Bushings

Noticed that the Evolve Performance Bushings are made for them by RipTide. The WFB compound. Riptide notes that:

"Like APS, the WFB compound does not change much when you tighten the kingpin nut past snug. We recommend tightening to the point where it is difficult to turn the bushing in the bushing seat by hand. Use a flat washer for lower resistance and a cupped washer for higher resistance."

The stock black SuperCarve bushings are 90A.

Question to all you bushing gurus.
1. Do the WFBs in general have more rebound than stock bushings?
2. Do the WFBs feel more fluid than the stock bushings?

 

I adore the high performance bushings. Picked the set recommended in their YouTube video, and it seems to produce a super GTR ride quality, if that helps. Had over tightened stock bushings on my first GTR, purchased used. Felt like the “ride came to life”, had a much better feel, switching. I expect the HP bushings make the best ride quality Evolve could find possible on the GTR. Given how they talk about all their work choosing their urethane wheel offerings - makes sense to me they’d have gotten the best bushings for those boards, from a business perspective.

i think it’s just the pivot caps coming from riptide.

 

PS ride came back to life replacing the HP bushings with new ones, identical setup, after about 8 months riding. They deaden over time, I’ve found.

 

Thanks for the info.

Relative lightweight at 59kg. Took several sessions to finally tweak the bushing settings to where I like them. Loose up front at 2 and 3 threads showing. 3 and 4 threads on the rear kingpins. Compromise for carving and straight line speed stability. Not into speed. Usually keep it under 32kph. Especially on dirt and gravel. Fridays session was a bit different. Big swooping higher speed GS carves using the full width of two lanes on ballroom smooth rolling blacktop. My "secret" esk8 "break". Minimal to no traffic. No loose country dogs. 5km stretch. Into carving. Would like tighter radius carves at slower speed. Actually tighter radius at any speeds most of the time.

Once the stock wear out thinking about trying 87/90 combo on the front and maybe 90/92 on rear. Right now they are fine. Bit of fine tuning and adapt, accept, forget about and just skate. Like the WFB design where you just set the kingpin nut snug and not much changes vs. adding the variable of nut tension. Just experiment with different hardness combos.

 

That sounds like a good hardness combo you have planned. And I’d be inclined to email Evolve and ask their recommendation for your weight. I expose about one full thread and leave it. I bet I should consider the bushings worn out if they get too sloppy with one or two full threads exposed. I really like the feel of new bushings with one thread exposed, having that full range of motion.

 

Evolve USA has/had back in stock the complete Performance Bushing Kits @ $115 (USD). 20 sets plus 4 riptide pivot cups, washers and kingpin nuts. Local hardware had the correct sized kingpin nuts (3/8" x 24 tpi), but were too tall. About 3 x the stock nuts. My excuse for purchasing the Bushing Kit. Plus not sure what set up will be the best for my riding needs. Thinking the WFB are the better formulation for what I'm wanting. RipTide notes, "WFB also offers lower rebound than APS and is designed for the rider that wants a very fluid response."

Probably will have no need for the 98A, maybe no need for the 95A bushings. Will put them on the Marketplace or eBay. Close to a break even if I use the 87 through 92s after using promo coupon vs. purchasing all the needed parts individually. RipTide website notes pivot cups ~$14 for a pair.

 

I’d love it if you post your experience with RipTide bushings if you end up going that route! I did get the Evolve kit early last year, and had emailed them a couple times.
Ride quality fine points make such a difference to me now, 15 months of eSk8

 

Ended up with the Purple 90A on both front kingpins. The Yellow 92A on the board side rear kingpin. Purple 90A on the roadside rear kingpin. Quicker carving, stable straight line speed up to ~30kph (~19mph) on smooth pavement. The 90A Purple when initiating a carve feel softer than the Evolve black supercarve stock 90As. Definitely allows for a tighter radius at slow speed. At higher speeds you can really whip the board around. Initially went with 87s on the roadside front kingpin. All 90s on the rear kingpins. Bit too loose a feeling for my skill level cruising the rural roads. Bushing are snugged down to ~1 nut rotation beyond a free spinning bushing.

Next combo to try will be setting up the front trucks identical to how the rear are currently set. Thinking the current setup is ideal for my style and skill of riding. Allows for nice two lane wide moderate speed (20-30kph) GS carves to quick shallow squiggle carves.