ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

I voted for Radikals but even so I curse them the most.

Why? Because I have 6 other boards set up with Trackers, Seismics, TTC, Offsets (Tracker a nd Indy), even some Gullwing Street Shadows.

The thing about the Radikals is that after riding them, those other trucks just don`t seem to work any more.

As for PVD`s, when Peter was down in Florida last year, I got to test run them against the prototype radikals at that time. I liked neither truck. But when Mark came out with the latter production Radokal, one run on them and I was hooked. Now with the new bushings, they just became even schweeter.

I just can`t wait for the new downhill, strret and DSX Radikals to hit the market.


<br><img src="http://davmo.net/radikalsmall.gif"><br>

i've thought of that... maybe machine Shop (monkey wrench) would do it.

...speaking of "ride what you like"...

Has anyone ever seriously tweaked Exkates for slalom?
They are such a great truck for longboarding and turn
extremely quickly, having the same basic geometry as
Seismic or PVD. I remember seeing pictures somewhere
of those massive Exkate bushings shaved down. I'm
actually considering sending some hangers to Geez to
narrow down and put better axles in.

Who else thinks it's a good idea to look into?

Glenn S wrote:

Vlad Popov wrote:PVD's a great rear truck. It'd be interesting to know if Seismic can get close. It's already a better front truck...

Well if they get the urethane springs going they could be very similar, especially if it is just a push and not a push/pull action, and paired with the 8mm axle hangers that Dan had Geezer-X do up. Anyone know about those urethane springs we've seen some prototypes of?

And Chris just off-setting the axle on the hanger does NOT change the geometry of the r3. That only gave it more road clearence. Only if he changed the distance of the axle axis from the pivot axis would the geometry change.

Did I say it changed the geometry? If I did I didn't mean it that way. I mean the feel of the truck is different. The R2s and R3s definitely feel different to me and the only major different in design is the offset axle, other than the R3s being tighter fitting all together....

Putting urethane springs in Seismics still isn't going to make them ride like PVDs....

Two very different feeling trucks....

Ride what you like....

Vlad Popov wrote:PVD's a great rear truck. It'd be interesting to know if Seismic can get close. It's already a better front truck...

Well if they get the urethane springs going they could be very similar, especially if it is just a push and not a push/pull action, and paired with the 8mm axle hangers that Dan had Geezer-X do up. Anyone know about those urethane springs we've seen some prototypes of?

And Chris just off-setting the axle on the hanger does NOT change the geometry of the r3. That only gave it more road clearence. Only if he changed the distance of the axle axis from the pivot axis would the geometry change.

William Tway wrote:13, I know you would have voted for Bennett or ACS trucks but unfortunatly they were not listed in this survey.

no way dude...I voted for Indy because they have the coolest logo and we all know that makes the trucks better!

Chris Stepanek wrote:

Glenn S wrote:

Chris Stepanek wrote: i wouldn't call Seismics that....though there are geometry similarities.

Chris,
It was peter himself that told me that "pvd's (r2) are the exact same geometry as the Seismic".

If you look at the axis line of the axle and the axis of the pivot bolt on the pvd r2 and compare these to the composite version of the Seismic they sure look the same to me, so I just took peters word for it since he designed and had them built. I don't really know if r3s are the same geometry as Seismics but I think they are too.

And in no way was my comment putting down Seismics. It was just an expression since they are considerably less cost than a pvd.

ya 45* axis, along the kingpin...sure they match but big deal...the PVD bushing and Seismic springs behave VERY differently making a comparison between the two trucks like comparing a baseball and an orange...sure they are both round but it stops there...

R3s had 45" plates and sat slightly lower and the offset axles (fromt eh center of tha hanger) changed the feel a bit but otherwise the basic idea is the same. I prefer my R3s and ride those, R2s feel sorta strange to me.

This is cool.

PVD's a great rear truck. It'd be interesting to know if Seismic can get close. It's already a better front truck...

13, I know you would have voted for Bennett or ACS trucks but unfortunatly they were not listed in this survey.

William Tway wrote:

I don't think you need PVDs anymore (they aren't all that after all), though for certian things they are still untouchable and if you have them you should use them..but if you don't, don't loose sleep over it.

Dude I couldn't sleep without my PVD's. You wanna trade your set for 2 sets of HalfTracks? What a deal you are getting. They are lonely and new a new home. Please rescue them with this trade.

dude...i don't want your halftracks, you are the only one crazy enough to still ride them...hahaha.

If you name the right price i'd sell you my r2s + parts....email me if you want them.

Glenn S wrote:

Chris Stepanek wrote:

Glenn S wrote:Seismic are the poor mans pvd's. They are the exact same geometry with a different action. Yes?

i wouldn't call Seismics that....though there are geometry similarities.

Chris,
It was peter himself that told me that "pvd's (r2) are the exact same geometry as the Seismic".

If you look at the axis line of the axle and the axis of the pivot bolt on the pvd r2 and compare these to the composite version of the Seismic they sure look the same to me, so I just took peters word for it since he designed and had them built. I don't really know if r3s are the same geometry as Seismics but I think they are too.

And in no way was my comment putting down Seismics. It was just an expression since they are considerably less cost than a pvd.

ya 45* axis, along the kingpin...sure they match but big deal...the PVD bushing and Seismic springs behave VERY differently making a comparison between the two trucks like comparing a baseball and an orange...sure they are both round but it stops there...


R3s had 45" plates and sat slightly lower and the offset axles (fromt eh center of tha hanger) changed the feel a bit but otherwise the basic idea is the same. I prefer my R3s and ride those, R2s feel sorta strange to me.

Chris Stepanek wrote:

Glenn S wrote:Seismic are the poor mans pvd's. They are the exact same geometry with a different action. Yes?

i wouldn't call Seismics that....though there are geometry similarities.

Chris,
It was peter himself that told me that "pvd's (r2) are the exact same geometry as the Seismic".

If you look at the axis line of the axle and the axis of the pivot bolt on the pvd r2 and compare these to the composite version of the Seismic they sure look the same to me, so I just took peters word for it since he designed and had them built. I don't really know if r3s are the same geometry as Seismics but I think they are too.

And in no way was my comment putting down Seismics. It was just an expression since they are considerably less cost than a pvd.

I don't think you need PVDs anymore (they aren't all that after all), though for certian things they are still untouchable and if you have them you should use them..but if you don't, don't loose sleep over it.

Dude I couldn't sleep without my PVD's. You wanna trade your set for 2 sets of HalfTracks? What a deal you are getting. They are lonely and new a new home. Please rescue them with this trade.

Glenn S wrote:Seismic are the poor mans pvd's. They are the exact same geometry with a different action. Yes?

As a back truck I've not felt anything with better traction than the pvd's i bought.

So with that said, I don't know why more don't use Seismic's strictly as a back truck over a welded offset if they don't prefer them in the front. I know that some are using Radikal's up front and pvd's in the back. How about Seismic being accepted more as being a great back truck? With all the new Seismic springs and possibly the urethane springs that they were working on, seems you could dail them in pretty good as a back truck and get them to be nearly the same action as a stiff pvd. But those with more experience with them would have to input on that.

i wouldn't call Seismics that....though there are geometry similarities. The turn type/feel is WAY different. PVDs can be much more stable without sacrificing turn range while seismics can be alot more "poppy" . Different tools for very different couses.

Seismics can offer jsut as much traction as PVDs, maybe more on the right boards...adding 8mm axles into them offers even more. However PVDs offer great traction on a larger range of boards.

I don't think you need PVDs anymore (they aren't all that after all), though for certian things they are still untouchable and if you have them you should use them..but if you don't, don't loose sleep over it.

Seismics are a good choice otherwise. If Dan could make a 85mm seismic the world would be a better place (though i know about the design issues involved and why this can't be done).

Every truck has it's positives and negatives and those issues increase depending on what deck you have them on and then what wheels....nothing is perfect but you can minimize problems with some testing and effort.

Vlad Popov wrote:Steve, do you use red springs in the back? Yellows were too soft for my 165 lbs.

The stock yellows that came in the back were WAY too soft for my 220 lbs. I've got the newer dark green medium springs in there now.

In the spirit of appearing somewhat centrist fot the election year, "Better Green than Red."

I'm running the max-light bone springs in front, although I could probably use even lighter ones.

Seismic are the poor mans pvd's. They are the exact same geometry with a different action. Yes?

As a back truck I've not felt anything with better traction than the pvd's i bought.

So with that said, I don't know why more don't use Seismic's strictly as a back truck over a welded offset if they don't prefer them in the front. I know that some are using Radikal's up front and pvd's in the back. How about Seismic being accepted more as being a great back truck? With all the new Seismic springs and possibly the urethane springs that they were working on, seems you could dail them in pretty good as a back truck and get them to be nearly the same action as a stiff pvd. But those with more experience with them would have to input on that.

Vlad Popov wrote:In terms of the Price-Results ratio - the new aluminum Seismics will be hard to beat.

Well sorta agree...other than they are 20mm+ too wide!

Steve, do you use red springs in the back? Yellows were too soft for my 165 lbs.

I know everyone has been typically using Seismics as front trucks. Lately I've found them to be a great back truck with the stiffer springs. I've got a Comet Cross with a 30 degree 105 back end (Abec 11 Gumballs 81a) that has unbelievable grab. I'm talking rock solid traction and projection from a very stable back end. That little baby does not want to slide.

In terms of the Price-Results ratio - the new aluminum Seismics will be hard to beat.

William Tway wrote:PVD's for life.

tway, tway, tway...think of your halftracks and how statements like that make them feel! Think of the halftracks!!!!!

PVD's for life.

I voted for Tracker because they have made a few different styles that work for slalom. I like RTX the best of Trackers but I've got a deck setup with MidTracks that works for me. But I also like Indy 101s too.

I had the "linear" springs in my seismics originaly, but then had a chance to use the fabled Silver Springs (thanks again, Noah) and the differance was VERY noticeable. When I got the new yellow progressive springs, they were very close in feel to the classics. They may have been *a bit* firmer than the silvers, and yes, they had the click too. I attributed the differance between them to extra use on the silver springs. Being impatient, I sped up the break-in process by rounding off the top edges of the plastic plugs with a dremel to simulate wear. Presto - no more (OK, much less) click!

Now I'm the fastest adult fetching milk from 7-11 on a slalom skateboard in my whole town!

Dan P.,

OK, I see that you're right, I've been riding the new springs on my aluminum Seismics all along. Now that I know that they're the newer "progressive rate profile" springs I wonder if there'll be a mental upgrade on my part and subsequent performance increase .

Don't get me wrong, I love the trucks AND springs*. I guess I get caught up in the "next-newer-better" mentality.



*with the exception of the pop that uccurs when the plastic inner cylinder lip pushes up against and jumps past a spring coil. Honestly, I can't say I actually notice it when riding. It's just when I'm pushing down on a the truck arm and see it happen that my sense of order is violated

Steve,
The progressive springs were available last summer and can be had at your local/cyber skate shop. And they DO feel better. Now about those urethane dampening "springs"..... ?

Trucks? I'm still playing with several types. My son though, is partial to Tonka.

If I could afford Radikals or PVDs I'm sure I'd like them best, or at least would feel obligated to say so after paying the entrance price I did ride PVDs once, but I was too lame then to say what was up. Now that I'm so fricken awesome I've decided it's OK for me to have opinions.

Although I'm not qualified to state what is the berry best, I can say that my favorite trucks for slalom are Indys and Seismics. I just dig the Indy 101 action, fast & forgiving. Simple tweaks really light em up too. Yup, gotta love them groovy Indys, unmodified and everything.

Never did get into Trackers, although I tried. Just didn't do it for me. Purely subjective. Couldn't get the response I wanted. Wedged, bushed, ... didn't happen. I do know that a lot of people that are much better slalomers than I swear by em.

Also dearly love the Seismic 105s, an improvement over an already great truck. Bang for the buck. I don't have any problem at all with them being too mechanical, to the contrary, the accuracy thrills me. I also like em in back, they grab hard. One complaint, trivial: Spring click/jump. I'm waiting for the next spring type to see how that is dealt with.

Hey Dan, what about those progressive springs? Me and everybody else will surely buy a truckload the day they come out.

So the vote IS now restricted to the slalom catagory. Good, because that is how I voted.

The reason the poll matters is that some people reading it WILL undoubtedly use the results as statistics.

First off all this poll isn't supposed to be very serious or extremely correct.
This isn't statistics, its just for fun.

read my editited version of the first post.

Hard to beat Tracker for variety of product available and value.

Radikal front, PVD back, I've glued a Megatron with clouds bushings to my helmet for when I fall and I keep a plastic Bennett baseplate clenched between my butt cheeks to remind me to be early on those offsets.

Please don't tell anyone,
Joe

Tracker Magnesium Sixtracks for pools.

Seismic - TTC for slalom.

insane those downhillers..........

There are some other expensive European trucks: Magun Precision Downhill Trucks
http://www.sk8shop.ch/detail_Trucks.asp?id=182



rmn

don´t know either..........american trucks are expensive.....airflows are not.

Don´t know.

Whats going on in the UK? Everything allright?

chris, yeah it was kinda ....duh!!

anyway, whats Expensive European trucks.....

the most expensive trucks are the PVD, followed by Radikals....

the only expensive euro truck is the Airflow OS.....and that not that expensive

yeah Paul, remind me, thanks........

Surely as this is a Slalom site, this should be slalom trucks

Voted Tracker for Slalom.
If it was for vert I would have voted Indies.......

Before I vote, tell me why the results will matter if the vote is not restricted to the slalom catagory.

See above poll.. comments??


Expensive european stuff can be anything not on the list or other custom stuff

Don't be so serious all the time