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Continental
Mountain King 29
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Submitted by
jensh
a Cross Country Rider
from Norway
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Sørmarka | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | www.cyclecomponents. | | Strengths: | Good grip in wet and muddy conditions.
Mounts up easy (running tubeless on Bontrager rims)
Not too expensive | | Weaknesses: | Not 2.4 as claimed, closer to 2.2.
Low volume compared to RR and Raven.
High rolling resistance | | Similar Products Used: | Racing Ralph 2.4 and 2.25.
Stans Raven 2.2
Bontrager Jones | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Superfly | | Bottom Line: | I have been looking for a tire that works well in Norwegian fall conditions. After the racing season is finished I spend most of the time riding technical single tracks – just for the fun of it! The Norwegian fall is wet and the typical trails I ride have a lot of roots and rocks, The setup I have been using on marathon races like Birken and Grenserittet (RR 2.25 in front and Raven 2.2 on the rear) does not work very well in these conditions (does not work at all…).
I mounted the Mountain King 2.4 both front and rear tubeless with Bontragers rim strip and Stans sealant. They mounted up easily, especially compared to the RR´s.
First ride was in the dark. Since it is hard to know exactly where you’re going you have to trust the tires. Even if I bailed out on some of the more difficult parts, the tires seemed to work as I had hoped for. God grip in the mud and on rocks and roots as well. It had not been raining for a while so the roots and rocks were rather dry. First impression was good.
Second ride in full daylight. It was raining and I was struggling big time to find the rhythm. The tires slipped both front and rear and I was not feeling confident at all. I had started the ride at around 30 psi, it was not working! After15 minutes I stopped and let out some air. Halleluja! With lower pressure the grip became very good. Wet roots still was a little slippery, but in a controlled manner. When I came back the gauge on the pump showed 22 psi on the rear and 25 up front. I will probably try with 25 on both ends on the next ride.
So far I it seems that I have found a “fall” tire that actually works. In the spring when the trails dries up and the race season starts I will go back to RR front and rear. The Mountain King has to much rolling resistance for the marathon races. The Ravens saved weight but the grip was lousy and they are now retiring in the garbage bin
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eastdoc
a Racer
from Loveland, CO USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Strengths: | I have the 2.2 on the rear. This is great for climbing, really hooked up on hard pack, roots, rocks and pretty much anything that you could ride. | | Weaknesses: | Not sure if its the thin sidewall or treads moving around but this tire is VERY unstable on the downhill. I had to stop to see if it was flat. Really changed the way the back of the bike handled. This is the first tire that I would not recommend. | | Bottom Line: | Great tire if you are going uphill, do not ride it downhill! The price is the saving grace, I will still ride it until it will ride no more. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jgw1981
a Weekend Warrior
from Walled Lake, MI,USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Island Lake, Maybury | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$43.00 | | Purchased At: | American Cycle and F | | Strengths: | Great gripping tire, even in the sand. Doesn't weigh a whole lot. I have had it in the sand, regular hard pack, and mud. It grips well, and rolls pretty well through everything. Also sheds mud really well. Looks good too. :-) | | Weaknesses: | It seems a little narrower than the 2.2 that it claims to be. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Small Block 8's, Bontrager Jones XR, Specialized Fast Trak. | | Bike Setup: | GF Paragon, X9 / LX / X7 drivetrain, Juicy 3 Brakes, Thompson Seatpost, WTB Rocket saddle, XT hubs / WTB rims. | | Bottom Line: | Great tires, better priced than the Kenda and Specialized tires. Just wish they would call it a 29 x 2.1 rather than a 2.2. This is a great all around trail tire, good for the conditions around SE Michigan. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thomllama
a Cross Country Rider
from CT
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Bluff Point In CT Rocky Point on Long Island | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike29 | | Strengths: | great grip on wet and loose terrain. Very light. reasonably tough | | Weaknesses: | high roll resistance, kind under sized for what is stated. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda nevagals & Klaws, Sefras Krest, Specialized Fast trac, Maxxis somethings. | | Bike Setup: | Voodoo Canzo 29er XC/AM setup around 30lbs | | Bottom Line: | Nice grip tire in loose soils and sand. I did great on wet roots and rocks but on long stretches of rock face they got Squirrely. though they didn't slip. kinda heavy roll resistance for a tire they market as an XC tire. It's actually a really good and light mud/wet/sand tire. Great on pine needles, about the only tire I have ever felt good going fast through heavy pine needles..
I have a full review on the ECTRR site.
A really good tire in it;\'s element, a so so tire everywhere else. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
napa
a Cross Country Rider
from sacramento
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | anything in auburn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | mad cat | | Strengths: | easy to put on, light | | Weaknesses: | this tire feels like i am riding in rut,Does not like to turn,sucks on rocks,2.2 seems like a cyclecross tire that does not want to turn | | Similar Products Used: | I should have stayed with the exiwolf. | | Bike Setup: | rigid 29er single speed | | Bottom Line: | These tires suck! i would not ever buy these again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gt6jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Worcester, UK
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Afan/Clent | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Singlespeed.nl | | Strengths: | All round grip on gravel, wet or dry; mud, wet or dry; grass, wet or dry; roots/rocks, dry only.
650g weight | | Weaknesses: | Wet roots - UK riders will know this feeling, hit a wet root at anything other than perpendicular, and the wheel slides away, pretty bad if it is the fron wheel! But I'd argue no tyre is good at this?
2.2" is actually 2" | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Fast Trak | | Bike Setup: | Scandal 29er, 09 Rebas, SLX drive, Juicy 3 stoppers, Halo freedom disc rims | | Bottom Line: | Excellent tyre, great grip in 95% of situations I've ridden it in. Wet roots is a weakness. But it doesn't pick up mud at all, so excellent shedding.
Cornering grip is good too, doesn't feel like it is about to let go.
Climbing is good.
You wouldn't think so, but the rolling resistance feels comparable to hard pack tyres.
I'd say this was a perfect tyre for our very specific UK trail needs.
If you never see rain, and only ride on very hard pack it might not suit you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pcupach
a Weekend Warrior
from Albuquerque NM
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Otero | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | BIG knobies...grab and hold onto rocks making climbing stair cases easier | | Weaknesses: | Big Knobies arent ramped = slow rolling...
Big Knobies are very soft = bend in a turn + cause the tire to feel like it is moving laterally under me
Sidewall is not stiff = seems like it is moving laterally under me
2.4 wide!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?! This tire is not even close to that measurement
Im 230lbs with pack on a RIP 9 XL | | Similar Products Used: | Rampage, Schwalbe, WTB, GEAX | | Bike Setup: | RIP 9 XL
XT & X9 deraleurs, shifters X0, , Formula brakes, DT swiss hubs, Manitou Fork | | Bottom Line: | I would only use this tire in very muddy conditions.
For New Mexico ST/AM conditions it is not well suited. IMO | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Finney
a Cross Country Rider
from Wolverhampton
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Hateley Cycles | | Strengths: | Good grip when cornering and feel planted in heavy mudand sliipery conditions. Good tyre for keeping you upright in some sticky situations. Can Take a god battering. | | Weaknesses: | Very high rolling resistance, have to work hard on the flat, let alone on long hard uphills. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis high roller | | Bike Setup: | Saracen Mantra 2, Avid juicy 5's | | Bottom Line: | Good winter tyre. Not ideal for racers and hardpack fast trails as high rolling resistance. Already had 2 flats on the back (same ride) so not confident about reliability.
But if you ride muddy, wet conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hellocook
a Cross Country Rider
from quito
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | traction especially the 2.4 version, easy tubeless setup, reasonable rolling resistance | | Weaknesses: | 2.2 more like a 2.1 | | Bottom Line: | we are riding frequently in wet conditions, but also on high alpine Andean trails. our entire bike group switched over to montain kings due to by far superior traction (wet AND dry) in comparison to various other products from michelin, maxxis, kendal, panaracer and many more. wear is pretty good as well as long you stay away from paved roads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DaveL75
a Weekend Warrior
from coventry, UK
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Whytes Level, Wales | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$38.00 | | Purchased At: | demo only | | Strengths: | good mud clearance, seems to handle deeper mud better than they look as though they would. Seem to get more grip the harder you push them (perhaps I'm just using the suspension properly when riding harder) | | Weaknesses: | lets go without warning... one moment you're cornering nicely, the next you're sliding sideways. They make reasonably normal trails exciting in the damp. | | Similar Products Used: | various, panaracer fire xc pro, panaracer rampage, scott stroke, wtb moto raptor, hutchinson scorpion (awful tyre!) | | Bike Setup: | demo Orange 5 pro | | Bottom Line: | if your local trails are soft and they've come with the bike then don't replace them immediately, give them a go. I wouldn't buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Zephyrhills
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | San Antonio cyclery | | Strengths: | these tires are awesome,very stable and corner great.This past weekend I rode three different riding areas.One had alot leaves and pine needles,the other was hardpack and the last was very sandy.I really like how it performs in sand.I`ve had other tires that sometimes wants to dig in when you turn,these track great in the deep sand. | | Weaknesses: | none at all | | Similar Products Used: | maxxis igniter,michelin xcr at | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Felt Nine Solo, American Classic SS 29er wheels,Funn Fatboy bars | | Bottom Line: | put these on and ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fattraxx
a Weekend Warrior
from arizona
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | south mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | light for a "big" 29" tire.
great cornering grip and climbing traction.
rolls better than my kenda nevegal. | | Weaknesses: | rolls slower than the saguaro in the rear that it replaced.
seems for like a real 2.2 than the claimed 2.4 width. | | Similar Products Used: | nevegal,saguaro,acx's | | Bike Setup: | ventana el rey w/wtb dual duty rims {28mm} | | Bottom Line: | so far,seems to be a great tire for the trails around phoenix.grip is great as the tread seems a little softer that the nevegal i was using.to soon to comment on the life span as of yet.it's a little narrower than advertised but seems to be close to the kenda's size.bigger than the acx 2.2 i had though.i'll have to see how it holds up in the rocks here.the saguaro got a slashed sidewall after 6mo's and the acx shows alot of wear in the same time span.
nevegal shows wear but looks the best so far.the MK's should do great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerry
a Cross Country Rider
from uk
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | bike 29 | | Strengths: | Great all round tyre, works in mud very nearly as well as Panaracer Trailraker[top uk 26" mud tyre]. Rolls well, rails grass corners well, hooks up well and sheds mud ok. Way better than Nevegals which skate up front in greasy conditions | | Weaknesses: | 2.4 MK = 2.2 Nevegal for width, so beware | | Similar Products Used: | Nevegals | | Bike Setup: | Inbred 29er 2 by 9 gearing, rigid carbon fork | | Bottom Line: | About the best available 29 mud tyre till somebody actually brings out a specific 29er mud tyre [Conti are rumoured to be doing so] | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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