Maxxis Aspen vs Monorail

[Wheelsuck]

The question is which of these are best suited as a front tyre.Maxxis website very vague. Historically use to have Ignitors and then Mountain Kings, Liked Ignitors more than Mt Kings, Kings tend to grip in a turn and then loose grip and then grip again.

 

So which would be the best suited for the conditions here in Gauteng

[MaxUmis]

Here's some rather interesting info

 

I haven't tried an Aspen on the front, but I do prefer the Monorail in front to the crossmark by a long margin. The crossmark, to me, feel skittish on the front, where the monorail is very predictable. Those C knob really do a good job on dry surfaces. The "skittishness" of the crossmark becomes a plus point at the back though. I quite like to throw the rear around on purpose.

[Wheelsuck]

Agree with u Maxumus, I have Crossmarks on the back only. Can only also compare to Race Kings. Crossmarks are better than Race King in the back. They grip better in the rocky shaly bits. For me the key is a wheel that can grip especially in the turns.

[meerkat]

Crossmarks on the back and Monorail in front is excellent combination for me. Terrain: Rocky, hard although crossmarks slightly slippery on wet (suppose common for mud terrain)

[Goodbadugly]

Crossmarks on the back and Monorail in front is excellent combination for me. Terrain: Rocky, hard although crossmarks slightly slippery on wet (suppose common for mud terrain)

Ditto

[MTB_Roadie]

i spoke to someone who use a crossmark in the front and monorail at the back...how wold this effect it?

 

I use crossmark on the front and rear and what an awesome tire compared to the Continentals I use to have.

[Giant]

This weekend I'll be doing a couple of rides with a new combo.

Used 2.1 crosmark ust on the back

and a new 2.25 Aspen on the front (Non ust running tubeless)

Will report back.

Really like the look of the aspen, its a big tyre. wont fit in the back of my anthem adv.

B1tch to get the non ust to seat though, used half a scuba cylinder.

[MaxUmis]

i spoke to someone who use a crossmark in the front and monorail at the back...how wold this effect it?

 

I had my setup like this for 1 ride... On my rig it made the bike continue in a straight line whilst I was attempting to take a corner. The result was me performing, what could only be described as, an "eject"; me running one way and the bike continuing merrily on it's straight line path.

[Weight Weenie]

Love my Aspens, corner real well, specially when leaned.

[Firewater]

I tried Crossmark at the front and Monorail at the rear and quickly changed to Monorail front and Crossmark rear. Best combination for most surfaces in Gauteng in my opinion and I really can't complain about the Monorail's grip.

 

 

[Wheelsuck]

@Giant let us know especially how they corner.

So far I am still not sure what the main difference between the 2 are as the opinions seems to be split right thru the middle.

[Wheelsuck]

BTW I emailed Maxxis a couple of days ago but I guess us here in AAAFRIKA are not that high on their list of email correspondence.

[IdeJongh]

Run xmarks front and back and for the mix of terrain across a race I love them, as mentioned, under hard braking or sandy bits the front can be a bit skittish, Ive almost skittished in my pants a couple of times because of it.

[AndreZA]

I've got Aspens front and back and can not complain. Not too bad in mud either.

[Bos]

The problem I have with the monorail and I suspect the Aspen will suffer the same way, Is that because the treads are so shallow, making them a fast hardpack tire, it also makes them at teir worst in lose over hardpack, you know like gravel on hard clay roads, or red fireroads with those ballbearing like stones over them. Sure not a lot stick on that but youll be surprised how much worse these 2 do. Also , you might just find a bit of lose on a hardpack corner( since the rire is made for hardpack) I race with my monorails because they are so light when the non UST one is converterd to tubliss, but thats dirtroad kind of races, not rockey or singletrack stuff, Unless its all smooth.

 

Always a payoff

 

 

 

[Wheelsuck]

Bos if they make a tyre that grips on gravel over hardpack I'll take 10! My Ignitors used to do that to a degree better than Mt Kings. Seems that the most places where I almost see my...is on these surfaces. U know when your leaning into a turn and she grips and then looses it and hopefully grips again.