Keep in mind that these are first impressions. I tossed on a half helmet and took it for a spin around the neighborhood for 30 minutes. Not even gloves - stupid. Anyway, the board itself feels great - completely locked-in with some flex for my fat ass.
First issue - I thought the board would be stiffer, a lot stiffer. @treenutter how hard would it be to add an extra ply or two to a 44? I’m fat (working on it), and wasn’t anticipating the flex. I bet I would flex a 44 like a CHAMP. It’s not a complaint - I like the flex, makes the board super comfy to ride. But too much flex might be a problem.
Every time I twitch the enclosure creaks, LOUDLY.
SUPER.
ANNOYING.
Honestly that’s my only complaint. Went and installed a foam gasket onto the bottom of the board. Hopefully this simple fix will eliminate the nearly constant creaking. I won’t know until next week as the board is packed for Vegas.
Trucks are fun. The board is more maneuverable and responsive than I’m used to. I need to deaden the rear a little more and tighten up the bushings on the front. Riptide Krank FTW! Shoutout to @Alphamail! I might machine some aluminum washers to apply a more even force on the bushings instead of a hex-head bolt.
Need to cut a set of braces for the deck, and I also have to make a set of rubber risers for the adjustable TKP. Got my hands on some 40A rubber - nice and soft. I have a little bit of time, but I have some jobs that need to get done as well.
Added some lucid grip to the deck. Really like it. I wish the frit was black, but maybe the next coat. Shit wears off pretty quickly, but maybe it’s just me.
Drive train feels solid. @Jlabs modular pulleys are the best I’ve ever used. Worth every penny. They seem to be purpose-built for Surf Rodz. Can’t see myself using anything else from this point forward. Need to grab some 40T and 36T pulleys for science.
The @torqueboards 6380’s are so sweet I don’t think I can go back to single drive after this. It’s almost too much. The raw, unrestrained power is intoxicating and terrifying all at once. I want to punch the accelerator and see how fast I can go, but that reptilian hindbrain makes me take my finger off the trigger. Probably for the best until I get to know how it will react. Also, the breaks. Holy shit, the breaks are…insane. They’re no longer a safety feature. It’s like the board is thinking ‘Don’t tap the breaks asshole, I’m just gonna street your stupid face if you do.’
I need to open it up and take pics to show how it was made (build thread at some point), but there’s no real mystery here - it’s just an eskate.
Side note: I’ve only ever ridden VESC’s that I’ve built, and always used Vedder’s FW. Riding a FOCBOX with
@Ackmaniac FW was…interesting. 6380’s purred in BLDC instead of screaming. Not better, not worse, but noticeably quieter. I kinda miss the whine of the motor - maybe it will come back when I’m peeling the paint off my TSG at 40mph.