Powell dragon formula tested by nine club.

[OwlGreen]

I feel a bit like a boiled frog with the way my wheels have steadily gotten harder and harder over the last 15 or so years.  Now I ride F4 99a, and I like them, but they're bad for my tinnitus, and if the ground isn't perfect, they stress me the fuck out. I could never go back to wheels that flatspot, but I welcome a softer wheel that will still allow tailslides. I will try the 90a and 93a joints. 

[LebowskisRug]

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For those who don't want to read the wheels thread here is a summary:

-One poster that made an account <6 months ago who predominantly posts about wheels and seems to find negatives with every single wheel is responsible for 90% of the posts about them. Wouldn't be shocked if they were active on SkateOne.
-This poster constantly posts vague claims about their slides and grinds but recently admitted they haven't really grinded much on them.
-They are smoother and faster than harder wheels and yes, they can slide. It's a different slide- it makes a whizzing noise and feels "slick" and then catches as opposed to an F4 where you push through the slide and it has a linear response. You might like or hate it.
-On waxed objects they can grind and slide almost as well, but not quite. When they slow down they really slow down.
-They sound gummy. You may or may not care.
-They're slower on smooth ground especially at parks. They need more wax on angle iron style coping.
-There hasn't been a single objective review. I've attempted to compare them back to back, but even that is inconclusive. All YouTube reviews have some bias.

[close]

I find your obsession with these wheels baffling. Some people here like them and prefer how they skate to the alternatives, yet you have been on a quest to disprove our admittedly completely subjective opinions about it. Can you not accept that there might exist preferences different from your own?

That's why I said things like "you may or may not"...

Frankly how is it any different from one poster's quest to spam the product that they haven't tested. I totally get the appeal of these wheels. If I skated mostly bad ground with well waxed concrete they would be dope. If I commuted on a board they would be dope. I've said as much. What I hate is when someone that hasn't really even tested them is constantly making claims that they haven't tested and trying to drown out those that have spent a lot of time on them and haven't had the same conclusions.

Same thing with Royals. I was skeptical at first, tried them and liked them, but didn't love them. I've said many positive things about them after trying them and I can see cases where I'd prefer them, but I don't. It's not just me in the wheels thread that has come to some of the same conclusions.

[manysnakes]

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For those who don't want to read the wheels thread here is a summary:

-One poster that made an account <6 months ago who predominantly posts about wheels and seems to find negatives with every single wheel is responsible for 90% of the posts about them. Wouldn't be shocked if they were active on SkateOne.
-This poster constantly posts vague claims about their slides and grinds but recently admitted they haven't really grinded much on them.
-They are smoother and faster than harder wheels and yes, they can slide. It's a different slide- it makes a whizzing noise and feels "slick" and then catches as opposed to an F4 where you push through the slide and it has a linear response. You might like or hate it.
-On waxed objects they can grind and slide almost as well, but not quite. When they slow down they really slow down.
-They sound gummy. You may or may not care.
-They're slower on smooth ground especially at parks. They need more wax on angle iron style coping.
-There hasn't been a single objective review. I've attempted to compare them back to back, but even that is inconclusive. All YouTube reviews have some bias.

[close]

I find your obsession with these wheels baffling. Some people here like them and prefer how they skate to the alternatives, yet you have been on a quest to disprove our admittedly completely subjective opinions about it. Can you not accept that there might exist preferences different from your own?

[close]

That's why I said things like "you may or may not"...

Frankly how is it any different from one poster's quest to spam the product that they haven't tested. I totally get the appeal of these wheels. If I skated mostly bad ground with well waxed concrete they would be dope. If I commuted on a board they would be dope. I've said as much. What I hate is when someone that hasn't really even tested them is constantly making claims that they haven't tested and trying to drown out those that have spent a lot of time on them and haven't had the same conclusions.

Same thing with Royals. I was skeptical at first, tried them and liked them, but didn't love them. I've said many positive things about them after trying them and I can see cases where I'd prefer them, but I don't. It's not just me in the wheels thread that has come to some of the same conclusions.

This is completely different than your tenor and tone most of the time. You literally called me a “broken human being” because I said I skated the wheels for a whole session and I felt less fatigue than I had skating harder wheels.

[LebowskisRug]

Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

In my own testing of these wheels I sometimes push less on rough ground, but if the ledge isn't perfectly waxed I don't grind as far. So then I push another time to compensate or have to push the grind harder and it all evens out.

[switchfakie]

Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

In my own testing of these wheels I sometimes push less on rough ground, but if the ledge isn't perfectly waxed I don't grind as far. So then I push another time to compensate or have to push the grind harder and it all evens out.

damn this bums me out, im almost exclusively a ledge skater and just picked these up online on a whim over f4's

 i guess im out $50

[manysnakes]

Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, so of course the ground is rough, and I’ve been making my opinion clear that these wheels improve skating over such surfaces. With the Dragons, I can even roll down my sidewalk with its decades-old exposed aggregate concrete - something I couldn’t do with 97a Spitfires. There are trade offs but I find them to be worth it.

It has nothing to do with my fitness (which, without sounding like I’m bragging, is very high) and everything to do with skating particularly rough ground at 42 years old.

[manysnakes]

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Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

In my own testing of these wheels I sometimes push less on rough ground, but if the ledge isn't perfectly waxed I don't grind as far. So then I push another time to compensate or have to push the grind harder and it all evens out.

[close]

damn this bums me out, im almost exclusively a ledge skater and just picked these up online on a whim over f4's

 i guess im out $50

I got a little bit of drag early on doing crooked grinds, but eventually adjusted my technique slightly and approached a little faster and with more finesse.  That said, they slid fine on the non-skatepark surfaces where I took them. Give them a shot before you decide you wasted $50.

[Sketch Hitchcock]

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Viv Fortuna

[close]

I see you, and appreciate you.
Well played.
Thank you for your service to the bloards.

Yeah, can’t unsee the Viv Fortuna thing, that’s wildly on point haha

[LebowskisRug]

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Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

In my own testing of these wheels I sometimes push less on rough ground, but if the ledge isn't perfectly waxed I don't grind as far. So then I push another time to compensate or have to push the grind harder and it all evens out.

[close]

damn this bums me out, im almost exclusively a ledge skater and just picked these up online on a whim over f4's

 i guess im out $50

The issue I and a few others have found is mostly when the ledge doesn't have even wax or isn't smooth. When I rode them at my slappy spot this morning there are some spots where the wax isn't as good near the end. These grab more when that transition happens and at the very end of a slide. You can for sure adjust. It all depends on if you want to. I skate a lot of crusty asphalt and my driveway with my quarterpipe is exposed aggregate and I don't find the difference big enough to want to. Definitely test and decide for yourself.

[tzhangdox]

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Sorry you took offense to that. I coulda been more diplomatic, but my general opinion is that many adults lack a decent physical base, which degrades as well get older and do desk work. Even people in decent cardiovascular shape can have strength deficiencies and vice versa which often get worse as we get older. I don't think a reduction in vibrations or slight reduction in pushes would really effect most people and it's probably a placebo unless the ground is rough.

In my own testing of these wheels I sometimes push less on rough ground, but if the ledge isn't perfectly waxed I don't grind as far. So then I push another time to compensate or have to push the grind harder and it all evens out.

[close]

damn this bums me out, im almost exclusively a ledge skater and just picked these up online on a whim over f4's

 i guess im out $50

Same. Depends on what kind of ledges you skate. If its all waxed concrete ledges they'll be great. If the coping is metal, or you like doing blunts/lips on top of certain wood surfaces, or if you skate a lot of granite ledges, you'll have to learn to push certain tricks, grind less, or just get used to waxing it a lot more. Better than probably every other soft wheel, but very noticeable difference from f4s.

[Sloppy Krooks]

Here’s the closest thing to a real review of wheel slide (back to back with other wheels) by someone who does a bunch of tricks, including slides and grinds.

He’s sponsored by Skate One, but you can see the slide for yourself. He says the 93a are a bit stickier on krooks, but that 95a are fine.

[tzhangdox]

Here’s the closest thing to a real review of wheel slide (back to back with other wheels) by someone who does a bunch of tricks, including slides and grinds.

He’s sponsored by Skate One, but you can see the slide for yourself. He says the 93a are a bit stickier on krooks, but that 95a are fine.

Keep in mind that every obstacle at an LA park is probably waxed to the nines, and that this guy is also stupidly good at skating

Obstacles that you may come across out in the streets and on less perfect terrain probably won't be as slick and perfect

[EXTRA SPICY]

So it’s a sector 9 wheel?

[JRF]

He says the 93a are a bit stickier on krooks, but that 95a are fine.

So, basically, these wheels are pretty much a remake of powell’s “B52 urethane” from back in 1990, just with a different wheel and urethane formula name.. at least that’s what it sounds like from the description of said  wheels..

[bobforapples]

Dragon these nuts

[sorry]

Ive always said that wheels should have abilities like dicks, namely changing size and hardness depending on what you need at any given moment.

Let me know when someone comes up with Cock™ formula

[Sloppy Krooks]

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He says the 93a are a bit stickier on krooks, but that 95a are fine.

[close]

So, basically, these wheels are pretty much a remake of powell’s “B52 urethane” from back in 1990, just with a different wheel and urethane formula name.. at least that’s what it sounds like from the description of said  wheels..

From what I understand (which isn’t actually anything, just speculation) I thought they were an update to ditchtech, which had a cult following

[Willie]

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He says the 93a are a bit stickier on krooks, but that 95a are fine.

[close]

So, basically, these wheels are pretty much a remake of powell’s “B52 urethane” from back in 1990, just with a different wheel and urethane formula name.. at least that’s what it sounds like from the description of said  wheels..

[close]

From what I understand (which isn’t actually anything, just speculation) I thought they were an update to ditchtech, which had a cult following

I had two sets of Ditch Tech about a decade ago. First was soft but not ridiculously so, second was straight up “boingy” and sucked for anything besides cruising.

Powell describes Dragon formula as “high rebound” so maybe they’re similar.

[PuffinMuffin]

No way I'm giving that video a view.

I bought the pre-production wheels, 12 sets for $100 with same-day shipping. Gave a lot away to the locals. The ground around town and at the park is really rough and weathered, and these roll easily over it with a lot fewer pushes than Spits f4 97's. These "Dragons" (ugh) also last surprisingly long for such a soft wheel.

They do stick a bit more on tailslides, crooked grinds, and lipslides. It's worth adjusting to if you live in the snow belt. If I still lived in Cali with smoother concrete, I'd be riding 99a F4's, but for rural Ohio these are perfect. They powerslide easier on rougher ground than smooth stuff.

The name is stupid and the marketing is terrible, but they work for their intended purpose.

[OwlGreen]

I bought the pre-production wheels, 12 sets for $100 with same-day shipping.

Jesus, how do I cop?

[manysnakes]

No way I'm giving that video a view.

I bought the pre-production wheels, 12 sets for $100 with same-day shipping. Gave a lot away to the locals. The ground around town and at the park is really rough and weathered, and these roll easily over it with a lot fewer pushes than Spits f4 97's. These "Dragons" (ugh) also last surprisingly long for such a soft wheel.

They do stick a bit more on tailslides, crooked grinds, and lipslides. It's worth adjusting to if you live in the snow belt. If I still lived in Cali with smoother concrete, I'd be riding 99a F4's, but for rural Ohio these are perfect. They powerslide easier on rougher ground than smooth stuff.

The name is stupid and the marketing is terrible, but they work for their intended purpose.

I’ve been trying to make this point for several days, inshallah anyone listens to you.

Everyone’s gotta air their ancient year old real or imaginary beefs with Powell, 9 Club, YouTube, etc.

[camel filters]

That Zach dude power slid and the screeching noise is an immediate no for me. I know I sound stubborn but is it worth skating longer if I'm just not psyched on the sensory experience while I'm doing it?

[switchfakie]

buyer beware: just came in the mail for me today, they have a spitfire classic shape

i am utterly bummed out, even more than i was after reading the reviews on this thread. every online review showed the experimental wheel being shaped something like a conical full/more square

fuck my life

[BartHarleyJarvis]

No way I'm giving that video a view.

I bought the pre-production wheels, 12 sets for $100 with same-day shipping. Gave a lot away to the locals. The ground around town and at the park is really rough and weathered, and these roll easily over it with a lot fewer pushes than Spits f4 97's. These "Dragons" (ugh) also last surprisingly long for such a soft wheel.

They do stick a bit more on tailslides, crooked grinds, and lipslides. It's worth adjusting to if you live in the snow belt. If I still lived in Cali with smoother concrete, I'd be riding 99a F4's, but for rural Ohio these are perfect. They powerslide easier on rougher ground than smooth stuff.

The name is stupid and the marketing is terrible, but they work for their intended purpose.

Puff sold me on the wheels, and they definitely work as she said. I bought one pair of the pre-production and they sent me two sets, a 93a and a 90a. I've only ridden the 93a so far but they feel great.

[Sativa Lung]

buyer beware: just came in the mail for me today, they have a spitfire classic shape

i am utterly bummed out, even more than i was after reading the reviews on this thread. every online review showed the experimental wheel being shaped something like a conical full/more square

fuck my life

There's multiple shapes as is to be expected from a wheel company launching a new formula... from a cursory glance at skate warehouse it seems the 52 are v1, the 54 are v4, and the 56 are v6 which is the bones version of conical full. I don't mean to come off like a dick but this seems less "buyer beware" and more "buyer was misinformed".

My honest advice would be post them in classified and see if someone who has the 56 want to trade. Or just try them with an open mind, you might like em. I'm a conical guy but I have a set of v4 easy streets and was surprised by how much I liked them.

I just broke my "no new gear" vow and ordered a set of the 54mm. I tried the 92/95 hybrid which were apparently an ancestor of this formula so I'm curious how these will feel. Might do a Bagley board and set em up on mag lights.

[switchfakie]

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buyer beware: just came in the mail for me today, they have a spitfire classic shape

i am utterly bummed out, even more than i was after reading the reviews on this thread. every online review showed the experimental wheel being shaped something like a conical full/more square

fuck my life

[close]

There's multiple shapes as is to be expected from a wheel company launching a new formula... from a cursory glance at skate warehouse it seems the 52 are v1, the 54 are v4, and the 56 are v6 which is the bones version of conical full. I don't mean to come off like a dick but this seems less "buyer beware" and more "buyer was misinformed".

My honest advice would be post them in classified and see if someone who has the 56 want to trade. Or just try them with an open mind, you might like em. I'm a conical guy but I have a set of v4 easy streets and was surprised by how much I liked them.

I just broke my "no new gear" vow and ordered a set of the 54mm. I tried the 92/95 hybrid which were apparently an ancestor of this formula so I'm curious how these will feel. Might do a Bagley board and set em up on mag lights.

i get you, but powell peralta doesnt really have the greatest information on their website. here is powell peralta's official link to buy them.

https://powell-peralta.com/powell-peralta-dragon-formula-green-dragon-skateboard-wheels-54mm-x-34mm-93a-4pk

the official website i linked has nowhere mentioned the v1/v4/v6 naming scheme that you mentioned. that's pretty ass of the damn official website not to have basic info like that. when i was buying them, i assumed that because the official website didn't have that info, that type of naming scheme even existed

54's are my size and 34 mm was the widest they had, so i thought it was good enough given all the reviews online were on the 52 mm and they looked like conical fulls and the official website i linked said that the 52s were 31 mm wide

i accept that i could have done more research, but i said buyer beware bc powell peralta didnt do a good job of informing the customers on their wheel shapes. either way idgaf, its all semantics, i just want one person not to make the same mistake as me and waste $50. but who knows, like you said, i might like it

[manysnakes]

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buyer beware: just came in the mail for me today, they have a spitfire classic shape

i am utterly bummed out, even more than i was after reading the reviews on this thread. every online review showed the experimental wheel being shaped something like a conical full/more square

fuck my life

[close]

There's multiple shapes as is to be expected from a wheel company launching a new formula... from a cursory glance at skate warehouse it seems the 52 are v1, the 54 are v4, and the 56 are v6 which is the bones version of conical full. I don't mean to come off like a dick but this seems less "buyer beware" and more "buyer was misinformed".

My honest advice would be post them in classified and see if someone who has the 56 want to trade. Or just try them with an open mind, you might like em. I'm a conical guy but I have a set of v4 easy streets and was surprised by how much I liked them.

I just broke my "no new gear" vow and ordered a set of the 54mm. I tried the 92/95 hybrid which were apparently an ancestor of this formula so I'm curious how these will feel. Might do a Bagley board and set em up on mag lights.

[close]

i get you, but powell peralta doesnt really have the greatest information on their website. here is powell peralta's official link to buy them.

https://powell-peralta.com/powell-peralta-dragon-formula-green-dragon-skateboard-wheels-54mm-x-34mm-93a-4pk

the official website i linked has nowhere mentioned the v1/v4/v6 naming scheme that you mentioned. that's pretty ass of the damn official website not to have basic info like that. when i was buying them, i assumed that because the official website didn't have that info, that type of naming scheme even existed

54's are my size and 34 mm was the widest they had, so i thought it was good enough given all the reviews online were on the 52 mm and they looked like conical fulls and the official website i linked said that the 52s were 31 mm wide

i accept that i could have done more research, but i said buyer beware bc powell peralta didnt do a good job of informing the customers on their wheel shapes. either way idgaf, its all semantics, i just want one person not to make the same mistake as me and waste $50. but who knows, like you said, i might like it

I have some barely skated 56s in some fat shape if you’re interested in trading.

[DERBY]

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Is he eating or chewing gum? Really fucking with my head watching that

[close]

booger

[close]

Lol! Rog def eats his boogers. Wasn’t there a 9 club where he did that? Or was it a pimple?

ohh, pimple. my bad. i mixed this fool with ted cruz for sum reason

[BMCsteve]

Picked up some 52mm dragons and they're buttery smooth and slide just fine.  I wen't back and forth between these and 99a F4s.  The F4s slid a little better but the dragons were superior in every other way.

[LebowskisRug]

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No way I'm giving that video a view.

I bought the pre-production wheels, 12 sets for $100 with same-day shipping. Gave a lot away to the locals. The ground around town and at the park is really rough and weathered, and these roll easily over it with a lot fewer pushes than Spits f4 97's. These "Dragons" (ugh) also last surprisingly long for such a soft wheel.

They do stick a bit more on tailslides, crooked grinds, and lipslides. It's worth adjusting to if you live in the snow belt. If I still lived in Cali with smoother concrete, I'd be riding 99a F4's, but for rural Ohio these are perfect. They powerslide easier on rougher ground than smooth stuff.

The name is stupid and the marketing is terrible, but they work for their intended purpose.

[close]

I’ve been trying to make this point for several days, inshallah anyone listens to you.

Everyone’s gotta air their ancient year old real or imaginary beefs with Powell, 9 Club, YouTube, etc.

I've said the same thing in different wording and you often get upset about it. They're really good on rough ground and if you're not trying to slide far on ledges/coping that's not highly and evenly waxed.

I could care less about the Nein Club video. Roger comes off as a total weirdo, but the wheels are still the same and it might give them a bump in sales but in the long run will get a lot of people not to buy em too.