Ace trucks

[Daniel]

Grinds feel solid on low setups—quick and shallow pinches, closer to the ledge, and so on. However, the stability of low trucks usually comes at the cost of kingpin clearance: Crooked grinds feel great, yet smiths and 50-50s suffer later with consistent kingpin hangups, especially on chunky, unwaxed ledges and curbs.

In my experience, low truck pop timing speeds up the process of action, requiring faster or earlier flick and front foot sliding. The board shape needs to be considered: The low truck pop response can be affected by kick steepness, which, in most cases, is positive. Factors like nose and tail length and distance of flat drastically affect truck performance, as well as wheel size.

360 flips become more challenging to pop on low setups, yet they spin more easily. Anything to do with popping higher feels like a struggle with timing, making it feel like I've run out of space on my board or that the deck won’t come up as high after popping.

I'm unsurprised when I see pros with low trucks on steep boards—the opposite works, too, with high trucks on mellow shapes.

[Mbrimson88]

@Mbrimson88 dude, thanks!

I have no idea what low trucks feel like personally so I'm sure I'd probably be better off just not even trying them so as to not stir shit up and mess with my already-bad skating. That said I was wondering, in your experience, have you found any tricks to come easier/harder on low trucks? I'm not subscribing to the foolish thought that gear will unlock tricks for me but I have noticed that changing shoulder position, balance, points of the tail/nose where I pop, etc all have different effects on how my tricks come along (or go). Sometimes one foot placement shift can be the make or break for a trick I'm stuck trying to learn.

Has lower trucks helped you figure out any tricks, techniques (or lack thereof), etc in your skating?

Grinds feel solid on low setups—quick and shallow pinches, closer to the ledge, and so on. However, the stability of low trucks usually comes at the cost of kingpin clearance: Crooked grinds feel great, yet smiths and 50-50s suffer later with consistent kingpin hangups, especially on chunky, unwaxed ledges and curbs.

In my experience, low truck pop timing speeds up the process of action, requiring faster or earlier flick and front foot sliding. The board shape needs to be considered: The low truck pop response can be affected by kick steepness, which, in most cases, is positive. Factors like nose and tail length and distance of flat drastically affect truck performance, as well as wheel size.

360 flips become more challenging to pop on low setups, yet they spin more easily. Anything to do with popping higher feels like a struggle with timing, making it feel like I've run out of space on my board or that the deck won’t come up as high after popping.

I'm unsurprised when I see pros with low trucks on steep boards—the opposite works, too, with high trucks on mellow shapes.

Definitely all this ^^^


Lower truck = more tech, but generally lower height getting things up off the ground.  Don't mention Tiago on Indy mids though, still popping waist high on his.

Pairing up different things too.  I like a regular cast 55 mm tall truck with mellow kicks, but a lower set up with steeper kicks works great.

A lot of manual / tech dudes are on smaller and lower setups and that works great for them, maybe tighter trucks, smaller wheels, all balance and they make it look easy, more often than not.

Similarly when I get out a few of those boards for people to have a go on, flips come out more easily but don't get as high as on a taller board.

I could go on more, but I think the previous post has it right.

[360halfcab]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Please forgive me if this has been discussed and I missed it...
Can anybody explain to me what's causing the AF1 wheelbase to be be pushed out compared to the classics? They are advertised as having the same geometry, I was just hoping to find an explanation as to why the wheelbase would be different on a truck that has the same geo. Maybe the placement of the kingpin is pushed out a tad on the baseplate of the AF1's?

[Too Frank To Fred]

I (and a few other SLAP nerds) think the geometry is a tiny bit different, no matter what Ace says.

 Pop feel and turn is a bit more responsive on the Classics. Both amazing in IMO but the Classic feel might just edge out the AF1s ever so slightly for me, bc I typically ride a 14.75" WB. Metal and grind feel is better and more durable on the AF1s now I am used to them.

[Rick Trapasso]

Classics have a shorter WB and a less stable/more squirrelly feel.

[256 Ply]

Coming out next year:









Clearance looks pretty crazy, looks like it's sitting well below the axle.
It mentions a sleeve system. I wonder if they figured out how to eliminate kingpin wiggle and keeping the kingpin from backing out over time.
You'll be able to buy inverted sets (44 & 55 only), or baseplates and bushings to convert your existing AF1s to inverted.

[lamfordie]

This looks great. Cant wait to get some.

[Tiltmode Army Reservist]

These look a LOT better than the ones I made with some JB Weld and a Krux Hollow Downlow Kingpin (some people call those "pink labels" because they were sold in a plastic bag with a giant pink label stapled to the top). Hopefully those inverted baseplates are offered in a few different colors too.

[Septa Bus]

These look a LOT better than the ones I made with some JB Weld and a Krux Hollow Downlow Kingpin (some people call those "pink labels" because they were sold in a plastic bag with a giant pink label stapled to the top). Hopefully those inverted baseplates are offered in a few different colors too.

i miss the fuckin washers that came with the pink labels, it was recessed and gave the kingpin a smoother look.
currently have frankentstein ace classic baseplates with krux dl kingpin and a af1 hanger.

stoked theyre finally making af1s with the dl kingpin

[Too Frank To Fred]

Those new Ace look amazing. A nice little consumer distraction on a dark day but hopefully they come out before the tariffs get hiked up....

[Mbrimson88]

.

I really like how they are now using the low top bushings, because that is really what does it for me when I angle grind down kingpins on regular trucks with the low top bushings, to still have a normal feel, but reduce the overall height of kingpin and create a lot more clearance.

Good if they are selling these baseplates by themselves with bushings included, cause that makes it easier than having to get the bushings separately.

So many other advanced features on the new trucks too.

[Rick Trapasso]

"all new no bend axels"

Lol ABOUT TIME

[logjammin]

"all new no bend axels"

Lol ABOUT TIME

I don't get this. There's no specification in this marketing as to what's different about them. They're just "extra tough". Almost feels like it didn't even need to be said considering it's all about the kingpin.

Their pivot cups in those AF1's are still garbage, too. I rip them from slappies on the first sesh. I'm over Ace, they break on me one way or another, whether I go with those or classics. Stage 4 Indy geometry and durability all day. I still wear my old worn out Ace zip up hoodie though

[jamesmocapaldi]

@logjammin Sorry to derail but saw you briefly shared your experience with the lows in the ace lows thread a couple years ago and wanted to ask what you didn’t like about them. I’ve never ridden lows, am currently fine on Indy hollows, was fine on mid trucks like Indy forged and team thunders in the past, and honestly don’t know what I hope to learn from trying lows, but alas.

Kinda feel it’s not worth spending money on, but reason isn’t enough to completely kick the curiosity. Super annoying.

[logjammin]

@logjammin Sorry to derail but saw you briefly shared your experience with the lows in the ace lows thread a couple years ago and wanted to ask what you didn’t like about them. I’ve never ridden lows, am currently fine on Indy hollows, was fine on mid trucks like Indy forged and team thunders in the past, and honestly don’t know what I hope to learn from trying lows, but alas.

Kinda feel it’s not worth spending money on, but reason isn’t enough to completely kick the curiosity. Super annoying.

Well I had one set and one of the kingpins came loose and since I couldn't just buy new baseplates I bought a whole new set and same thing happened which was pretty bogus. So much for "strongest cast truck on earth". I also had to throw 1/8" risers under them just to be able to ride 52mm wheels, which I was fine with at the time, but nowadays I definitely need 54mm+ and that just ain't happening on some low trucks. They're a good option for a low truck but if you need to turn deep and ride bigger wheels, they just won't do the job.

If you rode fine on the other trucks you mentioned, I don't think you're missing out on much not trying AF1 lows. But it doesn't matter what I think, if the madness persists, then buy em...only you can find out

[pops]

Idk I'm a bit concerned about that clicking system...wait but Af1s already do that.  I'll keep riding the Classics anyway.

[BeachChicken]

How long until an Ace is just a Slappy?

[moonordie]

Coming out next year:









Clearance looks pretty crazy, looks like it's sitting well below the axle.
It mentions a sleeve system. I wonder if they figured out how to eliminate kingpin wiggle and keeping the kingpin from backing out over time.
You'll be able to buy inverted sets (44 & 55 only), or baseplates and bushings to convert your existing AF1s to inverted.

Couldn't care less specially since all inverted kingpin trucks are always doomed but is pretty nice that they give that option for people who cares. Conversion pack is pretty good idea too.
Nothing will ever make me switch my AF1. Only thing I could try are hollow ones and not even.

[Sloppy Krooks]

Looks like the click system is to prevent loosening, anddo maybe to provide stability up the kingpin.

If it allows tightening without the kingpin digging into the deck, I’m definitely down to try.
The bolt on my back truck is chewed to hell and sometimes catch, I’d love to see how this works.

[Tiltmode Army Reservist]

How long until an Ace is just a Slappy?

I've been in the overlap of the Slappy/Ace venn diagram for about a year now (Slappy hangers on Ace baseplates, JB welded to accommodate a Krux hollow downlow kingpin), and it is a damn good spot. Those Ace hangers are way too squirrely for my comfort, but I always thought their baseplates were the coolest looking ones on the market. Thankfully they worked with a Slappy hanger (and I've always felt great standing on those). My Frankenstein trucks also kept me from looking at other trucks for a long time...until I saw those pictures up above showing what their new baseplates are gonna look like.

[big_kev_215]

Coming out next year:









Clearance looks pretty crazy, looks like it's sitting well below the axle.
It mentions a sleeve system. I wonder if they figured out how to eliminate kingpin wiggle and keeping the kingpin from backing out over time.
You'll be able to buy inverted sets (44 & 55 only), or baseplates and bushings to convert your existing AF1s to inverted.

Now the famous AF1 clicking is being repackaged as an actual feature haha - brilliant

[kneebone]

Expand Quote

How long until an Ace is just a Slappy?

[close]

I've been in the overlap of the Slappy/Ace venn diagram for about a year now (Slappy hangers on Ace baseplates, JB welded to accommodate a Krux hollow downlow kingpin), and it is a damn good spot. Those Ace hangers are way too squirrely for my comfort, but I always thought their baseplates were the coolest looking ones on the market. Thankfully they worked with a Slappy hanger (and I've always felt great standing on those). My Frankenstein trucks also kept me from looking at other trucks for a long time...until I saw those pictures up above showing what their new baseplates are gonna look like.

Saw an ad in the new Closer mag for Slappy "lights" with a forged baseplate. With these inverted kingpin Aces and the Slappy Lights, this venn diagram is really becoming one circle

[Tiltmode Army Reservist]

That's a damn good point. Those two circles definitely seem to be moving closer towards fully overlapping.

[BeachChicken]

Would be funny if Slappy did it better still. Frankly I would try them if it wasn't for the name. I have no interest in the Ace turn. I've ridden boards with Ace Hards and even then the pinch still sucks balls and the hanger articulates too much and I have to ride em too tight. Loose Ventures end up turning better.

[TwisT]

Are these companies gaslighting me in to thinking I need more kingpin clearance?

[rikki]

Are these companies gaslighting me in to thinking I need more kingpin clearance?

Yes.

[Too Frank To Fred]

I actually like wearing down my kingpin. I like what I call 'the blend' where your trucks get so fucked, hanger, bushing and kingpin all become one...

But I will certainly be sucked into these. Ace are the best trucks I've ridden in 40 years of skateboarding.

Any idea when next year they will be released? I need some 55s but can hold out if need be...

[DERBY]

i wish ace had visual indicators on their bushings. sometimes i get lazy feeling shit out when i’m juggling hards and stocks

[pops]

i wish ace had visual indicators on their bushings. sometimes i get lazy feeling shit out when i’m juggling hards and stocks

IIRC the stocks are slightly more yellow white and hards more white. But the difference is very minimal.

[Too Frank To Fred]

Expand Quote

i wish ace had visual indicators on their bushings. sometimes i get lazy feeling shit out when i’m juggling hards and stocks

[close]

IIRC the stocks are slightly more yellow white and hards more white. But the difference is very minimal.

That's likely due to the age of the bushings not the duro.