ASRA - Australian Skateboard Racing Association

Kookies v Smokeys

Hi I'm considering getting some serious downhill trucks and I'm wondering what your opinions are on what to get? I really like the bear smokeys and Kookies. Which is better? Is there much of a difference?
So that's what I want to know.
Thanks
Jackson

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe on October 6, 2009 at 23:42
Wouldnt it feel good holding a setup that didnt cost you a great deal,had just standard bear/randal trucks. Knowing that your on a podium because of skill and not only a little nudge from the expensive gear you ride?

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by sean meaney on October 7, 2009 at 0:04
CNC is not a need, another upside of cast trucks is that if you break something at newtons or any other event its not going to be hard to replace because randal compatibal plates and hangers are a dime a dozen, you can also afford to take back up parts for your trucks to races because they dont hurt your wallet so much. Newtons i will be running a board i spent 195 on and it works fine so the cost of a product means nothing (yes i got the deck free)
Permalink Reply by Aj Hare on October 7, 2009 at 0:16
I reckon Kookies are better...
But so it turns out I recently bought smokeys off Leeso.
Just a quick question regarding what Jacko said... What barrel bushings fit in the hanger where the spherical sits? i tried my reflex but it was chronic tight, or should it be like that?
and he's right about that twitch, it sucks balls.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on October 7, 2009 at 7:20
barrel bushings are kinda a 'stock standard' shape, i dont think they have different widths, if they do they are minute.
ive stuffed a khiro in there and it fit tight but the most snug fit was a venom... they are the best bushings anyway so go for them =)

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Jacko on October 7, 2009 at 7:24
by the way, at newtons the track is lined by concrete walls and they stack the hay up against that, its solid as fuck and hurts... forest elbow is going to be breaking a lot of people's gear that weekend and i hope your all prepared to bend some axles... i bent 3 last year... 2 in one crash!
Permalink Reply by tom Crane on October 7, 2009 at 7:48
sand out a seat for the spherical??

Aj Hare said:
I reckon Kookies are better...
But so it turns out I recently bought smokeys off Leeso.
Just a quick question regarding what Jacko said... What barrel bushings fit in the hanger where the spherical sits? i tried my reflex but it was chronic tight, or should it be like that?
and he's right about that twitch, it sucks balls.
Permalink Reply by Michael English on October 7, 2009 at 8:05
i meant it as a rhetorical question

Ash said:
if you need to ask that question, i really dont think you need either!

Michael English said:
do kahas have the same split axle goodness as kookys? because either way im going to have to wait for a few months to get them.

Jacko said:
70mm wheels are fine with kookys, the kingpin doesnt hit bumps and what not, u just gotta turn it around so it faces inwards (as in the nut of the kingpin is closest to the board not the ground). They have a deep bushing seat so the kingpin will sit nicely in the hanger and wont stick out too much. The smokeys have a spherical bearing in the hanger which creates a larger gap between both bushings, thus making the kingpin closer to the ground.

and also, adding risers will not give you more traction, just more leverage for turning...
having low trucks does not give you a drifty ride, they have split axles and actually are designed to give you more traction as the power through turning is delivered straight to your wheels. Look at slalom trucks for instance, the best slalom trucks are split axles and they provide superior traction and power compared to regular trucks. It comes down to what sort of board your riding and the wheel base that determines what sort of traction you are going to get.

For the smokeys, you dont really have to run them with the spherical bearing in the hanger, you can take it out, flip the hanger and put a bushing straight into the slot where the spherical was (only a barrel shape bushing will fit). Now this creates a nice deep bushing seat and thins out the distance between each bushing, creating a nice and smooth ride. Both bushings arent 1cm away from each other and are now working in nice harmony and give you that nice return to centre you never felt with smokeys. The spherical in the hanger was good for going fast and straight as it allowed those slight twitches (aka speed wobs) to just fade out and the truck would just kinda float, however in corners those twitches were a lot more noticable. Another thing with removing the spherical bearing is it solves the kingpin issue, as the kingpin sits much lower and more recessed into the hanger you dont have to worry about cats-eyes and cracks and what not when running smaller wheels.


now the only problem your facing here is that Kookys are unavailable for a while and your gonna have a hard time getting them, not to mention they are very expensive...
So... get Kahalanis, they are the next best thing (and cheaper) and you can get them from www.earlyskateboards.com for $400 or from Cre8iveSk8 (not sure how much he charges for them).

Hope that helps

ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by Bugs on October 7, 2009 at 9:42
Jacko said:
by the way, at newtons the track is lined by concrete walls and they stack the hay up against that, its solid as fuck and hurts...

Just a FYI...there's meant to be a gap between the concrete and the hay. There was last year for the most part, and there will be this year. Most of the wall behind Forest has a stack of rubber tyres in front of the concrete as well.
Permalink Reply by api ihaia on October 7, 2009 at 11:14
yeah i agree with you watch louis pilloni rip he is always on randals or paris trucks and goes nuts down hills

Jacko said:
ash got it in one... do your research before dishing out the large amounts of money on expensive equipment u might not like... chances are you probs dont even need it. try before you buy is the best way.

remember kids, expensive gear does NOT make you go faster nor will it make you a better skater, that all comes with experience... back in the day there wasnt any of this expensive fancy flashy techno space-age contraption stuff to put on your skateboard (im not that old but still) and dudes were getting by and absolutely mach-10ing down hills gnarlier than you could ever imagine and riding way better than you could. So think about it, do you really need to spend mummy's hard earned dollars on something you might not even need? dudes today still rip it to shreds on basic cast trucks, it all comes down to your skill... sure CNC trucks feel nice and have their own characteristics but face it, your not racing world cup here and all your going to be doing is going out and thrashing about on your skateboard, so wouldnt you want something that wont hurt your soul when it breaks? cheap trucks ARE better for free-riding, they are lighter and will always feel more nimble than any CNC trucks, and they cost a fraction of the price.
so are you racing yet? do you need all this flashy gear? save your parents some money or spend it on something else, like traveling to a race and getting experience...

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Roni Dylan Villanueva on August 9, 2010 at 0:51
i dont wanna revive an old topic and might sound stupid..but i have the 08 smokeys and i do get those kingpin grinds..i am just wondering if anybody who had the old smokeys had tried doing this..anyone? having the bushing buried in the place where the spherical bearing is, wouldn't it mean that there will be lean/compression issues? i use 93A duro roadside, but with this setup, would it mean its better to use a smaller duro since the bushing is recessed?

Jacko said:
70mm wheels are fine with kookys, the kingpin doesnt hit bumps and what not, u just gotta turn it around so it faces inwards (as in the nut of the kingpin is closest to the board not the ground). They have a deep bushing seat so the kingpin will sit nicely in the hanger and wont stick out too much. The smokeys have a spherical bearing in the hanger which creates a larger gap between both bushings, thus making the kingpin closer to the ground.

and also, adding risers will not give you more traction, just more leverage for turning...
having low trucks does not give you a drifty ride, they have split axles and actually are designed to give you more traction as the power through turning is delivered straight to your wheels. Look at slalom trucks for instance, the best slalom trucks are split axles and they provide superior traction and power compared to regular trucks. It comes down to what sort of board your riding and the wheel base that determines what sort of traction you are going to get.

For the smokeys, you dont really have to run them with the spherical bearing in the hanger, you can take it out, flip the hanger and put a bushing straight into the slot where the spherical was (only a barrel shape bushing will fit). Now this creates a nice deep bushing seat and thins out the distance between each bushing, creating a nice and smooth ride. Both bushings arent 1cm away from each other and are now working in nice harmony and give you that nice return to centre you never felt with smokeys. The spherical in the hanger was good for going fast and straight as it allowed those slight twitches (aka speed wobs) to just fade out and the truck would just kinda float, however in corners those twitches were a lot more noticable. Another thing with removing the spherical bearing is it solves the kingpin issue, as the kingpin sits much lower and more recessed into the hanger you dont have to worry about cats-eyes and cracks and what not when running smaller wheels.


now the only problem your facing here is that Kookys are unavailable for a while and your gonna have a hard time getting them, not to mention they are very expensive...
So... get Kahalanis, they are the next best thing (and cheaper) and you can get them from www.earlyskateboards.com for $400 or from Cre8iveSk8 (not sure how much he charges for them).

Hope that helps

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Matthys on August 9, 2010 at 8:17
just give it a go man, then experiment with softer bushings if need be

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