Labeda Predator Chassis on Bauer XG Lite's or new wheels

[Spud387]

My 47mm Hyper wheels are pretty much toast after 2 1/2 weeks. I am now left with a couple options... but first a little history.

Before this year, I used 59mm 80a or 78a wheels attached to a player's skate. I play on a poorly polish concrete surface. I found that, at that hardness, they rolled well (didn't feel sticky), the wheels did not slide excessively and they didn't chip.

I have now invested in a pair Bauer XG Lite's, however, they only take 47mm wheels and those are 1) hard to find, 2) expensive & 3) only come in 74a or 76a.

Since my current wheels are toast I need a whole new set, so:

A) I can buy 12 new 47mm Rink Rat Crossbar goalie wheels (so I have 2 spares) for around $130 US (and might have to pay custom fees), but I run the risk of having these chip on me too (I am a slightly heavier build, 5'11" 200lbs). These cost $14ea at the only store that sells them locally. They also only come in 74a.

or

B) I can buy the Labeda Predator Chassis for around $155 (and might have to pay custom fees) and use 10 59mm 78a/80a wheels that I already have.

What do people think I should do? What is this chassis like? With 5 59mm wheels, the chassis must be pretty long? Whats that like?

Also, my skates are size 8EE so I would be buying the small chassis and all these "estimates" are from inlinewarehouse.com

thx all

[bruins4777]

Personally, I think you should just go with the wheels.

That said, if you do choose to go the chassis way I have a sure grip 305 and labeda predator chassis both in small. The predator one is fairly used, but the suregrip is brand new. I could most likely throw in some wheels as well. I probably couldn't send it out till the 20th at the earliest though. Anyways, this is probably too much, shoot me a pm if you're interested.

[S2daj]

I have 47mm cross bars and love them..

thats my 2 cents

[cisco]

I'm rocking the 47mm rinkrats and I'm 6'3" and 260lbs, no problems with chipping or chunking and that's on rollon surface... Fing Australia doesn't have sportcourt!

[leaferguy]

Cisco's experience is counter to the experiences I've had.

Personal recommendation is to go with the Predator chassis and 59 mm wheels. I'm biased because it's what I use and I've yet to see the levels of chunking that I see on the 47s (same wheels - Rink Rat Crossbars).

The 59 mm Rink Rat Crossbars are a great performance wheel and pretty grippy. The 59 mm Revision Axis wheels are very, very durable but not as grippy. I currently run 3 Crossbars up front and 2 Axis wheels in back.

The chassis is pretty long, but I've never had any detrimental side effects with respect to that. These are size 10 or 10.5 EE Bauers.

[cisco]

Leafer,
For some reason I thought the new 2008 rrcb are a bit sturdier, although I just rechecked my wheels and they are starting to split off the hub (front wheel) DAMN IT!!! Well they have lasted 6 games.... . In the past, I saw guys with chunked out rr's so I stayed away and continued to use my old Labeda Goal Patrols. Finally, I needed new wheels and opted for the 47mm rr's due to their close resemblence in profiles to the goal patrols.

Oh and nice skates...



These pictures are after 6 games of use on rollon, with 260lbs on them...

[c0nquistad0rian]

Spud,
I'm not surprised that the wheels on your Bauer XG Lite's have already started chunking and cracking. Those Blue Hyper wheels are ****.

The old versions of the Bauer skates used to have black Hyper wheels that I think were an 82A. You can still find sets of them every now and then on eBay or in the classifieds on this BB.

As for the 47mm Rink Rats, even though they're only 74A, they're MUCH more durable than the Hypers. I'm a lighter goalie (5'9, 145lbs), but I had a set of the Rink Rats that lasted me about 14 months, with only one wheel slightly cracking down the middle. I could still play in that set, but I am now in a new set just because I noticed that they started to lose a little grip.

Obviously some people have had other experiences with the Crossbar wheels, but I think that you should give them a go before you make your decision.

If you're not into that idea and are set on going back to a 59mm wheel setup, then I think that another option that you have is to take your Tuuk chassis off of the Bauer skates and put a lift/spacer in between the chassis and the cowling which would then allow you to put larger wheels in.

It sounds like a lot of work, but when you consider the price of the Labeda Predator chassis and the fact that you already have a perfectly good chassis in the Tuuk chassis, it definitely seems worth it.

Here is a pretty detailed thread with pictures on how this mod is done:

Roller Chasis?

[leaferguy]

Originally Posted by cisco

Leafer,
For some reason I thought the new 2008 rrcb are a bit sturdier, although I just rechecked my wheels and they are starting to split off the hub (front wheel) DAMN IT!!! Well they have lasted 6 games.... . In the past, I saw guys with chunked out rr's so I stayed away and continued to use my old Labeda Goal Patrols. Finally, I needed new wheels and opted for the 47mm rr's due to their close resemblence in profiles to the goal patrols.

Oh and nice skates...


These pictures are after 6 games of use on rollon, with 260lbs on them...

Yeah, not to take away from RR at all, but it's hard to make a wheel that's truly durable at that size. There starts to form a significant tradeoff between durability and performance. You're definitely a bigger guy than I am, and for being used on rollon for six games, they actually don't look that bad! I've seen Sportcourt tear them up in a shorter time on smaller guys.

One of the guys I know who's had trouble with the 47mm RRs is on the board (Appel). He's around 6'1" and at the most 240 or so. The wheels kept chunking on shots or falling to pieces. I do think you're right in that the newer ones have definitely lasted longer, but I still have reservations.

Thanks! It looks like we're both rolling with Bauers I hate that I now have a Bauer bone, but once the skates broke in, they felt great. BTW, since it looks like your front wheel is the one that's dying, have you thought about a higher durameter wheel up front?

[Alex30]

Originally Posted by leaferguy

Yeah, not to take away from RR at all, but it's hard to make a wheel that's truly durable at that size.

Nonsense!! If they can send a man on the moon, they should be able to make a 47mm wheel that does not come apart after couple of months.

Alex

[leaferguy]

Originally Posted by Alex30

Nonsense!! If they can send a man on the moon, they should be able to make a 47mm wheel that does not come apart after couple of months.

Alex

You missed the next part about performance vs. durability

[Alex30]

I didn't miss it. I continently excluded it.

[Spud387]

Originally Posted by c0nquistad0rian

Spud,
I'm not surprised that the wheels on your Bauer XG Lite's have already started chunking and cracking. Those Blue Hyper wheels are ****.

The old versions of the Bauer skates used to have black Hyper wheels that I think were an 82A. You can still find sets of them every now and then on eBay or in the classifieds on this BB.

As for the 47mm Rink Rats, even though they're only 74A, they're MUCH more durable than the Hypers. I'm a lighter goalie (5'9, 145lbs), but I had a set of the Rink Rats that lasted me about 14 months, with only one wheel slightly cracking down the middle. I could still play in that set, but I am now in a new set just because I noticed that they started to lose a little grip.

Obviously some people have had other experiences with the Crossbar wheels, but I think that you should give them a go before you make your decision.

If you're not into that idea and are set on going back to a 59mm wheel setup, then I think that another option that you have is to take your Tuuk chassis off of the Bauer skates and put a lift/spacer in between the chassis and the cowling which would then allow you to put larger wheels in.

It sounds like a lot of work, but when you consider the price of the Labeda Predator chassis and the fact that you already have a perfectly good chassis in the Tuuk chassis, it definitely seems worth it.

Here is a pretty detailed thread with pictures on how this mod is done:

Roller Chasis?

I am well aware the the Bauer Hyper's blow chunks (literally ), but I have also heard from some people mentioning that even the Rink Rats can chip apart.

Thats a good idea about raising the chassis and I wish I could do that, but 59mm wheels still won't fit in the Tuk Chassis.

In the picture below you can see whats happening to my wheels and how the chassis prevents me from using 59mm wheels even if I raised it. The damage to that wheels occurred after 5 games, during the period of one week. On the chassis, there are metal bars between the wheels and they don't allow enough clearance for a 59mm wheel.


I think I have decided to order the new Labeda Chassis tomorrow evening. I play on average 5 times a week and my wheels get a lot of wear on them so being able to use the cheaper and harder wheels will save me money in the long run as they won't have to be replaced as frequently. i also prefer a harder wheel at around 78a/80a.

It's yet another expense I know, but I am trying to think forward here; what will save me money in the long run and what will i be most happy with. Also, I will be a little higher off the ground with the Labeda chassis, which will help stop my pads from dragging too much (I have a wide stance).

Thanks for everyone's opinions, please keep them coming if you have them.

[c0nquistad0rian]

Originally Posted by Spud387

I am well aware the the Bauer Hyper's blow chunks (literally ), but I have also heard from some people mentioning that even the Rink Rats can chip apart.

Thats a good idea about raising the chassis and I wish I could do that, but 59mm wheels still won't fit in the Tuk Chassis.

In the picture below you can see whats happening to my wheels and how the chassis prevents me from using 59mm wheels even if I raised it. The damage to that wheels occurred after 5 games, during the period of one week. On the chassis, there are metal bars between the wheels and they don't allow enough clearance for a 59mm wheel.


I think I have decided to order the new Labeda Chassis tomorrow evening. I play on average 5 times a week and my wheels get a lot of wear on them so being able to use the cheaper and harder wheels will save me money in the long run as they won't have to be replaced as frequently. i also prefer a harder wheel at around 78a/80a.

It's yet another expense I know, but I am trying to think forward here; what will save me money in the long run and what will i be most happy with. Also, I will be a little higher off the ground with the Labeda chassis, which will help stop my pads from dragging too much (I have a wide stance).

Thanks for everyone's opinions, please keep them coming if you have them.

I know that on their own, the wheel wells in the tuuk chassis aren't wide enough to accommodate 59mm wheels. Read the whole thread that I linked about putting spacers in. You can file down that area between the wheel wells on the tuuk chassis to make the 59mm fit. It's been done. Check out the pictures.

I understand that you want to go back to 59mm wheels, but you can do it for a much cheaper price than you can ordering the Labeda Predator chassis. THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE TUUK MOD TO BEGIN WITH. And it looks like you're concerned about the expense of the Predator chassis, anyways. Consider that a 1/4" plastic cutting board, metal file, and drill can all be had for less than the price of the Predator chassis (again, I'm not saying that the Predator's a bad chassis, but you've got a perfectly good tuuk chassis). Don't bite the bullet when you have the antidote right in front of you!

[Spud387]

Originally Posted by c0nquistad0rian

I know that on their own, the wheel wells in the tuuk chassis aren't wide enough to accommodate 59mm wheels. Read the whole thread that I linked about putting spacers in. You can file down that area between the wheel wells on the tuuk chassis to make the 59mm fit. It's been done. Check out the pictures.

I understand that you want to go back to 59mm wheels, but you can do it for a much cheaper price than you can ordering the Labeda Predator chassis. THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE TUUK MOD TO BEGIN WITH. And it looks like you're concerned about the expense of the Predator chassis, anyways. Consider that a 1/4" plastic cutting board, metal file, and drill can all be had for less than the price of the Predator chassis (again, I'm not saying that the Predator's a bad chassis, but you've got a perfectly good tuuk chassis). Don't bite the bullet when you have the antidote right in front of you!

Ok, I didn't see the part where he filed down the chassis. I will read through the rest of the thread later today when i get a chance.

[cisco]

If you're still looking for a cheap new 5 wheel frame here's a one on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...BSI%26otn%3D12