Thomas Hansen, as the most called man on the +Blackriver Trucks+ topic made ​us ​a very interesting interview about the already mentioned Blackriver Trucks. We already had a chance to see them on Thomas’s fingerboard at the EFC. Thomas himself gave me some information about this brand new product. You can find it here. We asked on everything unexplained and new. And now you have the opportunity to read all features of trucks from the ground up to the last nut. We wish you will like it and hope that you will be much more smarter.

Hi Thomas, thanks for devoting your time to us. We prepared several questions for you about the Blackriver trucks.

Would you explain to us what makes these trucks so unique? Or, why should the riders buy these trucks?

First of all i would like to say everyone is of cause free to chose whatever trucks they want to ride. The BRR Trucks are just another product expanding the fingerboarders selection to pick from.
The reason we made these trucks is because we are longtime fingerboarders ourselves and with professional decks and wheels somehow professional trucks were missing.

We wanted a perfect pivotsystem to prevent the pivot from grinding out the pivotcup. A good pivotsystem = more boardcontrol.

We wanted the wheels to sit tight on the trucks for more boardcontrol and to prevent them to wear out crookedly.

We wanted to prevent the back of the wheel from getting broken (draging hangar-parts of the truck) and we wanted the wheels to sit on the trucks with the bearings not the back of the wheels. Otherwise it wouldn´t give any meaning to have bearings in wheels. Imagine skateboardwheels sitting on the trucks with the back of the wheels.
It means friction and friction is slowing you down.
So we wanted a smoother ride.

We wanted the axl pins not to reach out to far beyond the nuts to prevent scratches on tables and ramps.

We wanted the single parts of the trucks to be replaceable just like with skateboardtrucks. We made the axle pins slidable so you even can replace them (not possible with skateboardtrucks). Different bushings and axle pins are in the planning.

Is it possible to tear up the axle and replace them with screws (TTS truck tunning screws)? Is that necessary at all?

I havent tried that, because it is not necessary, but of cause everyone is free to do with their trucks whatever they like. Fingerboarders are creative. It is however important to be cautious when unmounting or mounting trucks, because some of the parts only fit one special way. The passing pins only fit from one side in the hangar. To tinker around with the trucks with external stuff is at one´s own peril. The best thing is just to mount the wheels and to put the trucks on the deck.

How long did this take to develop? Can you tell us who participate and test the trucks before they were released?

Well, the need for professional trucks is already a few years old. The actual planing goes back to 2008. First we had an idea what features we wanted (from the first question here) for the trucks. We quickly realised we had to have all single parts custom-made to fit our needs. In development this is hard because you can not just order any parts somewhere, mount them together and go skate.
The first sets of trucks were ready for testing just one day before we left for the trip to the US. Most of us literally put together their setup during the flight in the shaking plane. These trucks were only for the testing, they were the first prototypes. Already then we knew we were more than satisfied with the new gained boardcontrol and precision.

The second generation of prototypes were provided with a better pivot and a better kingpin.

The third prototypes had a few tiny changes to make the hangar stronger. This is basically the edition that hit the streets.

Don´t get us wrong, we really like the wide tech deck collectors trucks that came out during development, we just felt we wanted to go all the way to offer trucks to fingerboarders who want to fingerboard on the most professional level possible.
We think tech deck, other brands and BRR Trucks complement each other making it possible for every fingerboarder to chose whatever he/her likes. We had the team and friends testing the trucks in depth.

I guess there are two reasons why a few fingerboarders out there had problems with the new trucks while the team just mounted the trucks and started to fingerboard with no real problems:

Because we were involved developing the trucks we knew about why and how the trucks were built and what idea was behind the single features.
How should the kids out there have the same inside-knowledge? So, some were surprised about the slidable axle pins and tried to glue them or worse. In response we made a black instruction slip of paper to be put inside each truck-boxing explaining the most basal aspects of the trucks.
Even this is part of development, i think! The next step is we are ready with a full size instruction to the trucks in english language in a few days.
This will help people understand all features of the trucks answering their questions. The other reason is, these trucks can no longer be seen as simple toys. They are made for professional fingerboarding and to comply the needs of modern fingerboarding they are specially constructed. They are somehow what you can call „sports equipment“. This may sound funny, but i guess it is what fits the best in the end because the trucks are developed with certain features in mind they are no longer just a simple toy. Sports equipment demands more from the riders than a simple toy. It needs a little fine-tuning and maintenance and of cause a little patience and sensitivity. Some might have been surprised by this but i am sure in the end everyone can be happy because no matter on what level you fingerboard you can get the fitting equipment by combining trucks, decks and wheels the way you like it. You chose what you make of fingerboarding, along with other brands we just offer a range of goods to fit all different levels. Fingerboarding is moving, we have new ideas for future truck-generations and most wheelsbrands have already honored the trucks´precision and boardcontrol by creating wheels specially designed for the BRR Trucks. Soon fingerboarders can chose between a varity of wheelsbrands with a new bearingsystem fitting perfectly. Winkler Wheels, Flatface, Substance and others have seen the improvements connected with the trucks features.
And the best thing is, you can still chose whatever you like. No one is forced to ride any special brands. I hope people are fair enough to accept some riders want professional equipment and some are happy without.

How long does it take to make one truck? We understand that you cant describe the whole creation, we dont even want that from you. Can you just tell us some peculiarity concerning the making?

When producing trucks (no matter if we are talking fingerboard- or skateboardtrucks) the price-determining factors are the material costs and the cost for the working hours. What most people don´t know is the working hours are way more responsible for the price than material costs.
Since every single part is produced espspecially for these trucks in a low number of units the factor time is more than relevant. Mounting all 22 (!) parts takes time as well. To produce anything in miniature format it takes at least the same amount of work like with full size format trucks.
Remember the trucks are not just in small scale, they have to work as trucks as well! I can´t tell you how long it takes to produce one truck, but i am sure it takes way longer than skateboard trucks. With the Tool and keychain and the mounting screws the truck package contains more than 30 hardware parts. Again this is what i mean when talking about „sports equipment“ In comparison the cheapest trucks in the world have two parts: a plastic truck with a metal axle-pin stuck inside!

Could you tell us, as a rider, what you think makes these trucks different from other ones?

Well, this one is simple for me. I have been skateboarding for 20 years now and i always liked when i didn´t have to think to much about my equipment. With fingerboarding i was always annoyed about trucks not fulfilling my needs. I hated it, when the axle pins were about to fall of and when the pivot cup was completely scratched out. I didnt like how the wheels wore off in a crooked position because of all the slacky parts.
From time to time i had to buy new trucks every second week and at some point i didn´t fingerboard for 2-3 weeks because of lost axle-pins.
The new BRR Trucks fit my needs perfectly, as soon as i have managed the first finetuning, including securing the nuts with nut guard, i can go fingerboard without getting worried all the time. I know this might sound strange but i clearly have improved my skills since using the new trucks.
I have more control and less to worry, what more can i ask for.

And what is the other team riders opinion on them?

They are as stoked as i am! I guess we wouldn´t ride them if we didn´t like them! Everyone who was at any of all the events, contests and meet ups this year was able to see the trucks and the team in action and to form an own opinion. At events we are always there helping the fingerboarders with the finetuning.

Again we know, there are other brands out there, everyone has a freedom of choice, but that doesnt make the trucks bad. People should stop hating. Instead i am happy now equipment is avaiable for all different fingerboard-levels. Of cause a kid who just starts fingerboarding doesn´t need these trucks from the beginning. It is an extra choice of product, no more no less.

Can you tell these trucks are more durable than other brands, or are them better only as to the driving properties?

Well, all i can say is, i still have a set of the first prototypes working fine to this day since i got them in april. That is almost half a year and i have been fingerboarding more this year than ever before. I have to admit i have not tested all truck-brands in the world. I am sure there are a few good trucksbrands out there. We are concentrating on making the trucks as good as possible. I don´t want to compare any brands. Let every fingerboarder chose what they like to ride. Before i had like a set of new trucks every month, now i can go on for half a year and much longer, that is all that counts to me.

Whats your final advice to the riders who hesitate to buy the trucks?

If you have a chance to borrow a board with the BRR Trucks for a few minutes go ride it! If you should have a chance meeting one of the teammembers somewhere go and ask all the questions you might have. Remember not to get influenced to much by others, you know best what level of fingerboarding you want to be doing. Whatever you chose is ok! You don´t need to have all the newest stuff to be part of fingerboarding, just go with what you like to ride, even if it means you chose another brand.

Read the full size informations regarding the trucks in english (to be found on our webpage in a few days). It will help you to better understand the single features of the trucks.

All i can say is i have honestly never had better trucks in my life and every sincere person (including numerous non-teammembers) i talked to riding the trucks professionally loves the features of the trucks and the boardcontrol.

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