Randal comp II

[Lyle]

Can some one explain the floating axel thing to me?

[silversurfer]

I'll try. K-Rimes could do it better.

The floating axle spins on internal bearings.

If your wheel bearings were to sieze, the axle would still turn and therefore your wheels would turn rather than lock up.

I don't think these are that common in DH racing anymore.
If you are using good, clean bearings there does not seem to be a need.

Some people believe or used to believe they would get a speed adavantage from floating axles. But I don't think anyone has ever proved that. Many, maybe most racers do not use floating axles.
Except perhaps luge racers.

VegasAlien thought that they might give him an easier and longer roll for long distance cruising. But he reported that it didn't pan out that way.

There prolly still good for DH, but they are expensive and it's very debatable if they offer any advantage (beyond a possilbe safety benefit in the unlikely event of a siezed bearing).

You need 4 extra bearings to put into the truck, and that combined with higher price of the truck it self makes it a rather expensive proposition.

I considered them briefly and decided my money was better spent on good wheels, bearings and non floating axle trucks.

I'd like to hear what others think, 'cause I could be wrong.

[Bushman]

smooooooooth.

plus you have the ability to swap out axles quickly, or put in 10 mm axles with no fuss (change the bearings to 10mm ID )


smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth

[Lobo]

They are still used in DH, but I agree with SS that the gain is not noticeable. If you want a truck that's quiet, go for a regular one. I do think that the axle is very strong though. I bent my axles on my R2, but these axles seems to stay straight. And it's 2 bearings per truck on the Comp II, but the Luge hanger wants 4. I think it's 170mm vs 205mm.

[coleslaw]

where could you buy them??? jw

[El Beefo]

where could you buy them??? jw

irs sports usualy has them I think

[clayski]

[Lobo]

[dregggsss]

i'm a fairly new user of rII floating axles... And i must say,they rock!

i would say the main advantages are: you lose much less speed in sharp turns, the grip due to the wide hanger is much better too!

true, they do not make you go faster in top speed, but you always roll nicely, and in all turns you're faster! Since i ve got those babies on, i have improved one or two levels. And i'm faster too. (i say so, but my friends too, they now have to really be concentrated if they want to keep up!)

the main disadvantages are: a pain in the A... when you clean your bearings or just want to rotates your wheels.

It will not be as precise as normal hangers because in order for the axle to turn, there needs to be a little play. Not more than half a Millimeter, but it's enough to feel it. If its well tuned, it's not much of a problem, but you have to pay attention!

I have only tested indys215, randall II and DH, so i cant compare to jimz or maguns ....

[mellowkat]

Another advantage over some of the high end hangers is the ability to flip the hanger, to change the handling.
I've been thinking of putting a spacer in the hanger, so you can tighten the nuts down to remove the play. The hanger needs to be bored out a bit, and I have loaned them out to someone right now, so this will have to wait.
Clayski, have you noticed the axle spinning when you are riding? I haven't on my set, its hard to tell though.
I think that because the wheels have so much more leverage than the axle to overcome the startup torque in the bearings, it would take a long time (or perhaps forever) to bring the bearings up to the same speed. All bearings having the same amount of resistance. Does that sound right to you?
They are a nice hanger, and if you are prepared for the extra maintainence and fiddling I would recommend them.

[tyler87]

Yeah, they are nice, and a good "inexpensive" speed truck if you really get into racing.

I noticed my axel spinning after I come out of turns. I don't know, it could just be me.

I could go on, but people allready covered most of it. You just need to have two skate tools with you to take the axel out.

[Lobo]

Yeah, they are nice, and a good "inexpensive" speed truck if you really get into racing.

They're about $280 in the EU..

[joker540]

i just got mine and i like them better than jimz's

as soon as my new deck gets here ill be running them with my new pogos

[tyler87]

Yeah, they are nice, and a good "inexpensive" speed truck if you really get into racing.

They're about $280 in the EU..

Well, how much are Jim Z's and Radikals?

[Lobo]

Yeah, they are nice, and a good "inexpensive" speed truck if you really get into racing.

They're about $280 in the EU..

Well, how much are Jim Z's and Radikals?

Don't know who sells those in the EU, but Maguns are about $340. The difference in quality is too big to describe though and I suppose the same goes for JimZ and Radikals..
What I meant was that they are not worth the extra money if you compare with the Randal DH. Look for used ones. I got mine for about $110.

[tyler87]

Yea, well, whatever works for where you are.

I got mine at the sweet vendor cost of 160$.

[Lobo]

I got mine at the sweet vendor cost of 160$.

I'd pay that too

[clayski]

[Thaison]

...I also have Radikal Talons and JimZ trucks to make comparisons with the Comps. As I said, in my opinion, none of them really ride hugely better than the other two. They each shine in different circumstances and conditions...

Hey clayski, great posts! But, I was wondering if you could tell a bit about the advantages/disadvantages that Radikals and Randal Luge hangers have against each other, or share for that matter. I'm sort of in a bind as to what I'm going to get. I've been looking at these two trucks mainly because they're both >200mm, which is pretty much what I need if I want to run decently loose trucks on my board. If I get either I'll be running them at either 45* (Radikals) or 50* (Luge hanger) baseplates. Help?

[clayski]