AM tyres... what you running?

[Josh0]

LOL ... you also came off a stumpy onto a spitty!

 

It is one of the best bikes I have been on, if not the best. 

 

Climbs very well with the shock wide open (Especially with the drop out in the middle setting), far better than my stumpy did.

 

The frame stiffness is just awesome, and the bike feels really composed ... .all the time!

 

Do find the longer stays require a little more body language to lift the front wheel vs the old stumpy, but you learn to adapt.

 

LOVE the suspension feel .... nice and supple to start with, and offering great mid stroke support....you can pump this thing and not blow through the travel (Like most other bikes I have tried). Corners .... you said it best.

 

I am running the Hans D's front and rear on a 21mm internal width rim ..... the next upgrade might well be nice and wide rims, but that must wait a little till I have given the current set a reason to be replaced.

 

Been enjoying the Hans D's so far, just have to make sure you get your pressure right.

I am glad you also love yours, I am a die hard fan now.

 

I agree the bike requires a bit more effort to get the front up, but that central position is responsible for the excellent handling. It definitely feels like you are riding in the bike and not on it.

 

I do feel like my bb height raised a bit with the bigger wheels, so I might change to the low setting. I first want to test the bike on one of our most rocky local trails, the slightly higher bb might be a blessing.

 

Cheers 

 

Edit: Oh and the wider rims are one of the best upgrades I have ever made. I also had 21mm internal rims before.

Edited October 25, 2016 by Josh0

[Headshot]

Thanks NFNF. You've provided serious stoke for these tyres. How's the wear looking thus far?

The MM is not designed for hard pack hence the slippage on said surface. It is however a brilliant on everything else and perfectly usable on hard pack. When it slides it grips again quickly.

 

How we perceive a Tyre's performance is very much about what we are used to riding just before and our expectations for the new beast. 

 

I used to be a fan of the HD that Hairy is running. It was an eyeopener when i first tried it on the front and did an enduro. My previous tyre was a Spaz Ground Control and the new tyre was so much better. It was fat and grippy. As I used it more however,  I discovered its limitations which are in hindsight far greater than a Maxxis DHR or MM. 

 

I did however think it would be okay at the back. Its not IMO. especially if you are used to a DHR ( a totally worn out one at that) at the back. The side knobs on the HD simply do not grip - they fold over and the tyre feels as if it is rolling on marbles or the side wall is folding over, which it wasn't.

 

I popped the w@nked out DHR back on and went for a JH ride. Back to normal grip at the back i.e it only gives when abused horribly - eg rear brake applied too far into a slithery corner. Otherwise it just grips on those worn out but still serviceable side knobs. I have never had a tyre that still works so well when so worn out as the DHR. It doesnt even leak air yet.  

Edited November 9, 2016 by Headshot

[Hairy]

The MM is not designed for hard pack hence the slippage on said surface. It is however a brilliant on everything else and perfectly usable on hard pack. When it slides it grips again quickly.

 

How we perceive a Tyre's performance is very much about what we are used to riding just before and our expectations for the new beast. 

 

I used to be a fan of the HD that Hairy is running. It was an eyeopener when i first tried it on the front and did an enduro. My previous tyre was a Spaz Ground Control and the new tyre was so much better. It was fat and grippy. As I used it more however,  I discovered its limitations which are in hindsight far greater than a Maxxis DHR or MM. 

 

I did however think it would be okay at the back. Its not IMO. especially if you are used to a DHR ( a totally worn out one at that) at the back. The side knobs on the HD simply do not grip - they fold over and the tyre feels as if it is rolling on marbles or the side wall is folding over, which it wasn't.

 

I popped the w@nked out DHR back on and went for a JH ride. Back to normal grip at the back i.e it only gives when abused horribly - eg rear brake applied too far into a slithery corner. Otherwise it just grips on those worn out but still serviceable side knobs. I have never had a tyre that still works so well when so worn out as the DHR. It doesnt even leak air yet.  

DHR 2 just rocks

[Headshot]

Stuck my 26er Rock Razor on my enduro this weekend. Not the easiest to inflate tubleless on my trusty Flow rim but a small blast of co2 sorted it out. The beads popped in noisily when pumped and it has held air perfectly.

 

The reviews of this tyres are not wrong. I have ridden a Hans Damps and Minion DHR 2 at the back in the last 3 months. The RR was noticeably faster rolling. On my short loop my average speed was higher than normal despite not exerting myself and the bike simply felt easier to pedal. May well be some placebo effect but I think it was mild. 

 

On the DH stuff the tyre was predictable and the fast and I had no issues with the rear end grip in corners. Its as good and probably better than a worn out DHR 2 with soft rubber in both cornering and rolling resistance and much better than the HD. No strange squirming or sliding - if it did move a bit under cornering it was very slight and entirely confidence inspiring. 

 

I am thinking that one of these on the front would be a great tyre to use on a trail or enduro bike if you end up doing a longish race or ride - like the Esels 3 day stage race...

[Bizkit031]

Stuck my 26er Rock Razor on my enduro this weekend. Not the easiest to inflate tubleless on my trusty Flow rim but a small blast of co2 sorted it out. The beads popped in noisily when pumped and it has held air perfectly.

 

The reviews of this tyres are not wrong. I have ridden a Hans Damps and Minion DHR 2 at the back in the last 3 months. The RR was noticeably faster rolling. On my short loop my average speed was higher than normal despite not exerting myself and the bike simply felt easier to pedal. May well be some placebo effect but I think it was mild. 

 

On the DH stuff the tyre was predictable and the fast and I had no issues with the rear end grip in corners. Its as good and probably better than a worn out DHR 2 with soft rubber in both cornering and rolling resistance and much better than the HD. No strange squirming or sliding - if it did move a bit under cornering it was very slight and entirely confidence inspiring. 

 

I am thinking that one of these on the front would be a great tyre to use on a trail or enduro bike if you end up doing a longish race or ride - like the Esels 3 day stage race...

Tried the RR on the front it's not very confidence inspiring at all.

[Bizkit031]

Stuck my 26er Rock Razor on my enduro this weekend. Not the easiest to inflate tubleless on my trusty Flow rim but a small blast of co2 sorted it out. The beads popped in noisily when pumped and it has held air perfectly.

 

The reviews of this tyres are not wrong. I have ridden a Hans Damps and Minion DHR 2 at the back in the last 3 months. The RR was noticeably faster rolling. On my short loop my average speed was higher than normal despite not exerting myself and the bike simply felt easier to pedal. May well be some placebo effect but I think it was mild.

 

On the DH stuff the tyre was predictable and the fast and I had no issues with the rear end grip in corners. Its as good and probably better than a worn out DHR 2 with soft rubber in both cornering and rolling resistance and much better than the HD. No strange squirming or sliding - if it did move a bit under cornering it was very slight and entirely confidence inspiring.

 

I am thinking that one of these on the front would be a great tyre to use on a trail or enduro bike if you end up doing a longish race or ride - like the Esels 3 day stage race...

The RR is not so great in the wet or very dusty conditions Edited November 21, 2016 by Bizkit031

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

The RR is not so great in the wet or very dusty conditions

I'll disagree with that... Dusty as feck down here at the moment, and (like the slaughter) it performs very, very well. 

 

Also performs pretty well in the wet. Only area it falls down on is wet roots, IMO. 

[Capricorn]

I'll disagree with that... Dusty as feck down here at the moment, and (like the slaughter) it performs very, very well. 

 

Also performs pretty well in the wet. Only area it falls down on is wet roots, IMO. 

 

he does have a point though, because bizkit specifically mentioned very dusty conditions.  When the dust is deep enough, there are very few tyres that can maintain traction, hence why we often see the pros resort to full spikes, or at worst, cut spikes front and back. VdS 2016 (IIRC!) is a great example. There's dust, and then there's dust, and the RR has knobs much, much lower than a cut spike. I

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

he does have a point though, because bizkit specifically mentioned very dusty conditions.  When the dust is deep enough, there are very few tyres that can maintain traction, hence why we often see the pros resort to full spikes, or at worst, cut spikes front and back. VdS 2016 (IIRC!) is a great example. There's dust, and then there's dust, and the RR has knobs much, much lower than a cut spike. I

Very true. 

 

EDIT: There's also the point that KZN wet is not nearly the same as WC wet. KZN wet means muddy muddy mud. 

Edited November 22, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Speaking of tyres - how are the e13's!?

[Headshot]

Tried the RR on the front it's not very confidence inspiring at all.

I am sure its not ideal, which is why I said for long distance Xc  type races on your enduro bike, i.e. not gravity events or general trail riding. 

[Headshot]

The RR is not so great in the wet or very dusty conditions

As the PB review says, you do need to run a big grippy front tyre to make up for the lack of braking grip out back when it gets steeper. As I said I've only had one ride and it felt fast and as grippy or more so than a DHR. Cornering grip is the most important thing for me and it has large side knobs which must make it as good as many other tyres in that department. We shall see. 

[Capricorn]

Speaking of tyres - how are the e13's!?

while my ballsack+cotents regrows, the jury is still out. Still playing around with tyre and suspension pressures to find that sweet spot. No obvious flaws, but no instant wow-factors either. Also still getting accustomed to the slacker head angle due to the Lyrik. There's a marked difference climbing and cornering. Need to be a bit more precise in the corners.

 

Setup looks pretty damn sharp though, IMO that is

[BaltazarMarques]

Speaking of tyres - how are the e13's!?

From what I've heard, they're awesome!! Prob gonna be my next set of tyres!

[Simon123]

Rock Razer brilliant on the back.   Run the 27,5" and find it a good rear for my Nobby Nick (yeah, hate it / love it relationship, but predictable) front.

 

Wider rims = a definite upgrade recommendation.

 

Bought a Specialised Slaughter / Butcher combo and tried it a few rides (3) and hated it.  Anyone looking for pretty much brand new combo of these two in 27,5" - drop me a message and make an offer.  Hated them, but some seem to like them.

[Bizkit031]

I'll disagree with that... Dusty as feck down here at the moment, and (like the slaughter) it performs very, very well.

 

Also performs pretty well in the wet. Only area it falls down on is wet roots, IMO.

 

Couple of us tested it in the winter months at Giba And Howick and it did not do a very good job with the way the drought was killing us and the tracks were thick with dust. Now roll onto All the rain we have had in the last 2 months and the mud has been insane so the RR is not cut out for that. Biggest complaint was straightline braking and this was not just my opinion but a couple of guys who have tried it on 29er and 27.5 bikes. Edited November 21, 2016 by Bizkit031