The Aera RF-1 trucks are renowned for their unique and playful feel, making them a favorite among longboarders who enjoy carving and stand-up slides. This review delves into what makes these trucks special, their performance characteristics, and why they stand out in the market, despite being discontinued.
Specs Overview
- Baseplate Angles: 50°, 46°, 42°
- Widths: 150mm, 176mm, 180mm
- Construction: Cold Forged Aluminum
- Cost: Approximately $190
- Rake: 5mm
- Status: Discontinued
A Deep Dive into the Aera RF-1 Performance
Playful and Carve-Focused Ride
The Aera RF-1 trucks offer an incredibly enjoyable and playful experience. Simply cruising from one point to another becomes a delight with these trucks. Their exceptional carving capabilities are truly remarkable, allowing for deep, responsive turns that feel natural and intuitive. The RF-1s make carving an absolute joy.
Aera RF-1 trucks
Surprisingly Capable for Stand-Up Slides
While primarily known for their carving prowess, the RF-1 trucks also perform admirably for stand-up slides. They feature a strong center that allows for controlled slides and makes holding out big stand-up slides surprisingly easy. The center also provides a touch of stability, adding to their versatility.
Stability Considerations
Despite the strong center, these trucks aren’t inherently the most stable. They tend to react to road imperfections, sometimes making the ride feel less forgiving, particularly at higher speeds. A slight miscalculation or input can result in noticeable twitching of the trucks. Additionally, some users report a peculiar “oscillating” sensation at very high speeds, which isn’t quite a wobble, but a back-and-forth movement of the hanger.
This behavior stems from the trucks’ deeper turning radius, which responds more intensely to input and uneven road surfaces than other trucks might. This characteristic, while ideal for carving and slow-speed playfulness, can become a limitation at higher speeds. Therefore, it’s not advisable to push these trucks beyond 40 mph.
Aera RF-1 hanger
Bushing Sensitivity
Another unique characteristic is how the RF-1 trucks interact with bushings. They tend to wear out standard bushings faster, causing them to lose rebound. Using higher rebound bushings, such as Hardcore barrel bushings, is essential to maintain consistent lean, control, and return to center. Additionally, using a fat bushing on the boardside can help to control the deep turning and enhance stability.
Aera RF-1 bushings
These trucks, while discontinued, remain one of the best options on the market, as long as they are used in the environments for which they are optimized.
What Sets the Aera RF-1 Apart?
The Ball Pivot
The most notable feature of the Aera RF-1 trucks is their unique ball pivot. This design, rare in the longboard truck market, enables a much deeper turn than traditional pivot systems. The result is a responsive, playful feel that’s ideal for carving and maneuvering.
Aera RF-1 pivot
Deep and Direct Turning
The RF-1 trucks turn exceptionally well. They offer a deep turn that allows for a level of responsiveness and control that few other trucks can match. The turn feels very direct, translating your movements immediately to the board. However, the depth of the turn can also affect stability, especially at higher speeds and on rough surfaces.
Stability: A Balancing Act
The stability of the Aera RF-1 is a complex issue. While the trucks do have a strong center, which contributes to the feeling of stability and control, they are not particularly forgiving at high speed. The strong center eliminates any slop in the truck’s turning, resulting in a very direct and precise feel.
Speed Limitations
At speeds above 30-40 mph, the RF-1 trucks can become unpredictable, exhibiting a strange oscillation. This isn’t a full-blown wobble, but rather a back-and-forth movement of the hanger that can be unsettling. While it’s not necessarily uncontrollable, it highlights that these trucks are not optimized for high-speed riding.
Exceptions to the Rule
Despite the general consensus, some skaters, like Mirko Paoloni, have pushed the RF-1s to extreme speeds, reaching 100kph. These cases are exceptions and likely involve specialized setups, such as more voluminous bushings on the boardside, and skilled riding. Additionally, some riders flip the hangers for negative rake which will enhance stability.
Venom barrical bushings
Sensitivity to Road Imperfections
The deep turning capability of these trucks also means that they react more intensely to road imperfections such as cracks or pebbles. When you hit a bump, the trucks will twitch significantly before returning to center, which can feel unsettling. This sensitivity contributes to their reputation as being not particularly stable overall.
Traction Consistency
Despite the stability quirks, the RF-1s are very consistent at the edge of traction. Because there isn’t much slop in the system, riders can rely on predictable performance when pushing the limits of grip.
Bushing Wear and Tear
One of the more significant factors in optimizing performance for the RF-1s is proper bushing selection and maintenance. They tend to make bushings work harder than usual, causing them to lose rebound quickly. This means that to maintain a smooth and controlled lean, bushings with higher rebound or more volume are necessary.
Recommended Bushings
For best performance, higher rebound bushings like Hardcore Barrel bushings are highly recommended. These bushings help to maintain consistent lean, control and improve the return to center. Additionally, using a fatter bushing on the board side can help stabilize the deep turn of the trucks.
hardcore barrel bushings
Stand-Up Slide Performance
With their direct feel and strong center, the RF-1 trucks perform excellently for stand-up slides. They provide a predictable and controlled feel that makes performing bigger slides easier.
toeside slide on rf-1s
Durability
The RF-1 trucks are known for their exceptional durability. Being cold-forged, they are extremely strong and can withstand a lot of use and abuse, maintaining their shape and performance for a long time. This makes them a worthwhile investment, even though they are now discontinued.
Ideal Use Cases
The Aera RF-1 trucks excel in the following situations:
- Dancing: Their responsive turning makes them ideal for longboard dancing and freestyle.
- Carving: They are amazing for carving and cruising due to their deep and playful turns.
- Freeriding (Below 40mph): While not ideal for high speeds, they are a good choice for freeriding within moderate speed limits.
They are less suitable for:
- High-Speed Downhill: Their stability limitations make them a poor choice for high-speed downhill riding.
- Riding over Rough Terrain: The sensitivity to road imperfections can make the ride feel unsettling at speed on rough surfaces.
Maintenance Tips
To ensure the consistent performance of your Aera RF-1 trucks, it’s important to clean and lubricate the pivot regularly. Unlike some trucks, the pivot is more susceptible to performance issues caused by dirt, which can affect the truck’s turning.
Aera RF-1 pivot cup
Final Thoughts
The Aera RF-1 trucks are truly unique and offer a one-of-a-kind skating experience. While it’s a shame that they are no longer produced, their legacy continues. They are best suited for riders who enjoy carving, dancing, and controlled stand-up slides. Though not perfect for high speeds, they are exceptional for many other types of longboarding. Hopefully, Aera will bring a new version in the future.
