Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Currently running a Forekaster up front on a bike and its been great. Its a good option for more aggressive cyclists and those looking to take on the most difficult terrain conditions. Fishing 7.75K subscribers Subscribe 13K views 3 years ago Did a quick review of why I like this setup! This property in a tyre can often result from a softer, faster wearing compound not so with the XR4s. On the front, weve found the durability fantastic, even with the softer TrailStar compound. The forekaster has surprisingly good grip for it's weight, and it performs well in a wide range of conditions (dry loose over hard all the way to slightly greasy clay) but it is no doubt, a reduced rolling resistance xc/trail tire. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers, or when switching memberships). CLP They seemed like a decent tyre for my needs, especially for the weight but I miss the 3C compound on my newer pair. Billed as a Jack of all trades tread, wed have to agree that this is some of the best all rounder rubber available and weve used these tyres on multiple bikes now. If your your rims are inner width i25mm or wider (which is how most XC bikes come these days), you might consider a 2.6in tire like the Maxxis Rekon. Off to buy one before they are out of stock! Aggressor rolls much quicker in the dry/firm, but it is dual vrs 3C too which will have a bearing. While XC tires might not get much love from us, we do ride most of them and also sell lots of them. Great under brakes. As a front, rear, or double tire set, the Ardent is designed for moderately aggressive cyclists who like cornering at speed, but dont tend to take on trails with particularly loose soil or in highly adverse conditions. The launch represents the, Canyon updated the Spectral:ON eMTB in 2022, redesigning the entire bike around their in-house developed batteries. Staff Rides: Mike Kazimer's Coil Shock Trek Fuel EX, First Ride: The New GT Sensor Loses Weight, Gains Travel, Review: TruTune Suspension Inserts Unlock More Travel, Bike Check: Nino Schurter's Custom 10-Time World Champion Scott Spark RC. Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalNewsletter SettingsAdvertising. While it doesn't get picked up as much as these other dry tires do, it holds its place in the Maxxis lineup for the XC/Trail mud tire. Great for XC trails and with a new tread and tire profile every few seasons, theyve cornered the market on creating a durable line of high-performance for price mountain bike tires. Rolling downhill or on a straightaway, youll notice that its a very efficient design, cutting your effort and letting you rest up for the next uphill slope on your trail. I have since gone to a 2.4 bontrager xr4 as a front tire over the forekaster. AUD I would not consider this the typical XC tire unless your typical XC race is the Downieville Classic where 3k feet of climbing is followed by 30mph+ descents. Durable compounds. The XR4s actually surprised us with their durability and resilience considering the irreverent treatment we gave them. I switched that out to a 2.35 Forekaster and it has been on there ever since. FWIW I mounted the Ardent Race reversed in the rear. Originally as OE tyres in 3C trimming and latterly non-3C aftermarket. Enter the Forekaster 29x2.35 Maxxis's unapologetic copy of the Schwalbe Nobby Nic. Contis Black Chili compound seems to improve with use. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The blocky tread is somewhat of a wonderment, being very grippy on the loose stuff as well as equally adherent on bare rock something we werent expecting. Can anyone point me to the best front tire of the two to pair with my rear Ikon? Was hoping it would be closer to 850g but still very keen to give them a go! I've run the Ardent/Forekaster combo and it was better than a Forekaster on both. I would not consider this the typical XC tire unless your typical XC race is the Downieville Classic where 3k feet of climbing is followed by 30mph+ descents. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. They are available in a 2.4 as well, but not in Australia at present. We have one guy ion our group that tried them on his Ripley and ditched them after 2-3 rides. Support Us | Lighter than the equivalent dhr2 and on that bike it probably doesnt need as much grip as on the fs bike which has got a dhr2 on it in the slop. Best Bike Trails | Still feels like it rolls pretty good even mounted reversed. Im sure the DHF is a great tire, but it would be overkill for my riding tread-wise and weight-wise. I've noticed it's washing out a lot more recently though and I'm having to back off in the corners. Seem to be the best combo of grip, price, durability, and weight. Vittoria Syerra downcountry tyre is also 292.4 and weighs 850g a tyre. Not super light but it's worth it for the EXO protection and not feeling the need to carry a tube. As you would expect, with more tread comes more weight. Allow Necessary Cookies & Continue That's changed a bit with. Want To Receive Exclusive Offers, Tips & Freebies? The center tread is ramped but tightly packed to roll fast with side knobs that have an alternating stepped pattern to them. The Maxxis Forekaster is a bit more of a rarity to see, being the go-to Maxxis XC tire for very loose soil or mud. Anything more and that goes into the next category of tires. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Im mainly cross while my son is mainly enduro. I guess it maybe depends on your type of wet weather. The lightweight design and ramped knobs make this one of the faster models of tire designed for mountain trails. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Ardent been there done that. No longer marketed as only a wet weather option for the XC world, Maxxis all-new tire takes aim at the quickly growing world of aggressive XC & Trail. Little more bite on slickish conditions or loose climbs. We ran it as a dedicated front. Loving this combo at the moment. The Forekaster and Rekon combo is a popular setup for a lot of the NICA racers in Utah. Tires are the last place I'd cheap out on, considering they're the only contact you have with the ground. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Like mine, Ardent 2.4 front, prefer Ardent Race 2.2 to normal Ardent at the rear, both tubeless on the original flow rims. I don't know if the tread is worn too much or if I've improved to the point that I'm needing more for what I do on my trails than it can offer. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Looking for some rubber with bite? NZD, The Aspen has some small race size ramped knobs in the center with larger more aggressive side knobs. For now, it seems the tires will be offered in 29 only, and have claimed weights of 945g for the 2.4 and 1035g for the 2.6. In front, this tire gives you a lot of float and very little rolling resistance for a faster kind of ride. Grippy compound. Ride the fastest tires you feel confident on. Center and intermediate treat designs offer moderately good breaking traction, with performance thats neither the best nor the worst in Maxxis line. I was initially running a 2.35 Ikon on the back and while it has a surprising amount of grip, in the fall with the leaves on the ground, I found it lacking in traction when crawling up steep climbs and in the corners. dam the tyre looks like it could take a beating. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Its gaining 200g, or almost a pound for two of them, in unspring weight. The Ikon is a good option for riders who are looking for a less aggressive kind of trail ride, and who dont mind a little looseness in their ride. Well look at where the Ardent stands out, where it falls a little short, and the differences between front and rear mounting this tire. Loose or wet conditions tire; Intended for "aggressive XC" use; 27.5-inch x 2.2, 2.35, and 2.6-inch WT sizes; . The Forekaster is also slightly more prone to drifting, especially mounted as the rear tire, or with a cyclist who tends to use the rear brake heavily. Thanks all, for the advice and recommendations. The Maxxis DHRII is the most aggressive tire of this comparison and fits right into and at the top of the trail tire category, going slightly into the all-mountain/enduro tire realm. However, the Ardent is a better performer if youre looking for a most solid kind of grip in a responsive and speedy tire design. But if this is more durable then it might be worth the extra weight. I personally really like to ride this tire out back, be it a 2.2 or 2.35. MTB Podcast | The new Forekaster has certainly got closer spaced knobs but thats about the only thing theoretically less-wet-friendly about it. Well have to wait until we get hold of some in the flesh. The good news is that the Maxxis Ardent takes patching well and will still perform well as a tire for months after applying a good tire patch. The Maxxis Ikon tire might be the most classic XC tire in most recent years and is still winning WC XC races. Its a blocky tread that reminds us vaguely of the pattern found on Schwalbes Hans Dampf that cant be a bad thing and was developed with input from freeride guru Richie Schley. The Ardent does well in most conditions and is a particularly fast tire of firm terrain. When it comes to Maxxis' treads, people tend to gravitate to the established gravity-meats (i.e., the Minion or High Roller series) or the pinner XC treads, such as the Ikon. For similar rolling speed with improved braking and cornering performance, check out the Rekon. Nobody mentions the Specialized Ground Control? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced 2. The tread on the Ardent is a moderately aggressive design neither as aggressive as the best all-terrain mountain tires nor as short as a typical hybrid tire set. That is, there is very little rolling resistance when youre riding the bike centered. Ragley Big Wig, Surly Cross Check (gravel bike), Sunday Soundwave (BMX), 91 Schwinn High Plain (about town bike), Nashbar CXSS (on trainer). JavaScript is disabled. I wonder if I would give up climbing grip though it seems the Ikon has more tread knobs that would grab better. Support us! We envision the new Forekaster as the perfect companion for long, pedally rides in a variety of terrain. @honourablegeorge I reckon it would be Dissector up front, no? The intermediate zone, between upright and full leant over, is a little vague the knobs in this space are sparse and fairly flexible. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. Normally the rule of thumb is to have the tire with more grip up front and if one tire size is bigger normally the bigger tire goes up front ("BMX style"). I never think about the Forekaster which means it works. Weaknesses: Not the best for tubeless use. This new one, Im not quite sure what its for. The reason for asking is because some people have commented in other threads that the 2.4 width seems to perform better (I'm guessing because you can run the pressure slightly lower). Having mid-height almost square knobs across the tire that is spaced out quite a bit, it's as close to an XC spike you can get. Schwalbes have good grip and weight but tend to suck for durability and price. Coil fan. The trade show is only a piece of the events at the Sea Otter Classic; racing is still a part of the festival. In some pics the knobs look shallow, in other pics they look a bit taller. Would you have this front with a dissector rear? Continue with Recommended Cookies. Review | Dynaplug tubeless repair tools continue to set the gold standard, Continental Tyre Review | Argotal, Kryptotal & Xynotal Tyres, Trek Fuel EX 2023 Review | A bigger, musclier & hugely adaptable trail bike, Specialized Stumpjumper Mullet Review | The Stumpy gets a bigger fork & mixed wheels, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. The previous tire in 292.35 size was quoted at 745g. Closely aligned ramped centre blocks improve braking while ensuring. The tread has been beefed up a little, and Maxxis now says it's designed for modern short travel trail bikes. These aren't full-on XC race tires. Two thumbs up. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Well talk about terrain strengths and weaknesses in a separate section, but its worth noting here that this is a good medium between speed and traction. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines. Youll also see the casing width increase with the 2.35 moving to 2.4, while the 2.6 option remains. When I first saw the Rekon, I thought it looked like an XC version of a Maxxis High Roller II and Maxxis Minion combined. Its a trail tyre, through and through, sitting somewhere between the Crossmark and legendary Minion in terms of rolling speed/grip stakes. My first trail bike came shod in Maxxis Ardent 29x2.25 with no option for tubeless. The Minion is a significantly heavier tire than the Ardent, but with that said, there are some definite advantages to the Minion if youre an especially aggressive rider, or if you tend to ride very rocky trails or trails with loosely packed dirt. Ardent 2.4 in front. Its a good tire for moderately aggressive cyclists, but isnt a true all-condition tire, trading some grip and stability for a lightweight design and increased speed. Yeah, dissector, ardent, ardent race, high roller, are already in between minion and Aspen. Theres also very little tuck under risk with the Forekaster, even with the most aggressive out of saddle pedaling, challenging terrain, or now. Installation of the Ardent is a breeze. Pairing a slightly meatier tire up front with a faster rolling tire out back is normally how we roll with our XC-ish, light-trail setups, which some might describe as "down-county" bikes. With riders from Nino Schurter winning many races on this tire to the more adventure marathon riders like Geoff Kabush also riding this tire for a wide range of events, it shows its speed with results alone. Feast your eyes on these four tyres treads that roll fast but fill you with confidence in corners and when it gets rough. 4.23) [Video], CushCore Trail Insert - The Perfect Middle Ground For Tubeless Inserts, Wolf Tooth ReMote Pro - The New & Refined Dropper Remote. Excludes Gift Memberships, Discount applies to first year. Thanks. I could try it out and see. We noticed this most on hardpack or sand, while in loose conditions it didnt seem to affect the tyre greatly. Highly-regarded tire maker Maxxis continues to expand its popular Wide Trail lineup with new versions of the Rekon, Forekaster, Ardent Race, Aggressor, High . With tons of options for front and rear, the combination is endless. In this review, our customer Jordan goes with the Ardent in front and Forekaster in the rear. I know Geoff Kabush will often run this tire up front for more alternative XC races where the soil might be loose and soft like in the Downieville Classic, or wet slippery and unpredictable like the BC Bike Race. Maxxis I will join in on the I don't like Ardent camp. Maxxis Forekaster 292.2 EXO TR Maxxis Ardent Race 292.2 EXO 3C TR Maxxis Crossmark II 292.25 EXO TR Maxxis Ardent 292.25 EXO TR Maxxis Maxxlite 310 292.0, 170tpi Those last two, or last three, are outliers from what we would normally consider racing on. Ill be after these as soon as theyre available. Weaknesses: A bit vague in intermediate corners. She would never say no because of the implication. Wouldn't recommend it, basically for the same reason. Swapping out a DHF/Dissector but intrigued about the potential of having a potential shoulder season combo of Dissector/forekaster!!!!!!!! Rekon Bontrager have really hit the mark with the XR4 tyres for all round aggressive trail use. That thicker design also provides greater longevity in the Minion. Use as a front paired with an Aspen or Ikon rear for an "aggressive" XC setup. The dual compound offers great grip and wear characteristics and adds to this combos value. It was also a Maxx Terra while the 29er was a Maxx Speed, and I couldn't tell any difference in performance between the two. Some versions expected soon but most will be later in the year. I have a buddy that runs the Forkaster front & rear on his Primer raves about them. It's a trail tyre, through and through, sitting somewhere between the Crossmark and legendary Minion in terms of rolling speed/grip stakes. Then again, what I know about XC tyres aint a lot. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Forekaster - MAXXIS International Forekaster XC (Cross Country) Trail The original Forekaster was designed as a wet weather option for XC, while the new version is aimed squarely at modern short travel (100mm-130mm) trail bikes - aka the "downcountry" segment. For fast hardpack punctuated by loose, dry sections, the Dissector has few equals. That doesnt make the Ardent a worse tire, it just means that if you tend to ride loose terrain, are a particularly aggressive rider, or like coming into a corner just a little too hot, you may want to consider a tire that specializes in your riding style and conditions. Contrary to what another poster said, I wouldn't cheap out on tires. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The tread of the Minion is similar in design to the Ardent. Singletracks Mountain Bike News, Product Reviews, MTB Trails and Community Protected: Forums Mountain Bike Forum Maxxis Ardent or Forekasters as a front tire. This would be great of pair with a dissector upfront or a minion. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Got a bargain Forekaster/Reckon (front/rear) 2nd hand from a lad who took them unused off his oEM Orbea- delighted to have them and only 40 quid or so. Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. I will grant you though that a .25 inch difference on an Ikon on the same rim made a noticeable difference in volume and pressure I could roll with, and I'm guessing that imparts improvements, so I've considered going to a 2.4. While it may no longer be marketed as a wet conditions specific tire, the new Forekaster is still designed to shed mud well, with raised edges on the casing. The Rekon comes in a few width options as well as two casing options, all with Maxxis 3C rubber to make sure you are getting the most traction from the rubber itself as possible. USD CAD Guess Ill start stockpiling the outgoing model. I/m loving the advances in technology over the 12 years! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The DHR2 is a hell of a tyre on the back though. Anthony Smith Maxxis classifies the Forekaster as an 'aggressive XC' tire, which seems about right: it rolls fast, and accelerates incredibly well at 735 grams for the 120tpi, EXO-casing version. The Rekon mentioned above is another very popular tire, it seems 70% of people love them and the other 30% hate them. When its really dry and dusty I swap it for a slaughter. It strikes a balance between speed and traction for the rear when riding aggressively. As I said, this tire is a classic and finds itself in its fair share of combinations, so we'll list some of the more common tire combinations and sizes/casing options. Apparently its now a tyre for short-travel trail bikes AKA downcountry bikes. It has the grip and predictable handling of bigger, burlier options with faster rolling speed and a little less weight. On that note, at $93 / 80 Maxxis is now sitting at the premium side of current tire pricing. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The Ardent filled out to a nice profile on my 26mm rims. Video , Currency: Was going to use them as a summer set now that it looks like summers is here for a few weeks! The Maxxis Ardent is something of a do-it-all trail tire thats had relatively high success rates and popularity with mountain cyclists for a while now. The Ardent marks yet another classic XC/Trail tire for Maxxis, bridging the gap between super fast rolling but sometimes not enough tread, and something more like a Minion DHR II that moves into large tread territory. I really dig tires with these intermediate transition knobs, and all of these small features is why the Rekon has become my favorite XC/Trail tire. Theres a huuuuuge gap between an Aspen and a Minion; you can probably fit 3 tyres in that gap.and Id say Maxxis already has! However, the new tread pattern is more densely packed for better rolling efficiency and taller side knobs are there to really dig into the corners. The hang up there is it's only .15 of an inch difference, and Maxxis tires often times won't measure out to their stated dimensions, so I might be stuck with the same tread after a swap if I just get a bigger Rekon. Maxxis might have some of the most iconic XC/Trail tires like the Ikon and Ardent. Is this the best tire combo? The tyres in the shot above were installed at the same time, and you can see how pronounced the rear wear is. Like the Ardent, the Forekaster offers very little in the way of rolling resistance and is a quiet ride when the tires are centered. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The most aggressive trail tyre in the Continental line-up is the Trail King (previously known, rather kinkily, as the Rubber Queen). Ikon If it wasn't wider than the Forekaster, I'd run it out back. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There are UST or Revo Tubeless Ready versions of this tyre unless youre very hard on tyres, wed suggest the Revo version is fine. 3C is a good addition but I really dont want a tyre just shy of 1kg for my riding. I have the now older version and quite happy with it. Maybe a rear tire too. The Maxxis Forekaster is a bit more of a rarity to see, being the go-to Maxxis XC tire for very loose soil or mud. The Maxxis Ardent is an XC and trail do-it-all tyre with a directional tread pattern that can be used on the front or rear. Maxxis Crossmark II EXO TR 29 x 2.25in performance. There are intermediate knobs but spaced out quite a bit more than the other tread, leaving a gap where there isn't an intermediate knob. Along with a spike-like design, most of the knobs or spikes also have generous siping, making sure those tall knobs conform to anything they can grab onto when the dirt gets slippery. I was thinking since it improved my cornering over the Ikon on the front, it might do the same for the rear, and if the tread is worn a bit, better to make it a faster rolling more grippy for corners rear tire. In a nut shell, this tyre works best if youre fully committed to a corner and tip it in! AUD This looks like a great tire. The harder-wearing PaceStar compound is recommended for the rear or youll be shelling out for new rubber very quickly. The XR4s are quite voluminous for a 2.35 tyre and exhibit a wide footprint. Just an update for anyone that might have the same question in the future It never gets easier, you just get faster. ~ Greg LeMond. The difference is this tire doesn't blow out sidewalls like the NN. I prefer the forkasters if damp or loose. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The Ardent is also well balanced for rocky trails, and durable enough to hold up to gravel and even jagged rock. The Forekasters don't have as aggressive side knobs as the ardents plus the forecaster will roll faster. Maxxis's latest all-mountain/enduro category offering, the Aggressor, features dual-compound rubber and tubeless-ready construction, measures 2.3 inches wide (for 26, 650b and 29-inch wheels) and is offered in both the EXO and DoubleDown reinforced casings. The new Forekaster has morphed into something new, and while it may no longer really be an XC tire, it's now an excellent all-round trail tire. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. As my skills improved and my bikes got better, my speed also increased and I gradually progressed to a Butcher front and a Purgatory rear. FEATURES OF THE NEW MAXXIS FOREKASTER INCLUDE: The new Forekaster slots into the Maxxis mountain line between our XC options that prioritize rolling speed (Aspen, Rekon Race, Ikon, Rekon) and our gravity-focused treads (Dissector, Minion DHF, Minion DHR, Assegai) which emphasize cornering and braking traction.
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