Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$12.00
Purchased At:
www.jensonusa.com
Strengths:
light weight, low rolling resistance, good corner grip, price
Weaknesses:
not made anymore (according to the 2002 incarnation of www.intensetires.com)
Similar Products Used:
Nothing quite like this
Bike Setup:
Titus Racer-X, Marzocchi Z1 X-Fly, both Mavic 221 and Bontrager Valiant rims with Performance Lunar Light tubes
Bottom Line:
I really, really like these tires. The low rolling resistance is great on the road when riding to the trailhead. They're so light, they sometimes feel criminal on fire roads. The only problem I've had, I guess, is that if I pump them up enough to feel safe from pinch flats in the rocks, it's too much air to get a good, strong cornering grip on the brick-like dried clay of some of the trails I ride.
My weight varies between 180 and 200 lbs. and I've never had a pinch flat with these. I own a bunch of them (thanks JensonUSA!), both 60 and 70 durometer. The 60s are definitely more grippy, but they don't last very long. I run a 1.85 rear and 1.95 front on most trails for the better cornering a smaller rear tire gives you. Sometimes I slip out if I try to climb out of the saddle, but with a full suspension I really don't care. I think it's a great semi-knob tire.
I'm amazed at how well these perform in thick, gooey mud. Sure, going uphill can be a bear and sometimes impossible, but that's what the toe spikes on shoes are for. They get coated with mud easily because of the low-profile tread, but they also shed it just as quickly when you hit a dry patch. And taking corners downhill in mud is a breeze. Just lean into a corner, let the back wheel break (which it does predictably), and feel it grab again, pulling you through a perfect corner. Great stuff.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jordan
a Weekend Warrior
from Palo Alto, CA Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Rippin' Rutebega (Whistler)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$17.00
Purchased At:
JensonUSA.com
Strengths:
These tires are excellent for XC and general use. They have a fairly low rolling resistance, medium weight, and offer great cornering grip. Plus, the grey sidewall looks pretty nice and they're Intense!
Weaknesses:
Their only drawback is their lack of pinch-flat protection. The 1.95 looks and feels much more like a 2.1 or even wider, but if you slam the wheel against anything with more than a little force, you're pretty much promised a long walk home.
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Factory DH 2.1, WTB Velociraptor 2.1
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Bullit, XT build kit, Marzocchi Z.1 MCR, Sun Rhyno Lites and XT discs
Bottom Line:
If JensonUSA.com has any left, buy them, for that price they're an excellent XC and all-around choice. But if you do any serious freeriding, or urban assult, look elsewhere.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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