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

Change that to very sticky marshmallows made out of veclro, and I would agree

If you ever get the opportunity to try a rear trials only on a bike that is set up properly, I'll bet you come away with a different opinion.

They aren't for everyone, that's for sure. I can only go on what I've seen, and I must say that each and every person I've ever turned on to a trials tire has come away with a totally positive experience.

WoodsChick

I have been bucking the trend for years. MANY people here run them and i see them more and more not less and less. Every time i ride a good half the group has them, some of these guys very fast dudes. I had to try it.

BTW i got the D803 because i was told these are better for big bikes and do not have the marshmallow feeling. I ran mine at 10 PSI and thought it felt good and not mushy just tracked way better and hooked up crazy good. My WR250 buddy Adam (Treedodger) tried mine and is now getting one. Another guy on the ride had one on his WR250 and LOVES it. As saw people not going back to knobs i had to think something was up with them.

It's all the rage

Egg-zackly! They do take a different style of riding to accomodate the different characteristics, but once a rider realizes that and can compensate, there is nothing that can't be done...seriously! Did you cross any rocky creeks or slimy rocks, too?

Another thing I've noticed in the last few years of running a trials tire is that it has made me a better rider when on a knobby. Maybe not a "better rider" per se, but I'm better at traction control now, and I'm able to manage things better when trying to find traction with a knobby when there really is none. "Holding the pressure" is what one trials rider called it at a riding school I attended. It's been a pleasant yet unexpected benefit, for sure.

I'm looking forward to your observations on the front trials tire.


WoodsChick

Yes, tons of rocks and creeks.

I also liked the grip when having to get your front end up over stuff.

All the cool kids are doing it now

A few years ago we were at the Sawmill Enduro and out of...I dunno, 300 riders or so...there was only one other rider we saw on a trials tire, and it was Malcolm Smith's nephew Nowadays we're seeing a few here and there, but still not very many.

And I wasn't kidding about getting laughed at in Arizona...


WoodsChick

Oh yes! Another benefit! Get your front knobby up and over the slimy log, and the trials tire makes short work of the rest.

Amen, brother! Can I get a witness??


WoodsChick

When my wife drags me to church and the people are waving their hands in the air towards god I always lean over to my wife and ask "is he ever going to get to their questions?"

She loves that.

I'll get pix of the next event I'm at but i swear about 1/4th the pack is running TT's. Crazy.

LOL! We were kinda torn on letting others in on the secret, too! Usually someone would ask about them at the starting line (and that someone would usually be in our same class) and we'd laugh and say "Yeah, they work ok. We buy them because they're cheap."
Now the secret is out, though. Bill Dart (anyone remember him from his D36 days?) kinda let the cat out of the bag when he was with the BRC, though. He went around preaching the word and writing articles and now they're becoming much more popular. Now everyone knows it's just my tire and not my natural enduro hero-ness

WoodsChick

The last event I did was the Big Boot fundraiser for the BRC. The hosting club mandated trials tires for all 18" wheels. They were pretty adamant about it, too. I brought my KTM450 as a spare, and it was on the trailer with a knobby on it and a few club members came up to me to make sure I had no intention of riding it in the event. Their trails are private and they maintain them all themselves. They almost spend more hours maintaining the trails than they do riding them, since they don't ride when it's really wet...and it's always wet north of Eureka, CA. Anyway, it was cool to see nothing but trials tires everywhere. This was taken at the first gas stop...



They really are easier on the terrain.


WoodsChick

Yes they are.

I did not mind the stock OEM quad tire, the trails tire is WAY better.