Abec 11 Updates

[ChrisChaput]

This has nothing to do with Fyre Trucks but is kind of cool nonetheless. This video was shot before we had our 107mm Flywheels which make the board ride like a limo ... smooth as silk!




The drive gear that allows Altered Electric Skateboards to "rotate the tires" when using Electric Flywheels


A 52mm subLIME street wheel sits in the shadow of a 107mm Electric Flywheel

[xrayvzn]

You are a mad scientist indeed

[ChrisChaput]

so how can the trucks act like a suspension system if the most of the load is on the sphericals and not the bushings?

I really should say that it FEELS more like using suspension because the actual load is indeed riding on a metal-to-metal system. One would think that it would feel harsh compared to regular trucks but it doesn't. If anything it's the deck itself, the wheels, and the soft risers that are absorbing most of the vibration when riding. With Fyre Trucks when you hit something in the road (a rock, bump, hole, rough patch, etc) the bushings will "give" a little before going back into position but then the board seems to just self-correct and stay on track.

Regular trucks tend to sketch and wob because of how the load goes on and off the bottom bushing. It's as if the rider has to settle the board down to keep it from getting the wobs.

[*SWEET*]

Not always been a big fan of everything you've made, but since zig-zags and bigzigs came out, I'm more and more impressed!
I'd be real curious to try Fyre trucks asap...
Also, anyway of ever building a FAST (60/70+ mph on flat) electric board?

[spoctopus]

are those electric flys avalible?

[schmete]

Any idea of how long it'll be until we see a cast version of the Fyres, Chris? I'm sure it's a ways off, but an estimate would be nice!

[*SWEET*]

Any idea of how long it'll be until we see a cast version of the Fyres, Chris? I'm sure it's a ways off, but an estimate would be nice!

"Cast" and "precision" dont really go together...

[jman1365]

"Cast" and "precision" dont really go together...

the man himself said that there would be cast ones coming out

[schmete]

"Cast" and "precision" dont really go together...

A couple quick notes:

Fyre They have been designed so that less expensive cast versions may be produced in the future, but currently they are only availbable in CNC'd aluminum, titanium, and steel materials.

To explain my curiosity.

[*SWEET*]

hum... my bad,... It could be interesting to see cheap versions of these.
Cheap ones will probably be the only ones I'll ever be able to afford so...

[ChrisChaput]

Any idea of how long it'll be until we see a cast version of the Fyres, Chris? I'm sure it's a ways off, but an estimate would be nice!

I really want to void even "guestimating" a date right now. I tend to give out the most optimistic dates and then REALITY slaps another year or two on top of it. I'm looking forward to simply snapping my fingers and having an idea magically appear as a real part that I can touch and feel and ride and go into productin with. Anyone have a genie in a bottle?

When designing the Fyre Trucks, there were a handful of design elements that I didn't want to compromise on.

1. Keep it simple (skaters are the end users)
2. Skate keys are the only tools needed (skaters aren't mechanics)
3. Provide many choices in baseplates (adjustable = CNC = $$$)
4. Use strong straight axles and kingpins
5. Use industry standards (holes patterns, spacers, threading)
6. Avoid making parts that can only be created by CNC machines

As a skater myself, I want to be able to take apart the truck, swap bushings and change wheels using only a skate key. I hate allen keys and any tools for something other than a 3/8" locknut for #10-32 mounting hardware, a 1/2" locknut for 5/16" fine thread axles, or a 9/16" locknut for 3/8" fine thread kingpins. Give me a choice in baseplates so that I don't have to warp wood or use wedged risers to get the steering I want. I don't want to adjust my angles - I want to set it and forget it. If I want a different ride I'll set up another deck and NOT try to make a "one size fits all" board. I want my trucks to fit most all existing boards and use 608 type bearings.

In order to pull off #6 on my list, I considered the fact that the easiest thing a hack can do with metal is to drill a hole in it. It's pretty easy to drill holes that are parallel to one another, especially if you can register the "flat" and "square" parts into well made fixtures and jigs. I made the Fyre hangers and baseplates in such a way that 95% of what needs to happen to them if they were cast is to simply drill holes in all the right places using maual machines. If you tool up intelligently for these secondary ops, inexpensive parts may be the result. Cast parts will look a little beefier but could ride near identically to the CNC versions and at a fraction of the cost. Time will tell ...

[UsernameK]

Chris,

When will narrower versions for slalom/LDP become available? Also, will there/when will there be greater than 50 degree baseplates?

[speshlspeclsteak]

that sounds like a great plan glad to hear somebodys lookin out for the broke skater(sort of)

i might pick up a set of the cnc slaloms and see how they go. and pick up the wider ones for dh down the road if i think the ride could be good for dh

[schmete]

I really want to void even "guestimating" a date right now. I tend to give out the most optimistic dates and then REALITY slaps another year or two on top of it. I'm looking forward to simply snapping my fingers and having an idea magically appear as a real part that I can touch and feel and ride and go into productin with. Anyone have a genie in a bottle?
Cast parts will look a little beefier but could ride near identically to the CNC versions and at a fraction of the cost. Time will tell ...

Makes sense. I'm just glad they're an option. As much as I would like to, I really can't justify spending 200 on a CNC truck. Knowing you've kept casting in mind means a lot to me as an average skater. I'll definitely be purchasing a set of cast Fyres as soon as they're available. Thanks Chris.

[slide]

Will these limited Fyres fit on a drop thru? Also, did you build 100 complete trucks, as in 100 hangers and 100 baseplates? Or did you build more baseplates than hangers?

[pennypusher]

chris,this bring back some memories

[ChrisChaput]

chris,this bring back some memories

Absolutely! This board is proof that I've been placing function over beauty for decades now. No one has ever accused this board of being good looking but it's a darn good place to put your feet. Back in the day most decks started out as surfboard shapes and gradually evolved into boards that were more functional for skating. I'm all for adding things to skateboards that make them look nice, but I try never to do it at the expense of function.

p.s. On a side note I had to buy one of those decks off of eBay a while back because I didn't keep much of my own history ...

[Brain Smoothie]

Hey Chris I've got a question about the fyres, sorry if its already been addressed i tried to read everything but theres a chance i may have missed it. Most of the plates I've heard mentioned have been in really low degrees and i've never really heard of many people riding anything lower than a 35* degree plate so does the fyre truck behave differently than a normal truck at a lower angle? Is it much more responsive meaning you can ride a lower angle and still have the same agility as a higher angle cast truck? Just curious since the design is pretty different than any other truck on the market. Thanks

[ChrisChaput]

Hey Chris I've got a question about the Fyres, sorry if its already been addressed I tried to read everything but theres a chance i may have missed it. Most of the plates I've heard mentioned have been in really low degrees and i've never really heard of many people riding anything lower than a 35* degree plate so does the fyre truck behave differently than a normal truck at a lower angle? Is it much more responsive meaning you can ride a lower angle and still have the same agility as a higher angle cast truck? Just curious since the design is pretty different than any other truck on the market. Thanks

Fyres Trucks lean and steer very easily because of the super smooth and precise spherical bearings that bear all of the load of the rider. Not only that, but I made sure the bushing seats on the hanger are surrounded by elliptical (oval) shaped cutouts that won't interfere with the bushings at any point during a turn. The axle also has sufficient clearance and won't touch the top bushing, even when bulging from compression. Unlike other trucks, tightening up a Fyre Truck does NOT decrease the steering angle. I also made the bushings taller than all other trucks to once again ensure a full range of motion when leaning and steering the truck through a turn.

It's EASY to prevent a truck from steering easily by using hard and/or wide bushings, deep and tight cup washers, or a hanger shape that engages the sides of the bushings in a turn. It takes a good design to allow the truck to steer all the way through a turn. Many trucks simply bind part way through the a turn and the outside wheels end up lifting off the ground inducing a slide. Fyre Trucks really "flat track" while cornering providing more traction and control than ever before.

Once upon a time, guys used Randal Downhill trucks and the 35 degree plate front and rear. But on that type of truck you really want more steering than that in the front and even less than that in the back. Guys started using 50 degree plates in the front and/or tighten down the backs a lot which took out some excessive rear steering. Board manufacturers wanted to use one stock baseplate angle so they kicked up the nose and bent back the tails to add about 15 degrees in the front and take away 15 in the rear. This results in 50/20 setup before compressing the bushings down to about 47/17. I like to have my boards front trucks "outsteer" the rear by a lot - at least 2 to 1. For Downhill a 40/10, 40/20, 50/10, or 50/20 setup works great.

I made 60 degree plates for Slalom and the steering is insane. It's great for Tight Slalom but even the 50 degree plates steer so much that 60 just seems excessive.

The bottom line is that when a truck turns well, you don't need crazy high baseplate angles.

CC

[jeremyheuser]

I really should say that it FEELS more like using suspension because the actual load is indeed riding on a metal-to-metal system. One would think that it would feel harsh compared to regular trucks but it doesn't. If anything it's the deck itself, the wheels, and the soft risers that are absorbing most of the vibration when riding. With Fyre Trucks when you hit something in the road (a rock, bump, hole, rough patch, etc) the bushings will "give" a little before going back into position but then the board seems to just self-correct and stay on track.

Regular trucks tend to sketch and wob because of how the load goes on and off the bottom bushing. It's as if the rider has to settle the board down to keep it from getting the wobs.

Chris,
I'm just wondering if you could possibly expand on this post.

looking at all of the pictures it seems like all of the rider-weight load is put directly onto the spherical bearings and the two queen pins (correct terminology?)

even if the ride doesn't feel like it rides really harsh, are the "queenpins" in fact subject to significant stress? if so, what is the risk of either of them breaking?