Csixx Foamo - thoughts?

[love2fly]

I have 25mm wide rims with modest 2.35 wide tyres. I weigh 105kg and can ride pressures as low as  1.1/1.6 without a care. Foamo? Never!

[thebob]

Then I doubt you are smashing rocks on DH and Enduro trails

[Thermophage]

The long story...And this will refer to any insert of the Foamo variety...(in addition to the sealant absorption et.al. mentioned previously)...

On paper sidewalls they are detrimental IMO as they make the sidewall more susceptible to cuts and tears by not allowing it to move out of the way of an impact.

Have seen this multiple times, so therefore IMO a no-go for that.

 

If you are running a stiffer sidewall (think Schwalbe Super Gravity, Spez Black Diamond [now Grid Gravity] or MaxAss DH [EXO+ is not comparable to SG]) then they are far more beneficial (as above is mostly negated) and you derive the "full" benefits of of the pinch flat protection, BUT at the cost of additional mass of the insert over and above the tyre.

TBH, most people considering an insert are considerably better off just upgrading the casing of their tyre as the mass of the lighter casing + insert is not dissimilar to the stronger casing, but doesn't have the sidewall problems associated (this varies from brand to brand and which casing from each brand you consider "strong" ... i.e. NOT prev gen EXO+, but have yet seen or tested the revised EXO+.

 

For anecdotal reference I am 73kg or so unkitted on 27.5 bike and flat pedals and ride predominantly loose rock and in-situ rocky trails around TM area. I wouldn't say (I doubt anyone I ride with would either) that I ride gently or finessed.

With a Supergravity casing out back I can reliably ride 1.65 Bar (24PSI) out back and with Black Diamond 25 or 26PSI without pinging a rim. With EXO+, try 30PSI. While 30 is not excessive, the feel (damping from the tyre itself) is not great. Adding an insert further contributes. 

They will never perfectly fit inside the tyre and the inertia it has means it moves at a very slightly different rate to the rest of the tyre. One can feel that.

So my choice...las the extra 250g, get the stronger casing, toss the insert in the bin.

Tyres MUST be something you put on your bike and don't have to worry about, a MORE APPROPRIATE CASING FOR YOUR RIDING STYLE is most certainly the way to go.

If you are racing (and thereby riding faster and potentially even more dumb than usual), then for the additional security an insert can provide over an above the casing, or if you just don't care about pedalling around the extra mass or the slightly deader feel in the rear....go for it.

 

[Bjorn881]

I'm all for supporting local, but the fact that people are offering you their old ones for free should tell you everything you need to know about the product! The Foamo literally drinks sealant and offers very minimal protection IMO. I subsequently went with the large Vittoria airliners front and rear. Now the Cushcore Pro is also available, both of these are great options! I ride Enduro and ride relatively hard and have seen numerous friends mangle their rims! The way I look at it is that while the Airliner or Pro insert will probably set you back just over R3k for the front and rear, it is still substantially cheaper than a new rim, spokes etc, plus you also avoid that hassle and having your ride ruined! The added weight doesn't bother me, that piece of mind from running the insert and protecting my rim is well worth it! Running an insert also offers you more support and lets you run lower pressures and prevents pinch flats hence IMO I'd go for the insert vs a heavier casing!

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Bjorn881

[Steady Spin]

10 hours ago, love2fly said:

I have 25mm wide rims with modest 2.35 wide tyres. I weigh 105kg and can ride pressures as low as  1.1/1.6 without a care. Foamo? Never!

How often so you love2walk?