Solride Mano Niuhi Surfskate - First Impression Review

When Solride burst onto the market with a series of surfskates that included a model that is targeted at people like me - People who like to push the limits and even do skateboard tricks on a surfskate, everyone and their brother was tagging me and asking for a review. Then when people saw that I had one via instagram, the same folks wanted my thoughts instantly! I want to wait until I can use this outside before giving a full review, but I have had a few sessions where I have got to see what all the hype is about. So please enjoy this video with my initial thoughts and experience of this unique system after a few sessions on the Solride Maho Niuhi Surfskate. #surfskate #solride #tigershark

[@DeniseNepraunig]

Thanks for the first impression!! Sounds like a great hybrid board and getting the best of both worlds! "Pushability" is also a nice thing, when riding outside you sometimes can't pump that well when the street is too rough. As soon as someone imports and sales then in Europe I am happy to expand my quiver 😅

[@jaythesurfskater]

Great video Mark, really neat how the surfskate is beginning to evolve into what the riders require now that we've been riding them for a while now. Good to see these trucks are grind-friendly and won't hang up! Sounds like the Solride design of the front truck works great and gives the skater exactly what they need to shred a park whether rocking "OLD SCHOOL" or "NEW SCHOOL" style. But thanks to guys like you who keep testing the latest technologies and designs as they enter the market, we get to see the product in action by one of our favorite skaters and with an honest review! I love that little dark brown bowl you ride, looks like a great bowl for surf style.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Thanks Jay. The bowl is a little too small and tight in the corners, but that is why surfskates are perfect for it, and why it isn't usually too busy!

[@teretoawild]

thanks for the review im pretty sold on this board sounds and looks like so some much fun bought a kai Lenny CX Carver for my 6oth born day have been riding it since feb been having so much fun but yeah have been going to skate parks a lot more so keen as for this solride anyway bro keep doing your videos you definitely inspired me to get into this surfskate thing keep carving and shredding bro stay stoked stay young yeeewww

[@williammadray7818]

If it pushes as well as it pumps, it's got to be the surfskate system, to use for a long-distance surf style surfskate commuter board.

[@Quickrex]

When is the full review coming. Please do a comparison to the C5 and perhaps the CX aswell. I have the C5 and CX and suspicious of. If I increase the risers on my C5 to equal the same height as the CX, they would be the same riding experience. So hope you are going to demonstrated the difference between bushing setup and risers for different categories of skating on the soulride trucks. Going on the website I'm impressed with the useful information that's provided.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

The snowbanks are still 3 feet high in Ottawa. I am working with the weather.

[@Quickrex]

I wonder how they compare to the Ace AF1. Haven’t got around to them because I’m riding Surf Rodz TKP grind and they turn almost as good as the Carver C5. Apparently Surf Rodz is coming out with a concept called the wave and could imagine that it could be a surf truck. But the Solride is very good priced compared with other brands and I think many riders would like like them. Like a one board quiver that can do everything and yes riding low is just so much better. Mark would be nice if you started comparing trucks reviews in terms of speed pump performance in a bowl. like a spring system truck keep momentum meaning you can carver pump longer in terms of endurance compared to a say the Carver C5 and then finally a traditional truck you simply just go faster around but more effort. Keep the reviews coming, good stuff.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

They feel very different to me. The Ace AF1 have a lot of lean but because the turn is the same front and back it just feels like a loose skateboard. The difference in turn between front and back truck on the Solride feels like a surfskate in how it turns and pumps to me, so more like a C5 than Aces.

[@microchannel]

Hi Mark, top notch review dude, hella informative & as always, the riding is excellent. I'm thinking of getting just the Solride trucks & install it on a Loaded Ballona. The price of the truck combo is on point even with shipping. I don't skate as well as you do, no bowls, no parks, no tricks, no pumptracks, I just surfskate to simulate surfing , kinda drawing surf lines, so it is mostly flat ground carves or going down the line with the occasional mild incline for imagined top turns. Is the Solride as surfy as a stock CX? Got my CX with Riptide pivot cups, loose fit Carver bushings, 63mm Fatty Hawgs on a Lanyachtz ATV Ditch Life Birds.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

The price is so good I think it is worth trying, especially with the larger risers for the surfy carving. I have a hard time explaining it, but it feels different from the others. The front axle is in front of the bolts rather than behind, so it is very reactive. I think that also is what makes it more stable riding backwards. So if practicing 180 slides to fakie or anything like that these are kind of like a cheat code.

[@MrPsiman]

did you take the pivot brake out of the truck to make it turn and lean more ?

[@theaustralianhulk]

The axle to axle distance is also basically the same as a standard skate setup - 3” wider than the standard wheelbase measurement. So you don’t have to worry about your front foot as much. I used mine on 2 different 9” Powell Peralta decks with both 16 and 17” wheelbases. BTW, C5 sits 1/2” higher than the Solride with no risers and the ROM on the Solride is also at least comparable to if not greater than any Carver with the brake insert removed. And I wholeheartedly agree with your evaluation that it takes a minute to get used to and has a very unique feel and also is more stable than the C5. I too have only used the stock 65a bushing. I’m looking forward to trying the others since this is the softest one and also trying it with the brake insert installed. One other point I was thinking but have not tested is that you could theoretically purchase the front truck with the brake insert (and maybe a small riser depending on the trucks you have in back) and throw it on your current set up for instant surfskate without all the added height you would get from a Waterborne setup. The height of the truck is very close to a standard tkp truck. Anyways, I too was eager to see your opinion on this setup! Thanks for the review!

[@microchannel]

Is it more surfy than a CX or C5 if the brake insert is removed? Would you recommend it over the C5?

[@theaustralianhulk]

@@microchannel guess it depends on what you mean by “surfy”. My opinion: They’re tight and maneuverable and good for pumping and carving using the full body and focus on driving with the back foot. They don’t start off like a CX or C5 where you can kind of pump with the ankles and then get moving. Something’s missing there that I can’t quite place. But I can get them going quite quickly by other means (pushing/pulling the feet in opposite directions and full body twists. I can pick up speed quick. I’ve only tried them without the brake insert and the softest bushing. They aren’t as user friendly at first that way but quite fun imo once you get used to them. I’ve owned 2 CX boards and have issues with both. So I don’t know that I’ve used one that’s functioning correctly. The C5 is a different feel and I use more as a truck for small spaces or trying to do streets style maneuvers on a surfskate. I also have smaller wheels on that setup and have only used them on 15” wheelbase. The Solride is kind of like a Meraki meets a C5. I don’t surf but if I want to practice turning, carving or just pump around the neighborhood, I’d pick the Solride over the C5. Although, that setup has bigger wheels and 17” wb. Guess I never thought of using the C5 that way, so who knows if I swapped wheels and decks 😂. So yeah, I would say for “surfy” type stuff, Solride over C5

[@microchannel]

@@theaustralianhulk Thanks for the detailed information, appreciate it. Kinda modded my CX trucks with Riptide Pivot Cups, Loose Fit Carver Bushings, Zealous Bearings, 63mm Fatty Hawgs & paired with a Landyachtz ATV Ditch Life Birds deck, lenght 31, width 9.75, wheelbase 15 . It's way more flowy/surfy & easier to pump compared to a stock CX but it is not surfier than my YOW S5 adapter or my Waterborne Surf & Rail adapter setup. CX is my fave though coz it is lighter, lower, & snappier. Still debating about the Solride, like the fact that it is low & light according to the website, smallest wheel I use would be 60mm OJ's Super Juice which means I need the .75 risers, making the height almost the same as the CX. I surfskate for surf training, just going for flow & form, no tricks or bowls. Like the fact that you mentioned the focus on the back foot which is how I maneuver a surfboard. It seems that the Solride would be solid choice over the C5 based on your experience. Only tried a C5 once on an Ahi Bureo & liked the CX better due to a more surfy feel.

[@theaustralianhulk]

@@microchannel with other systems considered, I would say Yow Meraki is the “surfiest”, followed by C7 in my experience if you step outside these 2. Also, bear in mind the Solride are narrower at 8” vs 8.5” axle width on the C5 if you considering that wide of a deck. They fit perfect on a 9” deck IMO. I didn’t realize you were in that short of a wheelbase. I have 2 15” decks (9 and 9.75) and those exact wheels. Maybe I’ll do a direct comparison today. Maybe wait until then to buy haha. If you decide to buy, at least comment back because I found a coupon for 20% off 😁

[@theaustralianhulk]

@@microchannel So I did a head to head with the same deck (Carver/Santa Cruz Screaming Hand) with 15 1/4” wheelbase, 60mm OJ SJ wheels. Overall, I would retract my recommendation for Solride over C5 on a smaller wheelbase for surfy type stuff and general pumping and carving. I think the Solride performs better on a longer wheelbase, 16-17”, bigger wheels and I like a thinner deck, 9”. I couldn’t ankle pump and felt it more difficult on using shoulders, whole body too. It did perform equally or better using back foot drive. On doing tight turns it felt less “flowy” and not as smooth as the C5. I tried the brake insert and it restricts the range of motion a good deal. I felt like it was more like a regular skateboard truck as when you lean to far for tight turns the wheels come off the ground. Same holds true with the harder bushings. The harder you go, the less of a surfskate and more towards a traditional skateboard. So for surfy stuff, I wouldn’t bother with the bushing pack or the brake insert. One thing I did notice in changing out the bushings is that the bushing that came stock with it had small pieces missing. I didn’t check it when I got it so could be a defect but it looked as if it was wearing away already. So something else to consider if that busing will need replaced after a month or two. Anyways, sorry to be so contradictory, but I didn’t think a longer wheelbase would make that much difference. If you like tinkering and have the funds, I would still recommend the Solride as it is a unique feel, otherwise I would go for the C5 if you can only get one. Anyways, hope this helps

[@djmuli]

Just bought the Mano Nuihi as had a good discount code. Can’t wait to try it! Did you keep the turn limiter on or did you change to smaller wheels and different raisers for a more surf feel? I have 2 other surf skates so I was going to use this one for a more park feel

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I tried it both ways but after taking it out I left it out. I like the skateboard feel!

[@djmuli]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer thanks, good to know. I’ll give it a go both ways and see what I love. Good to have the flexibility

[@JayDeeTee]

Why is it still an adventure to get hands on such products in Germany. No chance to buy this truck here. Same for Carver Parts simple as a CX kingpin. Want this truck to use it for ramp sessions on an Andy Anderson flight deck but no chance. Nevertheless great review as always

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I believe they are working on it, but sounds like not so easy yet. Would be amazing on the Andy Anderson deck.

[@alexenz2412]

The skateboard market is not that big in Europe. I'm struggling to get commun things like riptide bushings/pivot cups and other hardware products.. Our skateshops in Europe are not pushing this... they prefer selling T-shirts and skateboard fashion things... that's very sad!

[@erikevangelista2946]

Looks like you found a happy medium for your style?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I like it a lot so far! I forgot how much easier it is to do flip tricks on a narrower board. But it still flows like a surfskate.

[@beerye6666]

Pls review them on the streets

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

That is the plan once the snow is gone

[@haywardbutler33]

Hey Mark, thanks for a good review. Will you be trying the Long Island Mossel in the near future? I have seen reviews from a French channel and a review from Shane Lai, which was really good and informative. I am planning on getting one as both reviews gave good grades on bowl riding. I ride almost exclusively in parks and bowls. I love the flow, but I don't do grinds. I came to surfskating from surfing.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

They are intriguing indeed but they haven't reached out to offer one to test. I don't typically buy boards just to review anymore as most of my review videos make less than $12 in ad revenue. I made some terrible financial choices in my first year!

[@danielpabon375]

WHICH PARK IS THIS?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Dark brown is The Yard, and the other one is an awesome community organized indoor skate space that they set up 2 nights a week inside a beautiful historic building downtown!