I wanted to test out using mousses last year and this was going to be probably a trashing of both tires and mousses in the end since I had no plans to regularly lube and reinstall. So I tested mousses on Metzeler Unicross tires and approriate Michelin Mousses. I used Murpheys Tire Paste since I had a tub of it. No it was not Enforce as recommended or the included lube but The setup did get me through a Hare Scramble and a thousand miles of off road travel during my adventures. Today I removed the rear tire to inspect and clearly I dodged a bullet as my rear tire is down to cords inside and it's dry with no lube evident at all even after a thorough bathing in paste, tire and mousse so it oozed for weeks. Removing the tire was a royal pia and the tire had little pliability and the beads coming apart on removal. While some tread life left, the tires are not usable. So I am debating going back to tubes and Ride-On. Not sure but clearly mousses take some regular maintenance. I have to decide whether I am up for that effort or dealing with the potential fail on the trail. I have a set of Scorpions ready to mount but clearly I need to use Enforce or a better lube and plan regular teardown to inspect. My main concern is being such a bear to install and remove, I worry about damaging the beads with much on and off. Clamps help... Beads coming apart... Cords exposed... Dodged a bullet... Indentation from bead lock and some small cuts. No obvious deformation. I planned to utilize these used mousses as spares to cut if needed to stuff in the future.
I'm just sticking with my Bridgestone ultra heavy duty tube with another one wrapped around the outside.... has worked since 1997 with only 1 front flat (huge rock during V2R).... during that time the only new tubes I have bought were during new bike purchases....
Decided to just mount them with tubes as before and I'll add some Ride-On. So much easier to mount, get the right pressure for the tires and conditions and not stress as much where I can ride. I think the Uncrosses may have been slightly higher volume than newer tires of same spec, so they ran soft and in hindsight should have pulled them a long time ago to check. I felt my front tire was not shaping as well as it should but both ends rode fine and never hit the rims. Always went at a snails pace on pavement and corners out of fear of rolling a bead. Live and learn. Was worth testing them out in any case. ** Just pulled the front tire and as a comparison it was simply dry of lube. The tire itself, including the bead were fine and the mousse free of cuts and deformation. Been told by a few folks that the rears defintely can be chancy at speed on a fast bike overheating. I figure the rear might take twice the servicing as the front in that case.
Why not try Tubliss? I'm going to install on the rear of my 300 as soon as I get the last couple of rides out of my current VE33. From what I've read and am hoping, it has none of the Mousse issues and still similar benefits.
Totally different than a mouse.... really the benefit is to run extremely low tire pressure.... but you can still get flats... if you get a thorn or something like that it will go flat just not come off the rim
I just never considered tubeliss since the hp bike tube/rim lock needs attention and hp gauge and pump or co2 plus the pressure of the tire and a low pressure gauge and pump. With bicycles it's simpler. Good rim tape, sealant and go. Flat/sidewall cut, Pull valve stem and replace. with tube. If one has to repair tubeliss, you need to remove the hp tube and replace with a tube sans bead lock. Never used or considered it but the above my assumptions. May be less prone to pinch flats but "may" be too finicky for me. Trying to keep it simple... Mostly though, I had 4 tubes at the ready, so free, and can install my mousses as needed for a specific adventure, then replace with tubes after, for tire longevity sake.
My ultra heavy duty tubes with an old one around the outside your not getting a pinch flat... lol Tubliss is kinda high maintenance for me and Mousses I'm just not comfortable with them since bad experience with them in the 90s
The 90's.... That's like saying I don't txt as my first phone didn't do txt well in the 90's! Things have moved on since then..... I'm sure you still run 3" suspension and points ignition then?!
I run Michlien mousses you can purchase then for about 100 bucks The most I ever get out of a tire is about 400 miles so I then change it and relube. I can change a mousse faster then a tube, really they are easy to do once you know how. In the last 5 years I have never hurt a mousse I still have some that are over 5 years old and all they do is get smaller and softer So I stuff them in the practice bike. I do use the enforce tire soap Last week huskynobee come over to my house with 2 mousses and 2 new tires I told him how to do it and he changed both tires in like 10 min This was his first time ever so that just goes to show you it is easy once you know the tricks. I don't have to ever worry about a tire failure that is so nice
If you got a full scramble and 1000 miles from the mouse then you probably got good value for money INHO.
Ghte... Yes, I do think I got good use in that time. I forgot after racing I also rode alot locally as well as China Hat twice, in Hood River with Kelly and a few longer rides in the Gorge. Also my circumnavigation of the western states, so pretty good overall. My plan is to mount for a specific ride/trip and dismount after. I bit more effort but that way lube is refreshed and mousses preserved. I compared season old and new mousses this morning and pleased with overall condition. Slightly softer and slight shrinkage. Not as bad as I would have expected. Maybe 10+% in both cases and front mousse negligible wear wise. 3 cuts on the rear which I assume became dry and tore but could be taped well lubed and re-used. No flat spots, but a slight depression where the bead lock was. Some shrinkage on the front but pretty minimal... Some shrinkage on the rear... Some cuts, but still serviceable. Looks more distorted due to camera close up.
At a World Enduro round I saw teams re-use mousse with 4" cuts deep into the foam. 2- I read not so long ago that some of the blazing fast Baja guys put a grease nipple on the rim and pump lube inside the tire at each gas stop.
Good idea, also blocking the hole for the valve this way prevent grime getting in! I normally put a tubeless valve in to prevent this but I'll try the grease nipple next time.
the second hole i just goop it with black rtv and a peice of gorilla tape over it to keep stuff in and out
I taped with a scrap of 3m film. Even a sticker or packing tape would suffice. Nothing got in my wheels in any case but maybe many water crossings is the reason I ran dry of water soluble paste. Maybe the only reason not to use water soluble.
Interested in this grease zerk concept. I'm not sure it would distribute enough lube between the mousse and tire side wall where it needs to be. But if it did work out in real world conditions it would be sweet.
