The Thunder Thread

[Paperclip20]

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Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

[close]

It's petty but I've seen multiple people irl run them with the stickers still on and I immediately trust them a little less.

I just peeled the sticker and left the goop on..Felt insane doing it but didn't affect any grinds

[Rick Trapasso]

Expand Quote

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

[close]

Acetone/nail polish remover and a rag. Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer if you don't have acetone.

I def just struggled with the 70% rubbing alcohol that was in my bathroom instead of being smart and remembering the acetone in my shed lol.

It's petty but I've seen multiple people irl run them with the stickers still on and I immediately trust them a little less.

Big fax

[Obijuan91]

for all of you regular (t1?) users: what is your wheel of choice?
i think i might might be able to get away with 54 classics, idk.
i think my best thunder times in recent memory was with 52 conical fulls and a cast baseplate.
definitely had less gear confusion with thunders tho: all decks fine enough, and for me i know there is a hard cap on wheels at 54

Not a regular Thunder user a recent reconvert for the third time but the 52 conicals fulls feel really good on em. I had 54 classics on em before but the contact patch on the conical fulls feel really good.

[Sandwich Marty]

for all of you regular (t1?) users: what is your wheel of choice?
i think i might might be able to get away with 54 classics, idk.
i think my best thunder times in recent memory was with 52 conical fulls and a cast baseplate.
definitely had less gear confusion with thunders tho: all decks fine enough, and for me i know there is a hard cap on wheels at 54

I’m about 175ilb give or take and I can skate T1’s comfortably on 54mm classics. Never tried to go bigger and I don’t think I would without a riser.

[Beardedpirate]

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

Eucalyptus oil is great for removing the residue as well.

[Mbrimson88]

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

Funny you mention that, but this was from when I got a half dozen sets of the T-II trucks a month or so ago:


https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DSlpgRyE6GM/


This might seem like the most trivial thing ever, but having stickers on any truck hanger that leave a mess has always bugged me, so before I set up these new Thunder T-II trucks I cleaned them off nicely with a simple two part method, which anyone else can do too.

All I used was a couple of wet wipes or similar products, one nice and moist with the other old and dry. First peel the sticker off, then wipe down with the wet wipe and let the alcohol base get in there for a bit. Then get the dry one to really go over it, using the wet one again for any stubborn bits that have stayed.

Repeat this a couple of times and the trucks come up bright, shiny and new, no sticky mess with the least effort as the friction from the dry wipe is all I needed to wipe off the muck that the alcohol wipe has lifted.

[Rick Trapasso]

Expand Quote

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

[close]

Funny you mention that, but this was from when I got a half dozen sets of the T-II trucks a month or so ago:


https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DSlpgRyE6GM/


This might seem like the most trivial thing ever, but having stickers on any truck hanger that leave a mess has always bugged me, so before I set up these new Thunder T-II trucks I cleaned them off nicely with a simple two part method, which anyone else can do too.

All I used was a couple of wet wipes or similar products, one nice and moist with the other old and dry. First peel the sticker off, then wipe down with the wet wipe and let the alcohol base get in there for a bit. Then get the dry one to really go over it, using the wet one again for any stubborn bits that have stayed.

Repeat this a couple of times and the trucks come up bright, shiny and new, no sticky mess with the least effort as the friction from the dry wipe is all I needed to wipe off the muck that the alcohol wipe has lifted.

Ive done a lot of messing around with my skateboard/components, but I haven't documented the vast majority of it.

I feel like you have pictures of nearly all the tinkering you do haha.

[Slave IV]

I just grinded on some curbs, which ripped the stickers up enough to make them easy to peel off, then wiped with some isopropyl alcohol and good to go.

[Mbrimson88]

Ive done a lot of messing around with my skateboard/components, but I haven't documented the vast majority of it.

I feel like you have pictures of nearly all the tinkering you do haha.

For sure!

Maybe more so in the last few years, after people kept asking about how to do certain things, so it was easier to just link a video or more commonly a post with pics and text explanation to go with them.

A lot of it has also been a fair bit of trial and error, which has been fun to do as well, test this, break that, change this or that bit out and see what happens, etc.


The best thing is having someone seemingly out of the blue just comment or say something as well, on a post, with some other bit of information that just helps get something tweaked that little bit better, but this place has been so good with shared info so it has been great to be on here and have all these conversations.

[Rick Trapasso]

The best thing is having someone seemingly out of the blue just comment or say something as well, on a post, with some other bit of information that just helps get something tweaked that little bit better, but this place has been so good with shared info so it has been great to be on here and have all these conversations.

For sure man, it def is. And you are in the top percentile of info sharers, that's for sure.

[Rick Trapasso]

Setup some T2s, don't really have anything new to offer.

Can confirm they are nearly unrideable out of the box but the bushings did start to firm up for me quickly.

Only got about 2mins on them while the bushings weren't total mush so I don't really have an opinion on them yet.

I do like the height, and relative light weight for an all cast/solid truck though. That's what drew me to try them in the first place.

[TwisT]

Expand Quote

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

[close]

Funny you mention that, but this was from when I got a half dozen sets of the T-II trucks a month or so ago:


https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DSlpgRyE6GM/


This might seem like the most trivial thing ever, but having stickers on any truck hanger that leave a mess has always bugged me, so before I set up these new Thunder T-II trucks I cleaned them off nicely with a simple two part method, which anyone else can do too.

All I used was a couple of wet wipes or similar products, one nice and moist with the other old and dry. First peel the sticker off, then wipe down with the wet wipe and let the alcohol base get in there for a bit. Then get the dry one to really go over it, using the wet one again for any stubborn bits that have stayed.

Repeat this a couple of times and the trucks come up bright, shiny and new, no sticky mess with the least effort as the friction from the dry wipe is all I needed to wipe off the muck that the alcohol wipe has lifted.

Sometimes I'll even put more stickers on the hanger

[Rick Trapasso]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Does anyone else hate the stickers thunder puts on their hangers?

They wouldn't be so bad if the adhesive just peeled off cleanly with the rest of the sticker, but instead they just leave behind a bunch of goop you have to clean off.


..... annoying.

[close]

Funny you mention that, but this was from when I got a half dozen sets of the T-II trucks a month or so ago:


https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DSlpgRyE6GM/


This might seem like the most trivial thing ever, but having stickers on any truck hanger that leave a mess has always bugged me, so before I set up these new Thunder T-II trucks I cleaned them off nicely with a simple two part method, which anyone else can do too.

All I used was a couple of wet wipes or similar products, one nice and moist with the other old and dry. First peel the sticker off, then wipe down with the wet wipe and let the alcohol base get in there for a bit. Then get the dry one to really go over it, using the wet one again for any stubborn bits that have stayed.

Repeat this a couple of times and the trucks come up bright, shiny and new, no sticky mess with the least effort as the friction from the dry wipe is all I needed to wipe off the muck that the alcohol wipe has lifted.

[close]

Sometimes I'll even put more stickers on the hanger

A sticker YOU decide to put on is totally fine and cool.

Not really my style personally, but I've seen some people do it and thought it was cool.

[DirtCat]

I'll take the stickers and associated residue over the old screened on heart grenade graphic

[Sandwich Marty]

T2’s look a little naked until you get grooves going, so for my back truck I’ve been stealing BA’s swag and adding little produce stickers up near the corner of the hanger. Fills it in nicely and lets people know I have a balanced diet. Win win.

[Mbrimson88]

Sometimes I'll even put more stickers on the hanger

A sticker YOU decide to put on is totally fine and cool.

Not really my style personally, but I've seen some people do it and thought it was cool.

Definitely agree there too.

Something about those foil stickers right over the hanger top that you are going to grind through, compared to something placed on the face of the hanger...

I used to do that a lot with other trucks too, some stickers just the right size to go on there.

Any which way, everything is personal choice.  It is also cool to have something that makes them "your own" too, whatever that may be, a sticker, a graphic, doodle or whatever.

[Rick Trapasso]

All this talk has me searching for a little sticker in my sticker pile to add to my hangar. Personal NBD.

Don't think I have anything that would look cool though.

[JM]

When is T-II forged hollow coming out?

[Chalupa]

When is T-II forged hollow coming out?

It should be the next spring drop unless there are issues.

[JM]

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When is T-II forged hollow coming out?

[close]

It should be the next spring drop unless there are issues.

Beautiful. Thank you.

[gaunting]

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When is T-II forged hollow coming out?

[close]

It should be the next spring drop unless there are issues.

fuck yes! glad you posted this. +1 🙏

[9.18]

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Has anyone tried different bushings in their T2s? I’m looking to make them more stable on center and don’t mind sacrificing the turn.

[close]

Yes, I have pretty much run everything in a set just to see what they were like.

You can easily put almost any other brand bushings in and they will work fine, conical or cylinder options too, but I think the key to the T-II feeling way more stable is breaking in any bushings before making a final decision, or trying broken in bushings first to get used to the trucks.

The stock combination of very soft bushings and the amount of turn they have is ridiculous, even when I set up another board with new T-II trucks just recently, it was crazy feeling for the first few sessions on stock bushings, almost like I could hardly hold them steady for anything other than just doing laps or hitting the quarters at the park, so wearing them in on a transition park is easier for me anyway.

Once worn in the stock bushings work really well, almost stiffen up more than I expected, but that could also be just getting more used to the amount of turn the T-II trucks have as well.


I have set up four sets now, two 149s and two 151s, the first of each which I carefully broke in and tested how they worked and just was feeling them out more than anything.  Then one set I cranked the stock bushings down to about three threads within the first session just to see, no issues, wound them back maybe a whole thread since then and going fine.

Another set from new, I changed everything out and tested various bushings on them just to see, including all options of the Thunder catalog, 90, 94, 95, 97 and 100s, as well as Indy bushings and other brands.  The harder bushings held the trucks very well - total opposite of standing on them for the first time.

They really are a very different truck, so for someone who is not used to how much they turn, or has only been on Venture or regular Thunder, they are very much a shock, whereas for anyone coming from loose feeling Indy or Ace, they will probably be a lot easier to get used to straight away, or might take a lot less time to get the feel for them.

I just picked up at set of TII after only skating Indy and Ace since I got back in the game. These things are weird. These don’t even feel like they are turning, they feel like the bushings are just mushing up in the trucks and the board just collapsed over. It’s a very mushy feeling and not really a “tight turn” feeling like ace. After about an hour I did think they seemed a little better, but still describe them as mushy feeling. Does they feeling go away after they are fully broken in, or is that just a characteristic feeling of these?

[Slave IV]

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Expand Quote

Has anyone tried different bushings in their T2s? I’m looking to make them more stable on center and don’t mind sacrificing the turn.

[close]

Yes, I have pretty much run everything in a set just to see what they were like.

You can easily put almost any other brand bushings in and they will work fine, conical or cylinder options too, but I think the key to the T-II feeling way more stable is breaking in any bushings before making a final decision, or trying broken in bushings first to get used to the trucks.

The stock combination of very soft bushings and the amount of turn they have is ridiculous, even when I set up another board with new T-II trucks just recently, it was crazy feeling for the first few sessions on stock bushings, almost like I could hardly hold them steady for anything other than just doing laps or hitting the quarters at the park, so wearing them in on a transition park is easier for me anyway.

Once worn in the stock bushings work really well, almost stiffen up more than I expected, but that could also be just getting more used to the amount of turn the T-II trucks have as well.


I have set up four sets now, two 149s and two 151s, the first of each which I carefully broke in and tested how they worked and just was feeling them out more than anything.  Then one set I cranked the stock bushings down to about three threads within the first session just to see, no issues, wound them back maybe a whole thread since then and going fine.

Another set from new, I changed everything out and tested various bushings on them just to see, including all options of the Thunder catalog, 90, 94, 95, 97 and 100s, as well as Indy bushings and other brands.  The harder bushings held the trucks very well - total opposite of standing on them for the first time.

They really are a very different truck, so for someone who is not used to how much they turn, or has only been on Venture or regular Thunder, they are very much a shock, whereas for anyone coming from loose feeling Indy or Ace, they will probably be a lot easier to get used to straight away, or might take a lot less time to get the feel for them.

[close]

I just picked up at set of TII after only skating Indy and Ace since I got back in the game. These things are weird. These don’t even feel like they are turning, they feel like the bushings are just mushing up in the trucks and the board just collapsed over. It’s a very mushy feeling and not really a “tight turn” feeling like ace. After about an hour I did think they seemed a little better, but still describe them as mushy feeling. Does they feeling go away after they are fully broken in, or is that just a characteristic feeling of these?

To me, my T-II feels overall better than my AF1 but both are fine and the AF1 bushings are much older while the T-II could be in that prime stiffer stage that people have mentioned after breaking them in for a bit. Main difference to me is the Ace have a linear bushing and turn feel where it is the same soft and smooth turn from center to wheelbite. T-II have a progressive bushing feel where they feel more stable at center, dip into turns and then stop before they wheelbite. I like that more because the stability at center makes setting up for tricks easier and the turning stop before wheelbite... well, prevents wheelbite.

[tuesday]

^ That's the best description of the effect that different bushing geometries have I have read so far. Kudos.

[texasplant]

What’s the biggest wheels you guys have been getting away with on t2’s? I’m trying to run 58 and also avoid using risers

[VCR]

I have 57’s on right now with one thread showing on the kingpin, no issues.

[rawbertson.]

What’s the biggest wheels you guys have been getting away with on t2’s? I’m trying to run 58 and also avoid using risers

I use 60mm radial full

Re SlaveIV : T2s are more like ace classics than af1 so I expect they will feel a lot different

Re : mushy feeling, they feel fine to me. I don crank down at all it’s on the most flush stock setting since day 1 and they felt a bit wild for 1 session and I was used to it and they ended up getting really stable and good for going fast and not worrying about wobbling imo I find Indy and ace less stable. The ace bushings are special and that contributes significantly to why they are a unique feeling truck

[Slave IV]

^ That's the best description of the effect that different bushing geometries have I have read so far. Kudos.

Thanks! I got the inspiration from thinking about car suspensions. For a more track oriented setup, you want linear springs for consistency and progressive springs are better for compromises… people who want softer feel for comfort most of the time but also want a stiffer feel during heavy cornering or braking. Ok for most people for regular street driving but not what you want or safe for maximum performance on a track like environment.

In that respect, I’m much lower in skill comparisons on a skateboard so I prefer the progressive approach, lol. Also just makes more sense to me on a skateboard where I value centered stability and wheelbite prevention more than all out turning performance.

Expand Quote

What’s the biggest wheels you guys have been getting away with on t2’s? I’m trying to run 58 and also avoid using risers

[close]

I use 60mm radial full

Re SlaveIV : T2s are more like ace classics than af1 so I expect they will feel a lot different

Re : mushy feeling, they feel fine to me. I don crank down at all it’s on the most flush stock setting since day 1 and they felt a bit wild for 1 session and I was used to it and they ended up getting really stable and good for going fast and not worrying about wobbling imo I find Indy and ace less stable. The ace bushings are special and that contributes significantly to why they are a unique feeling truck

I never tried Ace classics so I can only compare with AF1. Neither AF1 or T-II feel mushy to me but if anything AF1 might be a bit more due to mine being much older and what I described above.

[9.18]

Update on the TII mushy feeling. Third session on the trucks, they have totally changed. Still a different turn but found that stability on center. When they were brand new I could easily push the wheel to the deck with my hands, now I have to really give her hell to even get close. I might be crazy but I felt them more impact the trucks took the more the bushings firmed up, instead of just breaking in with lots of side to side carving?

I’m really liking these now. I was pretty worried I was going to hate them at the first session.

[TastyBurrito]

Was plesantly surprised with how surfy T2s straight out the shop. As surfy as my Ace AF1s which are nice. Took them on a curb session and while the grind is nice, I still feel like my AF1s feel better. Then again, the T2s weren’t broken in.

Still, like them very much.