60 inch drop through ok for beginner buttboard?

[Home Grown Boards]

Hello,
Im kinda new to the buttboard/luge thing, but have always been thinking about it in the back of my head. I want to get started, but do not have money to spend as I am just another 17 year who is working for a car.
I am a fairly experianced longboarder and have the confidence to go fast there, so im not totally unexperianced. I will not(for the time being) be going fast, just kinda lighter hills to have fun on.
My "dancer" is a 60 inch drop through longboard, almost no flex and very heavy. It has a 42 inch wheelbase and is about 9.5 inches wide. I have bear grizzly truck on it along with lemon and orange bigzigs. The trucks are fairly loose now, but i have the orighinal stiff/hard bushings for it that i can switch in.

I guess im just asking if you(the people who know what there doing) see anything in my description that would not work/set me up to fail. Also any and all suggestions/tips will be well appreciated.

Thank you in advance
Grant

[chrismcb]

Hello,
Im kinda new to the buttboard/luge thing, but have always been thinking about it in the back of my head. I want to get started, but do not have money to spend as I am just another 17 year who is working for a car.
I am a fairly experianced longboarder and have the confidence to go fast there, so im not totally unexperianced. I will not(for the time being) be going fast, just kinda lighter hills to have fun on.
My "dancer" is a 60 inch drop through longboard, almost no flex and very heavy. It has a 42 inch wheelbase and is about 9.5 inches wide. I have bear grizzly truck on it along with lemon and orange bigzigs. The trucks are fairly loose now, but i have the orighinal stiff/hard bushings for it that i can switch in.

I guess im just asking if you(the people who know what there doing) see anything in my description that would not work/set me up to fail. Also any and all suggestions/tips will be well appreciated.

Thank you in advance
Grant

My suggestion, go to Home Depot or some similar store and buy a plank of plywood. Cut out a classic board shape. This will cost you what, 10 bucks or so?
You could ride your dancer, but the problem is it will be difficult to hold your legs up. Not to say no one does it. But if you build your own buttboard, the deck will extend out in front of the front truck and help you hold your legs up.

You could use your Bears, they are fairly wide, although I don't know what their kingpin angles are. IF YOU like it, you'll probably want to get something with a steeper angle (I'd reccomend R2s)

As for riding, start of EASY, and work yourself into it. I had a lot of fun riding my board in a garage. Our top speed was probably 30 MPH. At this speeds I'd recommend gloves, helmet, and elbow pads.

[Home Grown Boards]

thanks, I appreciate the advice! I make my own longboards anyway, and i have a few blanks on hand, so i might do that! should i do drop through or no(doesnt look like theres too many drop thoughs for a reason im assuming)? wheelbase? width? and like you said, long "nose" to support the legs.
as for trucks, I have some rIIs on hand and I have some flashbacks 81a on hand as well as some gumballs 78a,

[Rich Nelson]

thanks, I appreciate the advice! I make my own longboards anyway, and i have a few blanks on hand, so i might do that! should i do drop through or no(doesnt look like theres too many drop thoughs for a reason im assuming)? wheelbase? width? and like you said, long "nose" to support the legs.
as for trucks, I have some rIIs on hand and I have some flashbacks 81a on hand as well as some gumballs 78a,

the reason there probably isn't any drop through buttboards, is that dropthrough means you need cut outs. which would probably lead to wheel/leg bite. or the wheel hitting you upper body near the back truck.

[Home Grown Boards]

Once I started thinking about it, thats what i figured...
From the responses I have, I think I will make buttboard and just experiment with that a little bit and see how it goes, setup will end up being RIIs and 78a gumballs, I think i will start out with some stiffer bushings. one more question. Risers? should i use any? wedged? still any suggestions for wheelbase?

Thanks again in advance
the novice idiot

[chrismcb]

Technically, the buttboard rules say that a dropped deck is illegal. IGSA changed the rules to saying the bottom of the deck has to be at least 80mm above the ground.

But, rules aside, you will have issues with wheel bite, at least for the front trucks. If you don't do some sort of cutout, or have tall trucks, you'll need a riser. But play with it. For R2s Id recommend wedging both trucks. Point both wedges forward.

As for wheelbase. Rules say a buttboard can't be more than 4 feet long. Place the back truck near the back of the board. The front truck should go about 1 foot back from the front.

Sure you can run gumballs. IF you do, you may really need to use a riser. Also know that rules call for a max of 70mm. Doesn't mean you can't ride something else if you don't race.

[Home Grown Boards]

Technically, the buttboard rules say that a dropped deck is illegal. IGSA changed the rules to saying the bottom of the deck has to be at least 80mm above the ground.

But, rules aside, you will have issues with wheel bite, at least for the front trucks. If you don't do some sort of cutout, or have tall trucks, you'll need a riser. But play with it. For R2s Id recommend wedging both trucks. Point both wedges forward.

As for wheelbase. Rules say a buttboard can't be more than 4 feet long. Place the back truck near the back of the board. The front truck should go about 1 foot back from the front.

Sure you can run gumballs. IF you do, you may really need to use a riser. Also know that rules call for a max of 70mm. Doesn't mean you can't ride something else if you don't race.

I dont plan on racing anytime soon, all im concerned about right now is getting me out of the house and on the road. This board im thinking will be a few inches longer than regulation, if nothing else, I can shorten it later.... and i think ill get some wedges to experiment with... once i start making it(probably this weekend) ill post some pictures, hopefuly ill be able to stain and paint a lil this weekend as well...

[Home Grown Boards]

Ok, Im back, and now i have a buttboard!
I finally made myself a dedicated buttboard, I have it set up with wedged r-IIs and 78a 69mm seismic hot spots. I have just tested it out once quickly, but i got it up to 30 mph on the second run, so i felt pretty good, had a ton of fun too, I just need longer good hills!

[sk8norcal]

wats ur wb?

typical buttboard is 31"wb with 50deg rII's, flipped hanger,
hard bushings

[Home Grown Boards]

wats ur wb?

typical buttboard is 31"wb with 50deg rII's, flipped hanger,
hard bushings

when i did the back end of my board i dont think i was paying attention too much cuz the board ended up at 50 inches. not reg size, but chances are i wont be doing any official races for a while if at all. so oh well. the wheelbase is 34 inches
oh and i have the back hanger flipped and the front is unflipped, it seems to be wrkin well so i think ill stick with it

[Home Grown Boards]

Here I am, back from the dead i know, but here is the finished buttboard along with a slolom ish board I made at the same time...