Enduro/gravity bike suspension and geo

[Rigardt@Scott]

2.6 or 2.6 Butcher? I ask as the 2.6 is a much stickier compound.

TBH my fav rear tyre for a long time was the Slaughter 2.3, then moved to the 2.6 when it came out. They are great. They roll very well adn brake very well and even climb tech damp stuff very well. However they wear rather fast so have a relatively short lifespan before there is a noticeable degradation in braking performance. The 2.6 was quite an improvement over the 2.3, but I suspect that's more to do with the stickier compound and perhaps ever so slightly higher centre knobs than the 2.3, rather than the width.

But anyhoo, after fitting the Elim 2.6 up front and seeing the fitted profile and knob spacing I def think it'll be really sweet out back for all conditions. Whereas the Elim up front looks like (still to be seen) it will sukkel a little when things get more damp and/or muddy.

Mine is a 2.8 Butcher on the front and 2.8 Slaughter on the rear. This Eliminator sounds like a real winner though, just a pity it's not gonna be available in 2.8 - as I'd like to replace the Butcher with one when it dies.

 

Anyhow, have ridden in the mud with them once, and I gotta say it was a slippery afair. But I think that may have more to do with the width than anything else - +tyres do tend to float over mud instead of biting.

[stefmeister]

2.6 or 2.6 Butcher? I ask as the 2.6 is a much stickier compound.

TBH my fav rear tyre for a long time was the Slaughter 2.3, then moved to the 2.6 when it came out. They are great. They roll very well adn brake very well and even climb tech damp stuff very well. However they wear rather fast so have a relatively short lifespan before there is a noticeable degradation in braking performance.  The 2.6 was quite an improvement over the 2.3, but I suspect that's more to do with the stickier compound and perhaps ever so slightly higher centre knobs than the 2.3, rather than the width.

But anyhoo, after fitting the Elim 2.6 up front and seeing the fitted profile and knob spacing I def think it'll be really sweet out back for all conditions. Whereas the Elim up front looks like (still to be seen) it will sukkel a little when things get more damp and/or muddy.

The 2.3 Slaughter grids I've fitted 2 - 3 months ago is turning out to be the most expensive tyre yet. They're almost worn out - and once those sipes are fading the braking traction goes with it. The 2.3 now also come in the new softer gripton compound like the 2.6. I also have to run it at 2 bars to get it feel more supportive. Not sure if the softer compound affects the casing, but it certainly feels that way. 

Next up will be aggressors - maxxis at least gave me good mileage.

Edited January 23, 2019 by stefmeister

[Headshot]

My experience with a semi slick is that they really dont last. They are fine and then after some wear the grip deteriorates hugely.. climbing and braking deteriorates massively. Something like an Aggressor or Ardent out back makes far more sense to me.

[Yo-Yo]

My experience with a semi slick is that they really dont last. They are fine and then after some wear the grip deteriorates hugely.. climbing and braking deteriorates massively. Something like an Aggressor or Ardent out back makes far more sense to me.

 

I'm not sure if it's a damning indictment of my recent riding total but I've had my Slaughter on for about 20 months and I've only just started noticing it get a bit loose. Lean it over and it still hooks up great but on flatter corners in looser stuff / dust it starts to drift. 

 

I found an Ardent Race to be a good dry summer tyre out black with something big up front. 

Edited January 23, 2019 by Yo-yo

[Headshot]

As I have said before, and worth repeating IMO, your tyre choice is very much bike and terrain dependent. A MM up front on my HT was just too much tyre. For the first time I thought it was too draggy up front. The front wheel felt slot car secure, al because the HT geo changes so much up front when you sit on it and the fork compresses. On my previous Enduro I had no such sensation. 

 

The Butchers I love to hate have too little grip for a slacker dual suspension bike. The geo does not change as much when riding. The only time they feel okay is in steep terrain where the front really does get weighted. On the day at the JH enduro despite the sensation of more grip I still had one of those nasty front wheel slides. Too unpredictable to be a decent front tyre IMO. 

 

Perfect tyre combo for me would offer a very grippy wide front tyre and a slightly narrower faster rolling back tyre that will always lose traction before the front does. A safety net and more fun too.

[Hairy]

here is a little funduro exercise for you ... take the fork and front wheel from the big bike and run this on the HT for a couple of runs ... will be an interested ride for sure!

 

As I have said before, and worth repeating IMO, your tyre choice is very much bike and terrain dependent. A MM up front on my HT was just too much tyre. For the first time I thought it was too draggy up front. The front wheel felt slot car secure, al because the HT geo changes so much up front when you sit on it and the fork compresses. On my previous Enduro I had no such sensation. 

 

The Butchers I love to hate have too little grip for a slacker dual suspension bike. The geo does not change as much when riding. The only time they feel okay is in steep terrain where the front really does get weighted. On the day at the JH enduro despite the sensation of more grip I still had one of those nasty front wheel slides. Too unpredictable to be a decent front tyre IMO. 

 

Perfect tyre combo for me would offer a very grippy wide front tyre and a slightly narrower faster rolling back tyre that will always lose traction before the front does. A safety net and more fun too.

[Headshot]

here is a little funduro exercise for you ... take the fork and front wheel from the big bike and run this on the HT for a couple of runs ... will be an interested ride for sure!

One day when I'm bored...

[Headshot]

I have a theory which is about to be tested - a 2.5 WT Aggressor up front on my Enduro. Going to fit one tomorrow. 

 

My theory runs along the lines of - 99% of my riding takes place on hard or loose over hard and rocky trails. Even in Winter the CT trails are rarely clogged with mud. That said, a smaller block with a more dense tread pattern is probably the way to go. Fewer squirming knobs and  faster rolling. 

 

Should have a ride report by Wednesday (if my snotty throat clears up by then). Bike needs to be ridden up and cornered on the same turn my Butcher felt like a banana peel had replaced the tread. 

[Thermophage]

I have a theory which is about to be tested - a 2.5 WT Aggressor up front on my Enduro. Going to fit one tomorrow. 

 

My theory runs along the lines of - 99% of my riding takes place on hard or loose over hard and rocky trails. Even in Winter the CT trails are rarely clogged with mud. That said, a smaller block with a more dense tread pattern is probably the way to go. Fewer squirming knobs and  faster rolling. 

 

Should have a ride report by Wednesday (if my snotty throat clears up by then). Bike needs to be ridden up and cornered on the same turn my Butcher felt like a banana peel had replaced the tread. 

I have thought the same thing. Bu the Eliminator seems a slightly more aggressive while still having the same braking and rolling featured of the Agg having ridden both and if you check

em side by side.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Rad, let us know!

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I have thought the same thing. Bu the Eliminator seems a slightly more aggressive while still having the same braking and rolling featured of the Agg having ridden both and if you check

em side by side.

So have I, on occasion. But then I trout-slap myself and recover my sanity. 

 

If I'm proven wrong, though, happy to amend my view! Just not sure whether it'll be as adept at all conditions. But... As Tim says, we're hardly ever riding in muds. 

[Headshot]

So have I, on occasion. But then I trout-slap myself and recover my sanity. 

 

If I'm proven wrong, though, happy to amend my view! Just not sure whether it'll be as adept at all conditions. But... As Tim says, we're hardly ever riding in muds. 

My theory is based on how well the Ardents work on my HT which as we know is a very different bike. If its not a confidence inspiring change, it will go out back where I suspect it will be better than a Butcher. 

[Rigardt@Scott]

I have a theory which is about to be tested - a 2.5 WT Aggressor up front on my Enduro. Going to fit one tomorrow. 

 

My theory runs along the lines of - 99% of my riding takes place on hard or loose over hard and rocky trails. Even in Winter the CT trails are rarely clogged with mud. That said, a smaller block with a more dense tread pattern is probably the way to go. Fewer squirming knobs and  faster rolling. 

 

Should have a ride report by Wednesday (if my snotty throat clears up by then). Bike needs to be ridden up and cornered on the same turn my Butcher felt like a banana peel had replaced the tread. 

 

Very keen to hear how you experience it. I have very vocally told people how much of a bad idea an Aggressor is on the front even though I love it on the back - but your reasoning makes sense, and if it does turn out to work well it could be a good summer option that saves quite a bit of weight...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Very keen to hear how you experience it. I have very vocally told people how much of a bad idea an Aggressor is on the front even though I love it on the back - but your reasoning makes sense, and if it does turn out to work well it could be a good summer option that saves quite a bit of weight...

The 2.3 version, 100% agreed. 2.5WT - not so sure. 

 

BUT. For people looking for an aggressive XC tyre for the front, the Aggressor would be far better than, say, an Ikon. 

[DuncanDoughnuts]

Agree on the butcher ... almost killed me this weekend.... putting my DHR back on.

 

Though it would be nice to lighten the bike up with the butcher for general trail riding... but felt like I was tip-toeing over everything..

[Headshot]

Agree on the butcher ... almost killed me this weekend.... putting my DHR back on.

 

Though it would be nice to lighten the bike up with the butcher for general trail riding... but felt like I was tip-toeing over everything..

Which bike is the Butcher on? Mojo HDR?