Paris trucks have earned a reputation as the reliable workhorses of the longboard world, much like Toyotas in the automotive industry. The V1 and V2 models were widely embraced, but the question remains: Does the V3 live up to the legacy? Let’s dive into a detailed review to find out.
Paris V3 Truck Specs
Before we delve into the performance, here’s a quick rundown of the V3’s specifications:
- Baseplate Angles: Available in 50° and 43° options
- Width: Offered in 150mm, 165mm, and 180mm sizes
- Construction: Made from cast aluminum using a proprietary alloy forming process
- Rake: 2mm
- Cost: Around $58
- Recommendation: Consider upgrading bushings and pivot cups for enhanced performance
Paris V3 Performance Review
Summary
The Paris V3 trucks are a solid choice for any longboarder looking for a reliable cast truck. These trucks provide a smooth and controlled feel through turns, offering excellent stability and responsiveness. They are a prime example of what a high-quality longboard truck should be.
Paris V3 baseplate
Whether you’re into cruising, dancing, freeriding, or even downhill, the V3s will perform admirably. They work exceptionally well straight out of the box, with quality pivot cups and bushings. However, upgrading to aftermarket bushings is highly recommended to unlock their full potential.
Paris V3 trucks on Landyachtz Freedive
One notable drawback is the absence of a slop-stopping system. While the trucks perform well, they do exhibit a slight amount of slop, which can make them more sensitive to road imperfections at higher speeds and feel less consistent when aggressively pushing into slides. For casual riding, this won’t be an issue. However, riders looking to push their limits might find this a limitation, requiring a more cautious approach when initiating stand-up slides at speed.
Overall, the Paris V3 are high-quality cast trucks that perform well in various riding styles.
Paris V3 baseplate bottom
Improvements Over V2
The V3 represents a significant upgrade over the V2, featuring a more robust manufacturing process and a reinforced design that makes them both stronger and lighter. Another key improvement is the use of height-matched baseplates, eliminating the height discrepancy between the 50° and 43° versions found in the V2. These enhancements have led to a smoother and more controllable ride compared to its predecessor. The addition of a clear baseplate imprint indicating the angle and a “V3” logo adds to the overall refinement.
Paris baseplate angle imprint
Turning and Lean Characteristics
The Paris V3 trucks are designed for quick and responsive turning, thanks to their progressively tighter bushing seat. The initial turn is very swift, but the design restricts the turn as you lean further. This unique characteristic results in a dynamic, diving feel that is ideal for navigating corners.
Paris V3 hanger roadside bushing seat
The bushing seat also provides a smooth and predictable lean, offering increasing resistance as you compress the bushings. While the turning radius is somewhat limited, it is sufficient for most riding situations, and the responsive lean is well-suited for carving. At the edge of the lean, the trucks are quick to engage into a slide. This design allows for a very controlled and intuitive riding experience.
skating on the landyachtz ripper
Stability
Despite their responsive turning, the Paris V3 trucks offer excellent stability, particularly due to their strong center. This stability is further enhanced by the need to slightly compress the bushings to fit the kingpin nut flush, which preloads the bushings. The result is a truck that can maintain a straight line with minimal effort and remains reliable at higher speeds.
Performance Over Road Imperfections
These trucks handle road imperfections reasonably well, although they do not perform as well as trucks with slop-stopping systems or hanger-centering aids. They tend to react a bit more to uneven surfaces before returning to center. This is generally not noticeable at lower speeds, but can reduce confidence when pushing the limits, and might require more careful input when riding.
How to Improve Their Performance
To mitigate the impact of road imperfections, consider using inserts with a durometer rating around 95a. These inserts can reduce slop, add a bit of center, and make the trucks less reactive to road imperfections, which can help the rider feel more in control.
slop stoppers for paris savants
Other viable options include Hardcore barrels from Bones or Magnum bushings from Riptide. The Magnum bushings, being slightly wider than standard bushings, fit the Paris bushing seat better and are known to reduce slop. Hardcore barrels reduce slop thanks to their internal plastic insert. Some riders also opt for harder bushings and/or cupped washers. Cupped washers help manage the edge of the lean and can provide additional control when performing slides.
Sliding Performance
The Paris V3 trucks are well-suited for sliding, easily initiating slides when reaching the edge of traction. However, riders who aggressively push the trucks into slides may encounter inconsistency. This was not noticeable when riding hands-down, but did impact confidence during stand-up slides due to the truck articulating unpredictably. This issue is less pronounced when feathering the trucks into the slide, but it can still be limiting for more aggressive riders.
sliding on paris trucks
This inconsistency can be a limiting factor, especially when trying to push the limits of freeriding and downhill. While there are many riders who perform exceptionally well on these trucks, this limitation is the main weakness. However, this can be mitigated with aftermarket bushings or slop-stopping solutions, such as the Riptide Magnums, Hardcore barrels, or homemade inserts.
stand up slide on the landyachtz ripper
Dancing and Freestyle
Paris trucks are a popular choice for longboard dancing and freestyle. Their smooth lean and turn, combined with their durable construction, make them suitable for enduring the demands of various tricks and impacts. The V3s are more than capable of meeting the needs of dancers and freestylers.
Durability
The Paris V3 trucks are known for their durability, with the hangers designed to withstand significant wear and tear. While the pivot cups may require replacement after a few months of hard riding, the overall build quality ensures they will last a long time. Paris also provides a lifetime warranty, offering replacements for bent or damaged trucks.
Stock Components
The Paris V3 trucks come equipped with high-quality urethane bushings and pivot cups. While the stock bushings perform well, they may be too soft or stiff depending on the rider’s weight. Upgrading to aftermarket bushings is recommended for riders looking to fine-tune the trucks to their specific needs. The stock pivot cups perform exceptionally well.
paris v3 with stock bushings
What Could Be Improved
The main limitation of the Paris V3 trucks is the lack of a slop-stopping system. While this is a common limitation of cast trucks, it impacts the consistency during aggressive slides. It’s hoped that Paris will introduce a plug barrel system in the future, similar to Caliber and Bear.
plug barrel venom bushings
One small design issue is the tight geometry of the hanger’s bushing seat. This could make it difficult for some bushings to fit properly, which can lead to frustration. However, this issue seems to have been addressed in recent iterations of the Paris V3, indicating that the company has likely made some adjustments.
Where to Buy
The Paris V3 trucks are available for purchase from various retailers. You can find them on Amazon.com and Stoked Ride Shop.
Final Thoughts
The Paris V3 trucks are a considerable improvement over their predecessors. They offer a unique blend of responsiveness, stability, and durability. They are a testament to Paris’ dedication to quality and performance. Despite a small limitation when it comes to aggressive sliding, these trucks perform admirably across a range of longboarding disciplines.
These trucks are so well made they easily stand up to the likes of Savants which says a lot about their capabilities.
paris savants with a randal basepalte
It is hoped that future iterations will address the minor drawbacks by incorporating a slop-stopping system. This would make them even more appealing to those looking to push the limits of downhill and freeride. For the time being, the Paris V3 are a high quality option for any longboarder. The advancements made by Bear and Caliber, with their Gen 6 and Caliber III trucks respectively, show that Paris has plenty of room to grow. However, these V3s are a very high quality option that many will enjoy.
Example Setups
Here are two setups using the Paris V3 trucks to give you some inspiration.
Setup 1
- Deck: Landyachtz Freedive
- Trucks: Paris V3
- Hanger Width: 150mm
- Baseplate Angles: 50/35
- Front Truck:
- 81a/85a Venom HPF barrels
- Flat washers
- Back Truck (Randal 35° Baseplate):
- 93a/95a Venom HPF barrels
- Flat washer boardside, Cupped Washer roadside
- Wheels: Various
landyachtz freedive with paris trucks and 72mm kevin reimer wheels
Setup 2
- Deck: Landyachtz Ripper
- Trucks: Paris V3
- Hanger Width: 150mm
- Baseplate Angles: 50/50
- Front Truck:
- 85a Hardcore barrels
- Flat washers
- Back Truck:
- 85a Hardcore barrels
- Flat washers
- Wheels: Supreme Hawgs
landyachtz ripper with paris trucks and supreme hawgs
Randal Compatibility
The Paris V3 trucks are compatible with Randal baseplates. This gives riders the option to use different baseplates, which allows riders to customize their setup further. For example, a lower degree rear baseplate is a popular option. This compatibility with Randal geometry opens up a lot of options for riders who want to fine-tune their setup, and allows them to explore the use of adjustable or low angle baseplates from brands like Boardnamics. More info on Randal compatible trucks here.
Conclusion
The Paris V3 trucks are a solid choice for any longboarder, offering excellent performance and versatility. They perform well straight out of the box, and can be further enhanced with a few key upgrades. While not perfect, they stand out as one of the best cast trucks currently available.
A big thanks to all the patrons who make articles like this possible.
