to get the adhesive off my last set.

I've seen some pros leave the sticker on, not a fan personally.

[rawbertson.]

reminds me of those goons keeping the sticker on their New Era fitted hat! 

[Texas_Tone]

reminds me of those goons keeping the sticker on their New Era fitted hat! 

I feel called out, you weren’t there man! It was a time, and we had the world on a platter, lol I kept them on until I figured out after the sun fades the bill and then you have a circle that isn’t the same color as the rest of the hat so I started peeling mine, as for truck stickers I like using a razor blade and then going over it with some alcohol or goo gone, or make an abrasion paste with some baking soda and water, I also hear WD40 is good to get off some adhesives but haven’t tried it

[I Can't Think]

After looking I really wanna grab a pair of T2s once they sort out what seems to be overly soft bushings. If they make a hollow variant as well that'd be amazing. The specs and dimensions of these look perfect.