I guess i am going to give it a shot (trials tires)

10. Going to start there.

Looks like that is a much lighter bike than my te250.... or your tube is really thick... dunno. My rear tire squishes at bit more than that one - including the Dulop I had.

+1 on the IRC's. The Dunlop worked fine but was losing knobs after 2 rides. I'm quite pleased with how long the IRC's last.


WoodsChick

LOL! That's funny!

A few years ago I was riding the Desert Mountain National Enduro in AZ, and during the riders meeting we were warned about a big hill early on in the course. I was a bit nervous, and when I got there it was major carnage everywhere. Bikes were strewn about the entire length of the hill. Riders were coming down and trying it again, two and three times, without success. The course worker stopped us and didn't want to let us go until they got all the bikes out of the way. That seemed like kind of a funny way to run a national enduro, and after waiting impatiently for 5 interminably long minutes I took off up the hill. Me and my trials tire (the object of much snickering at the starting line) motor'd on up the hill with no drama whatsoever, changing lines at will to avoid riders much better than myself. I passed a whole slew of riders that, judging by their low numbers, had been fighting that hill for a long time. My friend was on a knobby, and he is a much better rider than I am, and it took him 3 tries to get up that hill.

I'm just sayin...


WoodsChick

LOL!! There is a black triangle stand in the rear axle. If you look closely, you can see it. But, you know, trials tires really are that good! Why, when I have one on the rear of my bike, I am 5'10" instead of 5'1", my knees and wrists don't hurt, gas is $1.79 a gallon, and there's peace in the middleast.
You should try `em!


WoodsChick

And that is why I use a trials tire on the front as well as the rear.

Hey, don't feel bad. It took me awhile to spot the wood holding up the 2 bikes in one of his earlier shots. At least you weren't too embarrassed to ask, unlike myself


WoodsChick

Loved it. Took me 18 miles to acclimate myself. i was riding along after relearning all my lines and cornering techniques and really fell into a rythem. i was scooting along and realized i love the rear trials and looked down at the ODO, 18 miles. From there on I was in Trials tire bliss.

robertaccio - Your on. I'll take your challenge. Bring your bike, I have a little hill called Devils staircase and a few others we can try your theory out on.

BTW, I like how the rear tracks so well I'm going to try a front.

I'll do a full report when i get some time later.

K

Told ya so

Welcome to the fold, Grasshopper


WooodsChick

A buddy have a Michelin 21 inch front he is going to let me try before i commit. This should be interesting. The front tire felt all over the place because the back was tracking so perfectly.

Having a trials tire on the rear tends to push the front end. This is why I've not been comfortable with running a trials front, but maybe it's just something one needs to get used to? I dunno... I do notice, however, that a worn front knobby is much more noticeable with a trials tire in the rear than it is with a knobby. I think fronts work harder when running a trials tire.

Just my two cents worth...


WoodsChick

You're probably right. the only times I've ever ridden a bike with trials tires they were set up with both front and rear and I just coudn't get used to them. Someone once likened it to riding on marshmellows, I think that was a pretty good analogy.

I agree, it seems the trails rear does push the front around. I got used to it and was right back up to speed. At first i did not think i would like it as It would not drift out and find the berm. Once i realized a berm was not necessary I readjusted my cornering technique and all was good.

I'll be trying the front trails tire Wednesday / Thursday and will report back.