 I recently had opportunity to review a Rayne Longboards "Forge" model. The only way to describe this longboard is curvaceous, very, very curvaceous. It is one of the most cambered boards made in North America today, easily distinguished it from any other board.
Having so much camber comes with both upsides and down. The positive aspects of the flex and camber are:
Looks- Its a greet looking board. It's the longboard equivalent of an Audi TT.
Flex- lf you like a lot of flex, you won't be disappointed. I won't get into all the advantages and disadvantages of a flexy board but l will say that for slow to medium speed carving it can't be beat. The flex feels great coming out of carves. The board comes in both stiff and medium flex. The 6ply version I got was a little too flexy for my weight (medium flex/170lbs), but it was still a fun ride. I'd recommend the stiffer model if you weigh the same as I do.
Strenght- You might wonder why strength would be an upside. The board was pretty thin. Without the camber, it would have probably felt saggy, and not have been as strong. As it was though, I was able to jump on the board directly in the center without any creaks or cracks. The board bottomed out doing this (which would never happen under normal riding circumstances) but retained it's original flex after my abuse tests. Some of the downsides of the flex and camber are:
Foot placement- If you're used to riding flat board, it will probably take a while to find a comfortable stance. It can feel a little awkward having one foot several inches higher than the other. After awhile though, you'll get used to the feeling.
Height- This board rides higher than others. The design itself requires riser pads, and when you add the camber to the mix, you're looking at a fairly high ride.
Truck placement - The trucks don't sit perfectly flush with the board. Once they are bolted down, you won't feel any movement at all, but you will notice tiny spaces between the board and trucks or risers. This isn't really a downside, but it is something to take into consideration.
Specifications
Length - 46"
Width - 9.5"
Camber
Recommended setup
Trucks - For carving, I recommend Randal II 180's with 1/2" risers. If you plan to use the board at higher speeds, Independent 215's with no risers or with very small risers would do the trick.
Wheels - I'd recommend anything in the neighborhood of 65mm for this board.
Style & Design - The shape of the board lacks nothing in the style department. Like I mentioned before, the board's curves look great. The grip tape job was perfect. The main area for improvement in style that I noticed was the graphics. The model I tested came with a clear sticker with the black Rayne Logo printed on it stuck to the bottom of the board. It doesn't look bad, but there is definitely room for improvement there.
The boards cut looks great and is functional. The width is great for even large feet, but does not feel too wide in the least. The front trucks won't get any wheel bite, even with Randals, but the back could if you don't use risers. Using Independent 215's solves the problem as well.
Terrain - I'd recommend this board for medium speed hills-basically anything you can carve on. At higher speeds where you'd have to bomb the hill (30-35mph+) the flex will take away some stability. The length of the board makes it best for fairly open areas. You won't have any problems weaving through light traffic, but campus sidewalks might be a little narrow for the longer wheelbase and larger turning radius.
Company Relations - Graham Rayne longboards was a pleasure to deal with. Emails were returned quickly and they were very prompt in shipping. Their website is easy to navigate and overall, it was a great experience.
Conclusion - The Forge is a great board for carving and cruising. The curves give it a distinct, smooth and classy look. The workmanship is great and the Graham was great to work with. While there is some room for improvement in the graphics department, overall, it's a great product.
Visit Rayne Longboards online at Raynelongboards.com or email graham@raynelongboards.com.
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