pavedwave longboarding

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

I recently got some Sabre bushings after reading many positive reviews and descriptions comparing them to abec11 and venoms in terms of rebound. I've been happiest with the abecs as far as performance and durability and didn't have any reason to try anything new, but I guess curiousity got the best of me.

I only bought the two softer duros, the orange conicals @86a and the purple barrels @88a. I know the folks who only use white and orange khiros will be scared off by these, but like reflex 'thane they feel/act softer than the indicated numbers. I tend to prefer firmer bushings than most for LDP, so take that into account.

I only tested these out on my front Bennett truck, since I'm using a Seismic in back. I'd been using abec11 barrel bushings of lemon (83a) on the bottom and pink (77a) on the top with cupped washers. I found that using the Sabres, an 88a barrel and an 86a conical with flat washers gave a relatively similar feel. Running double barrels felt good and fast, with more rebound and return-to-center, but a bit more effort involved. Going with the double cones was almost effortless, but still with some rebound (compared to white/orange khiros).

Since durability is perhaps the most important quality of bushings, time will tell if these get a big thumbs up, but as far as feel goes, it doesn't get any better than this. The only downside is minimal options. Abec11 did it right by offering a wide spectrum of duros and shapes--but they will soon take that away!

Note: These are almost identical in height to the abec11 bushings, perhaps a hair thinner, so they are meatier than venoms.

jose · Joined: 14 May 2009 Posts: 7

My Sabre barrels are the exact same size as my venoms barrels as if they were poured in the same mold.
I had wheel bite with Sabre 88a on a topmount with Indys and 70 mm wheels whereas it's fine with 85a Venoms barrels.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

This is an abec11 on the left and a venom on the right with the Sabre in the middle.

I got my venoms when they first came out, so I guess they've gotten a little beefier since then.

Gecko · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 16 Location: Illinois

I just tried these too.
Who'd a thunk you could run double barrels in the front of an LDP rig?

(Pulse V.1, 6.0, RTs)

How are yours holding up, Stocago?

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

So far they are holding up as well as the retros.

I'm hoping that sabre will offer the 86a in barrel form. And perhaps even develop a softer duro in the 82-83 range.

Update: 11/19
Just noticed that my sabre purple barrel that I've been using on the bottom of my bennett since August finally started to fray around the edges this week. I figure I pumped at least 300 miles with it, maybe as much as 500.

wafflesole · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 82

ive got sabre barrels all round on my dH board. amazing return to centre, feels really in control. might stick them in the virages.

prikelpit · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 24

I (90kg) used in front of a 150 Paris 13 °, the red Holey bushings after they walked 700km tour break in one storm! These are excellent!
Now I use at front truck 2 conical red Saber since 400km. These are really very good and very strong.
btw: I use behind the big green tracker (150 Paris-13°)and yellow holey !

cheers prikel
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LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

Ive been playing with some Sabre bushings for a while now. None of them are on my LDP setup but I like them in other applications. Ive been using the 88a purple barells in the back of some slalom setups and in the front of my downhill board. Ive also been running my pusher with 89a abec barells bottom and sabre cones (orange, i forget the duro) on top. Overall, they seem to be quality bushings. Im not sure how they hold up to pumping in the long run but i havent had any durability issues so far. the cones felt great out of the box but the barells defenitely needed some break in time. They were really greasy feeling and had way too much play until i rode them for a bit. I think rubbing them on griptape for a second before installing is probably a good idea too, just like i do with abecs now.

sabre trucks are cool too Smile

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Subsonic Pulse V2 - Bennett 4.3/Airflow 110 - BigZigs
Kebbek Flushcut - Prandal 180s - 85mm Speed Vents
AXE 2.5 - Radikal Claw/Splitfire - PPS Cone Crushers
Sayshun Speed - Sabre 190mm - 74mm Race Forms