Gear madness support thread

[diplodocus]

I always tried to start stock on brands, but always ended up modifying. Out of all the trucks I’ve skated:

Thunders: 94 bushings, Riptide pivot cups (must)
Indy: ace top washer
Ace: ace hard bushings

Thinking about riptides pivot cups on Indy

[Rick Trapasso]

I always tried to start stock on brands, but always ended up modifying. Out of all the trucks I’ve skated:

Thunders: 94 bushings, Riptide pivot cups (must)
Indy: ace top washer
Ace: ace hard bushings

Thinking about riptides pivot cups on Indy

Its funny because I mainly swap between Indy/thunder. And thunders are the only truck I can leave stock.

Riptide cups are a MUST for me in indys.

[BeachChicken]

I don't get how anyone could possibly skate a set of Thunders with the original bushings intact the entire time. It seems to be the most widely documented complaint about the trucks and its great DLX sells replacements, but even those vary in hardness. The last thing I wanna do is constantly be fucking with whatever setup. IDC if I have to do a bunch of weird shit to get it golden, but once so I want it to stay that way.

[Sedition]

Hard Fact: Of all truck mfgs, Indy offers the most aftermarket bushing options (hardness and shape), and they are the most durable, too.

[BeachChicken]

Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

[zozu]

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Going through some more truck madness and I have realised that there isn't a single truck from the big 4 that I don't need to modify somehow.

Thunder - No bottom bushing and I use either a stock washer, bones washer or no washer depending on the season.

Venture - Loose trucks conversion bushings or Indy 78a aftermarket with bones top washer.

Indy - Indy 78a bushings and sometimes a bones top washer usually in summer when I am not fat.

Ace - Bones top washer and/or krux bushings but even then they are either too tight or too loose.

I weigh 150 on average. Not really asking for help just venting, as needing to modify any truck I select adds another layer to the gear madness. Sometimes I think I should just bite the bullet and stay on Independent as I fuck with them the least (usually just swap the bushings and I am good to go) but theres always something that pulls me away to try something else.

[close]

no bottom bushing?

whoops I meant washer. thanks for everyone's replies I feed off this thread basically concocting more things to try with my setups.

I hate it but am so addicted to changing pointless shit. I just want my trucks to turn nice 

[scab]

Potentially hot take: Replacing stock bushings with bushings of adequate firmness for one's bodyweight should not be considered madness. It's the equivalent of adjusting your bike saddle to your height.

In real madness news: I skated my first session on the V8 yesterday. Well, sort of: V8 baseplates and hollow 5.8 hangers. I put those on my trusted 8.5/14.5 twin and, as feared, flip tricks became a hell of a lot easier while anything from just riding around fast to grinds to rotational ollies was significantly harder or at least very different to how I like it. those flips, though...

[fakiefs180]

Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

I agree. Also didn't liked the Riptide cups in my Indy 144s. Maybe I swap them over to my rain/cruiser setup.

[Sedition]

Potentially hot take: Replacing stock bushings with bushings of adequate firmness for one's bodyweight should not be considered madness. It's the equivalent of adjusting your bike saddle to your height.

Well said.

[back smith]

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Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

[close]

I agree. Also didn't liked the Riptide cups in my Indy 144s. Maybe I swap them over to my rain/cruiser setup.

How do you get them out without mangling them?

[Rick Trapasso]

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Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

[close]

I agree. Also didn't liked the Riptide cups in my Indy 144s. Maybe I swap them over to my rain/cruiser setup.

[close]

How do you get them out without mangling them?

Riptides have a little hole in the bottom, I stick a nail in it and turn them out.

[back smith]

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Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

[close]

I agree. Also didn't liked the Riptide cups in my Indy 144s. Maybe I swap them over to my rain/cruiser setup.

[close]

How do you get them out without mangling them?

[close]

Riptides have a little hole in the bottom, I stick a nail in it and turn them out.

Oh so they come out so easy, that's a good design. I do have one Riptide cup in a set of Indys. Needed to use a lot of force and pliers to get the original out and once it was out it was toast. And while I embrace the madness, really didn't notice much of a difference, so I just kept the original Indy cup in the other truck.

[Rick Trapasso]

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Hot take but I dislike how Riptides feel. Not as firm of a snap in the turn.

[close]

I agree. Also didn't liked the Riptide cups in my Indy 144s. Maybe I swap them over to my rain/cruiser setup.

[close]

How do you get them out without mangling them?

[close]

Riptides have a little hole in the bottom, I stick a nail in it and turn them out.

[close]

Oh so they come out so easy, that's a good design. I do have one Riptide cup in a set of Indys. Needed to use a lot of force and pliers to get the original out and once it was out it was toast. And while I embrace the madness, really didn't notice much of a difference, so I just kept the original Indy cup in the other truck.

Most of the reason I swap them is because they hardly squeak, if at all.

For some reason I can tolerate the sound on thunders, it's not as harsh.

But it drove me insane on indys.

[BeachChicken]

My newest Indy's haven't squeaked once and by saying this I probably cursed myself. In contrast I've never had a pair of Thunders that didn't.

[Rick Trapasso]

My newest Indy's have squeaked once and by saying this I probably cursed myself. In contrast I've never had a pair of Thunders that didn't.

Thunders always squeak for me too, but it's a much more tolerable squeak

[BeachChicken]

Crap I mean to say haven't. The one thing I did do was when I put in the blue bushings I wiped the pivot cups which had a film of some sort in them. No wax, no grease, nothing else in there. I tried silicone grease once a while back and it made the trucks turn noticeably looser, which could be a quick hack for people that want that.

[Ourladyoftheflowers]

Been experiencing backpack madness. After so many different backpacks shitting out I have a fantastic adidas backpack I got at goodwill. I usually do mini bags so I can still do tricks while I’m cruising with it on but this one seemed perfect to me. Held all my stuff and was super comfy.

That is until I went street skating with it the other day. I hit a pebble riding on the sidewalk and got pitched. Went to roll it out when I hit the ground but the backpack stopped the roll and I just dug into my arm and shoulder turning em into hamburger.

I have a nice over the shoulder (single strap) mini bag (Herschel) but that one flops around while I’m pushing and I can’t keep all my normal stuff in it. Now thankfully I found a mini bag that has two straps and seems small enough to roll over if I need to. My only issue is it seems fairly thin and putting my stuff in it it seems real full and I’m worried it’s gonna rip, it also has no padding on the back so it’s not as comfortable.

Just wanted to throw this in here cause it’s sort of a strange madness but finding a proper backpack has been driving me nuts. I’m very lucky to have a partner that loves skating as much if not more than me so every weekend we do exploratory street missions and with that I feel like a good bag is crucial. Truly hoping this new one works out cause over the last few years I’ve gone through so many backpacks (usually either the zipper breaks or I fall and the cheap ones rip).

I always keep a water bottle, some medical supplies (band aids, alcohol wipes, an ankle and wrist brace and non stick pads), some extra skate parts (a few bearings, extra hardware and axel nuts etc), a tool, wax, an instax camera, a field recorder (I’m a noise nerd) and my spare glasses.

I wish I could just use a normal size backpack (which is totally fine if I’m at a park or camped out at a spot) but want something more mobile. I know this is kind of a silly post but had to express it cause for some reason I’ve become more concerned about my damn backpack than my board (which thankfully feels great and haven’t been experiencing madness with lately after a few adjustments) 

[DERBY]

^^^

https://ca.carhartt-wip.com/products/kickflip-backpack-black-1447

[rocklobster]

Been experiencing backpack madness. After so many different backpacks shitting out I have a fantastic adidas backpack I got at goodwill. I usually do mini bags so I can still do tricks while I’m cruising with it on but this one seemed perfect to me. Held all my stuff and was super comfy.

That is until I went street skating with it the other day. I hit a pebble riding on the sidewalk and got pitched. Went to roll it out when I hit the ground but the backpack stopped the roll and I just dug into my arm and shoulder turning em into hamburger.

I have a nice over the shoulder (single strap) mini bag (Herschel) but that one flops around while I’m pushing and I can’t keep all my normal stuff in it. Now thankfully I found a mini bag that has two straps and seems small enough to roll over if I need to. My only issue is it seems fairly thin and putting my stuff in it it seems real full and I’m worried it’s gonna rip, it also has no padding on the back so it’s not as comfortable.

Just wanted to throw this in here cause it’s sort of a strange madness but finding a proper backpack has been driving me nuts. I’m very lucky to have a partner that loves skating as much if not more than me so every weekend we do exploratory street missions and with that I feel like a good bag is crucial. Truly hoping this new one works out cause over the last few years I’ve gone through so many backpacks (usually either the zipper breaks or I fall and the cheap ones rip).

I always keep a water bottle, some medical supplies (band aids, alcohol wipes, an ankle and wrist brace and non stick pads), some extra skate parts (a few bearings, extra hardware and axel nuts etc), a tool, wax, an instax camera, a field recorder (I’m a noise nerd) and my spare glasses.

I wish I could just use a normal size backpack (which is totally fine if I’m at a park or camped out at a spot) but want something more mobile. I know this is kind of a silly post but had to express it cause for some reason I’ve become more concerned about my damn backpack than my board (which thankfully feels great and haven’t been experiencing madness with lately after a few adjustments)

Can't go wrong with the Nike RPM, weight distribution is nice, lots of pockets, front and back compartments and very comfy to carry for long periods. Liked it so much I got 2 - 1 for skateboarding and 1 for work. The board velcro straps slide onto the handle of my pull luggage which is a nice touch when I bring it work overseas work.

[tuesday]

Also check out snowboard backpacks with board straps. I use a Northface snowboard backpack when on skate missions.  It's not bulky, is close to the body, has plenty of pockets and most importantly allows for good access to my stuff.

[moonordie]

I'll just go the tote bag way

[Xen]

Potentially hot take: Replacing stock bushings with bushings of adequate firmness for one's bodyweight should not be considered madness.

This is correct! Anyone (Ben D.) who thinks all 'stock bushings' should not have to be swapped / should work for all rider weights is terribly narrow minded; it's like suggesting that all wheels should be 101a 'just because' that should work everywhere, for everyone.

[Too Frank To Fred]

I'm one of those people who stubbornly tries to make stock bushings work as much as possible. after all, you can adjust the tightness of your trucks quite a bit... I know I know... we all want no thread showing, nut flush.

[BeachChicken]

Ben is just making up reasons to confine his gear at this point, which given his past might not be a bad thing. It's pretty dumb in skating that it's a point of pride to "just run them as they come" as if it presents some form of mastery or something. I can't imagine someone being like "ya you need to drive this car exactly as it comes from the factory don't move any of the controls it's too much madness to get them just right"

[Xen]

I'm one of those people who stubbornly tries to make stock bushings work as much as possible. after all, you can adjust the tightness of your trucks quite a bit... I know I know... we all want no thread showing, nut flush.

If I could, I would but they heavier you are the harder that is to do. Currently running Slappy 100a in Slappy lows and it's glorious.

[munchbox]

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I'm one of those people who stubbornly tries to make stock bushings work as much as possible. after all, you can adjust the tightness of your trucks quite a bit... I know I know... we all want no thread showing, nut flush.

[close]

If I could, I would but they heavier you are the harder that is to do. Currently running Slappy 100a in Slappy lows and it's glorious.

how would describe the slappy 100a?
looking for an alternative to 100a doh dohs

[Sedition]

I'm one of those people who stubbornly tries to make stock bushings work as much as possible. after all, you can adjust the tightness of your trucks quite a bit... I know I know... we all want no thread showing, nut flush.

But, turning that nut is NOT leaving things as “stock!” It's changing how they come / perform! If that change is allowed, why is switching bushings not allowed?

[Sedition]

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Potentially hot take: Replacing stock bushings with bushings of adequate firmness for one's bodyweight should not be considered madness.

[close]

This is correct! Anyone (Ben D.) who thinks all 'stock bushings' should not have to be swapped / should work for all rider weights is terribly narrow minded; it's like suggesting that all wheels should be 101a 'just because' that should work everywhere, for everyone.

It's also beyond reason to consider that in order to dial in one's set-up, one is ARE "allowed" to choose deck width, length, wheelbase, concave, kick steepness, grip tape grit, bearings, wheel shape, wheel size, wheel hardness, truck brand, truck height, truck width, etc...but bushings? No way, man. Off limits. Can't touch those!     

[Texas_Tone]

I’ll fight someone over bushings

[Too Frank To Fred]

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I'm one of those people who stubbornly tries to make stock bushings work as much as possible. after all, you can adjust the tightness of your trucks quite a bit... I know I know... we all want no thread showing, nut flush.

[close]

But, turning that nut is NOT leaving things as “stock!” It's changing how they come / perform! If that change is allowed, why is switching bushings not allowed?

 I know some people believe in this concept of 'factory tight' but I highly doubt the assembly workers aim to have each truck leave the factory the same way.

Nothing wrong with loosening or tightening your trucks duds... and nothing wrong with changing bushings. I just like it when the stock ones work out for me.