dirtsurfer crash fest..

**sk8norcal** · 06-01-2009 10:34 PM

these things don't seem to do well in tight corners...

YouTube - DIRTSURFER DOWNHILL SPEED EVENT

YouTube - dirtsurfer street dual competition

i would like to see a dirtsurf front and skate rear setup....

i guess i should patent that first...

**speshlspeclsteak** · 06-01-2009 10:39 PM

if the trail was paved or probably any way that would be a super fun spot

**Barf** · 06-01-2009 10:51 PM

I dunno if it's the Dirtsurfer's fault.. looks like relying on brakes all the time has left those dudes with no ability to rail a turn at high speed, let alone drift it. When they get worried, they just lock up the brakes, skid the rear, and lose control.

They need to pull their brakes, put on some slicks, and learn to pre-drift.

**speshlspeclsteak** · 06-01-2009 10:52 PM

no theyre getting railbite and sliding out

**CasterTown** · 06-01-2009 10:58 PM

hahaha:

"on the second turn I tried to brake... but it wasn't braking a single ####"

omg, epic translation

**Barf** · 06-01-2009 10:58 PM

Looks to me like they're only getting railbite after they've already screwed up and are going down. Lots of them are skidding and running off the road without ever leaning over far enough to get railbite.

There was that one guy that slipped out and got railbite on his toeside turn, got two hands down, and rode back out of it. Somebody get that guy some pucks.

**swisschez** · 06-01-2009 11:09 PM

looks like a strugglefest.

**FlamingLongboarder** · 06-01-2009 11:41 PM

I skate with a guy who does this. Pretty epic. Hangs pretty good with us on fairly tech runs.

**ATG-ATB** · 06-02-2009 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by Barf

I dunno if it's the Dirtsurfer's fault.. looks like relying on brakes all the time has left those dudes with no ability to rail a turn at high speed, let alone drift it. When they get worried, they just lock up the brakes, skid the rear, and lose control.

Spot on, they're braking way too late and not taking good lines. Anything with wheels and brakes will get sketchy if you hit 'em while cornering!

**sk8norcal** · 06-02-2009 06:21 AM

their brake control must be pretty awkward...
i believe it activates with their back leg...
and braking using only the rear wheel is not ideal...

they seem to look good going fast...

supposedly they have reached 70+....
would like to see some footage...

still their mongo pushing just kills me..

**gratefulguitarist** · 06-02-2009 07:12 AM

They look like they need a wider platform.

**schol** · 06-05-2009 09:39 AM

one more

**oldnbroken** · 06-07-2009 10:24 PM

Like anything else, the Dirtsurfer rocks when doing what it does well.
Sucks on hairpins obviously....but then again, downhill skateboards suck on the beach!
Goes extremely well with a Kitewing down the beach, tons of fun!!
Goes extremely well on open winding roads at really high speeds.
I've seen footage of 70+ on a GPS, Dirty Harry can find plenty of it for you if you ask him.

**F.O.T.R.** · 06-08-2009 09:48 AM

I own one of the full steel frame ones with 20" wheels. They are CRAZY STABLE at speed. The way the wheels work it's like a bike, the faster you go the more stable it gets because of thje weight being in the outside of the wheels creating a gyroscopic action. Translation, no wobbles, EVER!! they blow at turning though. They outside front rail digs in and it stops you really fast and throws you off.

**robert borek** · 06-08-2009 10:19 AM

theyd be better if the break was on the front, that way you could put weight forward and break better without sliding the back out. (this is why mountainboards always mount breaks on the front truck rather than back)

**BluegrassSurfer** · 06-08-2009 11:09 AM

I suspect a front brake on a free-swinging, caster steering system would be worse. Part of the problem is that the front caster system does not hold well in hard lean turns and the board slides out from under you -- giving the appearance of catching a rail. However, some of the older models have lower ground clearance and do grab as well. They do grab, but High-G leans cause the board to slide out from under you with the caster steering.

Also, you can't have a brake that grabs hard either. You will launch.

I think if you check out MBS' site (MBS MOUNTAINBOARDS) you will find all of the brakes are on the rear wheels.

BTW, I own and ride a 16" Freestyle dirtsurfer.

**F.O.T.R.** · 06-08-2009 03:57 PM

My GP 20" doesn't usually slide out from under me. Then again I only ride on roads and have high pressure tires. Maybe yours slides because of the composite deck?

I agree with the front brake being a bad idea, though I've seen some where people put brakes on the front and back.

**robert borek** · 06-08-2009 04:04 PM

mbs mount thier breaks in the wrong place. i know a few mountainboarders some of which are very good, if you look at pictures and vidios from borderX races and such people will all have the break mounted on the front.

think about it, on a bike you dont brake hard with your rear break, you just lock up and slide the back, you can break much much harder on the front without sliding.

not really worth arguing though!

**BluegrassSurfer** · 06-08-2009 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by robert borek

not really worth arguing though!

Agreed. Just my 2 cents.

I took the brakes off my MBs anyway -- got in the way for carving.

**BluegrassSurfer** · 06-08-2009 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by F.O.T.R.

My GP 20" doesn't usually slide out from under me. Then again I only ride on roads and have high pressure tires. Maybe yours slides because of the composite deck?

I agree with the front brake being a bad idea, though I've seen some where people put brakes on the front and back.

I only ride the FS off-road. Might have something to do with it. I noticed that the front wheel usually started sliding before the front rail grabbed ground. But my lean angles were very steep -- why I don't use the dirtsurer for carving anymore.