The Rogue ZM1 trucks have quickly become a topic of discussion in the downhill skateboarding community. As precision trucks designed for downhill slalom, they promise to enhance performance for both average and advanced riders. This in-depth review will explore the specifications, performance characteristics, and unique features that set the Rogue ZM1s apart from the competition, aiming to give you a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses.
Rogue ZM1: Technical Deep Dive
Before diving into the performance aspects, let’s break down the technical specifications of these trucks:
- Baseplate Angles: 55 degrees front / 20 or 23 degrees rear
- Width: Adjustable between 100-112mm
- Rake: 12mm
- Front Truck:
- Bushings: 73/78a Venom HPF standard barrel bushings
- Washers: Flat washer roadside (RS), no washer boardside (BS)
- Insert: Spherical bearing
- Pivot: Spherical pivot
- Rear Truck:
- Hanger: Trailing axle design with axles aligned with the bushing seat
- Bushings: 95/97a Venom HPF standard barrel bushings
- Washers: Cupped washer roadside (RS), no washer boardside (BS)
- Insert: Spherical bearing
- Pivot: Spherical pivot
- Price: $475
Rogue ZM1 Trucks
Performance and Feel
The Rogue ZM1s are designed to allow you to push your limits, whether you’re an intermediate or advanced skater. While they might not magically transform you into a world-class skater, they will certainly give you the tools to elevate your game and help you feel more comfortable.
Are They Game-Changing?
While these trucks may not lead to dramatic changes in lap times, they are indeed “game-changing” in their ability to allow more riders to achieve peak performance. The combination of performance and ease of use is a standout feature. They eliminate the feeling of being held back by your equipment, allowing you to progress faster and more confidently. This is key to allowing intermediate riders to push their limits and achieve more than they thought possible. They enable you to confidently engage different roads, and experiment with aggressive lines.
Close-up of Rogue ZM1 trucks on a skateboard
Why They Stand Out
The Rogue ZM1s stand out for their ability to combine the best features of various trucks:
- Smooth Slides: They offer a smooth transition into and out of slides, reminiscent of Ronin trucks.
- Aggressive Turning: They provide aggressive turning from the front truck, similar to slalom trucks.
- Exceptional Stability: They offer great stability, a key feature of slalom trucks.
- Edge Grip: They provide an excellent edge grip and feel at the limit.
- No Insert Bounce: They eliminate the mid-lean bounce found in other trucks like the Gold Rogues.
- Easy Maintenance: They offer easier maintenance than Ronin trucks.
- Freeride Capability: They are versatile enough to be used for freeriding, like Ronin and Aera P2 trucks.
- Zero Slop: They provide a slop-free and precise feel.
These features combine to create a truck that is versatile and high-performing, allowing you to confidently engage in both downhill and freeride sessions. The ZM1s can become a one-stop solution for those who want to master both downhill and freeride disciplines.
Rider on a longboard with Rogue ZM1 trucks
How the ZM1s Turn and Lean
Turning Characteristics
The ZM1s are characterized by a quick dive and aggressive change in direction, delivering immediate responsiveness. They use standard bushings that quickly bring you to the end of the turn. The trucks prioritize an aggressive, decisive turn rather than a playful, leany feel. They initiate the turn quickly, positioning you at the apex and ready for the next move.
Cornering with ZM1s
While the fundamentals of cornering remain the same, the ZM1s can enhance your control and precision. If you’ve already pushed your limits, you may not see dramatic gains. However, if you’re looking to improve, these trucks allow you to exit your tuck a little later, turn in a bit later, and hit the apex more easily. The key is that they make it easier to perform at your best.
Close-up of Rogue ZM1s
Stability at Speed
Despite the aggressive turning, the ZM1s are surprisingly stable at high speeds. The “big center” of the trucks allows you to maintain control without the feeling of riding on a “knife edge”. They provide a comfortable and stable base that will only react when you command them to. However, you will need to adjust to how sensitive the turning input is.
Light Inputs
The ZM1s are highly responsive and don’t require aggressive inputs to change direction. The 55-degree front truck angle and spherical insert contribute to this responsiveness, allowing for quick turns with minimal resistance. This can initially feel very different than other trucks and require an adjustment period. It can lead to your board turning faster than your body can react, which you will get used to with time.
Feel Comparison
The turning feel of the ZM1s is often compared to Paris trucks, characterized by a quick dive and a sharp turn. They require less effort to initiate a turn, allowing you to focus on speed and control. This can be a significant advantage if you prefer a setup that provides more agility with less physical effort.
Tucking Potential
With the ZM1s, you will be able to tuck lean more confidently due to the stability and control they provide. The unique setup allows riders to maintain their form better than with less stable trucks.
Leaning Characteristics
Despite featuring quad spherical bearings, the ZM1s still provide adequate support and feedback when leaning. The rake, narrow width, and short bushings contribute to this feel. They offer enough support to understand what the hanger is doing without easily flopping side to side. They are not designed to lean, but rather to dart and change direction quickly.
Stability and Sliding
Stable Center
The ZM1s have an impressively stable center, enhancing their overall stability. Although they do exhibit a small degree of bump steer, this can be mitigated by tightening the back truck. They feel solid and secure enough to handle speeds up to 70mph without a second thought.
Sliding Performance
These trucks are excellent for sliding, providing a consistent and controlled feel. They don’t want to hook up aggressively or ice out easily; instead, they’re happy to remain in the slide. The quick turning capability makes it easy to reach the edge of traction, which can be a big advantage for adjusting speed mid-corner.
Sliding on ZM1s
The trucks feel predisposed to regain traction aggressively when you want to hook up, but with practice, you can learn to do so smoothly. They also enhance the feel of the wheels on the pavement and allow you to effectively use more of the contact patch, which results in smoother, more consistent slides.
Feel at the Limit
The ZM1s provide an exceptional feel at the limit, especially when approaching the edge of traction, thanks to spherical bearings and zero slop. The accuracy in feedback is highly beneficial, giving the rider the ability to:
- Ride the edge of traction more effectively, maximizing speed through corners by precisely feeling the wheels start to slide.
- Keep the wheels loaded throughout the corner, allowing for optimal performance, from turning to sliding, hookup, and exit.
- Inspire confidence, by eliminating the uncertainty of what the wheels are doing, ensuring a smoother and more stable ride.
Freeriding Capabilities
The Rogue ZM1s are surprisingly good for freeriding. The zero slop, spherical inserts, and short bushings make them suitable for sliding and tricks. You will mostly need to use wider wheels due to the narrow design of the trucks.
Sliding on ZM1s
The trucks’ big center makes it easy to hold out slides, and the short bushings ensure that they don’t feel too tippy mid-slide. The trucks provide an enjoyable experience in all freeriding conditions, making them highly versatile.
Ease of Riding
These trucks are not difficult to ride once you get past the initial adjustment period. They have a level of control and predictability that is unique, comparable to Ronins and Valks, but at a higher level.
Rear 20 degree truck for Rogue slaloms
The feeling is that the trucks are doing exactly what you want them to do, and that they will not suddenly become unpredictable. The quad sphericals restrict the bushings to articulating on one plane which makes them predictable and consistent.
The Ride on Rough Roads
The quad sphericals can make the ride a bit harsh on rough roads and pushing can feel a bit bumpy. However, this is not a major issue for most people and the wheels you select can help. The bump steer is present, but it’s less significant than the Gold Rogues. You can also try using insert bushings to increase stability if needed.
Quad bearings on the Rogue ZM1s
Bushing Choices
Short bushings are advantageous for their responsiveness, despite losing some lean. They offer more accuracy and a better feel in the turn.
Setup Recommendations
Common Setups
Most riders stick to stock bushings or switch to a blue or pink cone on the front truck. The stock setup performs well and is generally comfortable for most riders.
Stock washer setup
Fine-Tuning the Setup
The standard flat washer on the front truck can limit performance, resulting in extra bump steer and rebound. A smaller flat washer or a blue cone may enhance the turning response. The blue cone is a versatile option, and delivers better turning and bump steer handling. However, it also makes the turn quicker, which may not be ideal for all situations. For most riding, a smaller flat washer offers a great balance of stability and smooth initiation into a turn or slide.
Blue cone setup
Wheelbase
A wheelbase of 20 inches or lower is recommended. A longer wheelbase can hinder the aggressive rotation needed for effective sliding. A shorter wheelbase allows the trucks to rotate more freely, which improves scrubbing and control when approaching the limits of traction. It also makes sliding easier and more predictable.
Spherical Dead Zone
One crucial thing to watch for is the spherical dead zone, especially in the rear truck. This occurs if the rear truck is tightened just enough to prevent the washer from spinning, and causes the hanger to float between the spherical without engaging the bushings. This results in instability and bump steer.
Rear truck of Rogue ZM1
To fix this, you should tighten the trucks until the hanger engages the bushings as soon as it articulates. This will require a manual check with the hands, and again with your weight on the board. Once this is done, the back truck will become more stable, with a snappier slide.
Maintenance
The quad sphericals will require regular cleaning to prevent seizing. Pay attention to the pivot sphericals, which are more exposed and prone to dirt build-up.
Rogue trucks
Drawbacks
Dead Zone
The dead zone issue can be annoying, and requires a conscious effort to fix. This is not uncommon on other trucks, but requires you to be diligent when setting up the trucks.
Rough Roads
The trucks are not ideal for rough roads or rain skating. This may require riders to keep multiple sets of trucks to be prepared for all riding conditions.
Alternative Trucks
While ZM1s are great, there are other dual-spherical slalom trucks available. Some popular choices include 161Slalom trucks, Robot Oblivion trucks, and Dane Hanna pro trucks.
Final Verdict
The Rogue ZM1 trucks are an exceptional choice for downhill slalom. They offer a unique combination of performance, versatility, and feel. They’re a worthwhile investment for skaters seeking to elevate their performance, and are a particularly great option for riders looking for equipment that allows them to develop their skills with confidence. If you’re seeking trucks that allow you to improve your personal best, and also offer high versatility for a variety of riding styles, the Rogue ZM1s are definitely worth considering.
