z-flex lightning for slalom?

[lettucefresh]

Ok, i didn't know wether to post this in slalom, or what. I've gone out and ran cones quite a few times with the MHR crew, but i've never had a formal slalom board, and i'm trying to set one up for this summer with least amount of buying of stuff.
These are my z-flex trucks, 129mm, i've got two sets, love 'em. the width is good for gs, but i'm trying to figure out if i want a set cut down for ts/ hybrid.
My (uninformed) guess would be that i would use these for a back truck (traction truck), but i'm not really sure. I included some pictures with a view of the geometry.

Would these be ok trucks to start on? i really like these trucks, is it worth having a set(or one) cut down to 105mm for ts? Can anyone analyze the geometry and tell me how they would compare as far a stability and grip to trackers or indy's? thanks.

[doctor worm]

straight pivots (RTX) are used in the front typically. i guess it would require more dewedge to go in the back. but what do i know....

[stevie]

...looks like a quick turning truck. Is it? Nice fat pivot, perfect for the ball.

Is that a hollow axle?

My guess it that it would be a doable slalom truck, at least up front if not in back too, properly wedged. If you decide its worth it you could narrow the hanger to 100mm or less and put in an 8mm axle and ball pivot. It actually looks lke a good candidate for modding. It might still work decently as-is, at least until you fix it up or get something better.

[lettucefresh]

hollow axle all the way. these trucks are really light.

[lettucefresh]

but what do i know....

alot more than me.

so you think this would work better as a wedged front?

[boogaloo28]

I can't tell if that angle is really steep or really shallow but its definitely alot different from an RTX. Straight pivot makes me think front truck but that kinda angle might suggest otherwise, I'm just not sure if that's a more or less turny angle (why are traditional trucks harder to understand than "more advanced" trucks like randals?)

[Captain Hampton]

You're picture was a bit off btw. My attached photo shows how to measure the angle of turn which in the case of this truck is not good enough to be up front.

[lettucefresh]

sweet, thanks.
so it won't turn fast enough up front...
what about using it as a rear truck with ample de-wedge?
or would something else be a whole lot more stable?

[stevie]

The vertical kingpin is at the same angle to the deck as if it were a dewedged truck, but the hanger is like a beefy dagger pivot indy tipper, a strange mix.

[Mr. Zogs]

Gotta love that weird z-flex geometry!




Z-Rollers right here, yo!

[Sensei]

Hahahaha, Z-rollers. Those are for cheaters


It depends if your going to spend money on someone cutting down the truck or not. If so, I'd say just use that cash and buy a 106 RTX instead. You could run that as a back truck. My GS setup has 106 RTX front, and a 130mm cut down Randal in the back, and I can still get it through 6 foot centers.

But if your the one doing the cutting, go for it and see how it works out.

[CRASS]

is 6ft. considered TS?

[Directive0]

is 6ft. considered TS?

if its ALL 6-ft I would call it TS.. but if its X# of cones at 6ft, then some at 7-8 etc etc then no.....right?

[Parallel Man]

"Tight," "Hybrid" and "Giant" are not defined just by cone spacing. It's more a question of "cones per second" or "How fast and how furious?"

Cones at 5-foot on a flat surface can be tight. Cones on a 4% grade at 6 foot can be tight. Cones on a 10% grade at 7 feet can be tight. Just saying "6 foot is tight" doesn't really take into account everything about the course.

Also, there's a question of surface quality. If you're on some 40 year old cobbly asphalt on a slight grade and trying to run 6-footers, you might be going so slow that's it faster to get off and walk! If, though, you're on the flat and running 6-footers on polished concrete (think of a Home Depot floor surface) with 90A wheels, you'll swear those are the tighest cones you've ever tried.

Remember the four things that make a slalom course: spacing, surface, grade and offsets. Any combination of those four factors will affect your wiggle speed and the measure of "tightness."

Sorry to briefly hijack your thread, Lettuce. Just trying to spread the gospel with a little more clarity.

[lettucefresh]

so you think these would be okay as a rear truck without any modification?