This week is a tricky one.
For every week, we're stoked about what we're shouting about - so when we're really excited, we haven't necessarily got that much room to move.
But this week, I am really excited.
These are the much anticipated RipTide APS Plug Canon bushings.
Developed in tandem with Pantheon Boards, available in nine different durometers and completely freeing up multiple truck brands from the shackles of sad stock bushings.
Firstly - if you happen to not weigh the same as an average bloke, then you can now ride:
- Bear Grizzly Gen 6 trucks in all widths and angles
- Cast Valkyrie trucks
- Pantheon Stylus trucks
This is a HUGE step for these brands who were pretty much excluding half the world's population from enjoying their product to the fullest of it's design potential.
But the really big one right now is Bear Trucks.
Split angle setups are not just the future - they are the present.
However without a good bushing solution - that is a perfect fit and a good range of durometers available - a split angle setup is actually pretty pointless.
Sabre Trucks have this nicely covered, however the narrower 150mm hanger is only available as a Forged Precision truck. The strength, quality and feel are all higher - but so is the price.
For a super affordable cast truck, your options were limited and 180mm Sabres were the best supported system.
For a narrower hanger width, Bear Trucks were your only choice but the stock bushings held it back significantly. You could:
- Buy Venom HPF Plug bushings and sand them down on your griptape til they were roughly the right height
- Buy Seismic Defcon bushings and forgo the plug, dealing with some play just where you want it feeling super connected
The RipTide APS Plug Canon bushings are essentially a mix of the two bushings - Seismic diameter plus a good fitting plug.
Now, until Valkyrie or Sabre come out with a narrower cast hanger, Bear Trucks offer the most functional and comprehensive cast truck lineup in the world.
Maybe I need to get out more, but to me that is most certainly exciting.
And it's Friday, gone 6pm and I'm still writing about it, so perhaps I do need to get out more.
Alright, here I go...
*Sniffs bushings one last time*
Matt @ Vandem
Packs include:
1x Plug Canon bushing (for the bottom/boardside)
1x Canon bushing (for the top/roadside)
1x Flat washer that isn't a particularly great fit on the kingpin
Vandem Cup Barrel Washers fit the RipTide APS Plug Canon bushings like a glove, further enhancing rebound.