DLX Shapes

[moykky]

I saw it in the shop and it's less full than the Full SE or Manderson noses. More important for your truck choice is it's like a lot of DLX nose where there is a taper after the bolts and it's very slight, but not like a square nose where it's almost straight until the end.

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

[franc]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

I've never had one but I'm pretty sure Manderson has his own signature shape, which has a squarer nose and tail than the classic DLX 8.38 shape.

[back smith]

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Recently picked up a 9" AH Eagle (BBS, 2 on the press) and a GT 9" (China) and the Chinese pressed board is way steeper in the kicks and concave. Anyone else have similar findings between the two factories?

[close]

I didn't want to sound negative cause there are lots of amazing things coming out of DLX, but with the China molds, there seems to be a current limit to what can be made to approximately the same specs, that being any board under or up to about 14.75 wb, or anything up to and including 8.75 in width is great, but anything over that just feels off, compared to the BBS made boards.

The reason I say this is because most boards from both places seem to line up fairly well overall, being quite close in shape and concave as per a number of shapes I have including the normal China made 8.75 board which is really good now it is nicely worn in, but a few boards I have had, of which I have had both the BBS and the China mold, just don't line up, or work for me when trying the China mold versions.

* To note, I felt like this is more a me problem than anything else, as all the DLX China made boards are well made, no issues with the quality of production, but the details that are usually so very precise like which mold to use for which board shape, just are not there for these boards.


The Horse Pill is a completely different mold, not a BBS / DLX mold for the China made Grimple Stix board I have.  Post about that with comparison pics here:

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DHM_ofKSUaK/


Then the wider boards or longer wheelbase boards still seem to be made on the same smaller molds as most of the other DLX China boards, which work fine for those smaller shapes and sizes, but they just don't translate well to the bigger boards.

First one being the Jimmy Wilkins board 8.86 with 15 wb, for which the deck bolt holes were drilled almost into the kicks and I just couldn't get comfortable on it.  Thinking it was just that shape, I got the usual 9 x 33 with 15" wb more recently (same as the orange eagle) but again the longer wheelbase was drilled almost into the kicks, so it was very heavy lift feeling and only worked when I used drilled in (1/4" each) baseplates to bring both trucks in enough to make the kicks feel normal again for me.  Also the side to side concave felt excessive for the width, so that amount of concave works well for the smaller boards but with a wider board, the sides just keep going up and up and felt almost uncomfortable under my feet.  Sure some people like a lot of side to side concave, but the comparable concave on the usual BBS made 9 x 33 with 15" wb is so totally different, even in the steepest versions of that board I have had come through my hands.

[close]

Interesting… I was going to pick up the BA 8.8 from the latest Anti Hero drop, would this be on the China mold as well? Is there a rule of thumb to know if something will be BBS or China?

Edit: whoops, I put that my post in the body of the quote originally

The Eagle decks are BBS and the rest are China.

[BeachChicken]

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I saw it in the shop and it's less full than the Full SE or Manderson noses. More important for your truck choice is it's like a lot of DLX nose where there is a taper after the bolts and it's very slight, but not like a square nose where it's almost straight until the end.

[close]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

He has a shape and then sometimes they use his name on other shapes but in my experience they are rarely mellow kicks. When I was skating them I'd see if the shop had multiple and then I'd stack them and take the mellowest one and even then it wasn't truly mellow.

[Ok]

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I saw it in the shop and it's less full than the Full SE or Manderson noses. More important for your truck choice is it's like a lot of DLX nose where there is a taper after the bolts and it's very slight, but not like a square nose where it's almost straight until the end.

[close]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

[close]

He has a shape and then sometimes they use his name on other shapes but in my experience they are rarely mellow kicks. When I was skating them I'd see if the shop had multiple and then I'd stack them and take the mellowest one and even then it wasn't truly mellow.

nose and tail wise, what’s the mellowest of the doc boards?
i haven’t seen an easy rider, but i thought that was more flat concave, which im also a fan of.

i ask these questions, collect the information/opinions of others, march to the shop to buy the thing, and then walk out if there with something else.
currently i want the light blue eagle, but if the shop has a bdk im gonna end up with that. or a b16. or.
skate shops are so much better in person.

[munchbox]

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I saw it in the shop and it's less full than the Full SE or Manderson noses. More important for your truck choice is it's like a lot of DLX nose where there is a taper after the bolts and it's very slight, but not like a square nose where it's almost straight until the end.

[close]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

[close]

He has a shape and then sometimes they use his name on other shapes but in my experience they are rarely mellow kicks. When I was skating them I'd see if the shop had multiple and then I'd stack them and take the mellowest one and even then it wasn't truly mellow.

[close]

i ask these questions, collect the information/opinions of others, march to the shop to buy the thing, and then walk out if there with something else.
currently i want the light blue eagle, but if the shop has a bdk im gonna end up with that. or a b16. or.
skate shops are so much better in person.

you keep the industry running
i can do nothing but applaud

[Ok]

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I saw it in the shop and it's less full than the Full SE or Manderson noses. More important for your truck choice is it's like a lot of DLX nose where there is a taper after the bolts and it's very slight, but not like a square nose where it's almost straight until the end.

[close]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

[close]

He has a shape and then sometimes they use his name on other shapes but in my experience they are rarely mellow kicks. When I was skating them I'd see if the shop had multiple and then I'd stack them and take the mellowest one and even then it wasn't truly mellow.

[close]

i ask these questions, collect the information/opinions of others, march to the shop to buy the thing, and then walk out if there with something else.
currently i want the light blue eagle, but if the shop has a bdk im gonna end up with that. or a b16. or.
skate shops are so much better in person.

[close]

you keep the industry running
i can do nothing but applaud

the amount of product vs the amount of skating is wicked. gotta get a grip

[BeachChicken]

Mellowest is likely the 8.38 Dreamer shape or the twin tail shapes. The 8.4 is usually mellow as well.

[Mbrimson88]

Interesting… I was going to pick up the BA 8.8 from the latest Anti Hero drop, would this be on the China mold as well? Is there a rule of thumb to know if something will be BBS or China?

Edit: whoops, I put that my post in the body of the quote originally

If you are in USA, then it should all be BBS wood.  If you are in any other country that has drops now at the same time that they are released, then it would be China wood, eg Australia or NZ, Asia, Europe or Canada, etc.

The boards will have it on the warning sticker - Made in China with the sticker right in the middle of the front bolts, or Made in Mexico, with the BBS boards having the sticker up above the front bolts with the number stamp in the middle area.

For the rest of the world, most boards in every drop are now made in China, but some are still specifically BBS, including the AH eagles, the Real ovals and the Ishod twins, the Krooked original eyes and any Easy Rider, plus a few more here and there.


* I don't want to scare anyone off buying any boards, but I would urge caution and first checking the board if there is any doubt.  I prefer the BBS made boards as that is what I am used to, but I have been riding the China made boards too and have been getting more used to them, but as per my info above, anything over a certain size / wheelbase doesn't feel like the BBS equivalent.

[Mbrimson88]

I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

As others have said, the Manderson shape is very full / squared off in the kicks, the dimensions being 8.38 x 32 with 14.25 wb and no they are definitely NOT all like that.  Some are mellow, some are steep, more so by the number on the board I being the steepest, then II and III and down to IV being the most mellow.

I had stood on a I stamp and it was crazy steep, but then got a IV stamp and it is way more comfortable, easy to ride, fairly long tail compared to some other shapes and a good board to ride - skated it today actually for a little bit.


To note, if you are in USA you are going to get the BBS boards, with I through to IV on them, but if you are elsewhere in the world, most likely you are going to get the China made boards, which are all more mellow.


Also some people have said there is another shape, which is the normal 8.38 also called the "dreamer" which is 8.38 x 32.25 with 14.5 wb, which is a more regular shape and most likely not the one you got.  The Manderson board only comes out with his name on it from Krooked, but the usual 8.38 comes out from all DLX board brands and there are often one or more each drop from every brand, just so you know.

[back smith]

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Interesting… I was going to pick up the BA 8.8 from the latest Anti Hero drop, would this be on the China mold as well? Is there a rule of thumb to know if something will be BBS or China?

Edit: whoops, I put that my post in the body of the quote originally

[close]

If you are in USA, then it should all be BBS wood.  If you are in any other country that has drops now at the same time that they are released, then it would be China wood, eg Australia or NZ, Asia, Europe or Canada, etc.

The boards will have it on the warning sticker - Made in China with the sticker right in the middle of the front bolts, or Made in Mexico, with the BBS boards having the sticker up above the front bolts with the number stamp in the middle area.

For the rest of the world, most boards in every drop are now made in China, but some are still specifically BBS, including the AH eagles, the Real ovals and the Ishod twins, the Krooked original eyes and any Easy Rider, plus a few more here and there.


* I don't want to scare anyone off buying any boards, but I would urge caution and first checking the board if there is any doubt.  I prefer the BBS made boards as that is what I am used to, but I have been riding the China made boards too and have been getting more used to them, but as per my info above, anything over a certain size / wheelbase doesn't feel like the BBS equivalent.

I thought it was just Anti Hero doing China (for the pro decks)? Are Real and Krooked doing it too?

[moykky]

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I just bought a Manderson 8.38 deck from a local. It was last one. I really like it. Mellow concave and kicks. Are they all like this? The 8.38's?

[close]

As others have said, the Manderson shape is very full / squared off in the kicks, the dimensions being 8.38 x 32 with 14.25 wb and no they are definitely NOT all like that.  Some are mellow, some are steep, more so by the number on the board I being the steepest, then II and III and down to IV being the most mellow.

I had stood on a I stamp and it was crazy steep, but then got a IV stamp and it is way more comfortable, easy to ride, fairly long tail compared to some other shapes and a good board to ride - skated it today actually for a little bit.


To note, if you are in USA you are going to get the BBS boards, with I through to IV on them, but if you are elsewhere in the world, most likely you are going to get the China made boards, which are all more mellow.


Also some people have said there is another shape, which is the normal 8.38 also called the "dreamer" which is 8.38 x 32.25 with 14.5 wb, which is a more regular shape and most likely not the one you got.  The Manderson board only comes out with his name on it from Krooked, but the usual 8.38 comes out from all DLX board brands and there are often one or more each drop from every brand, just so you know.

Yes, I got the China made board with 14.25 wb and longish tail. It's the older graphics so it got me thinking how can I get another one. But I'm fairly sure now what to get.

Thanks a lot!

[Mbrimson88]

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Interesting… I was going to pick up the BA 8.8 from the latest Anti Hero drop, would this be on the China mold as well? Is there a rule of thumb to know if something will be BBS or China?

Edit: whoops, I put that my post in the body of the quote originally

[close]

If you are in USA, then it should all be BBS wood.  If you are in any other country that has drops now at the same time that they are released, then it would be China wood, eg Australia or NZ, Asia, Europe or Canada, etc.

The boards will have it on the warning sticker - Made in China with the sticker right in the middle of the front bolts, or Made in Mexico, with the BBS boards having the sticker up above the front bolts with the number stamp in the middle area.

For the rest of the world, most boards in every drop are now made in China, but some are still specifically BBS, including the AH eagles, the Real ovals and the Ishod twins, the Krooked original eyes and any Easy Rider, plus a few more here and there.


* I don't want to scare anyone off buying any boards, but I would urge caution and first checking the board if there is any doubt.  I prefer the BBS made boards as that is what I am used to, but I have been riding the China made boards too and have been getting more used to them, but as per my info above, anything over a certain size / wheelbase doesn't feel like the BBS equivalent.

[close]

I thought it was just Anti Hero doing China (for the pro decks)? Are Real and Krooked doing it too?

It was for all DLX wood, right across all brands from that first drop, which was early last year I think.  Was a little while ago now, but they have solidified the process and the products are definitely up there for quality, if not just a little different than the usual BBS boards for the majority of the product lines.

My first China board, an 8.75 regular shape, AH BA graphic (March 2024) which skated great as it was, closely followed by a Real 8.86 Jimmy Wilkins (April 2024) which I drilled in as the 15" wb didn't work on it:

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C4enGmbJ0nZ/

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C5LI3xOp2iE/

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C6VpiVDJOGa/

[Sloppy Krooks]

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Recently picked up a 9" AH Eagle (BBS, 2 on the press) and a GT 9" (China) and the Chinese pressed board is way steeper in the kicks and concave. Anyone else have similar findings between the two factories?

[close]

I didn't want to sound negative cause there are lots of amazing things coming out of DLX, but with the China molds, there seems to be a current limit to what can be made to approximately the same specs, that being any board under or up to about 14.75 wb, or anything up to and including 8.75 in width is great, but anything over that just feels off, compared to the BBS made boards.

The reason I say this is because most boards from both places seem to line up fairly well overall, being quite close in shape and concave as per a number of shapes I have including the normal China made 8.75 board which is really good now it is nicely worn in, but a few boards I have had, of which I have had both the BBS and the China mold, just don't line up, or work for me when trying the China mold versions.

* To note, I felt like this is more a me problem than anything else, as all the DLX China made boards are well made, no issues with the quality of production, but the details that are usually so very precise like which mold to use for which board shape, just are not there for these boards.


The Horse Pill is a completely different mold, not a BBS / DLX mold for the China made Grimple Stix board I have.  Post about that with comparison pics here:

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/DHM_ofKSUaK/


Then the wider boards or longer wheelbase boards still seem to be made on the same smaller molds as most of the other DLX China boards, which work fine for those smaller shapes and sizes, but they just don't translate well to the bigger boards.

First one being the Jimmy Wilkins board 8.86 with 15 wb, for which the deck bolt holes were drilled almost into the kicks and I just couldn't get comfortable on it.  Thinking it was just that shape, I got the usual 9 x 33 with 15" wb more recently (same as the orange eagle) but again the longer wheelbase was drilled almost into the kicks, so it was very heavy lift feeling and only worked when I used drilled in (1/4" each) baseplates to bring both trucks in enough to make the kicks feel normal again for me.  Also the side to side concave felt excessive for the width, so that amount of concave works well for the smaller boards but with a wider board, the sides just keep going up and up and felt almost uncomfortable under my feet.  Sure some people like a lot of side to side concave, but the comparable concave on the usual BBS made 9 x 33 with 15" wb is so totally different, even in the steepest versions of that board I have had come through my hands.

Thank you for the comparison.
I was looking for exactly this info.
My local here in Japan has access to both, but the BBS is almost ¥4000 more. I wanted to know if it’s worth the extra cash to get a better molded board.

[back smith]

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Interesting… I was going to pick up the BA 8.8 from the latest Anti Hero drop, would this be on the China mold as well? Is there a rule of thumb to know if something will be BBS or China?

Edit: whoops, I put that my post in the body of the quote originally

[close]

If you are in USA, then it should all be BBS wood.  If you are in any other country that has drops now at the same time that they are released, then it would be China wood, eg Australia or NZ, Asia, Europe or Canada, etc.

The boards will have it on the warning sticker - Made in China with the sticker right in the middle of the front bolts, or Made in Mexico, with the BBS boards having the sticker up above the front bolts with the number stamp in the middle area.

For the rest of the world, most boards in every drop are now made in China, but some are still specifically BBS, including the AH eagles, the Real ovals and the Ishod twins, the Krooked original eyes and any Easy Rider, plus a few more here and there.


* I don't want to scare anyone off buying any boards, but I would urge caution and first checking the board if there is any doubt.  I prefer the BBS made boards as that is what I am used to, but I have been riding the China made boards too and have been getting more used to them, but as per my info above, anything over a certain size / wheelbase doesn't feel like the BBS equivalent.

[close]

I thought it was just Anti Hero doing China (for the pro decks)? Are Real and Krooked doing it too?

[close]

It was for all DLX wood, right across all brands from that first drop, which was early last year I think.  Was a little while ago now, but they have solidified the process and the products are definitely up there for quality, if not just a little different than the usual BBS boards for the majority of the product lines.

My first China board, an 8.75 regular shape, AH BA graphic (March 2024) which skated great as it was, closely followed by a Real 8.86 Jimmy Wilkins (April 2024) which I drilled in as the 15" wb didn't work on it:

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C4enGmbJ0nZ/

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C5LI3xOp2iE/

https://www.instagram.com/mbrimson88/p/C6VpiVDJOGa/

Dang, well, at least there's the eagles.

[Mbrimson88]

Thank you for the comparison.
I was looking for exactly this info.
My local here in Japan has access to both, but the BBS is almost ¥4000 more. I wanted to know if it’s worth the extra cash to get a better molded board.

Easy - might have almost come across a little too "out there" or sounded like a big old rant, which I didn't mean to do, but after the second 15" wb that just didn't work, I had to do a few comparisons and really check out the different shapes.

The other shapes I have in the China made boards all fit identically into each other, no matter which order I stack them, including the bigger boards.  This is very different, compared to the smaller mold and the bigger mold from the BBS made boards, which are easy to tell apart and the smaller ones only fit inside the bigger ones, not the other way round.


I am trying to think of the other options I hadn't seen that were China releases that might have also had discrepancies in the molds or the longer wb may not work so well, eg the Green Giant 9.56 which is 15+ wb or even the Grosso shape with 15.25 / 14.75 wb.

To be fair, a couple of Gonz boards I have had which were BBS were just too long in the wb as well, which I drilled in and they work great now, but they were 15.5 and even a 16" wb on the one I still have set up somewhere, which I think I drilled down 3/8" at both ends.


Any which way, are there any specific boards you were thinking of from the DLX range, or were curious about?

[Sloppy Krooks]

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Thank you for the comparison.
I was looking for exactly this info.
My local here in Japan has access to both, but the BBS is almost ¥4000 more. I wanted to know if it’s worth the extra cash to get a better molded board.

[close]

Easy - might have almost come across a little too "out there" or sounded like a big old rant, which I didn't mean to do, but after the second 15" wb that just didn't work, I had to do a few comparisons and really check out the different shapes.

The other shapes I have in the China made boards all fit identically into each other, no matter which order I stack them, including the bigger boards.  This is very different, compared to the smaller mold and the bigger mold from the BBS made boards, which are easy to tell apart and the smaller ones only fit inside the bigger ones, not the other way round.


I am trying to think of the other options I hadn't seen that were China releases that might have also had discrepancies in the molds or the longer wb may not work so well, eg the Green Giant 9.56 which is 15+ wb or even the Grosso shape with 15.25 / 14.75 wb.

To be fair, a couple of Gonz boards I have had which were BBS were just too long in the wb as well, which I drilled in and they work great now, but they were 15.5 and even a 16" wb on the one I still have set up somewhere, which I think I drilled down 3/8" at both ends.


Any which way, are there any specific boards you were thinking of from the DLX range, or were curious about?

The Horse pill, specifically.
I went with the China one because of the price, but as it turns out, it got snapped up first, so the shop owner offered me a discount on the BBS one, it ends up costing just a smidge more than the China.


Looking forward to it, I haven’t ridden a 10er since my old skull skates football, and I like the dimensions on the Horse pill.

[FrenchSkater]

Has anyone ever tried an 8.28 X 31.7 with the 14.12 wheelbase? I usually skate 8.125 which are quite short (31.7 maximum) and a wheelbase which does not exceed 14 or 14.1 wb. I wanted to know if the width was not problematic as well as the concave which is a little more pronounced on the deluxe chainrings. I also specify that I have indy forged hollows !

Thank for advice !

[Sedition]

Has anyone ever tried an 8.28 X 31.7 with the 14.12 wheelbase? I usually skate 8.125 which are quite short (31.7 maximum) and a wheelbase which does not exceed 14 or 14.1 wb. I wanted to know if the width was not problematic as well as the concave which is a little more pronounced on the deluxe chainrings. I also specify that I have indy forged hollows !

Thank for advice !

Many of us have. The 8.28" is a short board. The kicks are on the shorter side, too (at least compared to the 8.25"/14.38"), and much rounder (adding to their "short" feeling). As to "problematic width," that is something only you can decide. IMHO, the board feels wider than it is, due to the width-to-length ratios of it.

As to concave, DLX has that I - IV stamp thing. If you like mellow, go for a IV stamped, as those are the flattest.

EDIT: The 8.28" fits nice with 8.25" or 8.5" trucks. If you are riding an 8.1" with 8.0" trucks, personally I would not want to put 8.0" trucks on the 8.28".

[pizzafliptofakie]

Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

[Rick Trapasso]

Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

I feel like no matter what stamp I get on the army/olive green eagle they all feel pretty mellow.

That's easily my most skated shape and I can hardly tell a difference at all between stamps.

[Ok]

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Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

[close]

I feel like no matter what stamp I get on the army/olive green eagle they all feel pretty mellow.

That's easily my most skated shape and I can hardly tell a difference at all between stamps.

i probably wouldn’t notice the results of skating a 1 or a 2, but i wouldn’t want to buy them either, just look off.

i’ve got an olive eagle, on ice 🤢……(i despise that term for some reason). i bought it just because the shape and the mellow look cool. i don’t skate boards that big (meaning long). what trucks do you prefer with it? i was hell bent on buying some indys, just in general, and thought those would work. buuuuut, i’ve already got some 148/149 thundies.

[Rick Trapasso]

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Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

[close]

I feel like no matter what stamp I get on the army/olive green eagle they all feel pretty mellow.

That's easily my most skated shape and I can hardly tell a difference at all between stamps.

[close]

i probably wouldn’t notice the results of skating a 1 or a 2, but i wouldn’t want to buy them either, just look off.

i’ve got an olive eagle, on ice 🤢……(i despise that term for some reason). i bought it just because the shape and the mellow look cool. i don’t skate boards that big (meaning long). what trucks do you prefer with it? i was hell bent on buying some indys, just in general, and thought those would work. buuuuut, i’ve already got some 148/149 thundies.

Currently on 149 thunders. But that does give it a pretty long effective WB. I like this because I'm tall.

I have enjoyed 149 thunders and 149 forged /hollow Indys on it.

[Mbrimson88]

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Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

[close]

I feel like no matter what stamp I get on the army/olive green eagle they all feel pretty mellow.

That's easily my most skated shape and I can hardly tell a difference at all between stamps.

[close]

i probably wouldn’t notice the results of skating a 1 or a 2, but i wouldn’t want to buy them either, just look off.

i’ve got an olive eagle, on ice 🤢……(i despise that term for some reason). i bought it just because the shape and the mellow look cool. i don’t skate boards that big (meaning long). what trucks do you prefer with it? i was hell bent on buying some indys, just in general, and thought those would work. buuuuut, i’ve already got some 148/149 thundies.

[close]

Currently on 149 thunders. But that does give it a pretty long effective WB. I like this because I'm tall.

I have enjoyed 149 thunders and 149 forged /hollow Indys on it.

It is definitely a 149 / 8.5 truck size board, for me at least.  Maybe more so because the 8.38 shape is closer to 8.45 or so anyway.

I have had standard Indy 149s on it for the most part, now with the drilled in back truck, which makes the tail longer and wheelbase a little shorter, but I have also put that same shape on almost every truck option to see how it worked, including Venture 5.6 and 5.8 both with drilled in DIY V8 baseplates, some with just the tail, others with both in.


As for the number stamps, I feel like there used to be a lot more variation from I through to IV, but a number of boards I have more recently seem to be a bit here and there, maybe more so because some are pressed on different molds, so maybe some molds are steeper, other molds are more mellow in side to side concave, which I can definitely see when I have half a dozen or more boards all sandwiched together and swap them round to see which are actually the steeper and which are the more mellow concaves in the stack.

Apart from driving over a few I and II stamp boards, most of them work great and I have all number stamps set up currently, just to get through the excess of older boards I got a while back, but I have been getting a lot more IV stamps recently in a few different shapes and they all skate just right with no modifications needed.

[Esmith5488]

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Looks like the Ben D shape is done.

[close]

Fuck that shape.
Sent me into a total gear spiral that couldn’t be fixed until I just bailed on the shape all together

[close]

yeaaaaah, as someone that has shared several of your gear choices in the past, i’m going to need a full recap, replete the learning moment/cure.
Ben rips. i’ve agreed with the vast majority of his takes on gear. he skates how i wish i could skate (which i find kinda funny in that he is a tall person, so. naturally a more difficult time skating, and looks, and i apologize for the judgmental tone: ungainly/not nearly as coordinated, as his on board moments. maybe im saying this wrong. everyone looks funny when they bail. sometimes he bails, and i am shocked at how good his skating is, in comparison). i don’t agree with his effective wb truck stuff, but that could just me being obstinate. or another way, i think there are many more pieces to it than ‘this truck + this wb = good’.
i didn’t buy the easy rider, even though i’ve always bitched about dlx/bbs boards being too curvy/steep. i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole.
so instead im throwing microwaved spaghetti at a wall hoping for gnocchi

[close]

Don't forget what I think is the real lesson Ben D. has to teach...he could do all his tricks on every set-up he tried. Yes, he said switch 360 flips were easier on the 8.28 than an 8.75. Yes, he likes Venture kingpin clearance more than Thunder. Etc. Etc. But the fact is, he was able to get used to everything he rode, and the gains/loses were only marginal. And I know you are going to relate to this...he ultimately goes with what just feels the best.* That's my big take-away from all the Madness he endured: ride what feels good.

*Which of course, includes the fact what feels the best for 360 flip may not be the same set-up that feels the best for smith grinds, skating transition, etc.

sorry for the late reply, Ive been MIA on vacation with the fam.
really the madness was mostly my fault but I wanted to go to a smaller board so I got the ben D 825. details might be fuzzy due to it being a year ago but I set it up with aces. wheelbase made the tail feel insane.. way too long and couldn't time a ollie to save my life and really wanted more stability when setting up. went the far opposite direction and set up ventures which probably was going from one extreme to another. I did really like the nose but I never got used to the tail. went to the blue eagle easy rider with ventures and it worked fine but wanted to bring the wheelbase in a little. ended up on royals based on a few pals suggestion and I actually have really been enjoying them a ton. been on the 8.5 dlx shape since because of gear ptsd from the whole ordeal.

[Ok]

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Looks like the Ben D shape is done.

[close]

Fuck that shape.
Sent me into a total gear spiral that couldn’t be fixed until I just bailed on the shape all together

[close]

yeaaaaah, as someone that has shared several of your gear choices in the past, i’m going to need a full recap, replete the learning moment/cure.
Ben rips. i’ve agreed with the vast majority of his takes on gear. he skates how i wish i could skate (which i find kinda funny in that he is a tall person, so. naturally a more difficult time skating, and looks, and i apologize for the judgmental tone: ungainly/not nearly as coordinated, as his on board moments. maybe im saying this wrong. everyone looks funny when they bail. sometimes he bails, and i am shocked at how good his skating is, in comparison). i don’t agree with his effective wb truck stuff, but that could just me being obstinate. or another way, i think there are many more pieces to it than ‘this truck + this wb = good’.
i didn’t buy the easy rider, even though i’ve always bitched about dlx/bbs boards being too curvy/steep. i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole.
so instead im throwing microwaved spaghetti at a wall hoping for gnocchi

[close]

Don't forget what I think is the real lesson Ben D. has to teach...he could do all his tricks on every set-up he tried. Yes, he said switch 360 flips were easier on the 8.28 than an 8.75. Yes, he likes Venture kingpin clearance more than Thunder. Etc. Etc. But the fact is, he was able to get used to everything he rode, and the gains/loses were only marginal. And I know you are going to relate to this...he ultimately goes with what just feels the best.* That's my big take-away from all the Madness he endured: ride what feels good.

*Which of course, includes the fact what feels the best for 360 flip may not be the same set-up that feels the best for smith grinds, skating transition, etc.

[close]

sorry for the late reply, Ive been MIA on vacation with the fam.
really the madness was mostly my fault but I wanted to go to a smaller board so I got the ben D 825. details might be fuzzy due to it being a year ago but I set it up with aces. wheelbase made the tail feel insane.. way too long and couldn't time a ollie to save my life and really wanted more stability when setting up. went the far opposite direction and set up ventures which probably was going from one extreme to another. I did really like the nose but I never got used to the tail. went to the blue eagle easy rider with ventures and it worked fine but wanted to bring the wheelbase in a little. ended up on royals based on a few pals suggestion and I actually have really been enjoying them a ton. been on the 8.5 dlx shape since because of gear ptsd from the whole ordeal.

relatable

[Sedition]

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Expand Quote

Looks like the Ben D shape is done.

[close]

Fuck that shape.
Sent me into a total gear spiral that couldn’t be fixed until I just bailed on the shape all together

[close]

yeaaaaah, as someone that has shared several of your gear choices in the past, i’m going to need a full recap, replete the learning moment/cure.
Ben rips. i’ve agreed with the vast majority of his takes on gear. he skates how i wish i could skate (which i find kinda funny in that he is a tall person, so. naturally a more difficult time skating, and looks, and i apologize for the judgmental tone: ungainly/not nearly as coordinated, as his on board moments. maybe im saying this wrong. everyone looks funny when they bail. sometimes he bails, and i am shocked at how good his skating is, in comparison). i don’t agree with his effective wb truck stuff, but that could just me being obstinate. or another way, i think there are many more pieces to it than ‘this truck + this wb = good’.
i didn’t buy the easy rider, even though i’ve always bitched about dlx/bbs boards being too curvy/steep. i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole.
so instead im throwing microwaved spaghetti at a wall hoping for gnocchi

[close]

Don't forget what I think is the real lesson Ben D. has to teach...he could do all his tricks on every set-up he tried. Yes, he said switch 360 flips were easier on the 8.28 than an 8.75. Yes, he likes Venture kingpin clearance more than Thunder. Etc. Etc. But the fact is, he was able to get used to everything he rode, and the gains/loses were only marginal. And I know you are going to relate to this...he ultimately goes with what just feels the best.* That's my big take-away from all the Madness he endured: ride what feels good.

*Which of course, includes the fact what feels the best for 360 flip may not be the same set-up that feels the best for smith grinds, skating transition, etc.

[close]

sorry for the late reply, Ive been MIA on vacation with the fam.
really the madness was mostly my fault but I wanted to go to a smaller board so I got the ben D 825. details might be fuzzy due to it being a year ago but I set it up with aces. wheelbase made the tail feel insane.. way too long and couldn't time a ollie to save my life and really wanted more stability when setting up. went the far opposite direction and set up ventures which probably was going from one extreme to another. I did really like the nose but I never got used to the tail. went to the blue eagle easy rider with ventures and it worked fine but wanted to bring the wheelbase in a little. ended up on royals based on a few pals suggestion and I actually have really been enjoying them a ton. been on the 8.5 dlx shape since because of gear ptsd from the whole ordeal.

Ace to Venture. Bold move. Very bold.

[Esmith5488]

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Expand Quote

Looks like the Ben D shape is done.

[close]

Fuck that shape.
Sent me into a total gear spiral that couldn’t be fixed until I just bailed on the shape all together

[close]

yeaaaaah, as someone that has shared several of your gear choices in the past, i’m going to need a full recap, replete the learning moment/cure.
Ben rips. i’ve agreed with the vast majority of his takes on gear. he skates how i wish i could skate (which i find kinda funny in that he is a tall person, so. naturally a more difficult time skating, and looks, and i apologize for the judgmental tone: ungainly/not nearly as coordinated, as his on board moments. maybe im saying this wrong. everyone looks funny when they bail. sometimes he bails, and i am shocked at how good his skating is, in comparison). i don’t agree with his effective wb truck stuff, but that could just me being obstinate. or another way, i think there are many more pieces to it than ‘this truck + this wb = good’.
i didn’t buy the easy rider, even though i’ve always bitched about dlx/bbs boards being too curvy/steep. i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole.
so instead im throwing microwaved spaghetti at a wall hoping for gnocchi

[close]

Don't forget what I think is the real lesson Ben D. has to teach...he could do all his tricks on every set-up he tried. Yes, he said switch 360 flips were easier on the 8.28 than an 8.75. Yes, he likes Venture kingpin clearance more than Thunder. Etc. Etc. But the fact is, he was able to get used to everything he rode, and the gains/loses were only marginal. And I know you are going to relate to this...he ultimately goes with what just feels the best.* That's my big take-away from all the Madness he endured: ride what feels good.

*Which of course, includes the fact what feels the best for 360 flip may not be the same set-up that feels the best for smith grinds, skating transition, etc.

[close]

sorry for the late reply, Ive been MIA on vacation with the fam.
really the madness was mostly my fault but I wanted to go to a smaller board so I got the ben D 825. details might be fuzzy due to it being a year ago but I set it up with aces. wheelbase made the tail feel insane.. way too long and couldn't time a ollie to save my life and really wanted more stability when setting up. went the far opposite direction and set up ventures which probably was going from one extreme to another. I did really like the nose but I never got used to the tail. went to the blue eagle easy rider with ventures and it worked fine but wanted to bring the wheelbase in a little. ended up on royals based on a few pals suggestion and I actually have really been enjoying them a ton. been on the 8.5 dlx shape since because of gear ptsd from the whole ordeal.

[close]

Ace to Venture. Bold move. Very bold.

Strangely enough I’ve done that move more than once haha

[Ok]

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Expand Quote

Looks like the Ben D shape is done.

[close]

Fuck that shape.
Sent me into a total gear spiral that couldn’t be fixed until I just bailed on the shape all together

[close]

yeaaaaah, as someone that has shared several of your gear choices in the past, i’m going to need a full recap, replete the learning moment/cure.
Ben rips. i’ve agreed with the vast majority of his takes on gear. he skates how i wish i could skate (which i find kinda funny in that he is a tall person, so. naturally a more difficult time skating, and looks, and i apologize for the judgmental tone: ungainly/not nearly as coordinated, as his on board moments. maybe im saying this wrong. everyone looks funny when they bail. sometimes he bails, and i am shocked at how good his skating is, in comparison). i don’t agree with his effective wb truck stuff, but that could just me being obstinate. or another way, i think there are many more pieces to it than ‘this truck + this wb = good’.
i didn’t buy the easy rider, even though i’ve always bitched about dlx/bbs boards being too curvy/steep. i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole.
so instead im throwing microwaved spaghetti at a wall hoping for gnocchi

[close]

Don't forget what I think is the real lesson Ben D. has to teach...he could do all his tricks on every set-up he tried. Yes, he said switch 360 flips were easier on the 8.28 than an 8.75. Yes, he likes Venture kingpin clearance more than Thunder. Etc. Etc. But the fact is, he was able to get used to everything he rode, and the gains/loses were only marginal. And I know you are going to relate to this...he ultimately goes with what just feels the best.* That's my big take-away from all the Madness he endured: ride what feels good.

*Which of course, includes the fact what feels the best for 360 flip may not be the same set-up that feels the best for smith grinds, skating transition, etc.

[close]

sorry for the late reply, Ive been MIA on vacation with the fam.
really the madness was mostly my fault but I wanted to go to a smaller board so I got the ben D 825. details might be fuzzy due to it being a year ago but I set it up with aces. wheelbase made the tail feel insane.. way too long and couldn't time a ollie to save my life and really wanted more stability when setting up. went the far opposite direction and set up ventures which probably was going from one extreme to another. I did really like the nose but I never got used to the tail. went to the blue eagle easy rider with ventures and it worked fine but wanted to bring the wheelbase in a little. ended up on royals based on a few pals suggestion and I actually have really been enjoying them a ton. been on the 8.5 dlx shape since because of gear ptsd from the whole ordeal.

[close]

Ace to Venture. Bold move. Very bold.

[close]

Strangely enough I’ve done that move more than once haha

as have i.
if there was a mental health coach, with skateboard part knowledge, they might use it as diagnostic criteria. i have some….(stupid analogy) if we are looking for the desirable luminosity in a room, apparently i’d just ignore the dimmer switch and go from on to off. find the whole spectrum and work from the outside in. i dunno.
back on track. ace to venture makes sense to me because they both have extreme examples of desirable truck criteria. i can turn better with ace, and pop better with venture.
indy might be the most in the middle, but….thats kinda boring eh?

[JM]

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Maybe I'm just not discerning enough, but I just set up an Anti-Hero with a I stamp and it feels pretty mellow.

[close]

I feel like no matter what stamp I get on the army/olive green eagle they all feel pretty mellow.

That's easily my most skated shape and I can hardly tell a difference at all between stamps.

I had a IV olive eagle three years ago (it’s the 8.38 x 14.5wb, right?)

And it felt so flat that it was like skating a 2x4. Gave it away to a kid because it was so bad.

Kind of strange that it’s different, but good to see your confirmation that it wasn’t just my imagination.