Finally getting the hang of going up curbs!

Lia

@loaffette Floatplates are a good purchase. Nice little disposable protectors for the bumpers that seem to wear down real quick. I've had mine for ages and they're holding up great although I don't do nudges/tricks. Maybe the occasional tail drag in emergencies or showing off.

Bang bumpers from TFL would keep your ground clearance intact and are nice and slippy but I've personally got no experience and can't vouch for if they won't wear down as quickly.

Franko

@lia said in Finally getting the hang of going up curbs!:

Floatplates are a good purchase. Nice little disposable protectors for the bumpers that seem to wear down real quick.

side thought i've always had: why are float plates made out of plastic? seems like it would be more durable and all that if they were thin aluminum, or steel. plus, sparks!

Lia

@franko I've seen them on eBay but never seen them used.

Sirgu

@franko said :

... why are float plates made out of plastic? ...

Because these are initially made by TFL. And TFL is all about tricks (for being lightweight and slippery).

Non-plastic "protective plates" (mind me call it that way), out of :

thin aluminum -- at least 1 variant out there if not more
steel -- (personally I know) 2 dif variants plus 1 "non-branded" [EDIT: the one @Lia just linked]
(added) sparks - [basically a narrow 'wear plate' with flint inlaid] -- also 2 variants: Draggin'Tail (by Armor-Dilloz) ; Street Sparks (by Fluid Theory)

To get back to the topic :: Out of all options TFL's BANGS should be still best pick for @loaffette as what hes up to.

LOAFFETTE

@sirgu I got the badger Bumpers from TFL because they were on sale (And they sent me a nice thank you note when the order and a bunch of stickers and keychain)

Heard that it was good for tricks and was durable so I went for it.
For now I'm going to run the 3D printed bumper savers that keep snapping

LOAFFETTE

@lia If I've got a lot of extra money, I'll try it out

LOAFFETTE

@franko those exists, and I would get them but Texas is very dry and there's lots of grass on my campus

Franko

@loaffette i should've known they actually exist. i haven't seen them, but i'm not a tricks guy, and like you i live in a fire-prone area. we get too many fires in the Sierra every year as it is. i wouldn't want to be the cause of one. : (

Sirgu

@LOAFFETTE Badger Bumper is definitely a great upgrade over original. Though, not convinced that it will catch up with BANGs on going up curbs. There are many topics out there with trick wheelers discussing over different plastic compounds used on aftermarket bumpers and their characteristics. Such as >this one in reddit< Or >that article< over there.

Furthermore .. you might wanna check this nice review video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDPxLoIaQKc&ab_channel=eevee%27s
... especially the part where they cover "nudgeability" of each bumper
and final results at the end.

I'm no trick guy either and can't share my own experiences with all those different plastics. But I could suggest you to skip buying those steel plates when you get that extra money of yours. Those will not fit along with your already existing Badger Bumpers in shape anyways. (The only way would be going back on fragile FM bumpers.) Secondly, the steel won't help you on progressing your curb nudges, although the material lasts forever. On a frictional matter it would be like comparing 'board slide' with 'crooked grind' in skateboarding. But on your succesful OW 'curb nudge' you'll need that extra momentum for timing that only plastic grants. Needless to point out:
*the sound each time you slap that steel down on concrete *stucky sharp edges of steel plate

On pics down here you see my set of steel plates paired with:
1.) Fangs 2.1 (by Land-Surf) -- doable! [not sure if that's the same case with Chinese steel "Tank" plates linked by @Lia]
2.) Fangs 3.0 front bumper (by Land-Surf) -- not doable. Even if cut down the curve on nose-rollers spot, still the edging curve-up is not fit.
3.) Draggin'Tail (by Armor-Dilloz) -- doable! But forget the perfect fit. And overall tail clearance will be reduced somewhat ~9mm (~3/8 inch). If you are trick guy and looking for progression on big drops as well - you don't want that either.

But for once again - I don't do nudges nor slides and I don't mind extra weight and other anti-trick properties of steel.

If I were you. I'd keep savings. Not rush on next purchases. Smash those Badger Bumpers till they do the thing. And .. if after a while still interested in progressing curb nudges (and maybe further tricks) .. eventually go and buy those BANGs.

LOAFFETTE

@sirgu That's the plan, really.

I just needed something to protect my onewheel so I don't completely ruin it. Waterproofing kit/Rim Savers are next.

Franko

@sirgu wow, thanks for this thorough post. all things i hadn't considered, particularly the wee bit of extra momentum needed on curbs. makes sense!