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Regarding the Stage 4 I agree with another poster that once they had the geo it probably wouldn't have been impossible to have a slightly more svelte mold for the hanger, a bit more sculpted baseplate, the top bushing doesn't do as much for turn/geo as the bottom so they coulda done a tad more for clearance, maybe hollow options and at least had a truck that had a respectable weight.
It would suggest they weren't just putting something out there to eat into the Ace market but actually putting effort into something. After the Mid flop that might indicate that they give a shit. I really can't believe they shit the bed on the Mid the way they did. How you end up with a shorter truck that is heavier than the taller one and an IKP that blows when you own a company that makes IKP trucks is beyond me. They coulda literally did what Ace did with the low and made different plates and bushings for the standard hanger and had something great.
That would totally defeat the point of the Stage 4 reissue. Its a great truck and pretty authentic. Needs some slipping axles though and only 4 holes on the base plate with the nose slide eating front bolt holes.
Honestly stage 11 turn just fine and are a far better truck. Take Stage 4 for what they are. A little celebration of the past.
From the time I started back up skating I've only ridden Ace Classics, AF1 and now the Stage 4's which I love. Why are Stage 11 a far better truck? I've tried friends set ups with Stage 11's and they have better kingpin clearance and are maybe more stable to what I'm used to but they weren't responsive at all. I guess it depends what sort of skater you are and what you are used to.
For sure. It's all opinion. And mine is Stage 4 is more of novelty and nostalgia trip due to all those things and the turn. I think Ace and even stage 11 have a better turn for my taste.
As per your previous comment:
I usually skate Indy Stage 11 now, but I have messed with the bushings a fair bit to get them how I want them - also tried taller bottom bushings and lower bottom bushings just to see / feel and it is a huge difference.
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The other day I got out an older board I hadn't skated in a while, still Indy Stage 11 trucks, was not feeling it at all and was about to throw it or put it away, then on a whim, loosened off the trucks about quarter to half a turn and there it was, everything just worked again, how I was more used to. Funny that it was such a small thing, but having it responsive to how I wanted it or was used to from my other boards, it worked, compared to not feeling like it was my usual ride, the bushings being a bit stiffer from lack of use and even getting colder here in AU with winter coming.
The same sort of thing happened with my other normal boards after I tried Ace trucks for a few sessions, so although I got used to the Ace trucks having more turn easily enough, when I got back on my normal boards, they felt so sluggish in the turn and took me a bit to get used to them again, even though nothing had changed with my usual daily skate setups.
This might be the sort of feeling people would experience coming from a more turny truck to a less turny truck. Certainly the Ace to Indy, or Indy to Venture gave me the same feeling, like I was automatically leaning but the board just wasn't turning enough for me.
Funny how things like that happen so naturally when you get so used to certain trucks. I should also mention I never have anything wobbly loose, just comfortable medium I would think, but I can also see how having firmer bushings on Ace can help a whole lot.