Just got some 54mm 97a’s yesterday. I’m surprised at how much I like the slide on these.
I expected an inconsistent and untrustworthy slide, like softer wheels sometimes do where half the time they slide a modest amount and the other half the time they grip and pitch you forward. These felt consistent like they would slide the same way each time, with little variation.
The quality of the slide feels comparable to normal F4’s too. The harder ones feel like you are sliding on ice whereas the 97a feel like you are sliding on something thicker, like motor oil, but it’s the same smooth and steady slide, just a shorter slide.
Rolling, they feel like they mute the ground a bit more than 99a’s, but not as much as soft cruiser wheels do. To me, 99’s make the ground feel like crunching Frosted Flakes, 97 are like when you first put milk on Frosted Flakes and softer (like 85a) feel like the milk has settled in.
I don’t feel a huge difference in keeping speed from my 99a F4’s, but I’m running new bearings and a different brand than I’m used to, so that may factor in. (Usually use Mini logo bearings but I’m trying out Olympia)
Anyway, I love them so far, looking forward to seeing how the slide feels when they break in more.