You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I’ve already done a rapid tape job, and put the RR on dry (new sealant still on its way) went up nice and easy, looks good, I might change the front tyre, but probably not immediately. The tread depth on the trail king doesn’t look much different to the RR, just the lug shapes and spacing, they might be more similar than I’d realised.
I have no clue about all the different makes compounds and marketing names, so if I’ve bought utterly inappropriate products here feel free to tell me.
What are people’s thoughts on that Scorpion, seems a bit meaty for just knocking about in the woods to me, I’m inclined to reserve it for harder duties, or have I missed the point again?
Thought I’d just unearth this one for some more advice from the tyre experts. The postie has just been and I have 3 quite different tyres to choose from for the rear:
L->R Schwalbe Rock Razor super trail, Conti Trail King Pure Grip, Pirelli Scorpion Enduro S (Hard wall).
All 27.5x2.6”.
For upcoming use (general summer trail riding) I’m currently favouring the Rock razor as it looks fastish, lighter and probably pairs well with the Nobby Nick on the front currently, but the Trail King is in the running. First appraisal on the Scorpion is that it feels like a more aggressive tyre, better for uplifts and big days out? Possibly a candidate to fit to my planned second rear wheel(?).
input and criticism from the collective please…
Rock Razor, unless you are changing tyre brand on the front also. We're not animals, goddammit
Oh I’m going to be mixing the brands I look forward to triggering the aficionados 😉
The Rock Razor is a great rear tyre when it’s dry and far less bad than you’d expect when it’s wet.
The Trail King / Rubber Queen was my rear tyre of choice for a long time - it rolls fairly fast and if you drop the pressure enough the widely spaced centre tread is good at tractoring up through mud and wet roots, however that was the Black Chili not Pure Grip (less grippy) one.
If you need something for the front the T9 compound Grid Trail casing Specialized tyres are good, especially for the money.
I had a Chromag hardtail* and ran a 180mm fork (mainly because I switched from 29er plus wheels to normal 29er, and the long fork stopped the BB dragging along the ground....) and fork diving was a non-issue. It's not like you spend a whole ride hucking to flat with your legs locked. For the most part you are riding AT features, the fork absorbs it, then you bend your legs to absorb the shock as the rear wheel hits. The only time the fork 'dives' is going off drops, and that is for a split second. The head angle was roughly 63 degrees. Sure, it might be more of an issue if it was 70 degrees 😀
*that Andrew Major who keeps being mentioned bought off me. The Klein themed one that he's just added sliding dropouts to.
Well it’s put together:
Not its final state but rideable, quick spin round the block and it’s not bad, currently stuck with a 160mm rear rotor till some longer bolts arrive seems comfortable climbing. Wheel flop is significant until I weight the front a bit, but the fork is maybe set a smidge stiff and not quite sagging properly since I reduced the travel to 140mm.
I wasn’t expecting to get it together before the end of summer now I have to clear some weekend time to ride the thing and decide what to change before next year…