The Thunder Thread

[The Huffer]

Ha, thanks Pals. The last thing I want to do is upset the manufacturers of the Huffer.

[Mbrimson88]

Sorry, Slap Pals and DLX Lurkers. I should not have shared that catalog link. If those of you that quoted my silly self can modify your comments to erase, I would appreciate it...

All sorted now, so thank you to everyone for deleting the links and wrapping that back up.


I get pretty stoked to see what is coming out, so I know sometimes it is so good to be able to share this stuff, but I guess just finding the right place and time to do it is key, eg not on a public forum for a whole catalog that is still yet to be officially released.


* Not trying to be a pain, just trying to help, or even if Mods could just pull those links to keep things cool.

[DNTRODDEN]

Expand Quote

Sorry, Slap Pals and DLX Lurkers. I should not have shared that catalog link. If those of you that quoted my silly self can modify your comments to erase, I would appreciate it...

[close]

Still five (now three) people / quoted posts on the last page that would be good to have deleted / edited.

Just in case you guys didn't see, or even more than one quoted post, still showing from:


@TwisT  Thank you!

@tysj! Thank you!

@moykky  https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4495117#msg4495117

@DNTRODDEN  https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4495162#msg4495162

@fergus  https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4495424#msg4495424



* Not trying to be a pain, just trying to help, or even if Mods could just pull those links to keep things cool.


** I will delete this post when things have been removed too.

@Mbrimson88 - done good sir

[rob]

Sorry anyone know when they’re gonna come out with the t2 hollows and any idea if it’s gonna be a team hollow or forged hollow?

[volteq]

I need a truck that feels like the t1 without bottom washers. Its like an indy turnwise but more responsive, also nice that its sits lower than the indy. Bottom barrel bushings worked with it aswell.

[SwitchBenihana]

If you want the same height Royals kinda do that for you or Indy forged with the cone bottom aftermarket bushings. If you don't mind going higher and tucking your WB in T2 gets you more carve and it's not the same turn, but feels somewhat between what you describe and an Indy.

[Chalupa]

Sorry anyone know when they’re gonna come out with the t2 hollows and any idea if it’s gonna be a team hollow or forged hollow?

They’re forged hollow because the Thunder IG account refers to them as Hollow Lights.

The account said that they would come out in Spring ‘26, but that never happened. They said that they’re on the way in a more recent post but didn’t mention when.

[Obijuan91]

I need a truck that feels like the t1 without bottom washers. Its like an indy turnwise but more responsive, also nice that its sits lower than the indy. Bottom barrel bushings worked with it aswell.

You are asking for a royal af
With the krux bushings the snap back to centers nice and surfy

[DNTRODDEN]

Expand Quote

I need a truck that feels like the t1 without bottom washers. Its like an indy turnwise but more responsive, also nice that its sits lower than the indy. Bottom barrel bushings worked with it aswell.

[close]

You are asking for a royal af
With the krux bushings the snap back to centers nice and surfy

Never tried Krux bushings, be if they have good rebound I might need too

[fergus]

Expand Quote

Sorry, Slap Pals and DLX Lurkers. I should not have shared that catalog link. If those of you that quoted my silly self can modify your comments to erase, I would appreciate it...

[close]

Still five (now only one) people / quoted posts on the last page that would be good to have deleted / edited.

Just in case you guys didn't see, or even more than one quoted post, still showing from:


@TwisT  Thank you!

@tysj! Thank you!

@moykky  https://www.slapmagazine.com/index.php?topic=118215.msg4495117#msg4495117

@DNTRODDEN  Thank you!

@fergus  Thank you!



* Not trying to be a pain, just trying to help, or even if Mods could just pull those links to keep things cool.


** I will delete this post when things have been removed too.

Done!

[Obijuan91]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

I need a truck that feels like the t1 without bottom washers. Its like an indy turnwise but more responsive, also nice that its sits lower than the indy. Bottom barrel bushings worked with it aswell.

[close]

You are asking for a royal af
With the krux bushings the snap back to centers nice and surfy

[close]

Never tried Krux bushings, be if they have good rebound I might need too

Surprisingly snappy

[myfeetarekillingme]

Do any of y’all notice a pinch difference between 149 to 148s. Been rocking my 149s w 8.25 boards lately and they are on there way out. Contemplating 148s just wanted to see if anything changes sizing down

I’ve been thinking about going in the other direction from 148 to 149 on my 8.25s. I’ll say I don’t have any issues on 148s really but have been wondering if a little extra hangar space and stability would feel good or if I’d miss the maneuverability of 148s

[rob]

Expand Quote

Sorry anyone know when they’re gonna come out with the t2 hollows and any idea if it’s gonna be a team hollow or forged hollow?

[close]

They’re forged hollow because the Thunder IG account refers to them as Hollow Lights.

The account said that they would come out in Spring ‘26, but that never happened. They said that they’re on the way in a more recent post but didn’t mention when.

Cool hopefully they don’t cost an arm and leg cause they’re t2’s and forged hollow

[Mbrimson88]

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Do any of y’all notice a pinch difference between 149 to 148s. Been rocking my 149s w 8.25 boards lately and they are on there way out. Contemplating 148s just wanted to see if anything changes sizing down

[close]

I’ve been thinking about going in the other direction from 148 to 149 on my 8.25s. I’ll say I don’t have any issues on 148s really but have been wondering if a little extra hangar space and stability would feel good or if I’d miss the maneuverability of 148s

Maybe more than anything it is just about finding your own personal sweet spot of truck width - to quote a well known example, Jamie Foy going from 149s to 151s, then back to 149s, all in search of the best pinch and grind room.  Kind of helps this current ad is showing for New Balance with his front feeble up a rail beside this window right now too.

All up, I like the 149 width the most, but I have some 148s on other boards, which have come from friends who swear that is the perfect size, as well as 151s and other sizes on setups too, just to see how they feel.  All of them are good for what they are in that regard.

Between truck width, truck type - forged, team, or whatever hanger options, that can also impact how they perform, even the duro of bushings or how you run them, but I would not say there is any right or wrong answer to which people should stick to.

Even just having more or less washers on the inside can make things a little different, one on the inside of 149s, three on the inside of 148s, etc.

[MxsDx]

Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands. 

[DNTRODDEN]

Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands.

On all my 14.25 wheelbases yes

[rawbertson.]

Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands.

Im not 100% on "preferred" but its in my top 3 with Indy and AF1, I feel like all 3 of these are in the same wheelhouse of what I am after. The regular T1s dont work well for me, I don't do well on low setups and I just wasn't a huge fan of the way they turned in general. I felt like i couldnt snap good tricks off the nose consistently for some reason.

it's tough for me cause I am just really used to Indy i seem to skate quite good on it. Its just a solid product and its done me well for so many years (maybe 15 years of never changing), its impossible to unlearn how to skate on it.

theres a lot of things I really like about AF1 - I like how the bushings are 2 different duro, it feels really good. I want to try that inverted kingpin because it looks like it would actually stay tight. having that huge clearance could be awesome. The major downsides for me are the height and weight, but its not much more than indy really / pretty much same.

T2 so far have given me no problems and they feel really good. mine are squeaking quite a bit now, not sure why (pivot cup has obviously very much dried up). pinch grinds feel better on these than Indy and Ace. they work really well with big wheels. The bushings seem to be holding up. Seems to be decent clearance from the kingpin on these.

It is nice also to have a truck that works well with longer wheelbases, however both Indy (stage 4) and Ace (Classic) offer this exact thing as well (Ace really the ones to make this popular again in recent times and then Indy and T2 followed suit).

[Slave IV]

Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands.

I recently mentioned in the gear madness thread that for me at least, preference is based on a combination of what works for the feel/style I want at that time. Right now, I like a short wheelbase feel so if my deck has 14.25 or more, I will lean towards the Ace AF1 or T-IIs that I have on hand. If the wb is under 14.25, I will tend towards my Thunder or Venture Standard or, if everything aligns right, my Tensor Maglight ATGs. For Thunders specifically, my T-II are 161 and Standards are 149 so if I have a longer wheelbase deck 8.5 or wider, T-II fits the bill, if the wheelbase is shorter and decks 8.25-8.5 wide, Thunder Standards.

[Sandwich Marty]

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Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands.

[close]

Im not 100% on "preferred" but its in my top 3 with Indy and AF1, I feel like all 3 of these are in the same wheelhouse of what I am after. The regular T1s dont work well for me, I don't do well on low setups and I just wasn't a huge fan of the way they turned in general. I felt like i couldnt snap good tricks off the nose consistently for some reason.

it's tough for me cause I am just really used to Indy i seem to skate quite good on it. Its just a solid product and its done me well for so many years (maybe 15 years of never changing), its impossible to unlearn how to skate on it.

theres a lot of things I really like about AF1 - I like how the bushings are 2 different duro, it feels really good. I want to try that inverted kingpin because it looks like it would actually stay tight. having that huge clearance could be awesome. The major downsides for me are the height and weight, but its not much more than indy really / pretty much same.

T2 so far have given me no problems and they feel really good. mine are squeaking quite a bit now, not sure why (pivot cup has obviously very much dried up). pinch grinds feel better on these than Indy and Ace. they work really well with big wheels. The bushings seem to be holding up. Seems to be decent clearance from the kingpin on these.

It is nice also to have a truck that works well with longer wheelbases, however both Indy (stage 4) and Ace (Classic) offer this exact thing as well (Ace really the ones to make this popular again in recent times and then Indy and T2 followed suit).

I agree with this. They don’t carve as deep as Ace and are way more stable on center which really helps with setting up for tricks but you’re not quite as locked in as you would be on T1’s. I find they have a twitchy turn initially that slows down as you carve deeper, whereas aces would just keep going. You can still do a U turn and swerve in quickly for slappies whereas T1’s would just come to a stop or require you to turn way wider to approach the obstacle. Rolling away is way less sketchy on T2’s too, I see my rollaways on aces and I’m swerving all over the place sometimes but T2’s bring you back to center almost immediately without bucking you off like T1’s if you aren’t super precise. They definitely pinch better than AF1’s. My half cab crooks (a staple trick for me) are way more consistent on T2’s because I’m able to pop better and I find the hanger locks in and stays in place way easier for most grind tricks.

They kinda scratch a lot of itches but they do sometimes feel like a slightly more controlling truck compared to Indy/af1 (turning wise) in that they will allow you to carve and surf but you have to be more intentional than on the other two brands. Aces are spur of the moment, Indy will go with you, and T2 encourages you to stabilize but will go off the path if you make them. Idk if any of that is coherent but maybe somebody will understand lol

[The Huffer]

my T-II are 161

You got your hands on T2 161s already?

[Slave IV]

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my T-II are 161

[close]

You got your hands on T2 161s already?

My bad, 151 (8.75"). That's why I hate these numbering systems instead of going by axel.

[Mbrimson88]

Has anyone committed to T2 as their preferred truck?  It seems that a lot of people have gone back to their T1 or other brands. 

Expand Quote

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my T-II are 161

[close]

You got your hands on T2 161s already?

[close]

My bad, 151 (8.75"). That's why I hate these numbering systems instead of going by axel.

Ha yeah the 9" versions could be very interesting, but for now it is 8.75 (151s) and 8.5 (149s) that are working best.

The T-II 151s give me everything I needed on the DLX 8.75 boards, shortening the wheelbase just nicely to have everything feel normal on the bigger boards without having to modify anything, fit the 54 mm Radial Full wheels really well, pretty much my go to on that shape anyway.

The T-II 149s are also really good on the DLX 8.38 with 14.5 wb shape - don't need to modify anything and they just work well, including the Bighead shape 54 mm Radioactive wheels I have on one of them too.


Given how much I will mess with pretty much everything on my setups, this is one option that I really could ride everything completely as is right from go, but I still like to do things like machine the kingpins down a thread or two, swap in or out bushings, round off wheels (Radial Full wheels), cut wheel wells on the front (sometimes both) or whatever else.

[tzhangdox]

to those that have skated the t1 inverted. how big of an issue is the the kingpin loosening? Is it worse if you run them tight and cranked or on the loose sider?

[Mbrimson88]

to those that have skated the t1 inverted. how big of an issue is the the kingpin loosening? Is it worse if you run them tight and cranked or on the loose sider?

For all the sets I have sold in the shop and skated myself, I have not had one set with any issues or one kingpin loosen itself off, apart from one of the first sets I got with the hollow kingpins that was passed around for people to try, so it had a lot of doing up and undoing swapping in and out bushings a whole lot more than the average person would do on their own setup.

Even on this set which I got back and I am riding now, I marked the head and they didn't move too much until the hollow kingpins broke (which is why they changed to solid kingpins) and then swapped in some other solid kingpins and they have not moved at all now - been skating them for a good number of sessions and everything is ok.


I really think that the main issue with the kingpin undoing itself comes from the nyloc degrading over time and only then if people are constantly changing things, tightening or loosening, or swapping out bushings a whole lot.  I even bought a little bottle of Loctite to use if needed but it is still unopened, as the trucks have been fine without it.

My own trucks have stock 90 duro bushings and loose enough to turn to just wheelbite with all weight on one side, but tightened enough to hold everything together and give a bit more kingpin clearance.  Other people ride various assorted tightness and haven't had the kingpin do anything funny for them.  There is a little more movement in inverted kingpins than regular kingpins that I can see when I look down on the board and move the hanger from side to side with my hands, but I am fine with that and they skate well for me.

Also just to note, if a Thunder inverted kingpin breaks, the trucks are covered under warranty, just to put that out there too, which some people might not know.

[j....soy.....]

My homie had a set and the k/p broke, they warrantee'd it super fast, he's just stuck with lots of trucks now but eventually he'll go through them.  Maybe the materials are a bit different or the bit of vibration caused it. 

[pops]

I was skating a big hill today and had T1s slightly tightened past the kp nut being flush, barely one thread showing. I was missing the stable center from other trucks I've ridden previously. It was a bit twitchy at higher speeds. Otherwise they felt good and I think the width of 9.125 truck gives a more stable feeling overall. I haven't  had such a good flip game in years, thought. Thunders have helped with that a lot.

[SwitchBenihana]

My IKP T1 self loosened.

[rawbertson.]

Have had my Thunder T2s less than a year and have skated other board in between, didnt skate these in the winter at all, and the front bushing has massively cracked. Combined with the fact they dont make replacement bushings, i think these trucks kinda suck after all   They have potential to be really good with some small tweaks
I have a feeling Thunder will discontinue these as they sort of miss the mark as to what 99% of thunder users want and probably are not grabbing enough Indy / Ace riders to be worth to continue to produce them

[pops]

I'm really feeling T1s right now. No plans to try T2s. I have not felt this good skating my setups since my teenage years.

[Slave IV]

Have had my Thunder T2s less than a year and have skated other board in between, didnt skate these in the winter at all, and the front bushing has massively cracked. Combined with the fact they dont make replacement bushings, i think these trucks kinda suck after all   They have potential to be really good with some small tweaks
I have a feeling Thunder will discontinue these as they sort of miss the mark as to what 99% of thunder users want and probably are not grabbing enough Indy / Ace riders to be worth to continue to produce them

Don't all Thunder bushings suck anyways? I don't know as all the thunder bushings I've had are fine, although I did have to replace on a set that was around 20 years old so I'm not going to fault them for that part. I'm not a fan of Thunders overall but objectively, I find the T-IIs to be a good option for anyone who wants taller, turner trucks. Even thought I'm riding AF1 currently, I think T-IIs perform as well in turns but are better in stability and pinch so, if those are the important factors for anyone, T-II's are great. Only reason I'm not riding mine is the 151s I have are too wide for my current deck.