Besides truck geometry / brand that affect the turning, if you want loose trucks use soft bushings if you want tight trucks use hard bushings, the kingpin nut is there basically to keep the truck together. That's the basics. My madness: Inverted kingpins, Grindking.hard to medium durometer top bushing, cut a nice amount from the top(it depends on brand) bottom bushing soft to medium durometer. Perfect turning without wheelbite. Not for everyone but definitively works for me. Have used hard bottom and soft top, no wheelbite but less turning. Don't get me started with wheelbase, truck brand changes wheelbase and as I am fairly tall less than 14 does not really work for me. And I started in the 80's when changing board meant changing shape and getting used to a new skate. Broke my first pair of bushings and bought medium ones, when I turned my kingpin upside down and played with the bushings something clicked. Point being find what works for you and stay away from the madness.
Agreed, swap the bushings, don't over or under-tighten the kingpin. Tighten the nut until the play is gone. But bear in mind new bushings have a break in period. Last new set of bushings skated fine for half an hour, then took a break and they hardened right up! Took another few hours to soften them up again!
Dear Zack, you might consider to straighten your lower back to improve your street skating. Bending knees more and lower back less can really help with the form and consistency. For transitions it probably doesn't matter as much but for street skating it might be a deal breaker. You are basically lowering your pop and cutting your flips and rotation short. So jjust bend your knees more before you pop and keep them in the air. Watch some BATB clips to see how easy it gets over time.
Great video! I actually had an opposite change in my skate setup this week. Went from a 9.0 popsicle with a 15 inch wheelbase to the 10.0 Grimple Stix egg board with a 14.62 wheelbase. Also switched from independents on the popsicle to thunders on the egg to even out the wheelbase difference. Honestly having so much fun on the new 10.0 egg. My current skate goals are more focused on getting better with obstacles, slappys, transition, etc. rather than flat ground however.
@@shawnskates yes that's true. I can effortlessly flip with smaller board. In my case bigger board gave me higher pop and fun that I didn't get with smaller board. I think it just individual preferance.
Ditch those 44 mm wheels . They affect your speed and style way to much . Theres no reason you cant make 50mm - 54mm wheels work for you on your street/Tech board . Just a suggestion but do what works and feels best to you .
i would never pay for 44mm wheels, all the wheels i stopped riding even before that. you can still use them, just you stop when they become too small (or you flatspot everyone of them ?)
Idk how anyone says heelflips are easier than kickflips. Especially when you start to throw in 180’s or shuvits. I think even like a fakie bigflip is easier than just a fakie heelflip.
Yes man this right here! I 100% agree. One thing that I have sorta always noticed is that not always but, often it seems that goofy skaters learn heelflips first where as regular skaters learn kickflips... again this is not a hard rule and obviously this is not proven but just a general thing I have always kinda mentally noted over my 19+ years in and out of skating... 🤷
When you have different set ups, you don’t want to stray too far from what you’re used to, so 8.5 is really good vs going to 8.25, if not you spend a lot of time adjusting to the major differences. I love thunders, and like I previously mentioned going from Ace’s with the shortest wheel base to thunders, second longest (venture is even longer) you should expect less turning, but changing to softer bushings should help a little; thunders are a tech truck, meaning they are meant to be more stable.
Well said big dog. 🐕 I skate Indy’s and Ventures Used to be on only Ventures growing up Then for last 5 years Indy really made a difference for my skating. But mostly transition and no street. So I started skating Ventures again and Now I’m stuck on the Ventures in the street for tech stuff and Indy’s in the park for Transition. lol 😂 Love that I know what works for me. I had to try a lot of trucks before I found that Indy worked for me. The venture I skate are pretty similar to the Indy’s I skate as far as weight goes and the height are both around 53mm I think my Indy’s are 53.5mm high the Forged Baseplates. To me the venture give me so much stability and pop when I skate street. Indy’s kinda delete that for me in the street. Why I stick to Indy’s at the park, I love the response I get when I skate transition with them. ventures in transition scare the crap out of me. lol 😂 Skating two truck brands now for life. Indy and Ventures
@@TRAVIESO_NA lol 100% you have to be nuts to skate ventures on transition, considering how little they turn, but yeah venture hi and Indy forged are around the same height and weight, so not a big difference other than geometry, which is good, less for you to have to adjust. 👍
If you like wheelwells, maybe you could do a video on carving diy ones into decks? Lol I always wanted to try it myself, but I barely have enough time and other resources to go skate a few times a week, so... It would be good to see methods that will either work or not. WKND seems to be the only company that does short wheelbase AND wheelwells...
I'm in the same boat as you now Zack, you got me on 8.75s with 9" 66 AF1s and it's so comfy but I'm missing some old flip tricks that just take so much more effort. I don't think I can go back to 8.25 so I'm hoping 8.5 is a happy medium(tall guy with big feet). Also noticed the shorter axle Aces(44s) don't feel as magical as the 66s to me sadly
Im 42, and I've never ridden wheels smaller than 54mm. I also skate skate street pretty exclusively. I would skate parks if we had any in my area. But normal for me is 55-56 mm. I really don't think it makes a difference for flip tricks, but now you've got me pondering.....
Back in 90s we rode small wheels and it was awesome. Lower to ground the better. I started again recently after long time. I got krux k5 hollows dlk, 51.5mm high turn well and very light. Why so many people hate krux? They're excellent
I do like having smaller trucks than the board width. If you get used to that I would guarantee your flip tricks will improve. I ride a 7.75, jessup grip, mini logo trucks and 52mm wheels.
I’ve tried every truck thunder is always my go to in my opinion there not stiff or tight out of the box their my favorite truck brand and they’ve never let me down
Only brand I haven’t tried 😂 At this point it’s a joke to me like it’s been this long, not gonna try em now. Funny part is I skate Indy’s and Ventures. Would make more sense to just skate thunders lol 😂😂😂😂
i'm not crazy about thunder. i had, actually still have, 2 sets of 145(7.65") thunder lows from the '90s. i actually really liked them, they were like a heavy venture featherlight low. but the axles slipped, both pairs in a row, and it kinda soured me on the brand. yours are likely 148(8.25") or 149(8.5"), the 143 are only 7.125", like a 109 indy i think. i actually recently got some 148 forged hollow lights. they're not garbage but seem kinda dainty and fragile compared to indy or venture, and too light
I have a Hockey street board and a Quasi egg board, I was just wondering shapewise how close are regular Quasi boards to FA/Hockey’s shape and wheelbase? I saw Spencers Video with the real with the more square nose/tail and Im just trying to find what other companies that make my favorite shape the original FA shape
I set up a 8.25 around the time you put out your spitfire 101’s video. Still haven’t skated it yet. Im riding a 8.7 from rose st and have a real degros 8.5 in waiting. I’ve been 9 to 10+ for 7 years now. A rock took me out yesterday had to get a dr’s note for calling in two days
It may sound counter intuitive but I've actually found that over the past 20 years of skateboarding as my consistency has gotten better and my trick selection is pretty dialed i land most tricks attempted so my boards actually don't wear away as quickly than when I was first learning how to ollie, kick flip, pop shuvs your boards life span will increase or decrease depending on how you skate & where you skate Deck will wear away quicker street skating where as it might lasts longer in a smooth skatepark
143's thunder trucks?? You mean 148 or 149 thunder trucks. Thunder trucks All Day ❤ Thunder 147 hollows on a 8.125 wknd tom k , 52mm 101A duro spitfire lock ins wheels, bones swiss, 7/8 Allen key hardware, mob grip for my street set up. Psstix wood ,thunders trucks, spitfire wheels best combo. Also a real skateboards Dan m 8.25 with mob grip, Thunder trucks standards 148, spitfire wheels conical fulls 99A duro 52 mm,again bones swiss and 7/8 Allen key hardware shake junt. No rails.
allen key hardware? just curious...WHY? lol. Also you really like PS Stix over BBS?? always love to talk gear esp with people on the other side of the coin(s) of my preferences! As a indy die hard, I gotta say other than the way they grind, I do love the Thunders I've skated!
@@dneck I always had Allen key hardware, forever. Phillips hardware, it just looks like a toy. I think Psstix decks have longer pop. BBS have the best concave. So I ride both. Indy's turn great for sure. But why skate a heavy truck? What's your set up('s)? What do you like about BBS decks? Cheers.
Try the primitive twin nose 🛹 they have it in 8.5 & 8.25 I have it on the 8.5 ace hollows 👌🏻🤌🏻 perfect for street for either of the 2 widths cause the WB is the same 14.1 WB
I’ve been skating a 9inch board with some ace 66 Been thinking about going down to a 8.25 to start flipping my board a lot more , looks like I’m going to get a new set up cause this looks fun
Besides truck geometry / brand that affect the turning, if you want loose trucks use soft bushings if you want tight trucks use hard bushings, the kingpin nut is there basically to keep the truck together. That's the basics.
My madness: Inverted kingpins, Grindking.hard to medium durometer top bushing, cut a nice amount from the top(it depends on brand) bottom bushing soft to medium durometer. Perfect turning without wheelbite.
Not for everyone but definitively works for me.
Have used hard bottom and soft top, no wheelbite but less turning.
Don't get me started with wheelbase, truck brand changes wheelbase and as I am fairly tall less than 14 does not really work for me.
And I started in the 80's when changing board meant changing shape and getting used to a new skate. Broke my first pair of bushings and bought medium ones, when I turned my kingpin upside down and played with the bushings something clicked.
Point being find what works for you and stay away from the madness.
Rad!😊
Agreed, swap the bushings, don't over or under-tighten the kingpin. Tighten the nut until the play is gone. But bear in mind new bushings have a break in period. Last new set of bushings skated fine for half an hour, then took a break and they hardened right up! Took another few hours to soften them up again!
Thank you for satisfying my dopamine hit. New skate gear always jazzes me up
Dear Zack, you might consider to straighten your lower back to improve your street skating. Bending knees more and lower back less can really help with the form and consistency. For transitions it probably doesn't matter as much but for street skating it might be a deal breaker.
You are basically lowering your pop and cutting your flips and rotation short. So jjust bend your knees more before you pop and keep them in the air. Watch some BATB clips to see how easy it gets over time.
Makes sense, thank you!
Definitely a tip that helped me recently
damn 8.25 is considered small now ? I still ride 7.75 lol
Great video! I actually had an opposite change in my skate setup this week. Went from a 9.0 popsicle with a 15 inch wheelbase to the 10.0 Grimple Stix egg board with a 14.62 wheelbase. Also switched from independents on the popsicle to thunders on the egg to even out the wheelbase difference. Honestly having so much fun on the new 10.0 egg. My current skate goals are more focused on getting better with obstacles, slappys, transition, etc. rather than flat ground however.
I sized up from 8" popsicle to 9.25" shaped deck and my flip tricks are getting better except tre flip.
the smaller the board, the easier it is to flip
The bigger the board, the easier to land.
@@shawnskates yes that's true. I can effortlessly flip with smaller board. In my case bigger board gave me higher pop and fun that I didn't get with smaller board. I think it just individual preferance.
Ditch those 44 mm wheels . They affect your speed and style way to much . Theres no reason you cant make 50mm - 54mm wheels work for you on your street/Tech board . Just a suggestion but do what works and feels best to you .
i would never pay for 44mm wheels, all the wheels i stopped riding even before that. you can still use them, just you stop when they become too small (or you flatspot everyone of them ?)
You can use them buy only in skateparks for rought streets, i will say 53 is perfect
I promise you, you are not riding 143 (7 inch) thunders.
Ive been thinking of setting up the 8.0 in my closet. 😂 Because tre flips take too much effort on 8.25.. ✌️❤️🤘
I’d say either Indy 144/ or royals would give you the turn and the pop
backside flips seem SO HARD! nice video. 8.5 is the smallest I go with my size 14 shoes. But have kinda always wondered... "what if?"
Idk how anyone says heelflips are easier than kickflips. Especially when you start to throw in 180’s or shuvits. I think even like a fakie bigflip is easier than just a fakie heelflip.
Yes man this right here! I 100% agree. One thing that I have sorta always noticed is that not always but, often it seems that goofy skaters learn heelflips first where as regular skaters learn kickflips... again this is not a hard rule and obviously this is not proven but just a general thing I have always kinda mentally noted over my 19+ years in and out of skating... 🤷
Thunders are amazing on a really short w"b board
When you have different set ups, you don’t want to stray too far from what you’re used to, so 8.5 is really good vs going to 8.25, if not you spend a lot of time adjusting to the major differences. I love thunders, and like I previously mentioned going from Ace’s with the shortest wheel base to thunders, second longest (venture is even longer) you should expect less turning, but changing to softer bushings should help a little; thunders are a tech truck, meaning they are meant to be more stable.
Well said big dog. 🐕
I skate Indy’s and Ventures
Used to be on only Ventures growing up
Then for last 5 years Indy really made a difference for my skating. But mostly transition and no street. So I started skating Ventures again and Now I’m stuck on the Ventures in the street for tech stuff and Indy’s in the park for Transition. lol 😂
Love that I know what works for me.
I had to try a lot of trucks before I found that Indy worked for me. The venture I skate are pretty similar to the Indy’s I skate as far as weight goes and the height are both around 53mm I think my Indy’s are 53.5mm high the Forged Baseplates. To me the venture give me so much stability and pop when I skate street. Indy’s kinda delete that for me in the street. Why I stick to Indy’s at the park, I love the response I get when I skate transition with them. ventures in transition scare the crap out of me. lol 😂
Skating two truck brands now for life.
Indy and Ventures
@@TRAVIESO_NA lol 100% you have to be nuts to skate ventures on transition, considering how little they turn, but yeah venture hi and Indy forged are around the same height and weight, so not a big difference other than geometry, which is good, less for you to have to adjust. 👍
If you like wheelwells, maybe you could do a video on carving diy ones into decks? Lol I always wanted to try it myself, but I barely have enough time and other resources to go skate a few times a week, so... It would be good to see methods that will either work or not.
WKND seems to be the only company that does short wheelbase AND wheelwells...
I've made a few DIY wheelwell videos, never tried a WKND board though.
I'm in the same boat as you now Zack, you got me on 8.75s with 9" 66 AF1s and it's so comfy but I'm missing some old flip tricks that just take so much more effort. I don't think I can go back to 8.25 so I'm hoping 8.5 is a happy medium(tall guy with big feet). Also noticed the shorter axle Aces(44s) don't feel as magical as the 66s to me sadly
Cool setup
Did you say thunder 143?
I thought my 52s were small but 44mm wheels is crazy.
Im 42, and I've never ridden wheels smaller than 54mm. I also skate skate street pretty exclusively. I would skate parks if we had any in my area. But normal for me is 55-56 mm. I really don't think it makes a difference for flip tricks, but now you've got me pondering.....
What are you shou size? 8.25 looks pretty small on you, maybe with the 8.375 or 8.474, help you with flips
Back in 90s we rode small wheels and it was awesome. Lower to ground the better. I started again recently after long time. I got krux k5 hollows dlk, 51.5mm high turn well and very light. Why so many people hate krux? They're excellent
Quasi makes an 8.25 with a 14 inch wheelbase
I do like having smaller trucks than the board width. If you get used to that I would guarantee your flip tricks will improve. I ride a 7.75, jessup grip, mini logo trucks and 52mm wheels.
I’ve tried every truck thunder is always my go to in my opinion there not stiff or tight out of the box their my favorite truck brand and they’ve never let me down
Only brand I haven’t tried 😂
At this point it’s a joke to me like it’s been this long, not gonna try em now. Funny part is I skate Indy’s and Ventures.
Would make more sense to just skate thunders lol 😂😂😂😂
*Awesome.* 🤘🤘🤘
I like a 14 wheel base. Girl\chocolate have them and I have a snake farm deck otw that has a 14 wheel base also, excited to skate it!
Yeah I can't with thunder trucks I gotta turn 😂, but that 8 25 will be nice to flip
Spitfire burners are dope for bearings better than reds imo even cheap shots are lol
Try some 52mm wheels with that setup. 44mm is way to small. hurts more then it helps.
I’m struggling going down from a 9” to a 8.75 .
Have a friend ho skates bowl and street witha same 50mm wheels
if the trucks are tight dawg, just loosen them lol
I wish I had a new deck bills have been to dam much latley
Loving the street setup and all the flip tricks dawg!!
Good work
KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SMALL SKATEBOARDS
u should size up not down go to 8.75 or higher
Thunders are good trucks.
i like 8.25 with ventures
Sorry. But 143 can’t be right. That would be 7.125“ axle width. 😅
What were those wheels?
Try frontside/backside flips in the transition... Tom Penny style! That way you're riding out forwards...
i'm not crazy about thunder. i had, actually still have, 2 sets of 145(7.65") thunder lows from the '90s. i actually really liked them, they were like a heavy venture featherlight low. but the axles slipped, both pairs in a row, and it kinda soured me on the brand. yours are likely 148(8.25") or 149(8.5"), the 143 are only 7.125", like a 109 indy i think. i actually recently got some 148 forged hollow lights. they're not garbage but seem kinda dainty and fragile compared to indy or venture, and too light
Try the 44mm F4 from spitfire
I have a Hockey street board and a Quasi egg board, I was just wondering shapewise how close are regular Quasi boards to FA/Hockey’s shape and wheelbase? I saw Spencers Video with the real with the more square nose/tail and Im just trying to find what other companies that make my favorite shape the original FA shape
Quasi skateboards are pretty good, shout out Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio 🇺🇸 Creature always put the Wheelbase sticker on their boards
Jessup is great
I set up a 8.25 around the time you put out your spitfire 101’s video. Still haven’t skated it yet. Im riding a 8.7 from rose st and have a real degros 8.5 in waiting. I’ve been 9 to 10+ for 7 years now. A rock took me out yesterday had to get a dr’s note for calling in two days
It may sound counter intuitive but I've actually found that over the past 20 years of skateboarding as my consistency has gotten better and my trick selection is pretty dialed i land most tricks attempted so my boards actually don't wear away as quickly than when I was first learning how to ollie, kick flip, pop shuvs your boards life span will increase or decrease depending on how you skate & where you skate
Deck will wear away quicker street skating where as it might lasts longer in a smooth skatepark
At 39 ive been thinking of going up in size on my wheels. Im at 54s now wich i feel are perfect for all terrain and flipping.
Love your contents , the DIY builds are fascinating , and your honest and chill , thanks .
Do yourself a favor and learn Ollie 1 foots first. Then your flips won’t look mob.
Funniest man alive! Happy to invite you to Germany so i can show you a real unprecise skater 😅
Folks around here love Thunders. I just wish they had a Thunder high.
Damn Homie! that was rad! Giv'n me some motivation to commit to riding again. Miss it like crazy
Cmon dowdy just set up a 7.75 already :)
What kind of wheels were they? New tricks, nice dude.
I believe they're called Boardy Cakes
@@ZackDowdy Yep, there they are. And omg they have 38's. A human hair could stop you dead. lol
Creature stumps come with a short wheel base
Well done. Nice park too - wish we had a park in my town
I like to skate a 149 with 55s on the back and a 169 with 44s on the front, like a drag racer;) lol JK JK
I use
Back: 129mm 60s
Front: 215mm 40’s
👌🏽🤝🏽🤜🏽🤛🏽
how to tell ur a 90s skater. the line ahahaha, we all use it ahaaha
Bones swiss
Try Bronson bearings
what kind of wheels are those?
9:28 Steezy 🙌🏻
143's thunder trucks?? You mean 148 or 149 thunder trucks. Thunder trucks All Day ❤ Thunder 147 hollows on a 8.125 wknd tom k , 52mm 101A duro spitfire lock ins wheels, bones swiss, 7/8 Allen key hardware, mob grip for my street set up. Psstix wood ,thunders trucks, spitfire wheels best combo. Also a real skateboards Dan m 8.25 with mob grip, Thunder trucks standards 148, spitfire wheels conical fulls 99A duro 52 mm,again bones swiss and 7/8 Allen key hardware shake junt. No rails.
allen key hardware? just curious...WHY? lol. Also you really like PS Stix over BBS?? always love to talk gear esp with people on the other side of the coin(s) of my preferences! As a indy die hard, I gotta say other than the way they grind, I do love the Thunders I've skated!
@@dneck I always had Allen key hardware, forever. Phillips hardware, it just looks like a toy. I think Psstix decks have longer pop. BBS have the best concave. So I ride both. Indy's turn great for sure. But why skate a heavy truck? What's your set up('s)? What do you like about BBS decks? Cheers.
Great video!
Dope setup bro 👍
Try the primitive twin nose 🛹 they have it in 8.5 & 8.25 I have it on the 8.5 ace hollows 👌🏻🤌🏻 perfect for street for either of the 2 widths cause the WB is the same 14.1 WB
Tight Dowdy!! 🔥
I’ve been skating a 9inch board with some ace 66
Been thinking about going down to a 8.25 to start flipping my board a lot more , looks like I’m going to get a new set up cause this looks fun
8.5 would work fine as well
1st?
Almost
Dowdy rips!!! 🛹 saw that rock take you out on the new pink board in nuzzi’s vid!!! Hope your good man
Can I have the FA board 💯❤️ 🙏
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