First Look: Bennett Vector 'Thanes

[EBasil]

Mr. Bennett dropped by the Silverfish Longboarding editorial office complex this afternoon. I'm not allowed up there on the 27th floor, but I intercepted him down in the parking lot, near the dumpsters. I figured Malakai was so busy with the bean counters up in the suites that he'd assume I was just taking the recycling down. Anyway, it turns out that Mr. Bennett had these beauties with him, plus another set on a board with the new Alligator protos...





Look at that! They're 85a, and I didn't use my cell phone came on the black ones because those were dusty and we were busy riding them around the parking lot. Imagine your existing Vectors with more rebound to them...really lively and fun!!


The urethaned truks went home with Mr. Bennett, but those swank Speed-Dealer versions you see on the LBL Short Humu and those neat green wheels will hit the San Diego pavement just as soon as I can get out of here. There's tale the boss will let us go home early...

[leadfoot]

AAAaaargghhh !!! Friggin magic EBasil. You are so lucky.
Those look more like 65mm Alligators. They were only 59mm originally right??
Mr Bennett is going to really kick some ass this year.

[Anton Milioti]

RKs, Urethane bushings, and the re-release of the alligators.

wow Mr. Bennett has cooked up some awesome #### this year. and you better belive im gettin all of these things!!!!!

Erik, do you know if Mr. Bennett will be selling just the bushings? i would love to replace my big red rubbers with some of those!

[mc99david]

holy crap, i cant wait till those bushings come out, I wonder how they would ride in holeys...

[EBasil]

Erik, do you know if Mr. Bennett will be selling just the bushings? i would love to replace my big red rubbers with some of those!

I know that Mr. Bennett reads Silverfish and listens to requests and suggestions. From what we discussed, I know that the Bennetts will find a way to help anyone that would like to get these bushings for the "retro Vectors"....my term there.

[~Stuart~]

so EBasil you like hang around in this guys condo garage till you see him, then you jump him and take his new gear??? sweet, can i come

[NBtodd]

holy crap, i cant wait till those bushings come out, I wonder how they would ride in holeys...

Dude, the Holeys ride great in the Bennetts. Should work both ways - and be very similar to how they ride now.

[Paipo Jim]

Those look more like 65mm Alligators.

I hope not. I'm becoming increasingly less enthusiastic about excessively high riser setups.

[EBasil]

Hey, Paipo!! Be not fooled. Rely on your numerology.

[leadfoot]

Cmon EBasil,.... spill......
Whats your first impressions??
What size ARE the wheels??
Do they smell like lime??

[mellowkat]

Dude you've been reading too many MBA mags!!
The new bushings and wheels do look nice though.

[boogaloo28]

any word on a release date for these puppies?

[EBasil]

We saw the Bennetts out at the Bonelli race on Saturday. I think the 'thanical Vectors will be out in May.

[surfinsmiley]

A new wave of green set to sweep the world by the looks of it huh.....

[SteveC]

^^^Only clear, not fluro...
Had my first ride on what I'd call a 50% tuned Bennett on Sunday.

[EBasil]

I think the bushings will be translucent red, just like you see there.

[EBasil]

...and so it shall be: I just got the news from Mr. Bennett, this evening: the Vectors are all now shipping with bright, red, translucent bushings like those shown above, and they've cut the price on the truks! Silvers are now $22.50 each and the black ones are $25.50 a pop. The duro's gone up from the 85a used in the Big Red Rubbers...but they're more turny.

There's more news from the Bennetts:

--They will be releasing a Vector 6.0, soon. They've had a lot of requests for wider Vectors that can be used on long/wide boards, so they're doing it. Protos are being skated in SoCal, maybe even as you read this.

--The Viper speedtruk is nearly ready. Mr. Bennett says that the urethane Devo Hat bushings are presenting the delay right now, but that we'll be skating on Vipers this summer. Those of us that have been on the protos are stoked with how deeply they turn while being stable. They're not just another Randal knock-off, that's for sure. The Vipers tune, turn and feel different.

--The Alligator wheels are maybe six weeks out. After prototyping, the Bennetts are now machining the wheel molds. The protos ride great...see the other thread.

--They've still got a stock of Big Red Rubbers for purists, collectors and anyone else that needs them. Despair not, cavemen! Ho ho!

[hung bunny]

Is the truck design different, or just the bushings?

Either way, I'm glad I didn't buy a set of Vectors last week like I intended. Patience did actually work out for once.

[oldnbroken]

So is the production Viper going to be a 60 degree speed truck?....or something a bit less?

60 degrees seems steep for a carver much less a speed truck though I am anxious to try them cause I love my Vector 4.3 and 5.0's.

[samhell]

Crap, just bought another set for the wife last thursday...
No Jolly Rancher thane on em', just the old red rubber ones..
That's OK, I set them up my own way....
I'm anxious for the 6.0's, those should rule!
I'm also looking forward to the Alligators...