Hey guys, me and a frind are planning on upgrading our GI hubs from the Crossair's to Terraintulas. I haven't been able to find many places that sell them, and the ones that do all seem to go for $129.

I was wondering if anyone had seen them on sale for less than $129? Also, if you have tried them out what were your impressions of em?

I think at least for now, the price is going to be what it is.

FWIW: The price is not totally out of line. A full set of MBS Rockstar Pro's go for $99. Differences in production methods, speciality paints used and the carbon fiber speed spacer account for some of the price difference.

Any GI dealer can order them if they don't have them in stock. GI got its large supply in yesterday, so availability should be pretty good for everything.

OK.... time to fess up. The Terraintulas are part bling and part engineering exercise. The Crossairs are probably almost as tough and up to day to day abuse as the Terraintulas, and marginally lighter. So the term "upgrade" is a tad open to interpretation. Yes, the two upper GI boards use Terraintulas, but they are also $550 and $650 boards.

I can only give you a static review, because parts are still coming in.

Inital impressions:

• Smaller than I expected, but all the ads showed them next to a spider and everything looks huge in comparison (except maybe a fly). Logic says the tire size didn't change so I shouldn't have been surprised (duh).... but sometimes logic takes extended lunches.
  
• Freakin' gorgerous. Level of detail is awesome, right down to the spoke profile which mirrors the joints in a spider's leg.
  
• Minor nit #1: Would have preferred anodized/clear coat, rather than paint.... but that could have been a cost or durability issue.
  
• Minor nit #2:Not a 100% thrilled with the trapping mechanism used to hold the lock nut in place. If you look close on the GI page, you'll see that the hub rim extends out at the bolt locations and surrounds the nut on 4 sides. Should be fine, but wish is was something that was a tad more field serviceable.
  

For a majority of riders (myself included), I expect the Terraintulas fall into the "want" category, rather than the "need" category. If asked later, I will disavow any knowledge of the previous statement. Selective amnesia can be a superpower.

ATB,
Sam

Well put Sam, and thanks for the observations. I probably would have been shocked by how small they are too had you not pointed it out. :frog:

Although I have a GI Conflict which now comes with them standard, mine is about 3 years old and came with the crossairs. Since they are pretty beat up the terraintulas would definitely be an upgrade but again so would another set of crossairs so its all perspective.

One of the nice things I've heard about the terraintulas (besides the bling) is how much pressure they can withstand. ie over inflation + massive abuse.

So my question is if the crossairs are able to withstand equal abuse, am I paying 2.5x more for the sleek design and shiny parts? and why is it still tempting to me ???

I'll preface this with: "I am not trying to dissuade you from getting the Terraintulas.... it would be more than a little hypocritical. :wow:"

Although the name remains the same, I am not sure that the current Crossairs as the same as set of 3 year old Crossairs. I think the actual composite they use is different and I don't believe the last iteration used the fiberglass reinforcement. The latter should make the Crossair a more than bit more impact resistant than just the composite alone.

You can get two full sets of Crossairs with some beer money left over for the price of the Terraintulas.

Quote:

Originally posted by live2hoverSo my question is if the crossairs are able to withstand equal abuse, am I paying 2.5x more for the sleek design and shiny parts? and why is it still tempting to me ???

There probably is a bit of extra durability at the very extreme levels of abuse, but that is also where your medicial bills might easily make the cost of a set of Terraintulas chump change.

You are paying for GI's top level hub. The R/D to get the processing and grade of the aluminum and paint to a certain level of durability. The machine costs for a relatively close tolerance casting and final finishing. The cost of carbon fiber when they could have used a steel, aluminum or Zytel spacer.

Why is it still tempting? Cause you're a gearhead, natch. Cause it's gear, tech, kit... what ever you want to call it. Because it glints in the sunshine and looks badass under the alley lights. Because when the package arrives, you know you will have to look for parts because you tore it open with such enthusiasm that more than a few things went flying. Because late at night when everyone is asleep and there is only one light on in the garage you spend the extra minute or two to fondle the new car, motorcyle, or whatever new gear just came in, when you realize the significant other is still awake and shaking his/her head because she/he caught you.... and it will slide nonetheless because no strippers were involved. Any other silly questions? ;-)

ATB,
Sam

P.S. Durability questions between the two are going to be speculative because the lack of collective mileage on the two hub sets. Yes, tested by GI... but the end user will always find a way to make that a moot point.

@ Sam, Where do you get all your Ground Industries product info/hookups USA_ELI_A and all his GI friends? I believe you guys are friends right?

I only know Eli in passing on the forum.... but he rides/flies with his dog, so... ;-)

I am in no way affiliated with GI, other than as a customer... and possibly as someone who has sent too much money their way :puzzled:.

Hookups? Oh.... I wish I got hookups... swag.... heck even a t-shirt or hardware kit in a hardshell case a la MBS (hint, hint ) would rock my world.

Any good deals I have gotten on GI gear has been absolute pure luck and spending too much time on the phone or forum.... occasionally a bit of serendipity and being in the right place, right time, under the right phase of the moon. The term "dumb luck (and blind, to boot)" comes to mind.

Product info? No inside track. Two or three revisions ago and ever since I have dumped every bit of tech info that GI has put out (on their website, Facebook page, and whatever forums I could find) and I have lost track of how many times I have been through the stuff. Some of it is unintentionally memorized now (oh no!!!).

I have also spent a lot of time on the phone with GI and their dealers asking impossibly "stupid" and detailed questions. Hence, knowing things like about the riser plate that allows the use of skate trucks on boards with high tip angles and knowing the Terraintulas are painted. Things that no one else (in their right mind) would even want to know. Thank goodness for patient manufacturers and patient dealers.

All of this is because:

• I have to do this kind of stuff at work, so a lot of it is second nature.
  
• I have a fairly healthy compulsive streak that needs to know how and why things work or are put together a certain way.
  
• I am in the process of mutating a GI board (there must be a tweaker gene in there somewhere), so it's all kind of required reading.
  

ATB,
Sam

P.S. I have to play falcon tomorrow, but if it would help make the decision for you any easier, let me know and I will snap a bunch of pics of the Terraintulas (unmounted, as they are still waiting for a deck) either Sunday or Monday (depending on how the honey-do's stack up). The number of product photos on the GI site is kind of limited.

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf I expect the Terraintulas fall into the "want" category, rather than the "need" category. Selective amnesia can be a superpower.

yep... for me anything kites falls into the "want category", food in the "need" category, and sometimes I wonder if I could put rent in the "want" category too, but then while homeless it would be hard to take care of my kites LOL....

...2 sets of crossairs with different tires, that would give you more utility? for the price of a set of trntlas?

...these would be good in really nice hardpack, super fast with 80-100 pounds of pressure in the tires... could the tires take it?

OT and btw, I was up close and personal with a set of weeleze the other day, they look worth considering for soft sand above the tide line. I've read nothing works in that besides a bigfoot buggy, but I want to try anyways...

I'd love to see see detail shots in super close macro!

selective hearing is my superpower... same thing really! But I have a 60 Db hearing loss since birth so my excuse is a good one! I get away with it quite nicely most of the time... :moon:

Those weeleze are heavy and expensive. At first I thought they look ridiculous, but they've grown on me a bit. But again, the weight is a big turn off even if it was in my budget.

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski OT and btw, I was up close and personal with a set of weeleze the other day, they look worth considering for soft sand above the tide line. I've read nothing works in that besides a bigfoot buggy, but I want to try anyways...

I think it's time to talk to someone's grandmother.

ATB,
Sam

yeah and later on granny gets going on the grooves!

Scary thing is I think elsewhere, Plummet said he has hit 37mph on that and there are a few pictures of him jumping..... thighs of steel program :o

ATB,
Sam

Yeah, plummet gets around, a DIY in carbon dude, I believe he's trying to figure out a good land/waterboard combo for distance runs including rivers and estuaries to cross as well... inspiring guy :D