Bones X-Formula will be 97a and released Spring 2023

[intendedreceivers]

I'm probably in the minority here so I doubt there's a market for thid, but I'd like to see the new nano cubics shape in a 54mm and 99x instead of 97x dragon (?, It feels like 97x tbh and slides/feels great). I actually like the overextended round edges for slappies and the slim inside edge gives you a bit more hanger space.

Looks like new sizes are coming, but they’re going the other way on durometer and bringing them out in the 93A (probably because they’re marketed as Dragon formula instead of X)

https://www.skateone.com/skateboard-wheels/nano-cubic

[Samsquantch]

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I'm probably in the minority here so I doubt there's a market for thid, but I'd like to see the new nano cubics shape in a 54mm and 99x instead of 97x dragon (?, It feels like 97x tbh and slides/feels great). I actually like the overextended round edges for slappies and the slim inside edge gives you a bit more hanger space.

[close]

Looks like new sizes are coming, but they’re going the other way on durometer and bringing them out in the 93A (probably because they’re marketed as Dragon formula instead of X)

https://www.skateone.com/skateboard-wheels/nano-cubic

Well that's annoying, I guess they figure the old guy market has deeper pockets. This old guy wants 97's dammit! *shakes fist at clouds*

[Xen]

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I'm probably in the minority here so I doubt there's a market for thid, but I'd like to see the new nano cubics shape in a 54mm and 99x instead of 97x dragon (?, It feels like 97x tbh and slides/feels great). I actually like the overextended round edges for slappies and the slim inside edge gives you a bit more hanger space.

[close]

Looks like new sizes are coming, but they’re going the other way on durometer and bringing them out in the 93A (probably because they’re marketed as Dragon formula instead of X)

https://www.skateone.com/skateboard-wheels/nano-cubic

To be fair, they are a {nano} Cubic, Cubic being under the powell branding from day one.

[rikki]

Rode my 55mm X99s (V5 shape) today for the first time, at my local dusty and slippery indoor park (concrete floor, plywood transitions and obstacles from pyramids to ditches to miniramps and what have you).

To start the session I rode my 55mmm F4 Radials for a while to get a fresh comparison. As expected, they were fast but had the potential to slide out easily. Not a huge problem, but I don't like the super icy feeling when going as fast as possible around corners and bigger transitions.

Then I swapped to the X99s.

In a nutshell, they are f*cking great. A lot less slippery than F4s, I could push on the transitions with more confidence. And they felt fast, almost as fast as the F4s. And they powerslide just fine, absolutely no problem.

They have a sound (not all quiet like e.g. Dragons), but it's different and "softer" than on F4s -- but for me this wasn't anything distracting. They sound like real wheels.

Grinds work fine, too. Just one session in, though -- I have to test them grind-wise more, but there was no substantial stickiness. A different, a tiny bit "slower" grind on metal coping, but nothing critical.

Overall, very happy with these wheels. Looks like they'll be my winter indoor top pick. Bones have really achieved something recently.

[LebowskisRug]

I'm starting to think more and more that my pair is bunk. They sound gummier than the Dragons or 97, slide worse, and make little to no noise when powersliding. Your experience sounds like what I'm looking for.

[rikki]

I'm starting to think more and more that my pair is bunk. They sound gummier than the Dragons or 97, slide worse, and make little to no noise when powersliding. Your experience sounds like what I'm looking for.

Hmm, interesting. To be honest, I did not find a world of difference between X97 and X99 based on this one session. I don't know if it's a placebo effect or similar, though, but I kinda felt the X99s were faster.

And they don't make a whole lot of noise when powersliding, but there is a noise. I mean, like the X97s, the X99s feel like "real wheels" as compared to Dragons, which I just cannot do on smooth surfaces.

[logjammin]

Did you skate the x97 at the dusty indoor too? Curious if they offer just that slight bit of extra grip. The way I skate, I'm a slalom wiggler a lot of times when I'm flowing around transition and in general just way too aggressive in my leg power for indoor parks. Dragons were the first wheel that allowed me to finally not absolutely hate skating indoor parks and actually get some grip. I can actually relax my lower half and not be constantly ready to slip out suddenly. Always makes my lower back and butt ache at the end of sessions from tensing up so much. Would just be cool to skate a harder wheel if possible, and still get a safer roll like dragons with that grip.

[rikki]

Did you skate the x97 at the dusty indoor too? Curious if they offer just that slight bit of extra grip. The way I skate, I'm a slalom wiggler a lot of times when I'm flowing around transition and in general just way too aggressive in my leg power for indoor parks. Dragons were the first wheel that allowed me to finally not absolutely hate skating indoor parks and actually get some grip. I can actually relax my lower half and not be constantly ready to slip out suddenly. Always makes my lower back and butt ache at the end of sessions from tensing up so much. Would just be cool to skate a harder wheel if possible, and still get a safer roll like dragons with that grip.

Yeah I did skate the X97 at the same indoor, and the grip is pretty similar. I mean, both wheels provide plenty of grip as compared to "normal" hard wheels.

If you're happy with Dragons, stay on them, but I'd be ready to wage you would enjoy the X97s as well. Neither of the Bones X's have slipped out on me so far.

[rikki]

Just to add -- I had a second dusty indoor sesh with my 55mm X99s and they are here to stay. Pretty much perfect wheels for all-around indoor park skating. Did more grinds today, 50-50s on a ledge worked well + got an especially sweeet f/s 5-0 on a tranny and the wheels did not stick one bit. Friend of mine was struggling on trannies with his F4 99s, he was slipping out constantly.

Liking these wheels a whole lot.

[LebowskisRug]

I skated the X99 at the Ocean Beach skatepark today which is old, fucking rough, and the coping is very sticky. Wheels were squealing like crazy on the coping, but they definitely smooth out the rest of the park.

[Xen]

I'm starting to think more and more that my pair is bunk. They sound gummier than the Dragons or 97, slide worse, and make little to no noise when powersliding. Your experience sounds like what I'm looking for.

Maybe you're right, which x99s did you get? V5 right, what graphics? Maybe someone else can confirm? I'm on 53mm V1s with the 'butterfly effect' graphic.

Not a dig, but perhaps it's just that your expectations aren't being met (or haven't since dragons) because you are not willing to give them slack for what they really are/do, compared to what you are used to and what you want them to be? Your 'sticky grind' experience has tainted you (just being real here). I just don't think these wheels are for you (and you should let it go =). It's like me skating thunders...I try and try but they just ain't it.

Where are you riding them/what are you riding them on? Bearings? How old? How loose? How lubed? We all know that shit can deaden a wheel (and for real, these do sound like a dead wheel at times).

The x99 will never be a replacement for those that love 99a spits, you are sacrificing: speed (marginal), chirp and arguably slide (on smooth terrain) at the cost of more rebound on rough terrain.

After skating these on trash terrain there is no way I could go back to a spit 99a.

I skated the X99 at the Ocean Beach skatepark today which is old, fucking rough, and the coping is very sticky. Wheels were squealing like crazy on the coping, but they definitely smooth out the rest of the park.

So blame the sticky coping, not the wheel? The wheels ARE stickier than spits...spits = not sticky = easier on sticky coping...stiickier wheel = more sticky on sticky coping...

[tzhangdox]

Well to be fair bones marketing says these skate just like a hard wheel but ride like a soft wheel... but if they're sticking on sticky coping that spitfires of the same duro has no issue with... then its fair to be a little peeved at that.

I've not tried the x99s, but x97s and dragons definitely grind slower and more unpredictably on metal coping. Been skating a lot of round rails lately and there's tricks I would be a lot more reluctant to try if I had x97s or dragons on vs f4s.

[LebowskisRug]

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I'm starting to think more and more that my pair is bunk. They sound gummier than the Dragons or 97, slide worse, and make little to no noise when powersliding. Your experience sounds like what I'm looking for.

[close]

Maybe you're right, which x99s did you get? V5 right, what graphics? Maybe someone else can confirm? I'm on 53mm V1s with the 'butterfly effect' graphic.

Not a dig, but perhaps it's just that your expectations aren't being met (or haven't since dragons) because you are not willing to give them slack for what they really are/do, compared to what you are used to and what you want them to be? Your 'sticky grind' experience has tainted you (just being real here). I just don't think these wheels are for you (and you should let it go =). It's like me skating thunders...I try and try but they just ain't it.

Where are you riding them/what are you riding them on? Bearings? How old? How loose? How lubed? We all know that shit can deaden a wheel (and for real, these do sound like a dead wheel at times).

The x99 will never be a replacement for those that love 99a spits, you are sacrificing: speed (marginal), chirp and arguably slide (on smooth terrain) at the cost of more rebound on rough terrain.

After skating these on trash terrain there is no way I could go back to a spit 99a.

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I skated the X99 at the Ocean Beach skatepark today which is old, fucking rough, and the coping is very sticky. Wheels were squealing like crazy on the coping, but they definitely smooth out the rest of the park.

[close]

So blame the sticky coping, not the wheel? The wheels ARE stickier than spits...spits = not sticky = easier on sticky coping...stiickier wheel = more sticky on sticky coping...

Bearings are Quantum Fusions, lubed about 2 weeks ago, and spin super fast. My X99 feel specifically more gummy and sticky than the X97 I have, which is the weird part. I expected them to feel less sticky since they are harder, but they slide/revert worse. I got them when they first dropped in the 53mm V5 shape and the graphic has some Easter Island looking heads on it.

I obviously expect the wheels to be stickier than a Spitfire. That comes with the territory. What I've been saying in my past few posts is that I did not expect them to be stickier than the X97, which I have skated at all the same spots. In particular the 99 squeal more on the same coping and curbs, which is strange, but not as much on waxed angle iron.

Make no mistake I am not rehashing the old arguments about Dragons. I think for whatever reason my X99 feel "off" compared to other reports. I am totally fine with them having some shortcomings in certain areas. At a smoother park they feel almost as fast as the worn 52mm Classics I normally ride and way better than Dragons. What I am disappointed by is that they slide worse than the 97's, revert worse than the Dragons and 97s, and are not faster than my 53 F4 Radials. I think if anything I shoulda just stuck with the 97's OR maybe these are a subpar set of the 99.

[Xen]

How old/many sessions on your x97s vs the x99s?

For me it was the bluntslide test, 93/x97s it wasn't happening unless the wax was fresh, with the 99s I can do them as normal and not worry about sticking by comparison (still worse than 103b STFs tho for that trick...just sit and sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide for days).

[LebowskisRug]

X97 I put 3 longer sessions on, the 99 have about 6 sessions total with about 12-13hrs of skating. So, more than the 97 had. One spot I skate is your standard red curbs and the 99 actually squeal on them like the Dragons did, 97s didn't make as much noise there. With the 93/97 I could still revert stuff on flat a bit or break into a slide, but on these it feels more sluggish. I gave away my 97s but wish I woulda kept them. My goal with the 99 was to just keep em on cuz my normal park has coping that is always sauced and I can wax up other spots. One spot in particular is a slight uphill to skate the curb backside/fakie so they're really nice for that asphalt and just pushing less over a few hours. My asphalt in front of my house got rougher after last winter too so I would have more fun skating at home.

[rikki]

X97 I put 3 longer sessions on, the 99 have about 6 sessions total with about 12-13hrs of skating. So, more than the 97 had. One spot I skate is your standard red curbs and the 99 actually squeal on them like the Dragons did, 97s didn't make as much noise there. With the 93/97 I could still revert stuff on flat a bit or break into a slide, but on these it feels more sluggish. I gave away my 97s but wish I woulda kept them. My goal with the 99 was to just keep em on cuz my normal park has coping that is always sauced and I can wax up other spots. One spot in particular is a slight uphill to skate the curb backside/fakie so they're really nice for that asphalt and just pushing less over a few hours. My asphalt in front of my house got rougher after last winter too so I would have more fun skating at home.

Your experience with the X99 sounds weird. I've had absolutely no problems reverting stuff or doing anything else for that matter. "Sluggish" is not the word I'd use for them.

Did you try them out on smooth/slippery ground like dusty concrete or plywood?

But yeah, who knows, it's possible that there are defective sets out there. I dunno.

[FakieBonk]

I've been having some bad wheel madness for the last few months since I first tested out the dragons earlier this year.
My daily driver before the dragons was spits f4 58 mil classics that I rode down to 50s.
I bought a set of Dragons in 56mm as a stop-gap while looking for another set of the same spitfires. I was never able to switch back, even after getting another set of those same spitfires I was riding for like 5 years, they were just wayy too hard and just didn't cut it if I couldn't ride them to the park, only at the park and even then I think I forgot how rough my local is and I felt so damn slow it just frustrated me, not worth it.
Anyway, I read through this whole thread trying to figure out if I wanted to test out the x97s, x99s, 97 f4 or 99 f4 in a wider shape.
I finally landed on the x99s in the v6 shape. I just got them as a christmas gift.
I set them up today but have to wait for a dry day to take them around town and to a park to give them the test I want to do, but once I've ridden them a bit I'll come back to write up my thoughts.

Anyway I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that put down some reviews for fueling my wheel madness and helping me come to at least a next step.

The things I really want to know with these wheels are how they handle shit sidewalk and street, and if they will let me get back to doing bluntslides. I had to put learning back bluntslides on complete pause while I was only riding dragons and I really want to get back to it.

[rocklobster]

My daily driver before the dragons was spits f4 58 mil classics that I rode down to 50s.

How long did you take to wear them down 8mm?

Been tempted to give F4 another go but the X97 have been nothing but good to me. So continues the madness.

[j....soy.....]

I think when these wheels were engineered….the focus was wheels sliding on the ground which is why they were first marketed to longboarders……

[tzhangdox]

Lol anyone remember the ricta slix which apparently had hard tpu on the sidewalls to make them grind faster?

https://www.basementskate.com.au/blog/2018/06/07/ricta-wheels-new-slix-crystal-slix/

If the bones x-formula wheels had those on both sides, I'd probably jump right on. Then get the wax out for blunt/lipslides.

[FakieBonk]

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My daily driver before the dragons was spits f4 58 mil classics that I rode down to 50s.

[close]

How long did you take to wear them down 8mm?

Been tempted to give F4 another go but the X97 have been nothing but good to me. So continues the madness.

I think it took about 4 and a half years

[HHH]

Skating some x99 V6 at the moment. They seem to be rolling really well on rougher ground, but not sure if that's because they are 54mm (I'm used to slightly smaller). They slide verry good but feel like softer wheels, they don't make much noise on smooth concrete.

What wheel would you suggest on cobblestone surface? I'm my city it's mainly cobble stone pavement. So far I think hard and wide such as 101 f4 wide has worked the best. Maybe because its less bouncy, faster due to hardness and wider? Still haven't cracked it

[JM]

I got x99 and one skate sent me back to x97. They just don’t do anything much better than x97.

And if I wanted wheels that slide better, I’d go back to F4. In the RADIAL SLIMS!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HEAR ME DLX?!!

I don’t blunt slide anymore, and the little ground ones I can push through with both x99 or x97… they felt the same to me. And the x97 handles the crusties better and quieter and less rattly. 

[YeoWhattup]

Been skating the Xformula 97 54mm rollersufer pros and I must say they are quite nice. I’m usually a spitfire guy and would ride any other wheel besides bones but I guess I’m a Bones Wheels guy now lol

I skate outside mostly, not too many polished parks in my area but went to a local indoor and I felt way more confident and connected to my board. Makes me wanna go to indoors more often.

Kinda wanna try dragons but 93 seems too soft…

[Xen]

I got x99 and one skate sent me back to x97. They just don’t do anything much better than x97.

And if I wanted wheels that slide better, I’d go back to F4. In the RADIAL SLIMS!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HEAR ME DLX?!!

I don’t blunt slide anymore, and the little ground ones I can push through with both x99 or x97… they felt the same to me. And the x97 handles the crusties better and quieter and less rattly. 

They do blunt slide better/easier =D for other slide trucks they def don't stick as much as the x97s, you can really feel it on nose and tail slides if your wheels catch.

Skating some x99 V6 at the moment. They seem to be rolling really well on rougher ground, but not sure if that's because they are 54mm (I'm used to slightly smaller). They slide verry good but feel like softer wheels, they don't make much noise on smooth concrete.

What wheel would you suggest on cobblestone surface? I'm my city it's mainly cobble stone pavement. So far I think hard and wide such as 101 f4 wide has worked the best. Maybe because its less bouncy, faster due to hardness and wider? Still haven't cracked it

Are your v6s black? I took my blk v6s to a known rough spot (that I've skated everything, including the x97s and white x99 V1s, at) and I might as well have ridden spit 99s, zero 'x-formula' benefits...which is weird since they are both x-formula and w-i-d-e so you'd assume they'd handle rough terrain well but the narrower, white v1 were much more forgiving.

Cobblestone? Spit 97s maybe? Dragons (93a)?

[JM]

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I got x99 and one skate sent me back to x97. They just don’t do anything much better than x97.

And if I wanted wheels that slide better, I’d go back to F4. In the RADIAL SLIMS!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HEAR ME DLX?!!

I don’t blunt slide anymore, and the little ground ones I can push through with both x99 or x97… they felt the same to me. And the x97 handles the crusties better and quieter and less rattly. 

[close]

They do blunt slide better/easier =D for other slide trucks they def don't stick as much as the x97s, you can really feel it on nose and tail slides if your wheels catch.

Fair enough.. I can’t blunt slide anymore and don’t.

But if I diiiiiiiiid, I would go back to a known champion street wheel like F4. Maybe the x99 work just as dependably as an F4 99duro if I was doing all the stuff I did 15 years ago? Or try STFs. Or whatever cheap wheel was offered because who cared? Haha

Maybe it was just the smooth skatepark concrete, but when I tried to blunt slide the x99 just on flat it gripped just as much as the 97x.

But, again, fair enough… I like my old man soft wheels that kinda sorta sound like a normal skate wheel, and absorb the rattles and let me skate on the awful chunky stuff really well around here. And I’ve never had issues with nose slides unless it’s legit my fault for locking in wrong.

[Meathook]

I’d been skating some X99 V6 which were good but still felt a little hard on the street for me.  Just put on some dragons in a 54mm classic shape (never skated them on a non cruiser board.). I like them a lot but I know after the winter I’m going to want to go to something slightly harder.  Looking forward to trying some x97 as the middle ground.

[Xen]

I’d been skating some X99 V6 which were good but still felt a little hard on the street for me.  Just put on some dragons in a 54mm classic shape (never skated them on a non cruiser board.). I like them a lot but I know after the winter I’m going to want to go to something slightly harder.  Looking forward to trying some x97 as the middle ground.

What color are your V6s?

[YeoWhattup]

Are nano cubic 97s any different than xformula 97s?

[boneless900]

Are nano cubic 97s any different than xformula 97s?

The formula is the same imo so the shape is the only difference