Mini Zombie Hawgs vs 4Presidents

I have had these 2 sets of wheels for a week or two now and I am surprised by which I like better.  I am not really used to wheels over 60-65mm so both of these seemed pretty different at first.  The only other set of 70mm wheels of mine that get ridden regularly are the 70mm Zig Zags on a Flexdex v30 that Nicole likes.  I thought I would like the 4Presidents because they are a lot more similar to the Zig Zags and most of the smaller wheels I ride.  The Mini Zombie Hawgs are really different.  They have a much narrower contact patch and feel harder with half the wheel being the core.  But I like them.  They are a really fun wheel for cruising around the neighborhood and the occasional slide.  But not to take anything form the Orangatangs.  They are a fun wheel too, and Nicole likes them better.  So I guess that worked out well, we each have a new set of wheels to ride.

The Orangatang 4Presidents are on a Nickel with Indy 109s and Bones Reds.  The Mini Zombie Hawgs are on a Flexdex Retrodex with Surf Rodz Indeesz and Reds.  See the 2 previous posts for more info.

Mini Zombie Hawgs - More 70mm Wheels!?!

Mini Zombie Hawgs by Landyachtz

Shortly after buying a set of 70mm Orangatang 4 Presidents because I found them on sale, I saw this set of 70mm 82a Mini Zombie Hawgs on sale.  I don't usually ride wheels this big, but since I had just picked us the Orangatangs, I got these too just to compare. 

I put together a weird set up with them and have taken it for a ride the last 2 days in between rains.  I thought the yellow wheels would look cool with the blue Flexdex Retrodex that I got a while ago and hadn't done anything with yet.  I stole some Indeesz 100mm from another board, mostly because that board also had some 1/4" risers I wanted to use.  I put some new Bones Reds in and that is the setup currently.  

Just like the Orangatangs, these things feel huge, maybe a little more so because they are on a shorter board.  My initial impression was that they feel a little harder than the 82a they are because of the big core.  After only a few rides on each, I am not sure which of these 70mm sets I like better.  I will post a comparison and maybe Nicole's thoughts on them after we get a few more days of cruising around on 

them in.  

If you have anything to add, please check us out and comment at plasticskateboarding.com/forum

Flexdex Retrodex

This is the Flexdex Retrodex.  I ordered one because I like the Flexdex Grenade and thought this was similar enough to a Grenade with a tail so I should try it.  I didn't have a setup in mind so I threw on something to try.  I was going to just swap everything over from a Green Banana Lil' Nanner, because they are similarly sized and I didn't really love that setup on the Green Banana.  The setup was Ace 00 hangers on Independent Stage 9 baseplates, Bones Reds in Sector 9 wheels and Khiro barrels and short inserts, red in the front, yellow in the back.  The Stage 9 baseplates are only grilled for new school, like the Lil' Nanner so switched them with some Independent Downhill baseplates I had been waiting to use on something.  The longer kingpins in the new baseplates let me use a Khiro tall insert in the trucks instead of the short insert.  Put together, I took it for a test ride.  Maybe it is just because I love every skateboard I ride, but it felt really good.  The small wheel base and the taller bushings make it turn ridiculously tight, no wheelbite with 1/8" risers.  The flex is noticeable and fun, but not too much. The grip tape is really course, that might be the only thing I would change.   

Compared it to the Grenade.  It it about the same width, and maybe a half inch longer.  The length of the tail, about 4" comes off of the wheelbase so it feels much quicker to turn than the Grenade.  The difference in flex is very noticeable just stepping on the board.  Riding, the difference didn't feel so much.  The wheelbase and the shortness of the Retrodex pretty much keeps your feet right above the trucks so you don't feel all the flex.

Flexdex Retrodex and Flexdex Grenade

Retrodex and Penny

More when I get some time riding it...

Check out the Flexdex thread on the forum:

http://plasticskateboarding.com/forum/index.php?topic=15.0

Changing trucks on Penny, Nickel, Stereo Vinyl Cruiser, Globe Bantam, Fish Skateboards and others.

Changing trucks on Penny, Nickel, Stereo Vinyl Cruiser, Globe Bantam, Fish Skateboards and others.

These are how these various plastic and fiberglass boards are drilled in my experience.  I am also posting this at the forum,

http://plasticskateboarding.com/forum/index.php?topic=21.0 

If you have any additions or corrections, please comment here or on the forum and I will look into it and make the changes.  Hopefully this list will make decisions on upgrading trucks a little easier.

Hole Patterns on plastic or fiberglass skateboards

Creature Riprider - standard new school

comes with Bullet 105s, will work with any new school drilled truck in that size range

Fish Skateboards - non standard, a little smaller than old school

Mine came as deck only, will work with Penny or Stereo trucks, or with minor drilling any old school truck with about a 6" axle.

Flexdex Classic 29 - standard old school

Mine came as deck only, will work with any old school drilled trucks, size depends on your preference.

Flexdex Grenade - standard old school

Mine came as deck only, will work with any old school drilled trucks, size depends on your preference.

Flexdex Slalom v30 - standard old school

Mine came as deck only, will work with any old school drilled trucks, size depends on your preference.

Globe Bantam - standard new school

Comes with Slant trucks with 4.75" hanger.  Will work with any new school drilled truck in that size range.

Green Banana Eco Cruiser - standard new school

Mine came as deck only, will work with any new school drilled trucks, size depends on your preference.

Green Banana Lil Nanner - standard new school

Mine came as deck only, will work with any new school drilled trucks, size depends on your preference.

Nickel - standard old school

Comes with Penny Nickel 4" hanger trucks will work with any old school drilled trucks in that size range.

Penny - non standard, a little smaller than old school

Comes with Penny 3.125" hanger trucks, will work with with minor drilling any old school truck with about a 6" axle.

Stereo Vinyl Cruiser - non standard, a little smaller than old school

comes with Stereo trucks, will work with Penny or Stereo trucks, or with minor drilling any old school truck with about a 6" axle.

Flexdex grenade to the beach

This is one of my favorite decks

The trucks are Randal 150s that I cut way down.  They feel really tall and tippy.

Flexdex Classic 29

Flexdex Classic 29, 29" long, no concave, flat nose and tail. Set up with 4.3" Bennett Vectors, and some Kryptonics Classics.  I am trying Bones Hardcore mediums and some Venom Barrels on bottom, I think that will change though.

Fledex Grenade

Flexdex Grenade, no concave, 23" long.  Setup with Tracker Midtracks and some Sector 9 wheels.

Soft wedge risers and Khiro bushings.

Flexdex v30

Set up with Lemon and Lime 70mm Zig Zags and cut down Randal Trucks.

The deck is completely flat with cutouts along the rails to increase the flex.  This one is the older green Flexdex material.  Bushings are Khiro barrels on bottom and tall inserts on top, both blue on the back and both white on the front.  The lime wheels on the front are 80a and the lemons on the back are 83a.