|
|
|
| Deck Reviews (10390 Posts)
|
| Deck |
Review |
|
We Are Family
|
|
On 3/31/2005 Michael Bream
wrote in from
United States
(68.7.nnn.nnn)
OK, as the owner and founder of Gravity Skateboards, it's time for me to chime in and clear a few things up. There are a lot of opinions and hearsay being thrown around, so I'll attempt to clear things up a bit with some cold hard facts.....
1) Sector 9 does not manufacture the Tri-Lam.
2) Gravity does not manufacture the Diamond Tail
3) They are made by the SAME company.
4) That company has over 25 years board making experience. And they make the rest of the Gravity line.
5) Sector 9 has less than 8 years experience pressing boards.
6) 25 years experience is better than 8 years experience.
7) The Tri-Lam is much more expensive than the Diamond Tail, and therefore less affordable for most skaters.
8) More expensive cars are faster than cheaper ones, but it doesn't mean that Honda makes a poor car. In fact it's a better car for MOST people.
9) Any shop that limits customer choices, limits customer choices.
10) The Diamond Tail is made from a revolutionary new fiber material that doesn't splinter and become sharp with itchy shards, therefore limiting the liability of the shop selling it.
11) You misunderstood Kevin's comments. He didn't say the Diamond Tail is stiff, he said the Diamond Tail is stiffer than the Cosmic. And it is.
12) If you want a stiff board that turns great, is more expensive, and doesn't ollie, then the Tri-Lam is a great board for you.
13) If you want a flexible board, with a functional tail that ollies, and won't cut your hand up, then the Diamond Tail is for you.
To summarize, I love Sector 9. They make longboards. I love Gravity. They make longboards. Both companies give skateboarding a flavor that's been lacking in the industry for years.... Now you can argue Ford and Chevy all day long, but then your not a true enthusiast. A true enthusiast rides..... Speaking of.... I'm out.
Purist Regards,
Michael Bream
Dustin Taylor, putting the DT to the test. Notice there aren't any fiber splinters in his hands.
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity Boards
|
|
On 3/31/2005 Dano
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
So true. All boards with thin wood laminates and fiberglass will break down over time. The cosmic boards get soft over time, like you state.
What is upsetting is when someone spends half their paycheck on a new board and is very disappointed with their purchase because the board is so soft, when it was touted as being a "stiff board", SO SAYS KEVIN AT GRAVITY BOARDS.
If you want something like the 37" gravity diamond I would much rather choose a Roe Slalom or Insect Board. These people are very nice and they are produced in Washington state. ROE SLALOM ROE SLALOM ROE SLALOM ROE SLALOM.
I have Roe boards from 2 years ago that still rip it up out on the course.
|
|
|
|
|
soft flex boards
|
|
On 3/31/2005
Julien
wrote in from
United States
(129.133.nnn.nnn)
hey, just to tell you.
I have a cosmic 1 from sector 9 and it has definitely gotten really flexy over time. I think this is inevitable with horizontally laminate boards. I agree the Trylam is probably a sweet board has the added benefit of carbon fiber but i think both Gravity and Sector 9 are pretty mainstream board companies and would rather ride something more high-tech/ custom
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity
|
|
On 3/31/2005
SJ Ryan
wrote in from
United States
(12.76.nnn.nnn)
And speaking of wheels a buddy of mine had his Super G's seperate from their hub's at a mild 20mph turn...So much for Super G's, I'll stick with my ABEC 11's, and if anyone wants to see a cracked gravity deck, email me- thats you too gravity, we'll see if this gets my boy a new deck or an excuse...
|
|
|
|
|
Longboard Skateboards
|
|
On 3/31/2005 Dano
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
Everyone must hate the truth. Gravity just calls to yell at me for voicing my opinion and reporting what other customers are experiencing. I am not endorsing any one company. I snowboard and when asked about a particular snowboard I will give my honest opinion. When asked about a longboard I will do the same. When I get and overall concensus that a board is not up to par I have to agree with that concensus. Especially when I see it with my own eyes and customers and friends complain. The 37" Gravity board gets soft after you ride it. You may like this (soft flex) or you may dislike this and that is your personal opinion.
|
|
|
|
|
Buy A Gravity
|
|
On 3/31/2005 Dano
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
Just buy one and see for yourself.
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity Boards
|
|
On 3/31/2005
Stubbs
wrote in from
United States
(68.93.nnn.nnn)
Even though I am affiliated with AFROMAN Skateboards, I must say that Gravity ROCKS! Not only are there boards manufactured well, but the people at Gravity are class "A" in my book. Not only do they make a great product (RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA!), have great riders (Brad Edwards, Jesse Parker, Roger Mihalko, to name a few), but they are just great people. From owner Michael Bream and sales manager Kevin Kennedy to the people that answer the phones. Good, solid individuals. Sh*t talkers can eat sh*t themselves.
I just today took delivery of a brand new 18 ply Ed Economy BANK RIDER and I am stoked!
|
|
|
|
|
I must be stupid
|
|
On 3/31/2005
Dano Loveland
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
I really must be stupid and dumb. Oh ya! That is why I run this skateboard shop.......
To be honest I just sold the 37 inch carbon diamond blah blah from Gravity to a customer. He rode it for a while and now it is softer than an over cooked rice noodle. Story short he is not very happy and picked up the carbon trilam from sector. This was a much better choice. Sector 9 is the big boy but they make good products and they run a good company. They also make boards for other companies so you might not even know it but you are really riding a sector 9. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.....
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity
|
|
On 3/31/2005 SJ Ryan
wrote in from
United States
(12.76.nnn.nnn)
I thought twice about gravity when I was called dumb (picked that over stupid) about my opinion of Gravity boards so I went to their site to check out their line-up. Out of about 20 decks, only 1 has camber (1/4" no less) - now if that isn't selling out to mainstream I don't know what is. It obvious that gravity is trying to make their money being the 'Dicks Sporting Goods' brand, which is ok if you're 14 and only have 110 bucks to spend, but even so, I'd like to ask who would buy a gravity complete for 130 bucks when you can get a top shelf Landy or Subsonic for 160-170 with top shelf stuff to start with? And for those of you who say only start with a gravity deck and build it up--gravity deck=60$ landy=75 it just doesnt make sense. but what do i know, I'm dumb
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity
|
|
On 3/31/2005 Dave G
wrote in from
United States
(207.69.nnn.nnn)
Gravity makes ballistic boards!! The decks are top notch and any one denying that is either stupid or dumb (pick one)
Now...the wheels on the otherhand???
|
|
|
|
|
split fires on the roe
|
|
On 3/31/2005
peters
wrote in from
United States
(64.236.nnn.nnn)
thanks glenn, that roe s-camber has split-fires on the back, you can see 'em close-up at www.asphaltplayground.com, I just didn't have a pic of the bottom.. .and yep - with a tracker baseplate! The combo of s-camber plus an offset axle makes a super sticky back end that hugs turns -- check it out if you getta chance!
|
|
|
|
|
gravity?
|
|
On 3/31/2005 gavin
wrote in from
United Kingdom
(81.154.nnn.nnn)
gravity suck? why? is that an objective statement based on perhaps poor manufacturing resulting in low quality product, or a subjective one based on a personal view that anything edging towards mainstream (as far as longboarding goes) must be a sell out? same sort of view that has bighted sector9 (ok, their trucks were cr"p on the completes but thats another story).
personally i think that as far as a birch, or maple deck goes, every gravity i've seen has been of decent quality. certainly the ed street rider that i've got is very solid, well designed, has decent graphics and is a joy to ride and own. who gives a sh@t if someone thinks its not a 'cool' board to ride because its branded 'gravity', it makes me smile and i can take my kids on it for a ride too.
if you are buying a complete, and it has randal 180, then these have been tried and tested enough to come out as the benchmark truck for a longboard and all around cruising. esp if you pop in some bones softs, and maybe upgrade the kingpin. not too sure about gravity wheels as i hav'nt ridden any, but i'd be surprised if there was'nt a better wheel out there.
my advice would be to price up buying the board as seperates, if its way more than the complete then the complete may be a good place to start. if the price is comparable then i would go for a custom build.
p.s. my utterly subjective viewpoint.... if you want a good board for carving about on take a look at the fibreflex longboards!
|
|
|
|
|
Boards
|
|
On 3/30/2005 Matt
wrote in from
United States
(68.101.nnn.nnn)
is the new 37 inch diamond tail by gravity a good board?
|
|
|
|
|
that new roe board
|
|
On 3/30/2005
glenn
wrote in from
United States
(68.0.nnn.nnn)
the board looks sweet and what r these split fire trucks r they the trucks with the tracker baseplate
|
|
|
|
|
Check out my new ad
|
|
On 3/30/2005
Dano
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
Check out my new add on the left of the screen. Pretty lame hugh......
This is my new wife....
|
|
|
|
|
Gravity Sucks
|
|
On 3/30/2005
Dano
wrote in from
United States
(24.21.nnn.nnn)
Yeah, gravity blows....
|
|
|
|
|
Roe S-camber Cut-away
|
|
On 3/29/2005
peters
wrote in from
United States
(24.18.nnn.nnn)
Just got my 2005 cutaway last weekend, now setup with a Split-Fire on the back, Seismics on the front, and 3dm's all around -- this deck just grips the turns!! The lowered tail on the S-camber makes a perfect "pocket" for your back foot, and with a slightly wider stance, traction and turning accuracy is unbelievable. The tight snake courses which were just killin me last year are fluid on this deck.
Thanks Gareth at roeslalom, Gary at asphaltplaygound, and Lizzie at purple skunk -- its lookin like a faster year ahead!
Oh yeah Pauli I'm hopin to pick up something like your PHoward subsonic proto from Scott in a couple weeks too - gotta round out the slalom quiver ya know...
|
|
|
|
|
gravityboard carve 43"
|
|
On 3/29/2005
Steve
wrote in from
United States
(66.31.nnn.nnn)
so... do gravity board suck and i just dont know it?
|
|
|
|
|
gravity
|
|
On 3/29/2005 SJ Ryan
wrote in from
United States
(12.76.nnn.nnn)
Booo..
|
|
|
|
|
gravityboard carve 43"
|
|
On 3/29/2005
Steve
wrote in from
United States
(66.31.nnn.nnn)
so im thinking of buying the 43"carve deck by gravityboard. if i get it it will be nounted with randal 2 carving trucks 180mm and 73mm gravityboard wheels. has anyone ridden this deck, and if so howd you like it. also does it have any concave to it?
|
|
|
|
|
big boards
|
|
On 3/26/2005
Julien
wrote in from
United States
(129.133.nnn.nnn)
Hey airin,
I think that the jam boards are pretty stocky and heavy. I would recommend an Gravity Ed Economy in the lightest flex or much better, make your own.
Most of these decks are just flat planks anyways so get some 5/8th in maple or 11 Baltic birtch and cut out your own ideal shape.
My buddy back home has a board like this; the guy that made it just cut out flat pieces of ply and then routed them, drilled a whole bunch of holes in them (I think three rear and three front mounting spots to allow you to customize the flex and had them airbrushed. My friend's is a 57" model, real nice and flexy and not to heavy
Julien
|
|
|
|
|
Jam Longboards
|
|
On 3/26/2005
airin
wrote in from
Canada
(154.20.nnn.nnn)
I thinking of a Jam 60 inch, the Tuna, or the 64 inch, the Iguana. Anyone riden either of these? I want a light weight seawall cruiser. Do they have some flex for a light rider or are they just long heavy planks on wheels?
|
|
|
|
|
Afroman Hustler II
|
|
On 3/25/2005
Stubbs
wrote in from
United States
(209.30.nnn.nnn)
I forgot to add that the Afroman HUSTLER II will make it's debut very soon as well with art by Tim Shawl.........
|
|
|
|
|
KMAN/Afroman Longboards/TORPEDO
|
|
On 3/25/2005
Stubbs
wrote in from
United States
(209.30.nnn.nnn)
On 3/8/2005 Kman wrote in from 68.98.xxx.xxx: (United States)
I am in need of a new longboard deck and was wondering where I can find an afroman deck? I particullarly want the torpedo. I can only find one website that has the deck and it is sold out. Help!
KMAN! Just FYI, the Torpedo is now in redesign mode. The new TORPEDO should be out within the next 4-8 weeks, complete with drop through mount. You can thank Afroman team rider and resident speed boarder from Vail Rob McKendry for that one. And to anyone else waiting for Afroman boards, our apologies. Afroman is still alive and kicking but we switched board manus (Jim Gray at ABC is now making our boards) and have had to re-make all of our molds. It's taken some time but we are gearing up for production of another round of longs and shorts. Thanks for your support and patience.
www.afroman.com
|
|
|
|
|
Subsonic Slalom
|
|
On 3/24/2005
Paul Howard
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
DANKDOWNHILLER- The boards I'm riding are currently prototypes being tested. Scott can make them in 3 configurations(that I know of): (1)Flat(no concave, no camber), (2) Flat(no camber) with Concave through the whole deck- This is by far my favorite configuration, and (3)Camber with Concave. We're trying out all-wood totally stiff in the Flat/Flat, and smidgeon of flex in the Flat/Concave and flex in the Camber/Concave. Coming up (but not yet done) is a wood core, carbon stringer diagonal "X" for torsional rigidity(like the old Comets, maybe the new ones too?, the old Roe Foam cores, and countless R/C model airplane wings and fuselages) and plain 'ol fibreglass top and bottom in the Flat/Concave configuration.
The wheelbases run 18" to 23" in 3 sets of holes in the front and 3 in the back. This was done on the original concept of a simple, cheap, functional "One-Gun" approach so one board can handle all size of courses. If a board is flat and stiff, then no matter what the wheel base is it is still flat and stiff so it's very consistent and QUICK reacting (but you do lose some of that pump that comes from a custom camber/custom stiffness and custom priced deck). Where this type of deck has its greatest strengths is on "defensive" courses that are so tight or the cones are coming at you so fast, or you want more control in sliding and sloshing around big offsets and on good pavement. It also has the advantage of simplicity and less cost, especially to the beginner or people like myself whom need a crowbar to get into one's own wallet. So far on the Flat/Concave I'm riding the most, it handles 4.5' cones well at the 19" wb and hybrid courses pretty well at the 20" and 21" wheelbases, and G/S in the 21"-23" wb's. Like all boards however, if you like a smidge of flex at 18"19", you'll have more than you want at 22"-23", or if you like a smidge of flex at 22"-23" it will be way stiff at 18"-19" so letting Scott know how you want it(stiffer for bigger courses, not so stiff for smaller stuff for your weight) will be the way to go. Oh, it also has wheel wells for all wheelbases (the Camber/Concave did'nt, you'll have to talk to Scott about getting that).
SHAPE- Ok, here's what I really like about it, it's 9" wide about 5" in front of the halfway line. From there it has a really wide nose compared to most boards and a fairly wide tail in what I'll call a "modified coffin" for lack of a better description. It has some of the sort of lines I liked when I was making and selling "Pauliwog's Wides" pool decks only not as wide. No matter what wheelbase you use, you will have a lot of board width under both feet. With the Flat/Concave with wheel wells, wheel bite so far just does not happen for me and I don't use much in terms of risers, just some wedging with a little bit extra. If you like a board with some twist-i-ness to utilize a front foot steering method (Mollica introduced me to that technigue and it's part of the concept of his PPS RedEye model) you can get it on the soft side without the carbon X's to do exactly that (maybe have carbon stringers added longitudinally only under a bottom layer of fibreglass for stiffness and yet allowing twist, Hmmmm.....) Anyhow, enough of this dissertation. I don't know how much variety Scott will have available but if you want something simple, functional, variable, and not too costly I would recommend the Flat/Concave All-Wood with wheel wells. We haven't really decided on a name yet but if you ask for "The Peaple's Slalom" or "Peanut Gallery" shape, the S-Man will know what shape you want. Geeze I need to log-off and shut up. Thanks- Paul
|
|
|
|
|
