The Thunder Thread

[myfeetarekillingme]

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We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

[close]

which T1s?
i made the mistake of getting hollow light 147s, back when i was skating smaller setups. too light.

cast 149s are nice.


i don’t get as tripped out about boards when i use thunders. meaning the thunders seem to match up
better, for me, with almost all deck dimensions

Regular ol cast 148s right now

[Mbrimson88]

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We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

[close]

which T1s?
i made the mistake of getting hollow light 147s, back when i was skating smaller setups. too light.

cast 149s are nice.


i don’t get as tripped out about boards when i use thunders. meaning the thunders seem to match up
better, for me, with almost all deck dimensions

[close]

Regular ol cast 148s right now

Some people who ride smaller boards specifically went for the 148s over 147s as they 148s are higher (all in the hanger) and they run them with just one inside washer or even take the axle ends down so they fit on their 8" boards better with narrow wheels.

Funny that the 147s are a lower hanger, as they never used to be, as per some older ones I have from back in the 00s or 2010s, which were the 52 mm height, same as 148 through to 151s now.

Anyway, people who ride more tech setups say the 148 is the sweet spot of the Thunder catalog, for the width, the height, etc.  I have a few sets on boards and I can feel it, even though I prefer a taller and wider setup these days.

[myfeetarekillingme]

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We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

[close]

which T1s?
i made the mistake of getting hollow light 147s, back when i was skating smaller setups. too light.

cast 149s are nice.


i don’t get as tripped out about boards when i use thunders. meaning the thunders seem to match up
better, for me, with almost all deck dimensions

[close]

Regular ol cast 148s right now

[close]

Some people who ride smaller boards specifically went for the 148s over 147s as they 148s are higher (all in the hanger) and they run them with just one inside washer or even take the axle ends down so they fit on their 8" boards better with narrow wheels.

Funny that the 147s are a lower hanger, as they never used to be, as per some older ones I have from back in the 00s or 2010s, which were the 52 mm height, same as 148 through to 151s now.

Anyway, people who ride more tech setups say the 148 is the sweet spot of the Thunder catalog, for the width, the height, etc.  I have a few sets on boards and I can feel it, even though I prefer a taller and wider setup these days.

Yeah I definitely remember Thunder marketing hi’s and lo’s back in the 00s-early 10s and I guess maybe as larger boards and higher trucks became the norm they dropped the “hi” from the name and did away with the lo entirely since by then the 147 hi wouldve been considered a pretty low truck? I definitely remember a redesign happening in the early 10s but my memory of it is hazy and nobody was obsessing on truck minutia back then as we are today.

Anyway yeah, the 148 is a pretty sick and adaptable truck. I can’t believe we lived through an era where 8.25 width trucks weren’t a thing.

Edit: if someone here actually knows the full timeline and evolution of Thunders, please share as I’m definitely interested in nerding out on the history

[Ok]

also interested in nerding out.

i really liked cast 147s, the forged baseplate on the 147s made them low low. and i like lows.

i have some 148s with forged baseplates and solid hangers (best combo imo), and they skate really well. i’m not sure what i quit them. probably not enough vibes.


are baseplates interchangeable?

[Sandwich Marty]

also interested in nerding out.

i really liked cast 147s, the forged baseplate on the 147s made them low low. and i like lows.

i have some 148s with forged baseplates and solid hangers (best combo imo), and they skate really well. i’m not sure what i quit them. probably not enough vibes.


are baseplates interchangeable?

Yes they are. I had some T1 lights that I swapped out for cast plates and they basically just became team editions.

[Mbrimson88]

.

I think the change happened some time between Spring 2016 and 2017, as at least those catalogs are still online and the Spring 2016 has mention of hi and low in 145 and 147 while there is no mention of either in 2017.

That Spring 2017 is the first look at 148s too, both catalog links here, worth checking out.  So many bright colours in there as well.


https://www.thundertrucks.com/catalog/spring16/

https://www.thundertrucks.com/catalog/spring17/

Just change spring, summer or fall in there too, to see whatever you can of catalogs still up or change the year as well.

This might be the earliest online catalog:

https://www.thundertrucks.com/catalog/fall15/


The DLX catalogs go back to 2017, but a good number of them in the last few pages don't come up, 21 pages in all, which are also worth having a look at if you have the time.


https://www.dlxsf.com/category/catalogs/

https://www.dlxsf.com/category/catalogs/page/21/


I think I have already spent too long looking through all those, after seeing mention on this thread, which I had open still from posting before going to work.

So good though - so many old trucks I remember seeing come through the shop or on boards, especially the Ishod BMW series.  Haven't seen too many of those in more recent years, at least not to that degree of detail, I don't think.

[rawbertson.]

Lol even the Cast 148 t1 feels too low for me...
I will say, T1s are low key THE BEST for heelflips

[Mbrimson88]

Lol even the Cast 148 t1 feels too low for me...
I will say, T1s are low key THE BEST for heelflips

I have to either put very small (sub 50 mm wheels on) or cut wheel wells or add risers to normal Thunders, as well as have them on a shorter wheelbase board, or redrill the deck to bring them in, which I have done and it works fine on the 8.38 x 14.5 wb I usually skate, both drilled right beside / almost on top of the existing holes and then filled the original holes with dowel and they work well, wb measures about 14.1 to 14.2 or so now.

At least I know what I like and will change anything to get it to that point, but it is a lot of work, just to get it to that point, whereas other product, I don't seem like I need to do half the things, or some I can even put on and be happy as is, eg T-II with 52 to 53 mm wheels seems to work great.

Others I skate with who run tighter trucks will ride the 148s with 54 mm Conical Full wheels and not have issues, or similar, but I need a bit more turn and height to be happy there.


* I had something like this as a basic info sheet for people setting up boards a while back, but it is still subject to truck tightness.

Truck at 52 mm = wheels under 50 mm or 52 mm max
Truck at 53 mm = wheels under 52 mm or 54 mm max
Truck at 54 mm = wheels under 54 mm or 56 mm max
Truck at 55 mm = wheels under 56 mm or 58 mm max

People said that did help them with adding risers or whatever needed - at least with the rubber 1 mm and 2 mm risers, or thicker hard risers, it was easy enough to add those in if they were on lower trucks like Thunders, before people were already out the door and then had issues.

[rawbertson.]

I got the wooden risers for T1s and for some reason I didn't like it
I kinda want to give them another shot. I felt like it killed the pinch feeling on a crooked grind

I dropped down the wheel size with T1s to 55mm and i use classics. I did 51mm classics, it felt good at first but then it felt a bit too low. i did 58mm radial full and it didnt feel very good.

I think Mark Suciu runs 54mm Conical Full on 148mm t1s seems like a good setup to me

[myfeetarekillingme]

I’ve got my 148s about as loose and they can get and always run 53mm f4 classic shape. I’ve never been a risers guy but I have also never been a high truck guy anyway so that mid height is comfy for me. Wheelbite is definitely a thing when the wheels are fresh but it also gives you that nice easy pinch on crooks so I’ll take it. I feel like I get really in tune with T1s and can get more precise with tricks and managing wheelbite is just part of the experience because you’re not gonna be able to surf your way out of a sketchy landing

[manuduncan]

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Lol even the Cast 148 t1 feels too low for me...
I will say, T1s are low key THE BEST for heelflips

[close]

I have to either put very small (sub 50 mm wheels on) or cut wheel wells or add risers to normal Thunders, as well as have them on a shorter wheelbase board, or redrill the deck to bring them in, which I have done and it works fine on the 8.38 x 14.5 wb I usually skate, both drilled right beside / almost on top of the existing holes and then filled the original holes with dowel and they work well, wb measures about 14.1 to 14.2 or so now.

At least I know what I like and will change anything to get it to that point, but it is a lot of work, just to get it to that point, whereas other product, I don't seem like I need to do half the things, or some I can even put on and be happy as is, eg T-II with 52 to 53 mm wheels seems to work great.

Others I skate with who run tighter trucks will ride the 148s with 54 mm Conical Full wheels and not have issues, or similar, but I need a bit more turn and height to be happy there.


* I had something like this as a basic info sheet for people setting up boards a while back, but it is still subject to truck tightness.

Truck at 52 mm = wheels under 50 mm or 52 mm max
Truck at 53 mm = wheels under 52 mm or 54 mm max
Truck at 54 mm = wheels under 54 mm or 56 mm max
Truck at 55 mm = wheels under 56 mm or 58 mm max

People said that did help them with adding risers or whatever needed - at least with the rubber 1 mm and 2 mm risers, or thicker hard risers, it was easy enough to add those in if they were on lower trucks like Thunders, before people were already out the door and then had issues.

I have 55 mm wheels on t2 and I get light wheel bite but not any more than I did on aces or Indys

[The Huffer]

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Lol even the Cast 148 t1 feels too low for me...
I will say, T1s are low key THE BEST for heelflips

[close]

I have to either put very small (sub 50 mm wheels on) or cut wheel wells or add risers to normal Thunders, as well as have them on a shorter wheelbase board, or redrill the deck to bring them in, which I have done and it works fine on the 8.38 x 14.5 wb I usually skate, both drilled right beside / almost on top of the existing holes and then filled the original holes with dowel and they work well, wb measures about 14.1 to 14.2 or so now.

At least I know what I like and will change anything to get it to that point, but it is a lot of work, just to get it to that point, whereas other product, I don't seem like I need to do half the things, or some I can even put on and be happy as is, eg T-II with 52 to 53 mm wheels seems to work great.

Others I skate with who run tighter trucks will ride the 148s with 54 mm Conical Full wheels and not have issues, or similar, but I need a bit more turn and height to be happy there.


* I had something like this as a basic info sheet for people setting up boards a while back, but it is still subject to truck tightness.

Truck at 52 mm = wheels under 50 mm or 52 mm max
Truck at 53 mm = wheels under 52 mm or 54 mm max
Truck at 54 mm = wheels under 54 mm or 56 mm max
Truck at 55 mm = wheels under 56 mm or 58 mm max

People said that did help them with adding risers or whatever needed - at least with the rubber 1 mm and 2 mm risers, or thicker hard risers, it was easy enough to add those in if they were on lower trucks like Thunders, before people were already out the door and then had issues.

Might also depend on the arc of the turn. A truck could be lower but less susceptible to wheel bite based on its geometry.

Not to mention width. Wider trucks can cause more wheel bite due to increased leverage but also at times line up better with the concave curves and cause less wheel bite.

 And then Deck width to truck width ratio can impact wheel bite also.

[Mbrimson88]

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Lol even the Cast 148 t1 feels too low for me...
I will say, T1s are low key THE BEST for heelflips

[close]

I have to either put very small (sub 50 mm wheels on) or cut wheel wells or add risers to normal Thunders, as well as have them on a shorter wheelbase board, or redrill the deck to bring them in, which I have done and it works fine on the 8.38 x 14.5 wb I usually skate, both drilled right beside / almost on top of the existing holes and then filled the original holes with dowel and they work well, wb measures about 14.1 to 14.2 or so now.

At least I know what I like and will change anything to get it to that point, but it is a lot of work, just to get it to that point, whereas other product, I don't seem like I need to do half the things, or some I can even put on and be happy as is, eg T-II with 52 to 53 mm wheels seems to work great.

Others I skate with who run tighter trucks will ride the 148s with 54 mm Conical Full wheels and not have issues, or similar, but I need a bit more turn and height to be happy there.


* I had something like this as a basic info sheet for people setting up boards a while back, but it is still subject to truck tightness.

Truck at 52 mm = wheels under 50 mm or 52 mm max
Truck at 53 mm = wheels under 52 mm or 54 mm max
Truck at 54 mm = wheels under 54 mm or 56 mm max
Truck at 55 mm = wheels under 56 mm or 58 mm max

People said that did help them with adding risers or whatever needed - at least with the rubber 1 mm and 2 mm risers, or thicker hard risers, it was easy enough to add those in if they were on lower trucks like Thunders, before people were already out the door and then had issues.

[close]

Might also depend on the arc of the turn. A truck could be lower but less susceptible to wheel bite based on its geometry.

Not to mention width. Wider trucks can cause more wheel bite due to increased leverage but also at times line up better with the concave curves and cause less wheel bite.

 And then Deck width to truck width ratio can impact wheel bite also.

Ha yeah there really is a lot more than just a few numbers to consider, but at least that had helped a few people with sorting out their gear.

Anything like this is really only ever going to be a basic reference and nothing more, as there will always be someone that can change things to make bigger wheels work or will always get wheel bite no matter what the specifics are for their setups.

[jamesmocapaldi]

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

Something about the thunder bushings and winter does not mix.

Any specific duro for the bones?

I haven't felt up for skating when the temps are below 40°, but the last time I did skate in the cold it was between 35-40. I had an ace bottom and a thunder top in my trucks and it felt like I had rocks for bushings. Now running ace on top and bottom (top bushing was too tall so I had to shave a mm-ish off with a razor).

Ace bushings are the solution in my experience, despite no conical bottom bushing option. Ace apparently sells hard and extra hard bushings now for both their standard and inverted kp trucks. The inverted kp bushing set would most closely match the og thunder bushing heights. Next time I need bushings, I'll be buying some ace inverted extra hards and just not use the dimpled top washer. If it works for Tom Asta, it's probably good enough for everyone else.

[Obijuan91]

Seems like the ace inverted bushings fit the thunders perfectly too from what was posted on the bushings thread

[Hengist]

Have any of you certified madmen tried using the standard Thunder hangers in the T2 baseplate?

[The Huffer]

Have any of you certified madmen tried using the standard Thunder hangers in the T2 baseplate?

No. I'm not sure what you gain from that. The T2 hangers are sexy AF.

[moonordie]

Finally I tried my T2 yesterday, tightened them showing 1 thread  and felt pretty much perfect straight away.
So far I'm liking them quite a lot but I'm coming from a very beat up set of Lurpivs so I would probably be happy with whatever.

[Mbrimson88]

Finally I tried my T2 yesterday, tightened them showing 1 thread  and felt pretty much perfect straight away.
So far I'm liking them quite a lot but I'm coming from a very beat up set of Lurpivs so I would probably be happy with whatever.

I have probably said more than enough about the T-II trucks, but they are pretty good, even if I have been messing round with other things as well, but had a good roll on a bigger board with 151s on it today and everything seemed really comfortable.

Curious how your bushing adventure will be - mine firmed up quite a lot, but are still on the softer side compared to everything else, but I also like that about them.  That is just down to time now, or how much you get to skate them too, as some seemed to take ages to firm up while others got really good quite fast.

I have a few sets of them on boards now, as well as other people I know who bought them and are skating them too.

[SwitchBenihana]

Indy conical are a good fit, don't freeze, and last a long time. The bottom is a half mm taller, but once they're used for a while it's really similar. You could remove the bottom washer if you want but I used to just pop them right in during cold CO winters.

Come to think of it I don't feel my T2 bushings haven't  frozen up quite as bad.

[moonordie]

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Finally I tried my T2 yesterday, tightened them showing 1 thread  and felt pretty much perfect straight away.
So far I'm liking them quite a lot but I'm coming from a very beat up set of Lurpivs so I would probably be happy with whatever.

[close]

I have probably said more than enough about the T-II trucks, but they are pretty good, even if I have been messing round with other things as well, but had a good roll on a bigger board with 151s on it today and everything seemed really comfortable.

Curious how your bushing adventure will be - mine firmed up quite a lot, but are still on the softer side compared to everything else, but I also like that about them.  That is just down to time now, or how much you get to skate them too, as some seemed to take ages to firm up while others got really good quite fast.

I have a few sets of them on boards now, as well as other people I know who bought them and are skating them too.

I tried them as they come but way too loose for me. Went for my trusty 1 thread showing after like 5 min and they felt well straight away. Maybe weather was a factor even tho it was hot (7⁰C) for what we've been having lately.

[Esmith5488]

So I decided I want to know control when I can skate again. Are the inverted ones trash?

[rawbertson.]

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Finally I tried my T2 yesterday, tightened them showing 1 thread  and felt pretty much perfect straight away.
So far I'm liking them quite a lot but I'm coming from a very beat up set of Lurpivs so I would probably be happy with whatever.

[close]

I have probably said more than enough about the T-II trucks, but they are pretty good, even if I have been messing round with other things as well, but had a good roll on a bigger board with 151s on it today and everything seemed really comfortable.

Curious how your bushing adventure will be - mine firmed up quite a lot, but are still on the softer side compared to everything else, but I also like that about them.  That is just down to time now, or how much you get to skate them too, as some seemed to take ages to firm up while others got really good quite fast.

I have a few sets of them on boards now, as well as other people I know who bought them and are skating them too.

[close]

I tried them as they come but way too loose for me. Went for my trusty 1 thread showing after like 5 min and they felt well straight away. Maybe weather was a factor even tho it was hot (7⁰C) for what we've been having lately.

it takes i would say a week of riding it before it settles in. i remember feeling like my foot had to be in a perfect spot when pushing but that goes away. i wasnt sending down stairs and stuff like that i was just skating curbs and stuff for the most part breaking them in. When i skated them in the arena it was probably sub 0 and they felt super tight, almost like T1 again.

i remember when i first got them it felt pretty wild but honetsly most trucks feel like that to me other than T1 and Venture.

[Mbrimson88]

So I decided I want to know control when I can skate again. Are the inverted ones trash?

Not now they have a solid kingpin, as the hollow kingpins would break in the first versions and that is the only thing that has changed about them.

I do think people who constantly adjust or change bushings are going to blow out the nyloc in the nut, but apart from that, they work fine, don't come loose on the set I have and everything is pretty good.

The inverted kingpin definitely helps with giving more clearance.

[Osage]

  I've got an urge to ride some Thunders but spend a lot of time skating in cold weather and Thunder bushings are useless when it's below 45f or so. I'm done with Bones bushings because they blow out so fast. So my question is what can I put in Thunders? Indy bushings are more or less good in the cold and I've been riding the blue 92's for a while and am loving them. Will they work in Thunders? Any other ideas?

[Murge]

  I've got an urge to ride some Thunders but spend a lot of time skating in cold weather and Thunder bushings are useless when it's below 45f or so. I'm done with Bones bushings because they blow out so fast. So my question is what can I put in Thunders? Indy bushings are more or less good in the cold and I've been riding the blue 92's for a while and am loving them. Will they work in Thunders? Any other ideas?

I ride blue 92s in Thunder T1s. I like it.

[JM]

Expand Quote

  I've got an urge to ride some Thunders but spend a lot of time skating in cold weather and Thunder bushings are useless when it's below 45f or so. I'm done with Bones bushings because they blow out so fast. So my question is what can I put in Thunders? Indy bushings are more or less good in the cold and I've been riding the blue 92's for a while and am loving them. Will they work in Thunders? Any other ideas?

[close]

I ride blue 92s in Thunder T1s. I like it.

Osage Orange, I did exactly that because of the hard Thunder bushings.

Indy blues in T1’s. The bottom bushing is the same (get conical but blue might work too) but if you want soft to medium turn, you likely will need to sand down the top bushing… but if you like tight trucks, stock top might do yah fine.

[Osage]

Expand Quote

  I've got an urge to ride some Thunders but spend a lot of time skating in cold weather and Thunder bushings are useless when it's below 45f or so. I'm done with Bones bushings because they blow out so fast. So my question is what can I put in Thunders? Indy bushings are more or less good in the cold and I've been riding the blue 92's for a while and am loving them. Will they work in Thunders? Any other ideas?

[close]

I ride blue 92s in Thunder T1s. I like it.

   Awesome, thanks.

[Esmith5488]

Ok, ordered the inverted, can I use the bit from the ace inverted to tighten to do I need a different size and hit my with aftermarket bushing suggestions. Haven’t had thunders in like a decade

[Sandwich Marty]

Ok, ordered the inverted, can I use the bit from the ace inverted to tighten to do I need a different size and hit my with aftermarket bushing suggestions. Haven’t had thunders in like a decade

Unless they changed it since switching to a non hollow KP it should be the same size.