Does Wheelbase Actually Matter?

[ish_wav]

If you would’ve asked me a month ago I would’ve said “yes absolutely.” I was convinced I could not hardflip on a 14.5 wheelbase. I bought a There deck with 14.5 WB and set it up on some thunders. My hard flips have been the nicest and most consistent they have been in months.

[Damoforce]

For me, it does a little. But I think it's mainly length and the pitch of the kicks too. Give me a 14" with a length of 31.9 - 32" and I'm good. Take that to 31.5" which a lot are I'm cramped af.

[IpathCats]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

[Xen]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

[close]

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

That formula is pretty industry standard for 8.25s for sure, and a lot of other sizes.

I prefer 8.375s with a 14.3x wb. Math checks out.

FWIW I'm 5'9.873784512741264" so 5'10", US10 shoe and a 14.3x" WB always feels the best for everything. I can get away with 14.5 on transition on street it's too long (noses), usually because the decks are also too long to accommodate it; be it 8.18/8.25/8.3/8.5; the trick is finding boards 8.3 under 32" that have one, they are out there but the selection is slim so I default to 8.25"

[Mean salto]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

[close]

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

[close]

That formula is pretty industry standard for 8.25s for sure, and a lot of other sizes.

I prefer 8.375s with a 14.3x bw. Math checks out.

FWIW I'm 5'9.873784512741264" so 5'10", US10 shoe and a 14.3x" WB always feels the best for everything. I can get away with 14.5 on transition on street it's too long (noses), usually because the decks are also too long to accommodate it; be it 8.18/8.25/8.3/8.5; the trick is finding boards 8.3 under 32" that have one, they are out there but the selection is slim so I default to 8.25"

No no no you're messing it all up and making it uneven. If you're 5'10 and size 10 you should have an 8.1 with 14.1wb and 51mm wheels. (Everything a 1or 10th)

[IpathCats]

No no no you're messing it all up and making it uneven. If you're 5'10 and size 10 you should have an 8.1 with 14.1wb and 51mm wheels. (Everything a 1or 10th)

lol finally someone speaking with reason around here.

[Wizard0f0dds]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

[close]

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

[close]

That formula is pretty industry standard for 8.25s for sure, and a lot of other sizes.

I prefer 8.375s with a 14.3x bw. Math checks out.

FWIW I'm 5'9.873784512741264" so 5'10", US10 shoe and a 14.3x" WB always feels the best for everything. I can get away with 14.5 on transition on street it's too long (noses), usually because the decks are also too long to accommodate it; be it 8.18/8.25/8.3/8.5; the trick is finding boards 8.3 under 32" that have one, they are out there but the selection is slim so I default to 8.25"

[close]

No no no you're messing it all up and making it uneven. If you're 5'10 and size 10 you should have an 8.1 with 14.1wb and 51mm wheels. (Everything a 1or 10th)

5'9" with size 9, should I be skating a a 7.9", 13.9 WB and 49mm wheels then?

[LebowskisRug]

6 foot 3 size 10 what’s my size

[sharkin]

I’d expect if I googled “does penis size matter” the search results could comfort me and my small dick but let’s be real we all know wheelbase matters.

14.5 feels best but I can get by 14.375 to 14.625 with little difference.

[DarkPools]

6 foot 3 size 10 what’s my size

Between 14.5 and 14.75 depending on the trucks is my guess

[smellsdead]

no fuck no it doesnt

if you need a board youll make it work


you think that kid at the park you give the board to is going to care about wb?

id care more about magic carpeting or hot rodding than anything

[DarkPools]

Wheelbase definitely matters way more than hot rodding or magic carpeting, in my opinion. Your gait/stance to ollie/flick is directly correlated to WB.

Small kids at parks power through it because kids are far more stubborn than adolescents. They don't know it's not working for them but make it work (or try to) anyways. It's commendable, but still affects them negatively.

I started progressing faster once some older skaters gave me tips on basic board dimensions relative to my stats (height, shoe size, etc.) Wheelbase was one of them do I would still getting ghost pop and ghost flick.

[mj23]

Yes

[manysnakes]

no fuck no it doesnt

if you need a board youll make it work


you think that kid at the park you give the board to is going to care about wb?

id care more about magic carpeting or hot rodding than anything

And when I was a kid, I rode a hand-me-down bike that was several sizes too large. What's your point?

[manysnakes]

My unnecessary $.02 is that, as a shorter rider (5'6"), a smaller wheelbase makes an observable difference in how I am able to skate. I'm just coming off this 8.38" DLX deck with a 14.5" wheelbase, and it was a great board, but the thing felt completely unwieldy to get off of the ground. Now I'm on a Loveseat shape (14" wb) with the same components, and I can suddenly I can kickflip again.

I was on the fence about the issue for a long time, and have been perfectly content with the 14.25" wheelbase that is standard. After skating something with a 14" and feeling how much improved it was, I don't think I'm straying too far from there ever again.

[Fooj]

I think inseam length might have something to do with WB preference too

[somefucker]

as a taller human at 6' 2", i got a board with a 'standard' wb of 14.25, felt good.

got another board and was told (for probably the first time in my life) 'Hey that board has a short wheelbase just so you know'

thinking 'whatever' i got it anyway and holy shit it felt like a propeller under me. it was 13.25" SUPER small.

now i can't pick up a board without confirming the wheelbase is 14.25 or (preferably) smaller.

heroin symmetrical egg with 13.25 wb was amazing, required insanely little effort to spin and flip, could do lipslides much quicker and 360s felt glued to my feet

i miss it

[braksabbath]

Was getting speed wobbles on big transition on the  DLX 8.5 w/ 14.25 wb. Switched to the 8.38 w/ 14.5 wb and no more speed wobble

[Mbrimson88]

Was getting speed wobbles on big transition on the  DLX 8.5 w/ 14.25 wb. Switched to the 8.38 w/ 14.5 wb and no more speed wobble

A lot of the vert / go fast in big bowl types love the DLX 8.5 longer version with the 14.75 wb, or more often the 8.6 that also has 14.75 wb as they find it way more stable.

I don't think I can justify that 14.75 wb length any more for a normal daily rider, but the 14.5 wb is my go to nowdays, either on the DLX 8.38 or other BBS 8.5 boards.

Getting back on shorter wb boards are often uncomfortable now, but that is what I used to skate for a long time, so it is funny how I have now adapted to the bigger boards.

Other bigger cruiser type boards I have with 15" wb are way more stable tearing around pump tracks or bombing hills too, so it definitely makes a difference.

[Richard Skidder]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

[close]

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

[close]

That formula is pretty industry standard for 8.25s for sure, and a lot of other sizes.

I prefer 8.375s with a 14.3x bw. Math checks out.

FWIW I'm 5'9.873784512741264" so 5'10", US10 shoe and a 14.3x" WB always feels the best for everything. I can get away with 14.5 on transition on street it's too long (noses), usually because the decks are also too long to accommodate it; be it 8.18/8.25/8.3/8.5; the trick is finding boards 8.3 under 32" that have one, they are out there but the selection is slim so I default to 8.25"

[close]

No no no you're messing it all up and making it uneven. If you're 5'10 and size 10 you should have an 8.1 with 14.1wb and 51mm wheels. (Everything a 1or 10th)

[close]

5'9" with size 9, should I be skating a a 7.9", 13.9 WB and 49mm wheels then?

FWIW

[Schinken]

I think wheelbase doesn't matter that much as long as it's in a reasonable range. As soon as you are used to your setup, your setup is most likely not hindering you from doing anything. It's about skill.

The main problem is gear madness and changing your setup too often. Having a little money to burn can be a curse...

[Frank and Fred]

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I like my wheelbase to be the board width plus 6 inches, give or take 1/8th. 

14" on an 8"
14.25" on 8.25"
14.5" on 8.5"
14.75" on 8.75"+.   I don't want above 14.75

I'm not going to ride an 8" in the same terrain as an 8.75" and I want it to be different.

[close]

Interesting

[close]

The Backinaction formula: 8.X + 6 = WB

[close]

That formula is pretty industry standard for 8.25s for sure, and a lot of other sizes.

I prefer 8.375s with a 14.3x bw. Math checks out.

FWIW I'm 5'9.873784512741264" so 5'10", US10 shoe and a 14.3x" WB always feels the best for everything. I can get away with 14.5 on transition on street it's too long (noses), usually because the decks are also too long to accommodate it; be it 8.18/8.25/8.3/8.5; the trick is finding boards 8.3 under 32" that have one, they are out there but the selection is slim so I default to 8.25"

[close]

No no no you're messing it all up and making it uneven. If you're 5'10 and size 10 you should have an 8.1 with 14.1wb and 51mm wheels. (Everything a 1or 10th)

[close]

5'9" with size 9, should I be skating a a 7.9", 13.9 WB and 49mm wheels then?

[close]

FWIW

A foot and a fist? Sometimes the Prof seems to just pulls things out of his arse.

But I had to see if this lined up on my favorite shape... (The Huffer) and guess what? it does...

[LebowskisRug]

Pretty easy to fudge depending on your shoe bulk and how you hold your hand so it definitely makes sense.