pavedwave longboarding

stridey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 48

Just thought I'd give an update on the new front Virage 'Vite' we are working on.

The Vite is intended as tight slalom front truck, and with a (slightly) wider hanger as a front LDP truck.

We have been working on these for a while, the arrival of a new four axis machine at the workshop has led the machinists to explore different methods of milling the truck from the Virage LDPS already out there.

The entire look of the truck will be radically (no pun intened) different to whats out there at the moment. Think more along the lines of a Lazer truck than a Bennett, but with a bit of Virage thrown in. Integrated riser and wedge as standard.

The 'Vite' will be available as a hanger, or baseplate, or both, and will be Bennett compatible.

Pic to follow....

cappa · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 42

Love the Virages & looking forward to these. Have you found a solution to the 'kingpin bite' problem that the wedged Bennetts suffer from?

stridey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 48

egret · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 84

I'm interested in a baseplate probably. I don't really care about adding riser, just wedges. Make it as low as possible, you know? If peope can pump a g bomb they could pump a board with cutouts. $.02. The pita for me is the different length bolts.

Edit: I mean adding the wedging is enough. I will add flat risers myself. It is easier to make a board higher than lower.

stridey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 48

Totally agree Egret.

We hope to make one baseplate, for slalom and LDP.

I think keeping bolts short really helps feel and directness. In and ideal world Id like most riders to use a 1/8th soft riser, then the Vite baseplate. I think that with differening wheel and deck setups some riders will want to add risers, and sure, some will want a small amount of angle, but not to the extent of the current jenga towers most riders are using.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

By bennett compatible do you mean Bennett Hanger+Vite Baseplate or Vite Hanger+Bennett Baseplate or maybe even both?
_________________
The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

stridey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 48

Both!

I want people who have tweaked their boards using Bennetts to consider buying just a Vite Hanger, to gain a spherical bearing or plug in the hanger, 8mm reversed axles with integrated speed rings and smooth machined pivot.

Some people may want just a baseplate. No problem. This would remove the jenga towers of risers.

Some people will want both.

...and to whet your appetites further and as a nod to the history of Bennett we are prototyping some baseplates made from.....plastic! ....well actually glass loaded acetal..... with todays industrial processes it just MIGHT be possible to make plastic baseplates that dont break! Its worth a try!

Here is a sneak of how chunky the baseplate is looking. It is purposefully simple, and lack the Virages lines, but this is a different style truck, deserving a fresh approach using the machines and materials we now have available and using what we have learned form the Virage LDPs.

You can see the the bolt holes have a slot for the nut. The reasoning behind this is that due to our machining process the baseplate needs to be thicker than the Virage LDP as it is where the CNC grips the shape, too thin and the side would wobble... think of a drill bit in a chuck flopping about. But what we will do to make a positive from this is to make a slot for the nut. SO when you mount the trucks I envisage you will hold the nut in with your thumb as you do the nut up. Should save you using a socket on that side, which is sometimes awkward as the hanger and wheels can get in the way.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

...i have to change my underwear now Embarassed

thanks alot stridey. and do you have a price yet? or maybe what yout hink they will cost
_________________
The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

I don't suppose there is a demand for a 6.0 hanger, huh?

WiZzY · Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 13 Location: The Netherlands

When are they ready for production?