GTS First Ride

[TheAdman]

@onedangts C&R certainly do, I have some myself. The quality is superb.

[NotSure]

@notsure i got some custom ones pending. two sets pending actually.

[OneDanGTS]

@notsure Can't wait to see them!

[LOAFFETTE]

@onedangts They do!

[NotSure]

@loaffette where?

[OneDanGTS]

@notsure Those look like The Float Life side kicks colors. Craft and Ride has the customizable ones.

[NotSure]

@onedangts Ahh, but not the reflective FM Blue. That color was electric! Soooo good at night! Would be really nice for the new board... Speaking of which- it has my approval.

Went straight to Apex. First thing I did was drop in on the small grassy hillsides outside my door. They're not very tall but they are steep, reminiscent of a decent red slope... Immediately I noticed the additional power. That nose is not soggy and Im no featherweight! The turf is rutty in places but it just powered through the crests and troughs.

Second thing I did was ride through the loose river gravel driveway. The gravel is deep because Im lazy and didn't rake them well. The board handled it easily!

Third thing I did was fucking rip it up the street at 20 mph!!! So good! Effortless acceleration... I rode it to the harbor via several well-paved roads The weather was clear and seasonably warm. I rode for about an hour, got 14+ miles with a top speed of 25.2 mph. Below 35% is totally usable. I was towing my nephew up some of the hills on his bike earlier.

I reduced the tire pressure to 17 psi. I'm a chonky 200 lbs right now, so that and the friction of the stock tread probably ate some of the range. I think stock XR is a very good range comparison. Overall, I'm very happy with it so far. Hopefully we get a freakishly warm, dry winter with little wind.

Hard to believe it, but I actually missed the vega a tiny bit. No speed wobbles... La Vega se hacer tus mas macho!!

Spoiler

Wow indeed, young man...

[OneDanGTS]

@notsure said in GTS First Ride:

Went straight to Apex.

I was a Delirium rider on my XR and nothing but Apex on my GT. When the GTS arrived, I tried the popular Flow thinking with all the extra power, I wouldn't "need" Apex. Got to my 1/2 mile dirt road turn around point and Flow wasn't doing it for me on the dirt, although the ride to get there was nice. Switched to Apex and rode home and liked that a lot. Next day, stayed on Apex and wasn't as smooth at speed, so wanted Flow back, lol.

Long story long, I did this to Flow and so far it really feels improved for my riding.

Edit: @LOAFFETTE, this also beefed up the low speed torque, so now it accelerates quick at almost any speed.

[OneDanGTS]

@biell said in GTS First Ride:

How does that new footpad feel? Would you consider buying them for your GT?

Revisiting this after a dozen or so rides on the lowboy footpads. I definitely like them a lot as I have ZERO foot pain during my rides. If I had the original concave pads on my GT, I would swap them for these. Since I have the flats on my GT, if/when I get it back (loaned it out to a newbie), I don't think it's worth it to swap out the flats for the lowboys as the flats have that XR feel to them, which I really like.

[NotSure]

@onedangts Yeah im def looking forward to trying out some custom profiles... in a few months i guess

[biell]

@onedangts Thanks, depending on the black friday sale, I might pick up a set for my GT. I think I would still put the Proride Grip pads on top of them for extra comfort and a touch extra concave.

[OneDanGTS]

Jimmy finally gets back on a OW, the GTS, and does a pretty thorough review. For a more cruising type rider like myself, I agree with most of his claims, but especially about how much safer the GTS is compared to previous models.

[Franko]

@onedangts interesting. i wonder if FM sent him one to review, or did he buy one? I thought he had left OW behind due to various reasons. They keep going on about speed, and i just really don't care how fast they go, because i'm not a speed demon. I just like to cruise.

[biell]

@biell $US 131 was enough of a sale for me to buy the GT low-boys. I actually bought two sets. I generally like my front and rear footpads to be the same. So, if I like them the way they are, I am sure I can sell the other set later at my BF cost. If I want to play, I could try the front on both sides, or possibly modify one of the rear ones and transplant or add a Stoked Stock sensor. I'm also picking up some ProRide Darkside Grip pads to put on top.

Lots of options, I will let you all know if I do something crazy and it works out for me.

[OneDanGTS]

Got tread?

So I hopped on my board yesterday for my birthday ride and my tire was dead flat. Must've run over something the day before. This was the OEM performance tire and it had just over 1800 miles on it. Still some wear left, as I ride mostly pavement, but was getting a bit angled on the edges.

Coincidentally, TFL came out with a new treaded tire, the ThunderCat, on Friday. So what is one to do when they live 6 blocks from TFL headquarters???

Took it out after the install (also needed a new power cable clip, didn't feel like I broke it, but one more trip to TFL to grab a nice metal one and I was good) and am definitely happy with my purchase.

This tire has some major grip, both on the pavement and in the dirt. I'm a 90% pavement rider, but also an ABC rider, so the hold on the carves is confidence inspiring and the transitions are buttery smooth. The tire is louder than the performance tire, but I kind of like being able to tell how fast I'm going just by the sound. It may quiet down as the tire wears, but it's not too loud as to be annoying.

It does feel a lot like the GOAT I have on my GT with how well it holds a carve and the dirt/gravel confidence. I actually took it through some loose gravel today and was able to carve, whereas on the old tire, I wasn't confident enough and would try to ride straight through gravel.

Anyone that likes the Hoosier T2 or the GOAT would be well served with this tire.

[NotSure]

@onedangts happy bday!

[Lia]

@onedangts Must be great being that close! Happy Bday too ^-^

[OneDanGTS]

@onedangts said in GTS First Ride:

It may quiet down as the tire wears, but it's not too loud as to be annoying.

Quick follow up with about 150 miles on the ThunderCat. I would say the noise level is about half what it was when new. On some surfaces you can barely hear it, but the hum is still there and definitely keeps me informed in real time as to my approximate speed. Overall, loving this tire, great grip both on and off pavement. :D