Four trucks tested head-to-head on the same deck, wheels, rider. Which turns, which holds, which breaks first.
PP
Panos Psaras
Editor · Living the Board Life
Published 18 Mar 20269 min readAffiliate disclosure+
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Trucks decide more of how your board rides than any other part. Wheels you can swap in ten minutes, decks wear out in six weeks. Trucks stay under you for three to five years. Worth getting right.
01Who this guide is for
You've skated long enough to know that turn feel isn't just a preference. You're ready to swap off a stock truck that came with a complete. You care about the difference between a 47° and 50° kingpin enough to read on.
A pair of Indies outlasts three decks. Buy once, ride happy. That's the whole pitch and it's been right since 1978.
02How we tested
Four pairs of trucks, one rider, one deck (Baker Capital B 8.25), one set of wheels (Bones STF 52mm). We swapped trucks every seven days in a rotation, so the rider spent equal time on each before forming conclusions. Total test period: four months.
Terrain: mixed plaza (MACBA, Sants), street ledges, two park days, one small bowl session.
Weight kept constant: same deck, same wheels, same bearings throughout.
Bushings: stock on each, not swapped — we wanted to compare stock-feel.
Grinds logged: 60-40 split between ledge and coping; we watched for kingpin catch on both.
The safe default, and the benchmark for a reason. If you don't know which truck to buy, buy these. Six months later, you'll either know why you keep them or have a specific reason to swap.
Hanger width
139mm (8.0–8.25" decks)
Kingpin
48° standard
Weight
330g per truck
Bushings
Indy standard 90A
Baseplate
Forged
Skill level
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Pros
The turn is the benchmark — every other truck is compared to an Indy
Bushings are servicable, replaceable, and Indy's stock 90A fits 80% of riders
Baseplate is forged, not cast — the difference shows after the first grind
Cons
Heavier than Thunders by ~30g per truck
Kingpin sits higher — slightly more likely to catch on tight coping
The tech skater's pick. If you live on ledges and flat-ground, Thunders feel better than Indies — lighter, lower, tighter turn. You pay for it in speed stability and bushing life.
Hanger width
148mm (8.125–8.25" decks)
Kingpin
Hollow, low-profile
Weight
295g per truck
Bushings
Thunder 94A barrel
Baseplate
Forged
Skill level
Intermediate, Advanced
Pros
Lightest truck on test — flip tricks feel quicker almost immediately
Low kingpin clears grinds the Indy catches on
Turn is tighter than Indy — better for technical lines at slower speeds
Cons
Bushings need replacing inside 3 months of hard use — softer compound
Feels twitchier at speed; bomb a hill and you'll wish you had Indies
The underrated one. If the choice between Indy and Thunder feels like a compromise either way, Venture genuinely solves it. Lighter than Indy, more stable than Thunder.
Hanger width
142mm (8.0–8.25" decks)
Kingpin
50° standard
Weight
305g per truck
Bushings
Venture stock 90A
Baseplate
Forged
Skill level
Intermediate, Advanced
Pros
Splits the difference between Indy weight and Thunder geometry
Stock bushings last longer than Thunder's — closer to Indy service life
Marginally tighter turn than Indy without the Thunder twitch
Cons
Less iconic — resale on a used pair is poor compared to Indy
Axles in our test sample had slight thread wear after 400km — we re-tapped them
The truck for riders who've tried everything. If you want a turn feel that isn't the standard Indy clone, Ace is the answer. Premium price, premium engineering, genuinely distinct ride.
Hanger width
144mm (8.125–8.25" decks)
Kingpin
47° Ace geometry
Weight
320g per truck
Bushings
Ace stepped bushings 90A
Baseplate
Forged, inverted
Skill level
Intermediate, Advanced
Pros
The deepest turn on test — Ace geometry is genuinely different, not a rebrand
Stepped bushings give a progressive turn feel — gentle at the start, firm at lean
Best truck here for pool/transition — leans into carves predictably
Cons
Most expensive truck here — you're paying for the Ace design
Takes a week to adjust to — feel is genuinely different from Indy/Thunder
If your current trucks "turn wrong", it's almost certainly the bushings, not the trucks. A €7 Bones Hardcore pack transforms a stock Indy. Try it before replacing €85 worth of hardware.
Match the hanger to the deck
8.0": 139mm Indy / 144mm Venture. 8.25": 149mm Indy / 148mm Thunder. 8.5": 159mm Indy. Going a size small on purpose is a style call, not a performance one.
Low, mid, or high?
Low: big wheels too close, pressure on deck, tighter turn. High: more clearance, wider carves, slight wobble risk. Mid covers 95% of street skating. Start mid.
Frequently asked questions
05 questions
Within a session, no. After a week on each, absolutely. Turn feel, kingpin height during grinds, and bushing compression all start to matter. If you're new, buy Indies and stop thinking about it. If you've been riding a year, the differences become real.
For weight, yes: ~15g per truck. For durability, no: hollow kingpins fail under enough abuse (we've broken one on a bad handrail attempt). Most skaters will never notice. If you're chasing every gram, hollow. If you're hucking stairs, standard.
Every 4–6 months of hard daily riding. You'll know when — the turn gets vague, or the truck won't stay tuned between sessions. A €7 pack of bushings is cheaper than a new truck.
Yes. Hanger width should match deck width minus about 0.125" each side. An 8.25" deck wants a 149mm/8.0" hanger. Going a size down is trendy but pushes your wheels into the deck on carves.
Forged baseplates survive impact better than cast. Every truck on this list is forged. If you see a cheaper truck with a cast baseplate, save up another €20 and get the forged version of whichever brand.
Street · Transition · Bowl · All-round
