8.5 Board - Thunder 149 or 151?

[alraunen]

Hi, browsing the forum I have seen many people ride 8.5 boards with the thunders 151. I'm Currently riding the Thunder 149 with a 8.5 deck because when I bought them I used to ride 8.3.

I wonder if it's worth making the change to the Thunders 151 Instead of the 149. I'm using hard Bones bushings and skating mainly bowls and miniramps if it adds some sort of info.

Thank you!

[20matar]

Are you talking about a 2 mm difference? It seems like a very minor change if no height difference is involved. But then again, I'm no Thunder specialist. Is the construction different?

[BMCsteve]

Are you talking about a 2 mm difference? It seems like a very minor change if no height difference is involved. But then again, I'm no Thunder specialist. Is the construction different?

It's actually 1/4" difference.  149's are 8.5" and 151's are 8.75".

You can ride either.  With 149's the axles will be flush on an 8.5 and with 151's the wheels will be flush with the edges of the deck.

It's like the 139 vs 149 debate.  One is lighter and easier to flip, the other is more stable with more room to grind

[alraunen]

Expand Quote

Are you talking about a 2 mm difference? It seems like a very minor change if no height difference is involved. But then again, I'm no Thunder specialist. Is the construction different?

[close]

It's actually 1/4" difference.  149's are 8.5" and 151's are 8.75".

You can ride either.  With 149's the axles will be flush on an 8.5 and with 151's the wheels will be flush with the edges of the deck.

It's like the 139 vs 149 debate.  One is lighter and easier to flip, the other is more stable with more room to grind

Just what I wanted to hear, mine need an urgent change and was doubting about what to choose. Especially because in Barcelona is very difficult to find wide material and always I have to end up buying online.

Thanks a lot!

[N.L.]

I ride 151s often on 8.5" decks, for more grind room and a tad more stability. They are very close in size. Steve is right about the axle width but the hangar width is arguably more important. The 151 hangars are 156mm wide and the 149s are actually 151mm wide (I measured). You are talking 2.5mm difference each side, not  much but they do turn a little differently. Both turn really quickly for wide trucks.

[Filip]

I have been skating Theeves 5,85 for a couple years now, they are 8,5 inch wide and from what I skate they turn really quick, like Thunders 147. Do they turn somewhat similar to 151 Thunders? Because Ive been thinking to try these. I used to skate  Thunders 147 before I jumped on the bigger truck/board combo, but hated 149s when I tried them. Are 151 closer to 147s/Theeve 5,85 or Thunder 149s?

[N.L.]

For reference here are some 151s on an 8.6" (tapers to about 8.25" over the back truck area)


Never tried Theeve. Thunder 149s and 151s turn similar but have a slightly different design to the 147s, I believe.

[alraunen]

Thanks NL, the measures and image you've put resolve all my doubts!!!

[Dengles]

I skated 151s on an 8.5 all summer/most of this fall.  I don't flip my board much and do a lot of long 50-50s so I like wider trucks.  I switch to 159 lights recently, and I have to say wider indies feel better than wider Thunders. 

[Jake From State Farm]

151's. I have even skated them on an 8.25 with no trouble.

[Joe Davola]

I bought a pair of indy 159s for my 8.5 a few months ago but they've been sitting underneath the coffee table and I probably won't skate them until spring lol

[Xen]

You'll be fine, I tend to ride a size up usually.

8.5" on 8.3"s
8.75/151 on 8.5s (only on tranny tho)

[Tracer]

Transition you go bigger tighter trucks, street you can go as small as 129. What's the hangup on 8.5? That's the real question

[HyenaChaser]

I skate ledges, stairs, and I do like to flip my board, just got an 8.5, should I stay on the 149s?

[Coconut Lotion]

I skate ledges, stairs, and I do like to flip my board, just got an 8.5, should I stay on the 149s?

Yes

[2thick]

For reference here are some 151s on an 8.6" (tapers to about 8.25" over the back truck area)


Never tried Theeve. Thunder 149s and 151s turn similar but have a slightly different design to the 147s, I believe.

I'm Indy for life but this picture makes me want thunder 151s badly haha

[N.L.]

They get better with age, like all good trucks.

[20matar]

That Krooked eye on that Spitfire sticker looks so wrong, but feels so right...

[Xtal]

The whole truck width debate is completely subjective. Personally, I only skate 8.5" decks and Indy 149's are what I'm supposed to use based on my own logic, and some to do with the company's recommendation. I don't want my axle to be wider than my deck. Seems trivial to others but for me it's important. Makes no sense to put 139's on an 8.5" as the axle width is too small. 159's would be too wide.

Since ACE decided not to make an 8.5" axle size "44" (8.25) trucks are always slightly slimmer than my board, and it kinda bugs me. But I'd rather have them be a tiny bit smaller than too wide.

[N.L.]

I wouldn't over-think this. If you like 139s on an 8.5" go for it. Plenty of people do this. Meanwhile Gonz ollied Wallenburg with 215s on a zipzinger... I felt like going wider did a lot for my skateboarding but its subjective, you are right. Let that mind worry about something else, like how the Paris climate talks are too little too late or could donald trump really get the nomination...

[BMCsteve]

I wouldn't over-think this. If you like 139s on an 8.5" go for it. Plenty of people do this. Meanwhile Gonz ollied Wallenburg with 215s on a zipzinger... I felt like going wider did a lot for my skateboarding but its subjective, you are right. Let that mind worry about something else, like how the Paris climate talks are too little too late or could donald trump really get the nomination...

The only downside that I've noticed from having trucks wider than your board is that it can be a little harder to lock into grinds due to having less leverage on your heel side edge.  One of many things that only impacts people like me who are sloppy as hell

[Xtal]

I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

[BMCsteve]

I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

Andrew Reynolds and Brian Hanson skate 139's on an 8.5 and they seem to do alright as well haha

[Xtal]

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I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

[close]

Andrew Reynolds and Brian Hanson skate 139's on an 8.5 and they seem to do alright as well haha

Right on. Smaller trucks make more sense for street, I guess. I started at 8.0 decks, then I think I skipped 8.25 and just went straight to 8.5 and was just like...this is what I'm meant to ride. Nothing more, nothing less. Had a couple shaped cruisers that were around 9 or 10 but I prefer the versatility of an 8.5 popsicle.

[Tracer]

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I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

[close]

Andrew Reynolds and Brian Hanson skate 139's on an 8.5 and they seem to do alright as well haha

Reynolds was a hucker so truck size doesn't really matter. Slash isn't exactly an extraordinary skater, can you even remember a slash trick?

Unless you're sponsored by baker and jumping down 15's for checks there's no point riding 8.5 or 149. You skate tiny sets, flatground, and skateparks. Don't overthink it

[BMCsteve]

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I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

[close]

Andrew Reynolds and Brian Hanson skate 139's on an 8.5 and they seem to do alright as well haha

[close]

Reynolds was a hucker so truck size doesn't really matter. Slash isn't exactly an extraordinary skater, can you even remember a slash trick?

Unless you're sponsored by baker and jumping down 15's for checks there's no point riding 8.5 or 149. You skate tiny sets, flatground, and skateparks. Don't overthink it

We've been over this 100 times.  There are tons of non-hucking street skaters that skate 149's+.  Not everyone is 5'8 with a size 9 shoe so why would everyone need to skate the same size anything

[HyenaChaser]

Expand Quote

I skate ledges, stairs, and I do like to flip my board, just got an 8.5, should I stay on the 149s?

[close]

Yes

This all worked out great, maybe it's just the new board but all my fears about 149s with an 8.5 were abated. I may never ride another size. To BMCsteve's point though, I am 5' 9"/10" with size 8 feet so maybe I just have a good build for this setup.

[InternetDaddy]

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I don't worry about things I can't change. I think Lance rides 139s on wider boards. Again, it's all subjective.

[close]

Andrew Reynolds and Brian Hanson skate 139's on an 8.5 and they seem to do alright as well haha

[close]

Reynolds was a hucker so truck size doesn't really matter. Slash isn't exactly an extraordinary skater, can you even remember a slash trick?

Unless you're sponsored by baker and jumping down 15's for checks there's no point riding 8.5 or 149. You skate tiny sets, flatground, and skateparks. Don't overthink it

[close]

We've been over this 100 times.  There are tons of non-hucking street skaters that skate 149's+.  Not everyone is 5'8 with a size 9 shoe so why would everyone need to skate the same size anything

Because it's Tracer and his mom doesn't let him get his rollerblades out of the garage until he broadcasts his opinions as facts.