Gear madness support thread

[Sedition]

Need some advice. Currently I'm riding standard 159 independents. Almost cured my gear madness. Even found myself putting the spare madness setup back in to the trunk without trying it and continued to ride my normal setup with indies.

There is one thing that makes me curious. Hollow or forged hollow vs standard. Is it worth it? Will 80g less weight really make a difference? I know I should probably just keep skating my standard 159s...

I rode forged hollows for a very, very, very long time. A few months ago I went back to Standards, and I've really been enjoying them. My board did feel a bit heavier, but it didn't seem to really impact things for me.* And after a few session, I stopped thinking about it. The two things I did really notice a positive difference on was on pop and "clearance".

As to pop, I found getting up on to stuff (e.g. any ollie, ollie to grind/slide, etc.) seemed to be a more effortless. It took me a few session to adjust for flip tricks, but it wasn't a huge deal.

The "clearance" thing I was not expecting. What I mean by "clearance" is how easy/quick it is for your kicks to "catch" or "hit" on something (e.g. nose grinds, nose wheelies, manuals, pivot to fakie, etc.). With the truck slightly higher, I seemed to have bit more leeway before on of the kicks "caught" or touched-down and threw me off. I've never been all that good at long nose wheelies. A low-truck/long nose wreck me on that trick. I always seem to hit the nose about 18" before the end of the ledge, which is just the worst place for that to happen, because you get chucked off the end. With standards, this seemed to be happening less (thank god), because I had bit more lee-way to play with before "contact."

After riding Standards for awhile, I tried Forged again. Just riding, it felt nice to be a bit lower, but my pop felt so flat because of the kicks hitting sooner (felt like trying to ollie just a deck, w/o trucks, on flat ground).

One other thing some have mentioned (I think @Mbrimson88 might be one of them), is that they like the "softer" kingpin of Standards for grinds.


*Actually, I think the added weight may have made grinds feel/work better? Once you get that mass moving, it plows through stuff, esp. crust, way more than lighter trucks do, IMHO. 

[Sedition]

This is all incredibly subjective of course. But the standards tend to push through grinds better and feel more damp and less rattle-y if that makes any sense. While it may take more energy to influence how the board moves, what this also means is that once the board is moving it tends to follow through whatever motion and is disrupted less easily. Hard to describe entirely.

^^^ Oh, wow. This is exactly one of the things I was trying to explain in my previous post. So, it's not just me then!

As to the original question, I'll add one other thing: Set-up ratios. This is a bit subjective, but common practice seems to bear it out a bit: I am firm believer that there are "magic ratios" that make set-ups feel right. For example, 55mm tall trucks with 56mm wheels doesn't "work" as well on a 7.75" as it does on a 8.75". Likewise 50mm tall trucks and 51mm wheels feel off on a 9" deck. Somewhere between those two is magic zone that works well. Finding the one that works for you, is for you to discover. I would never put standard Indys on an 8" deck, but they are great on wider ones, IMHO.

[FrAnKenFrEd]

Full Agree.

Height to Width ratio of your setup is definitely a thing to ponder. Helped my skateboarding a lot when I realized this.

[DarkPools]

There's a Hollow Standard variant you can do where it's
- Hollow Kingpin on a Cast 55m Baseplate
- Solid Hangar

That's probably the best combo closest to stock Standards and shaves some weight off without affecting height/geo/grind ability

You might have to buy 2x pairs of trucks or upcycle a previous pair to make this combo. I've tried it in the past and enjoyed it! I may revisit after my stint on some forged hollows right now

[Spacecase]

Brothers,

As of today, I have given away all my different trucks and wheels that I would swap between during fits of madness.

I feel clean, and whole once more.

After all this time I have settled on some of the most common and readily available components. 8.38 14.5 wb dlx, 149 Indy standards, 56mm 99a f4 classics.

My Christmas wish is for everyone here to find this kind of peace in the upcoming new year.

Bless you all and may your madness be settled. I love you.

Yeah nice I did something similar today, put together a couple of completes from parts I don't skate anymore and left them around a few different pump tracks in town. Hope I at least converted one scooter kid in the process.

As long as I don't see them up on marketplace in a few days I'll consider it a win.

[MetalAnkleMan]

I have tried forge Indy's twice now (1 year a part) and have gone back to my cast standards each time. I even tried the titaniums here's what I learned:

- the lighter the truck the slower the grind will be
- grinding feels "hollow" almost like rubbing an empty soup can against the ledge. (to me it feels like shit)
- when you pop you don't feel like your board is going to stay with you, it almost feels like your set up could blow away in the wind before you get on the ledge/rail

The only positive is stamina for flip tricks. Meaning since your set up is so lite your lower body doesn't fatigue as quickly. It's comparable to kicking a 1 pound soccer ball around versus a 5 pound soccer ball.


All in all I hate that I wasted money buying these but at least I know for the future no matter what trucks I try next they will have to be cast.

[rikki]

I've found a happy place with my Standard 149s. However, I do have a pair of old Titanium 149s as well.

Anyone try cast baseplates with Titanium hangers? Should I just avoid the madness or is there any benefit? The weight difference wouldn't be massive, right?

[toque]

After being an AF1 guy for a few years I recently went to indy standards then lurpiv then back to indy then over the course of a couple weeks tried v8s and some old thunders. I actually liked the lurpivs but they felt too light, like the wind was gonna grab the board on flip tricks or something. Now back on 149 standards and probably just gotta admit to myself I'm an indy guy even though I don't feel very cool riding them.

[Bongwater Mojito]

Anyone try cast baseplates with Titanium hangers? Should I just avoid the madness or is there any benefit? The weight difference wouldn't be massive, right?

I did cast hollow bps with Ti hangers for a while. More space to turn before wheelbite, not sure how much the pop angle actually changes as wheelbase is pulled in a bit.

Now, in name of the topic, back on AF1s.

[Sedition]

I have tried forge Indy's twice now (1 year a part) and have gone back to my cast standards each time. I even tried the titaniums here's what I learned:

- the lighter the truck the slower the grind will be
- grinding feels "hollow" almost like rubbing an empty soup can against the ledge. (to me it feels like shit)
- when you pop you don't feel like your board is going to stay with you, it almost feels like your set up could blow away in the wind before you get on the ledge/rail

The only positive is stamina for flip tricks. Meaning since your set up is so lite your lower body doesn't fatigue as quickly. It's comparable to kicking a 1 pound soccer ball around versus a 5 pound soccer ball.

Having been on Forged Hollows for YEARS, and now on Cast...I now agree with all of this.

[SwitchBenihana]

I have used some Ti hangers on cast plates. They're barely lighter than the hollow axles. Most of the weight savings is in the kingpin. It's not a magical combination. My current trucks are the full hollow cast and I can't tell a difference between standards. The only standards the shop had had colored plates.

I agree with everyone above about forged hollows. They just don't have that magic the cast have. 55mm is tall, but it never feels hefty or delayed to me like a Venture since the wheelbase is shorter. Such a great snap to them. That's also why I'm not interested in lighter T2s since those already are light and have a light pop feel.

Speaking of the T2 I put them on a normal setup and then realized it was dumb to have an 8.25-8.5 shorter popsicle with Indy's and then an 8.5-8.75 longer popsicle on T2s. They're close enough in effective measurements that they're not all that different. I gave my T2 setup to a kid at the shop and my longer board just has some 159s now.

I was in the shop this week and a younger employee that could be full of shit said the Indy pre books having Iron Cross merch again. Can anyone confirm if they have heard or seen the same? If so it was premature to ditch the T2s as this will definitely make me abandon the brand. I've looked past their past cringe behavior and respected removing the cross, but bringing back a hate symbol to satisfy some meatheads is a shitty move.

[Sedition]

I was in the shop this week and a younger employee that could be full of shit said the Indy pre books having Iron Cross merch again.

Hewitt's last IG post was this (see below). It had me wondering, plus what was in the comment section. Now seeing your comments, too...

[Sandwich Marty]

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I was in the shop this week and a younger employee that could be full of shit said the Indy pre books having Iron Cross merch again.

[close]

Hewitt's last IG post was this (see below). It had me wondering, plus what was in the comment section. Now seeing your comments, too...

Saw THawk and lil motorcycle man rocking it recently on what looked to be new clothing during some event or another.

The political climate is certainly in the favor of the “anti woke” crowd so maybe Indy is just gonna bring it back as quietly as they removed it and lean into the zeitgeist.

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

I was in the shop this week and a younger employee that could be full of shit said the Indy pre books having Iron Cross merch again.

[close]

Hewitt's last IG post was this (see below). It had me wondering, plus what was in the comment section. Now seeing your comments, too...

[close]

Saw THawk and lil motorcycle man rocking it recently on what looked to be new clothing during some event or another.

The political climate is certainly in the favor of the “anti woke” crowd so maybe Indy is just gonna bring it back as quietly as they removed it and lean into the zeitgeist.

Oh! Yeah. I did see Hawk with it, too. Totally forgot about that. Assuming it’s back, what a great way to just agitate EVERYONE. Like, just have some conviction, one way or the other.

[toque]

Pretty sure I saw an AVE clip with the iron cross shirt on IG or somethin in the past few days

[FrAnKenFrEd]

After all that shit they bring the cross back...? Losing all faith in NHS.

I'd have more respect if they'd just held their ground in the beginning...

[Sedition]

After all that shit they bring the cross back...? Losing all faith in NHS.

I'd have more respect if they'd just held their ground in the beginning...

Every word of this.

[Rick Trapasso]

I've found a happy place with my Standard 149s. However, I do have a pair of old Titanium 149s as well.

Anyone try cast baseplates with Titanium hangers? Should I just avoid the madness or is there any benefit? The weight difference wouldn't be massive, right?

Yea, they basically just feel like better cast hollows.

Close in weight, same height, but solid axle and kp.

Still prefer the standards more overall right now because of the added heft. But I could see myself going back to that combo if my aging body stops being able to Ollie on standards lol.

[Obijuan91]

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

[Rick Trapasso]

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

149

[Sedition]

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

144s
149s
159s
169s

The push you speak of is relative. Yes, a 169 hollow will “push” through more compared to a 144 (but part of that is also just the additional weight of bigger board/wheels, too, and not the trucks alone), but compare a 169 forged / hollow to a 169 standard cast, and you’ll still notice a difference in “push.”

[swongolianbbq]

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

144, 149, 159

I prefer standards and only skate 149s now

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

[close]

144, 149, 159

I prefer standards and only skate 149s now

I feel like 149s and 159s are the most "magical" Indy in terms of how the turn feels.

[Bongwater Mojito]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

To all yall that tried the cast hollows and didn’t like em. I’m curious what size yall skated them in? I feel once you get to 149s and up you should still get a solid enough heft to push it through grinds? Just a curiosity question

[close]

144, 149, 159

I prefer standards and only skate 149s now

[close]

I feel like 149s and 159s are the most "magical" Indy in terms of how the turn feels.

I agree, and same thing for Aces (AF1 44 vs 55/60). How can there be such a (mental) difference in 5mm of hanger when moving from 144 to 149? Is it only in my head?

[swongolianbbq]

Leverage? I dunno. I agree though, I love 149, 159, and 169. I used to have some 169 standards and they were killer. I think a lot of folks agree that the proportions and turn start to feel really good around at 149

I think with the shorter axle on 139/144 it feels stiffer or something.

And apart from having more board to land on when jumping down stuff, maybe the 8.5 deck + 139s combo turns better too because of more leverage from the wider deck

Didn't Leo Romero used to skate 129s on like an 8" or 8.25"? He ended up finally switching to 139s a while back hahah

----

I think 8" and 8.25" trucks are best when they're lower, and with a wider wheelbase. So like, thunders or venture lows. And the thunder 8" are lower than the thunder 8.25"... Indy 144s are good but I like matching my wheels to the edge of my board(149s on 8.25 deck) and indys are kinda tall for an 8" board for me, I know lots of pros ran Indy 139s though throughout the 90s and beyond... I think these sizes work best with sub-52mm wheels but you can absolutely have a good time on 144s with 56mm wheels, I just don't like how it feels say, 50-50ing a ledge cause it's not as flat to stand on as a wider truck, tougher to pinch on rails, etc

For 8.5" trucks, I think Indy works the best imo but pretty much any mid or high truck from any brand works great in this size depending on how you like your pop angle/feel(truck wheelbase). I think these work best with like, 52 to 54mm wheels but depending on your wheelbite situation or how you like your pop angle, I've ran 58mm radials on 149s with no risers and it worked really well. I think 149s work really well for pinching and locking on rails, vs the tighter trucks, 139s, like double-heel locked 50-50s in the 90s

For 8.75 and 9" trucks I think Aces work best, with bigger boards often having longer wheelbases, and wider setups often having bigger wheels... The smaller wheelbase of Aces balances it out a lil. Indy, lurpiv, slappy, good here too if you like a steeper pop angle.. but if you use smaller wheels on a wide truck those might work better for you than aces

And then there's kick angles on certain decks, like a mellow kick deck might work really good with indys, lurpivs, venture highs, whatever and a board with steeper kicks might match aces pretty good... And if you want the chillest pop angle you can run like, smaller wheels, aces, and a baker OG shape or easy rider or something

----idk-----

149s for me seem to be the sweet spot, for running 8.25 or 8.5 boards

I mean for stage 7 and 8, they were 146s(8.375"). I had a couple sets of each and loved them, then I went to 149s cause they both had a 4 in it and figured it was the same shit

I don't know why I don't like 144s as much, I should try some again since I've only had hollows in em... But I think 149 are more versatile.. I can slap some old super ground down 149s on a reissue 80s board and wheels and they fit right in. 139/144 are like, 90s size trucks to me... And if your riding those sizes you're either into like, tech skating, or are a smaller person, or whatever. The 8.25" trucks are hugely popular though and hella pros ride them, Jerry and Spanly included... Also a lot of kids think you absolutely have to match your board size exactly to your truck size, and 8.25 is the best selling board size right now

It's such a small difference between 144 and 149 but there's just something about the 149s, heavy as they are, that I like so much

[Sedition]

Leverage? I dunno. I agree though, I love 149, 159, and 169. I used to have some 169 standards and they were killer. I think a lot of folks agree that the proportions and turn start to feel really good around at 149

I think with the shorter axle on 139/144 it feels stiffer or something.

And apart from having more board to land on when jumping down stuff, maybe the 8.5 deck + 139s combo turns better too because of more leverage from the wider deck

Didn't Leo Romero used to skate 129s on like an 8" or 8.25"? He ended up finally switching to 139s a while back hahah

----

I think 8" and 8.25" trucks are best when they're lower, and with a wider wheelbase. So like, thunders or venture lows. And the thunder 8" are lower than the thunder 8.25"... Indy 144s are good but I like matching my wheels to the edge of my board(149s on 8.25 deck) and indys are kinda tall for an 8" board for me, I know lots of pros ran Indy 139s though throughout the 90s and beyond... I think these sizes work best with sub-52mm wheels but you can absolutely have a good time on 144s with 56mm wheels, I just don't like how it feels say, 50-50ing a ledge cause it's not as flat to stand on as a wider truck, tougher to pinch on rails, etc

For 8.5" trucks, I think Indy works the best imo but pretty much any mid or high truck from any brand works great in this size depending on how you like your pop angle/feel(truck wheelbase). I think these work best with like, 52 to 54mm wheels but depending on your wheelbite situation or how you like your pop angle, I've ran 58mm radials on 149s with no risers and it worked really well. I think 149s work really well for pinching and locking on rails, vs the tighter trucks, 139s, like double-heel locked 50-50s in the 90s

For 8.75 and 9" trucks I think Aces work best, with bigger boards often having longer wheelbases, and wider setups often having bigger wheels... The smaller wheelbase of Aces balances it out a lil. Indy, lurpiv, slappy, good here too if you like a steeper pop angle.. but if you use smaller wheels on a wide truck those might work better for you than aces

And then there's kick angles on certain decks, like a mellow kick deck might work really good with indys, lurpivs, venture highs, whatever and a board with steeper kicks might match aces pretty good... And if you want the chillest pop angle you can run like, smaller wheels, aces, and a baker OG shape or easy rider or something

----idk-----

149s for me seem to be the sweet spot, for running 8.25 or 8.5 boards

I mean for stage 7 and 8, they were 146s(8.375"). I had a couple sets of each and loved them, then I went to 149s cause they both had a 4 in it and figured it was the same shit

I don't know why I don't like 144s as much, I should try some again since I've only had hollows in em... But I think 149 are more versatile.. I can slap some old super ground down 149s on a reissue 80s board and wheels and they fit right in. 139/144 are like, 90s size trucks to me... And if your riding those sizes you're either into like, tech skating, or are a smaller person, or whatever. The 8.25" trucks are hugely popular though and hella pros ride them, Jerry and Spanly included... Also a lot of kids think you absolutely have to match your board size exactly to your truck size, and 8.25 is the best selling board size right now

It's such a small difference between 144 and 149 but there's just something about the 149s, heavy as they are, that I like so much

Yeah, 144s just feel...tighter, and more...linear(??). I don't know how else to explain it. When you go from 144 to 149 it's just like, "OH! This is what a stable yet deep any surfy turn is supposed to feel like!"

[Ok]

Expand Quote

Leverage? I dunno. I agree though, I love 149, 159, and 169. I used to have some 169 standards and they were killer. I think a lot of folks agree that the proportions and turn start to feel really good around at 149

I think with the shorter axle on 139/144 it feels stiffer or something.

And apart from having more board to land on when jumping down stuff, maybe the 8.5 deck + 139s combo turns better too because of more leverage from the wider deck

Didn't Leo Romero used to skate 129s on like an 8" or 8.25"? He ended up finally switching to 139s a while back hahah

----

I think 8" and 8.25" trucks are best when they're lower, and with a wider wheelbase. So like, thunders or venture lows. And the thunder 8" are lower than the thunder 8.25"... Indy 144s are good but I like matching my wheels to the edge of my board(149s on 8.25 deck) and indys are kinda tall for an 8" board for me, I know lots of pros ran Indy 139s though throughout the 90s and beyond... I think these sizes work best with sub-52mm wheels but you can absolutely have a good time on 144s with 56mm wheels, I just don't like how it feels say, 50-50ing a ledge cause it's not as flat to stand on as a wider truck, tougher to pinch on rails, etc

For 8.5" trucks, I think Indy works the best imo but pretty much any mid or high truck from any brand works great in this size depending on how you like your pop angle/feel(truck wheelbase). I think these work best with like, 52 to 54mm wheels but depending on your wheelbite situation or how you like your pop angle, I've ran 58mm radials on 149s with no risers and it worked really well. I think 149s work really well for pinching and locking on rails, vs the tighter trucks, 139s, like double-heel locked 50-50s in the 90s

For 8.75 and 9" trucks I think Aces work best, with bigger boards often having longer wheelbases, and wider setups often having bigger wheels... The smaller wheelbase of Aces balances it out a lil. Indy, lurpiv, slappy, good here too if you like a steeper pop angle.. but if you use smaller wheels on a wide truck those might work better for you than aces

And then there's kick angles on certain decks, like a mellow kick deck might work really good with indys, lurpivs, venture highs, whatever and a board with steeper kicks might match aces pretty good... And if you want the chillest pop angle you can run like, smaller wheels, aces, and a baker OG shape or easy rider or something

----idk-----

149s for me seem to be the sweet spot, for running 8.25 or 8.5 boards

I mean for stage 7 and 8, they were 146s(8.375"). I had a couple sets of each and loved them, then I went to 149s cause they both had a 4 in it and figured it was the same shit

I don't know why I don't like 144s as much, I should try some again since I've only had hollows in em... But I think 149 are more versatile.. I can slap some old super ground down 149s on a reissue 80s board and wheels and they fit right in. 139/144 are like, 90s size trucks to me... And if your riding those sizes you're either into like, tech skating, or are a smaller person, or whatever. The 8.25" trucks are hugely popular though and hella pros ride them, Jerry and Spanly included... Also a lot of kids think you absolutely have to match your board size exactly to your truck size, and 8.25 is the best selling board size right now

It's such a small difference between 144 and 149 but there's just something about the 149s, heavy as they are, that I like so much

[close]

Yeah, 144s just feel...tighter, and more...linear(??). I don't know how else to explain it. When you go from 144 to 149 it's just like, "OH! This is what a stable yet deep any surfy turn is supposed to feel like!"

i’ve bitched about this a lot. something about the proportions of indys makes me like 159 standards, the best. too big and too heavy. the slower turn, and wider base feels good tho.

i quickly put 144s to the side, but thats probably the size i should try again. i spent too much time on 8/sub 8 boards, and now im so so old, that trying to nollie flop 149s is painful.

probably why i liked stage 10s, lower.
i have too many skateboard items, and never need to buy a thing again, adjusted for age and time spent actually skating. would be nice to bang out a few more tricks tho.

[Obijuan91]

Shooot I meant to ask forged hollows not cast hollows in my original question/post. I like the height of the forged but miss the extra heft the forged standards had. That why my initial thought would be that wouldn’t 149’and up still carry a decent amount of heft

[Sedition]

Shooot I meant to ask forged hollows not cast hollows in my original question/post. I like the height of the forged but miss the extra heft the forged standards had. That why my initial thought would be that wouldn’t 149’and up still carry a decent amount of heft

FH are lighter than cast hollows. The relative-ness I spoke of before still applies, but even more so because Forged are less weight (plus the “tin” feeling associated with Forged).

Short answer: No, nothing feels/plows through like a standard cast.

[Ok]

i forgot to chime in with my agreement to the indy standard grind: pretty ideal. the older metal was better for this, but current standards really do grind threw whatever. i think my ideal would be forged plate, for height, and solid axle, for heft. i skate too slow. on a chunky ledge, a lighter truck chatters around.