The Thunder Thread

[VCR]

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Are you guys able to tell on the footage who rides the T1 and who rides the T2? I'd be curious to know if Bobby De Keyzer and  Kyle Walker ride the T1 or the T2.
I just thought about that the other day, most truck company don't really change the appearance of their trucks when they go high or low and you cannot really know what is the pro riding (unless we are talking about indy with the Stage 4).

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i’m also curious who rides what. and the bobby would have me buy a pair.
kyle would have me not buy a pair.

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I was just mentioning those two because they use or have used riser pads at some point on their trucks.

BDK on T2’s as of recent

[Safariferrari]

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Are you guys able to tell on the footage who rides the T1 and who rides the T2? I'd be curious to know if Bobby De Keyzer and  Kyle Walker ride the T1 or the T2.
I just thought about that the other day, most truck company don't really change the appearance of their trucks when they go high or low and you cannot really know what is the pro riding (unless we are talking about indy with the Stage 4).

[close]

i’m also curious who rides what. and the bobby would have me buy a pair.
kyle would have me not buy a pair.

[close]

I was just mentioning those two because they use or have used riser pads at some point on their trucks.

[close]

BDK on T2’s as of recent

makes sense. seen clips of him on aces before.

[Richard Skidder]

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Speaking of the inverted Thunder:
Has going from hollow to solid on the inverted kingpin stopped them from breaking as often?
If so that would put to rest the debate about anything hollow being stronger.

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Was addressed a few posts back/above.

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To be fair, I think the hollow kingpins on regular versions of the top brands of trucks are stronger.  If not stronger they are definitely a harder metal as they just don't seem to grind the same way that regular kingpins do, or more than anything, they just screech and stop on most things, compared to regular kingpins which still chirp but don't seem to be quite so abrasive, if that makes sense.

Maybe with the Inverted Thunder kingpins, there was a heat treat issue, or who knows what else, but they were good until they broke, for the most part, seems like the ones I had seen sheared off in a different way to other broken kingpins back in the day, but I could be wrong.  Any which way, having a kingpin that does move a little more  (as any inverted kingpin will do) maybe it was those forces acting on the hollow kingpins that caused them just to have unforeseen issues, or even just the temperatures, as more seemed to break in cold weather.

That's my take on it anyway.


* I haven't seen or heard of any regular / solid kingpins breaking on any inverted trucks in a long time though, but maybe it is early days for some still.

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I thought that the hollow kingpin catches more on grinds because the kingpin has more edges to catch, ( the inside circle and the outside circle). I’m pretty sure they are the same grade 8 steel as the standard kingpins. I’ve read on here somewhere that hollow is supposedly stronger because the heat treatment not only hits the outside of the kingpin or axle but also the inside as well. That would be assuming that the rods are poured hollow or bored out prior to heat treatment being applied. However if axles/kingpins are poured solid and heat treated before boring the holes then the aforementioned heat treatment inside and out would be untrue. Honestly I should probably look into that.

Yes @Sedition I looked back and saw the brief discussion but I wanted to dive a little deeper into the subject as I wanted to explore the theory of hollow axles as well as kingpin strength.

EDIT-

After some research I discovered:
Hollow components are grade 8 steel.
They are poured solid, then heat treated, then bored.

EDIT 2-
The hollow variant is 5-10% weaker than their solid counterparts.

More info which I have followed up on today:

The rods are heat treated after casting as aforementioned, however once the threaded rods are cast into the hangers it receives a second heat treatment which means that the hollow axle IS heat treated inside and out, ( I was possibly incorrect there ). Which could potentially be a stronger axle if the heat treatment can reach all the way through the core. I’m interested in finding out more about how the heat treating process works.

@SwitchBenihana
You’re right about the cycling industry rolling the frames from a flat piece of chromoly. The problem with truck axles has to do with how small they are. It would be extremely difficult to roll precisely and though it’s possible it would be extremely expensive. I’ll try to provide a link when I get a chance today or tomorrow.

[Xen]

TL;DR - I'm fully converted to the T2s now...wasn't feeling them at first but now everything else feels the same (ACE/Indy/Slappy all have a similiar turn feel, just slight varying degrees of turn speed and stabilty and T1/Venture don't turn by comparison). Most interestingly is that I feel the T2s turn better overall, as if they took that T2 responsivness and put it in front of that ACE/Indy/Slappy style turn but managed to make it seemless.

TL: Gave the bushings time to break in (about 1.5 weeks total) before progressively tightening them 1/8th of a turn each subsequent session.

Been on Slappys forever, stable, turn and grind great and QC is on point (now that the bushing issue is fixed), then tried the Thunder T2s and took them off after a week from launch due to the soft/divey nature of the bushings. Tried some 95a 97a dohdoh conicals in them, they fit great but lost their native feel; venom 90 surfskate bushings were great but I still wasn't feeling them but kept them setup.

I went back to slappys (stock), then dabbled with the ACE IKP (stock) and some Indys (bones meds), and a brief stint on GK lockers...(just don't) then rode the thunder setup again (straight off the ACE AF1 IKP), what struck me was how those three other trucks all 'turn the same' after riding the T2s...ACE felt less turny, still turny but in that ACE/Indy/Slappy kinda way (for obvious geo reasons) Slappys felt like they couldn't get loose enough and the Indys we're so slow at doing anything but grinding.

The most notable thing about them (this is riding them loose, mind) is that the return and leaving center is super fluid whereas the ACE/Indy/Slappy style geo 'settles' back to center, e.g., you're stable on center, then you shift/tilt the truck to turn, then you shift/balance it back and feel it settle to center to get stable whereas the thunders are just more fluid (to me) at the start of the turn or end of the turn when riding loose. Hard to explain, but if I had to give them a tag e.g., ACE are turny, venture are stable, T1s are twitchy, Indy are carvy, the T2s would be fluid (especially riding them loose).

Being a weight whore, I don't even mind they're not hollow (but just swapped in that new ultra low slappy pin on a fresh pair of 151s).

[moykky]

TL;DR - I'm fully converted to the T2s now...wasn't feeling them at first but now everything else feels the same (ACE/Indy/Slappy all have a similiar turn feel, just slight varying degrees of turn speed and stabilty and T1/Venture don't turn by comparison). Most interestingly is that I feel the T2s turn better overall, as if they took that T2 responsivness and put it in front of that ACE/Indy/Slappy style turn but managed to make it seemless.

TL: Gave the bushings time to break in (about 1.5 weeks total) before progressively tightening them 1/8th of a turn each subsequent session.

Been on Slappys forever, stable, turn and grind great and QC is on point (now that the bushing issue is fixed), then tried the Thunder T2s and took them off after a week from launch due to the soft/divey nature of the bushings. Tried some 97a dohdoh conicals in them, they fit great but lost their native feel; venom 90 surfskate bushings were great but I still wasn't feeling them but kept them setup.

I went back to slappys (stock), then dabbled with the ACE IKP (stock) and some Indys (bones meds), and a brief stint on GK lockers...(just don't) then rode the thunder setup again (straight off the ACE AF1 IKP), what struck me was how those three other trucks all 'turn the same' after riding the T2s...ACE felt less turny, still turny but in that ACE/Indy/Slappy kinda way (for obvious geo reasons) Slappys felt like they couldn't get loose enough and the Indys we're so slow at doing anything but grinding.

The most notable thing about them (this is riding them loose, mind) is that the return and leaving center is super fluid whereas the ACE/Indy/Slappy style geo 'settles' back to center, e.g., you're stable on center, then you shift/tilt the truck to turn, then you shift/balance it back and feel it settle to center to get stable whereas the thunders are just more fluid (to me) at the start of the turn or end of the turn when riding loose. Hard to explain, but if I had to give them a tag e.g., ACE are turny, venture are stable, T1s are twitchy, Indy are carvy, the T2s would be fluid (especially riding them loose).

Being a weight whore, I don't even mind they're not hollow (but just swapped in that new ultra low slappy pin on a fresh pair of 151s).

What kind of deck you riding? I have T2s, tried them with harder T1 bushings (too impatient to keep the stock), but I feel they'd need a deck with special geo...

[FrAnKenFrEd]

TL;DR - I'm fully converted to the T2s now...wasn't feeling them at first but now everything else feels the same (ACE/Indy/Slappy all have a similiar turn feel, just slight varying degrees of turn speed and stabilty and T1/Venture don't turn by comparison). Most interestingly is that I feel the T2s turn better overall, as if they took that T2 responsivness and put it in front of that ACE/Indy/Slappy style turn but managed to make it seemless.

TL: Gave the bushings time to break in (about 1.5 weeks total) before progressively tightening them 1/8th of a turn each subsequent session.

Been on Slappys forever, stable, turn and grind great and QC is on point (now that the bushing issue is fixed), then tried the Thunder T2s and took them off after a week from launch due to the soft/divey nature of the bushings. Tried some 97a dohdoh conicals in them, they fit great but lost their native feel; venom 90 surfskate bushings were great but I still wasn't feeling them but kept them setup.

I went back to slappys (stock), then dabbled with the ACE IKP (stock) and some Indys (bones meds), and a brief stint on GK lockers...(just don't) then rode the thunder setup again (straight off the ACE AF1 IKP), what struck me was how those three other trucks all 'turn the same' after riding the T2s...ACE felt less turny, still turny but in that ACE/Indy/Slappy kinda way (for obvious geo reasons) Slappys felt like they couldn't get loose enough and the Indys we're so slow at doing anything but grinding.

The most notable thing about them (this is riding them loose, mind) is that the return and leaving center is super fluid whereas the ACE/Indy/Slappy style geo 'settles' back to center, e.g., you're stable on center, then you shift/tilt the truck to turn, then you shift/balance it back and feel it settle to center to get stable whereas the thunders are just more fluid (to me) at the start of the turn or end of the turn when riding loose. Hard to explain, but if I had to give them a tag e.g., ACE are turny, venture are stable, T1s are twitchy, Indy are carvy, the T2s would be fluid (especially riding them loose).

Being a weight whore, I don't even mind they're not hollow (but just swapped in that new ultra low slappy pin on a fresh pair of 151s).

Music to my ears.

How you finding the pop and stability when popping/ on center?

About to order some 151s either way...

[Xen]

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TL;DR - I'm fully converted to the T2s now...wasn't feeling them at first but now everything else feels the same (ACE/Indy/Slappy all have a similiar turn feel, just slight varying degrees of turn speed and stabilty and T1/Venture don't turn by comparison). Most interestingly is that I feel the T2s turn better overall, as if they took that T2 responsivness and put it in front of that ACE/Indy/Slappy style turn but managed to make it seemless.

TL: Gave the bushings time to break in (about 1.5 weeks total) before progressively tightening them 1/8th of a turn each subsequent session.

Been on Slappys forever, stable, turn and grind great and QC is on point (now that the bushing issue is fixed), then tried the Thunder T2s and took them off after a week from launch due to the soft/divey nature of the bushings. Tried some 97a dohdoh conicals in them, they fit great but lost their native feel; venom 90 surfskate bushings were great but I still wasn't feeling them but kept them setup.

I went back to slappys (stock), then dabbled with the ACE IKP (stock) and some Indys (bones meds), and a brief stint on GK lockers...(just don't) then rode the thunder setup again (straight off the ACE AF1 IKP), what struck me was how those three other trucks all 'turn the same' after riding the T2s...ACE felt less turny, still turny but in that ACE/Indy/Slappy kinda way (for obvious geo reasons) Slappys felt like they couldn't get loose enough and the Indys we're so slow at doing anything but grinding.

The most notable thing about them (this is riding them loose, mind) is that the return and leaving center is super fluid whereas the ACE/Indy/Slappy style geo 'settles' back to center, e.g., you're stable on center, then you shift/tilt the truck to turn, then you shift/balance it back and feel it settle to center to get stable whereas the thunders are just more fluid (to me) at the start of the turn or end of the turn when riding loose. Hard to explain, but if I had to give them a tag e.g., ACE are turny, venture are stable, T1s are twitchy, Indy are carvy, the T2s would be fluid (especially riding them loose).

Being a weight whore, I don't even mind they're not hollow (but just swapped in that new ultra low slappy pin on a fresh pair of 151s).

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What kind of deck you riding? I have T2s, tried them with harder T1 bushings (too impatient to keep the stock), but I feel they'd need a deck with special geo...

Seriously look into the DohDoh conicals (maybe not 95a tho)
https://www.skatewarehouse.com/Doh-Doh_Bushings/catpage-BUSHORTYS.html

These fit as well (but also running flat bones washers) but pricey; bottom bushing shape almost identical which explains a lot.
https://www.riptidesports.com/products/carver-cx-surfskate-bushings

Tried T2 149s on a number decks ranging from 8.2 <-> 8.7 and wheelbases 14 <-> 14.375; prefer them on wider boards, with long kicks and 14.25WB.

Given they pull your effective WB in more than ACEs, I def prefer 14.25 WB minimum (with longer kicks to offset). Abebethel's Zero board [8.75, 32.5, WB 13.75, nose 7.75, tail 7.25] def changed my percception of short WB configurations.

[tzhangdox]

I've been noodling around with the t2s here and there. Really great truck. Just doesn't quite work for my stash of boards many of which have longer kicks and work on ventures, and these shrink your wb a lot in comparison, but on the right board I'd def skate em again (long wb, short kicks, long overall).

Let the stock bushings break in first a bit of course. But if they're still too loose for your taste and you don't want to crank em, one bushing setup I found that works pretty well is stock bottom + harder thunder top. You retain the geo and feel of the stock bushing setup but the harder thunder top bushing just firms things up a bit so you don't have to have threads showing. Makes the snap back to center feel pretty nice too. I did the red 97a thunder top

[apbarbs]

I've been on T1s with risers for a while and I'm used to the noseslide on thunders... but has anyone tried to solve the 'baseplate issue' with risers?

[SwitchBenihana]

I think T2's take longer to break in because the pivot cups are soft urethane as well so those AND the bushings need to firm up. Definitely not like the plastic feeling Ace or Indy cups. I find mine super easy to go back and forth from Indy and marginally prefer the Indy turn, but I find the T2 resist wheelbite more. I don't like the top of the turn very much, but it doesn't really impact my skating.

Speaking of looseness every pro shot I've seen with them has them fairly cranked. It's really surprising for some riders, like Chris Athens who I always thought would be on super loose stuff. Mine are prob 1 thread showing maybe a bit more but like most of the skate world not on Slap I'm not that self conscious about my threads showing as long as it's not egregious and I can still avoid excessive tic tacs.

T2 are super fun for bowls. Surprised more park dudes aren't on them. I'd skate them over Ace for transition now every day of the week.

[Xen]

I've been on T1s with risers for a while and I'm used to the noseslide on thunders... but has anyone tried to solve the 'baseplate issue' with risers?

Someone is, but I'm not at liberty to say who...think 'tensor slider riser pads' and you get the jist.

[Rick Trapasso]

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I've been on T1s with risers for a while and I'm used to the noseslide on thunders... but has anyone tried to solve the 'baseplate issue' with risers?

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Someone is, but I'm not at liberty to say who...think 'tensor slider riser pads' and you get the jist.

I saw a video a while back with a Canadian tech dude I think who had this setup.

One of the most madness ridden setups I'd ever seen.

[tangar]

I see Xen is still out here writing posts that are too long. t2s have been great stock. 149s firmed up after 2-3 sessions and they skate great. I'm only one session in on the 151s but they felt way more stable on day one compared to the 149s. will report back after this Sunday if it doesn't rain.

[moykky]

Thanks! I'll try the T2s again when I get a suitable deck

[moonordie]

Are T2 bushings affected heavily by weather like Indy?

[Rick Trapasso]

Are T2 bushings affected heavily by weather like Indy T1's?

[Xen]

I see Xen is still out here writing posts that are too long. t2s have been great stock. 149s firmed up after 2-3 sessions and they skate great. I'm only one session in on the 151s but they felt way more stable on day one compared to the 149s. will report back after this Sunday if it doesn't rain.

TL;DR - no one is making you read it my dude. Praying for rain.

[SwitchBenihana]

Slap needs more good long form reviews. There's 2-3 posters that just do unintelligible rambles and I miss the days of measurements, bushing madness, and obscure wheel brands.

[Texas_Tone]

Lmaooo imagine getting frumpy because someone wrote a thorough description of some trucks in a place where it’s supposed to happen, @Xen i enjoy your long winded reviews and observations, a lot of the times I don’t know how to describe what I’m feeling and you’ll usually have a pretty good comparison I can use, so thanks G

[rawbertson.]

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I've been on T1s with risers for a while and I'm used to the noseslide on thunders... but has anyone tried to solve the 'baseplate issue' with risers?

[close]

Someone is, but I'm not at liberty to say who...think 'tensor slider riser pads' and you get the jist.

[close]

I saw a video a while back with a Canadian tech dude I think who had this setup.

One of the most madness ridden setups I'd ever seen.

My G




This guy is a really good skater he can do any grind

[Rick Trapasso]

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I've been on T1s with risers for a while and I'm used to the noseslide on thunders... but has anyone tried to solve the 'baseplate issue' with risers?

[close]

Someone is, but I'm not at liberty to say who...think 'tensor slider riser pads' and you get the jist.

[close]

I saw a video a while back with a Canadian tech dude I think who had this setup.

One of the most madness ridden setups I'd ever seen.

[close]

My G




This guy is a really good skater he can do any grind

Yup! This was it

[tangar]

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I see Xen is still out here writing posts that are too long. t2s have been great stock. 149s firmed up after 2-3 sessions and they skate great. I'm only one session in on the 151s but they felt way more stable on day one compared to the 149s. will report back after this Sunday if it doesn't rain.

[close]

TL;DR - no one is making you read it my dude. Praying for rain.

I never do lol

[Xen]

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I see Xen is still out here writing posts that are too long. t2s have been great stock. 149s firmed up after 2-3 sessions and they skate great. I'm only one session in on the 151s but they felt way more stable on day one compared to the 149s. will report back after this Sunday if it doesn't rain.

[close]

TL;DR - no one is making you read it my dude. Praying for rain.

[close]

I never do lol

Uhh, you just did you tool..lol..

[hiljentaa]

Might have to go to Bones flat washers top and bottom vs cupped for winter.

Early sessions sub 50° and I am feeling the cold hardened bushings lately.

[FrAnKenFrEd]

My 151 T2s arrived today. They look really nice. Pretty stoked. weighing in around 380 Grams. Looks to have shorter WB than my AF1 IKP 60s but I have not measured.

Fit my 8.62 Krooked really nice. Came with one thread showing and they are wiggly as fuck. Will need to do some carpet dancing to break the bushings in a little before hitting the concrete.


Rad to have a hollow body hanger that will potentially turn so well. It occurred to me that all the other super turny trucks, Ace, Stage 4, Slappy and Lurpiv don't have the classic Stage 5 hollow body hangers...

[FrAnKenFrEd]

Well the T2 stock bushings firmed up way quicker than I anticipated. Had to loosen them today, second session. Might actually be too stiff now but I assume they will find a happy medium eventually....

three step break in.

I think the switching between Ace and T2s will be pretty easy. And not mess me up as much as switching between Ace and T1s like I used to.

[tangar]

Slap needs more good long form reviews. There's 2-3 posters that just do unintelligible rambles and I miss the days of measurements, bushing madness, and obscure wheel brands.

that part.

second sesh on the t2 151s today. I thought I might need to tighten them down a little more, but they felt pretty damn good after a few mins. I may have already said this about the 149s, but the pop and getting into slappies has been a seamless transition coming from Ace classic 55s. the only difference that's noticeable is the weight, which is nice for these almost 40 year old crunchy ass knees. grinds felt fine, once the crook groove gets deeper, I hope to start being able to sit on them longer. i felt like that was happening for me on my ace classics, but I attribute that to the deeper groove on those. I mostly skate slappies and try a couple flat ground tricks, but let me know if you guys have any questions. 

[rawbertson.]

i just saw this with the picture now, looks so dope. that thing is never going to catch! I might have to do this on my next set.

my set is very squeaky now. But I think all trucks get like this after awhile. pivot cup is just dried out i guess.

[FrAnKenFrEd]

Got the T2 151s into some transition... 2' to 9'... felt really good. i had to loosen them to nut flush. feel a tiny bit tight now with the stock bushings but that's fine. predictable, no weird squirrelyness at any stage of the turn or on center. next step is to bomb some hills.

all in all for my needs and tastes, i'd rate these as a close second to Ace Classics with a better (harder) grind and better wheel clearance. i could probably ditch the risers but have really wide Radial Full 56s on at the moment. if Ace classics didn't have that extra bit of sex to the last bit of their turn I could be on T2s permanently.

nice to have a truck i know i could ride stock and not mess with at all. i'm sure they will get even better with age. i personally wouldn't mess with IKPs on the T2s as the clearance is already good and i wouldn't want to mess with the turn at all. also light enough whereby i have no need for forged/ hollow kookery. pretty stoked on these.

well done Frank. well done.

[wax poetic]

I haven't had time to go back and read yet ... but anyone else having issues with floating axles on their t2's?  I have very little hours on them and I thought my bearings were going bad and realized both trucks axles were floating super easy and pinching my bearings ... sucks