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Pacenti Cycles
Neo-Moto 650B x 2.3
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Submitted by
skinl19
a Racer
from Lake Orion, MI
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great grip, cornering, inspires confidence. Able to run low pressures. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy but being faster in the corners makes up for it. Some rolling resistance on pavement and hardpack but everywhere else you won't notice it. | | Similar Products Used: | Pacenti Quasi-Moto | | Bike Setup: | 2009 Cannondale Factory Racing Scalpel, set up 26" rear, 650b front | | Bottom Line: | This tire seems to lock in to the trail and inspire confidence no matter what the trail surface. A little heavier than my normal race tires but the ability to take lines and corners faster and harder makes up for it. I don't normally use a 2.3 on the front of my bikes, especially when racing but I plan on leaving this tire on for a few races to try it.
I tried the Quasi-Moto as well which works fine on harder surfaces and loamy soil but did not handle loose conditions or loose over hardpack. The 2.1 Neo due out soon may be the ticket for racing but for now this version is as good as it gets for the front. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ibikergal
a Cross Country Rider
from campbell, ca
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort Ord | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good Grip and Roller | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Resolution and Fast Track | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racer X with Fox Fork | | Bottom Line: | The 650b up front has helped me become better and more confident on technical trails. The tread design is great and has played a big part in my enjoyment on the trail. This tire has good grip in different trail conditions and rolls well. I ride in various conditions and it has handled what I have thrown at it from hard pack, sand to mud.
I run low pressures (24psi) and tubeless without a flat or burp on a Notubes ZTR 355 rim.
Just a great tire!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ghawk
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta/Denver
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Deer Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Rolls and Rolls. | | Weaknesses: | Price. | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Mojo SL. Stans ztr350/Neo Motos front and back (trimed in back.), Fox Talas RLC, run ghetto tubeless | | Bottom Line: | 650b's just roll forever.
Wow no roll offs, burps or flats since installation of these great tires on the Stans rim. I had questions if the bead would hold in the begining. Now it is time to replace the rear tire and I have neve had ONE problem.
Great grip, (even a bit worn.), running at 22 lbs psi !
Thanks Kirk for getting us started with the right size wheels for real mountain biking.
Btw, people say the back tire does not accelerate fast, or hard to get up to speed. Wrong. My wheel build is about the same weight as my Spinergy/WTB Mutano Raptors ! Keeping them rolling is much easier than those 26ers. This comes from testing both tires on the same bike setup.
Climbing technical is easier, rolling downhill is much better and rolling along the flats, did I mention this tire size and tires just roll? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rainman
a Cross Country Rider
from AU
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Local | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Donated By Definitiv | | Strengths: | An excellent tire, well designed and executed by Panaracer for Kirk Pacenti. Fantastic grip in the dry. | | Weaknesses: |
Lethal in the wet. Slides badly on wet roots and rocks...but then, most tires do. | | Similar Products Used: | Pacenti Quasi Moto. | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Mojo 650B. | | Bottom Line: |
This was the only option for 650B riders until recently. However, Schwalbe and Kenda are into the 650B tire production now too, so we should see other options opening up for riders wishing to try different rubber.
My experience with the Pacenti Neo Moto's are all positive, except for their wet grip.
In the dry conditions, the Neo is one of the very best tires you can fit onto a bike. It rivals the Panaracer Rampage and the Kenda Nevegal for outright grip and traction. It is a fairly hard compound rubber and wears well, showing little sign of knob reduction during the time I have been using them. The side knobs are meaty and hang on tenaciously in the corners, you can throw the bike in hard and fast and expect the Neo to grip and get you through without any dramas.
The tread pattern is well designed, the tires roll very nicely for a big knobbed carcass and are quite fast on hard pack. I have had no ripped off knobs or cuts and I give them hell in the rocks where I regularly ride, but there is no sign of damage to this tough tire.
I run my Neo's as Ghetto tubeless on the new Velocity Blunt rims kindly provided by Stu at Definitive Cycles. No burps, no flats and no problems...and i've really tried to roll them off the rims and burp them, but they are ... s o l i d!
Kirk is to be congratulated on his foresight and courage in funding this tire and it's smaller brother, the Quasi. He has opened up a whole new wheel size for riders everywhere to use and enjoy.
The Neo Moto is a very good tire. It deserves to do well and I really like these tires on my Ibis Mojo. If you want to see what railing corners is like at high speeds and extreme angles of lean then try the 650B Neo Moto on the front of your 26" bike. You will NOT be disappointed.
Definitely worthy of full marks in the dry, but i'm dropping a mark off because of their wet weather performance.
Rainman.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dieselcruiserhead
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very high quality manufacturing, perfect weight to strength ratio, appear to work well tubeless, corner very well, stick like glue, and in general an awesome tire. Right up there with the very best MTB tires I've ridden. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of, other than the expensive price. | | Similar Products Used: | Quasi Moto, and dozens of 26er and 29er tires including many I consider "similar" such as Panaracer Rampage, Kenda Nevegal, WTB Motorapter, and others. | | Bike Setup: | Ventana El Bas tardo 650b 5" travel bike. About 30 lbs, XT everything, good strong Hadley/Sun Ringle/DT Comp wheelset, light but strong aluminum seatpost/stem/handlebar/BB7 brakes. I weigh about 225 so with gear this is a lot of weight on the NeoMotos. I have also ridden them heavily, 2-3 times per week and they are my universal go-to tire for everything. | | Bottom Line: | Basically a very smart tire, right up there with the best and smartest MTB tires I have ridden and liked. Very high quality manufacturing, the casing is a couple layers and the lugs show an attention to detail not found even on other Panaracer tires (Panaracer is the manufacturer of the NeoMotos). The lugs are good and aggressive but small enough and placed intelligently where they are not weight bombs, corner well, and have great traction. They are also smart where there are larger tires you might be tempted to run but these do the job of all of them. I also tried the Quasi Motos in the rear (which were also good) but in the end choose to run the Neos front and rear (and will probably continue to do so), they feel more balanced and it feels more powerful this way. I eventually figured do run the Neo backwards in the rear though for more climbing traction, this also seems to help. 650b for me was a logical choice as I wanted a more AM setup than the 29er full suspensions out there, I wanted 5" but I wanted some of the benis of a slightly larger wheeled bike like a 29er. In the end, I haven't been disappointed at all. And luckily, the first 650b MTB tire out there also happens to be one of the best tires I have ridden.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nightfire
a Weekend Warrior
from Warwick, Warwickshire, UK
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Grip! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | I wish there where more to compare it with. | | Bike Setup: | Custom aluminium frame running 650B wheels | | Bottom Line: | A really lovely ride, loads of grip similar to many of my 29er tyres. Most likely due to the large contact patch. The large outer diameter helps the wheel to roll over large obstacles but being smaller than a 29er wheel means I have no toe overlap issues any more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bret
a Racer
from Las Cruces, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Knob design is as good as it gets. Side knobbies are strong enough for severe cornering forces. Low rolling resistance considering the amount of traction.
Great for tubeless conversion.
Perfect balance between traction and wear. | | Weaknesses: | It doesn't last forever.
Some may say its mass is a weakness(mine was 750g), but they may not understand that the benifits obtained by this tire are due to the careful placement of its material. Any less material and it would not be the tire it is. | | Bike Setup: | Front only. Stans ZTR 355 with yellow tape. I run about 28psi. | | Bottom Line: | I ride in very harsh conditions and even though I have ridden the tire only about 100 miles it is showing little signs of wear. I go through more tires here by far than any other place I've been so that is saying a lot.
The tire RAILS -> Cornering is top notch. The neo-moto should be used as tubeless. It cannot be called tubeless ready because it does not have the inner butyl liner, but as long as you put in the proper amount of sealant it will not fail you. I've got a few cactus thorns in it now and it just does not leak air. The race I did last Sunday was 30 miles of jagged rocks, sand and gravel and it just hung in the corners and flew over the rocks.
I happily give this tire the top rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Schott
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Flow Trails, Marquette Michigan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman.com | | Strengths: | Great traction in all conditions! Thanks to a 2 week long mtb vacation I've ridden this tire on slick rock, hard pack red dirt, wet tacky condtions, loose rocky dry conditions, deep snow, hard pack snow, and as of late muddy conditions. These tires give ample traction without the rolling resistance one would expect out of a tire this big and knobby. It's high volume gave plenty of pneumatic suspension even in the most gnarly terrain. They seem to be wearing quite well even with all the slick rock they've seen in the past month. They shed mud much better than the Panaracer Rampage tires I've been running on my 29er which is a definate plus for those early spring rides. | | Weaknesses: | None to speak of yet. I did get 2 flats in one lap at 24 hours of Old Pueblo, but it's my fault for not running any sort of tire protection; eg: slime tubes, tubeless, or tire liners which I found out were a must for that particular venue. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Nevagal 26x2.35 Panaracer Rampage 29 x 2.35 | | Bike Setup: | Surly 1x1 rigid single speed, King Hubs, 650b Velocity Blunt rims | | Bottom Line: | It's hard not to review this tire without talking about the 650B wheel size. I have spent plenty of time on both 29" and 26" bikes in the past 3 years and spent a lot of time on all 3 wheel sizes in the past 3 months(all with similiar tire sizes and tread design). In these 3 months I have concluded that maybe it's not so much that this tire is well thought out and designed(which it seems to be) as much as the 650B seems to be the ultimate trade off between 26 and 29" wheel sizes. Having a bit of a background in dirt jumping, trials, as well as the nerdiest of xc racing, I like ~fast~ flickable and nimble bikes. If there's any chance of affording myself some air on the xc trails I'll take it! Yet there's no denying the benefits of a big 29" wheel and their momentum carrying powers. With 29ers I have always felt that the flickable part wasn't always there for me in all situations. And after having spent time on these 29" wheels their trail smoothing qualities were missed when I hopped back on 26" wheels. For me the 650B has that same flickability factor as a 26" wheels yet they seem to afford the same rollability and traction as the 29ers without all the rotating mass, long wheel bases, and long chainstays.
Back to the tire. This tire with the help of it's size has given me the best traction to rolling resistance ratio I have had yet in any mountain bike tire. For the rough rocky terrain I am in right now it's absolutely perfect. The tough casing, high volume, ample knobs, and supple ride quality are really apreciated. I am however looking forward to the Quasi Moto and other "go fast crowd" tires for those smoother buffer trails I'll be riding back in Michigan; as well as some of the tamer trails and race loops out here in Utah.
If you're remotely considering the 650B wheel size, just do it and you won't be disappointed. The more I ride my 650Bs the more I wonder where they have been all my riding life!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from British Columbia
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | de-analyzer | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bikeman | | Strengths: | Superior design. The ramped knobs and crosscuts make the tread pattern truely outstanding for low rolling resistance and cornering. I find the tire hold it's grip in all conditions; very predictable. Even the bead is a perfect fit when installing; not too tight and not sloppy loose. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | There are no other 650b MTB tires. However I have used Conti Deisel/Gravity/Survival, Kenda Nevegal/Blue Groove/Small Block 8, Schwalbe Racing Ralph/Fast Fred/Big Betty/Al Mighty, Hutchison Python, WTB Weirwolf/Timberwolf, Panaracer Fire XC, plus some others I can't remember anymore... | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Norco Fluid SE w/RS Pike Team and a Pacenti Neo-Moto Tire on a Velocity Blunt Rim (front only). The rest is not important... | | Bottom Line: | 650b rocks if you can fit it into your frame. The Pacenti Neo-Moto is a top self, kick-assed, well designed tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgan Hill,CA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Big floaty tire. Fast tread pattern. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy at 700+ grams. | | Similar Products Used: | There is nothing | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 with a 32 Talas and Neo Moto up front only. | | Bottom Line: | This tire and the Velocity Blunt rim have turned my bike into a faster better rolling technical downhill machine. It fits the Fox XC forks with no issues except at 100mm my fender rubs a little if I bottom it out. Not really an issue on the downhills in 120 or 140mm of travel. I have about 4 rides on this setup. My most recent at ANZA-Jackson trail in Henry Coe park in the south SF Bay area. This is a steep switchback infested technical single track and the Neo Noto handled better than I hoped for. Smooth over big rocks I found myself carrying a lot more speed into turns and in general because it felt so comfortable. Ironically the back 26" wheel fells like it is hanging up in the rough stuff a bit. I would love to find a full 650b frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich Dawson
a Racer
from Columbus OH
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Great seal | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Pototype/Roll: Brands | | Strengths: | Tread pattern | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Maxxis Ignitor 29X2.10 | | Bike Setup: | Indy Fab steel | | Bottom Line: | Just prior to the SSWC in Scotland, my bike shop, Roll: (Columbus, OH) was talking to Independent Fabrications about a 27.5er. We did some research and Pacenti gave up the prototype 27.5ers. Velocity provided the hoops. Within three weeks we had ourselves one sweet 27.5 single speed, just in time to box it up and send it skyward to Scotland. Not only did the tires do well in the rocky, rooty Highland Hell, they stood the test of nightly derbys and many a road mile. So, if you're a racer looking for a great tread pattern that sheds well, or a weekend warrior who wants a long-lasting tire, this is the one for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ERic (Super E)
a Cross Country Rider
from Clarkston, WA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any trail I am riding at the time | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | From Kirk at Bikelugs.com | | Strengths: | Beyond belief traction (especially in corners), way-fast (very low rolling resistance), durable. | | Weaknesses: | hmmm...none for me | | Similar Products Used: | Many, many 29er and 26" tires | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Truth 650B (Pacenti Neo-Moto/Velocity Blunt) up front with a Bontrager Jones ACX tubeless/Stans ZTR 355 in the rear...everything else it just the gravy. | | Bottom Line: | I'm sold...not an easy thing to do if you know me. I've been on 29ers for 5-years now and thought they were the best, but never felt at home on a 29er full-suspension and I was looking into the Trek Fuel 69er when Pacenti came out with his new Neo-Moto tire. So I built a bike with the Neo-Moto 650B up front with a 26" rear end. I put some long miles on this bike originally as a 26" only bike (both front and back with 26" wheels) so I had a good feel for the bike already before I built my 650B wheel for the front. It was an OK ride as a 26" only, but it became a whole new million times better ride with the 650B up front. The ride is so good that I now have to seriously talk myself into riding one of my 29ers (bike neglect is a serious offense). To date this Ellsworth with a 650B Neo-Moto up front is the best FS bike I've ever been on (and I've been on way more than plenty).
I am taking sharp corners with the 650B at higher speeds than ever before...my 29er (so called bigger is better traction) tires wash out at lesser speeds. At the same time I notice I am still rolling over things nearly as well as I do with the 29ers if not just as well.
At this time I have yet to find either a 29er or 26" tire with the traction the Neo-Moto provides me as a front tire...snow/ice, mud, sand, rock gardens, hard-pack, gravel, mushy grassy yuk, steep climbs/downhills and more I have been through with this tire over the last several months and nearly 1000 miles now. I'm sure there are some tires with as good of traction, but I doubt there are any that can also match the Neo-Moto's low rolling resistance at 2.3" wide. I ride long distances (typically 40-80 miles in a day) at a fast pace and I am still awed by the quickness of this large (huge by my standards) tire. Most impressive lately has been the traction I have going down very steep snow-covered trails...they hold while under heavy braking and maintain traction well in the snow.
How good is it? I am now looking into building a new full 650B HT bike and ditching my 29ers (yes it's that good).
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Bontrager
a
from Sunnyvale, Ca US
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Sweetness, Santa Cruz. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Nice all around tread pattren, a good mix of ramps and knobs. Loose enough pateren for wetter/muddier rides, tight enough for most dry riding. | | Weaknesses: | None really. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing in 650b, but in 26" and 700c more then I could list. | | Bike Setup: | The tires are on classic 36 hole Super Champions, laced with 14 mm brass nipples to silver Paul Component’s Disc fhub and Disc word Hubs and mounted very nicely.
For the rest of the bike see this link http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2007/12/mechanics-transport-bike.html | | Bottom Line: | I have been using these tires on a "utility" mountain bike that is meant to haul heavy loads. I have hauled a 48lbs toolbox with a Blur in tow over a mix of packed dirt service roads and black top. I have also taken the rig on some moderate singletrack around Fremont Older and cruzed the Bayland’s dykes for my dirt fixes the last couple of months. They have performed flawlessly the last couple of months, and I hope to get more dirt miles on them very soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kyle
a
from santa cruz, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | great all-aroung tire
fills a niche
rolls fast and has good traction | | Weaknesses: | this tire is not as wide or high volume as i usually like. i also prefer a more square cross-section, but this tire is the only real 650b mtn tire availale | | Similar Products Used: | none, there are no other 650b mtn tires at the moment. | | Bike Setup: | kona unit conversion to 650b | | Bottom Line: | this tire is great. as i stated in weaknesses, its not my ideal tire, however usually when i run a tire that isnt to my liking, i really hate it. this tire on the other hand performed well and would make me consider differnt tires in the future. the tread design works well, and the 650b format, while raising undue controversy, does work quite well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Benson
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Flagstaff Trail System | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great traction in all conditions. Comfortable riding and very reliable cornering. Feels like I can go faster downhill with these wheels and tires than on any other bike. | | Weaknesses: | Slow rolling on flats and climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Panaracer Rampage 29" | | Bike Setup: | First, 2005 VooDoo Wanga Reynolds 631 steel 26" wheel/20" size frame. Now using VooDoo D-Jab Ti 26" wheel /20" frame. X-Fusion Velvet 26" fork, WTB hubs laced to Velocity Blunt 650B rims and DT-Swiss Competition spokes. | | Bottom Line: | This is a predictable handling and reliable tire and has shown me that 650B wheels are a valid option and a lot of fun to ride. I would prefer a faster rolling option for better all-around use.
Anyone looking to try 650B wheels will be happy with these tires! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Zane Gray at Wilder Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Pacenti Cycle Design | | Strengths: | I need more riding time for a complete review....my initial impressions are very positive for the only 650B tire currently on the market. Nice side knobs and stiff sidewalls make cornering a breeze! My Neo Motos are mounted to Velocity Blunt rims which are fairly wide and quite stiff. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | On my 26" bikes I typically use WTB Exi Wolf tires or Kenda Karma tires which have lower knob profiles for fast rolling. For dry hard-pack conditions, I sometimes run WTB Nano Raptors. | | Bike Setup: | I'm riding my own Ahrens 'Mezzo 650B' prototype hardtail. The frame is 7005 Easton Ultralite with my signature yokes, machined dropouts and rectangular tubing in the rear triangle. On future 650B frames, I'll be adding additional mud clearance to the yokes since the Neo Moto 2.3 is a wide, high air volume tire. | | Bottom Line: | Kirk Pacenti has done a great job bringing the Neo Moto 650B tire into the marketplace. I have really enjoyed this alternative wheel size since the trajectory of the wheel is improved without a lot of extra rotational weight to overcome. And developing a custom frame around this wheel size is a piece of cake since geometry is very similar to 26" frames! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO. USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lair of the Bear | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | 650B Heaven. Tire are fantastic in just about any condition, especially dry, loose stuff. For a wheel size that does not have a lot of tire options, not sure if I'd look any further anyway. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Sycip Diesel 650B Fully Rigid | | Bottom Line: | If they made this tire in any, size, you would be stoked! Pacenti is definitely on to something here! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Quijano
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, FL, Oosah
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | trailish type | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | bikelugs.com | | Strengths: | (In Haiku form)
Large volume feels great.
Ramped knobs roll great and grab ground.
Casing strong:good weight | | Weaknesses: | Kirk funded this himself, others should have helped. | | Similar Products Used: | (tread pattern) Kenda Nevagal, Karma, Panaracer Dart, Smoke. Um other tires... | | Bike Setup: | Haro Sonix, custom 650B setup. American Classic built Velocity Blunt wheels. Sram x7, Maverick SC32 up front.
VooDoo Bokor SS 650B Setup. American Classic built wheels with Velocity Blunts rims. X-Fusion Velvet up front.
Pacenti Neo-Moto on all 4 wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Fans of the Panaracer Rampage and Kenda Nevagals should convert to 650B wheels SOLELY to use these tires. My local trails are heavily rooted and sandy, and I have been extremely surprised how well they hold the terrain. I'm hooked and probably won't use another tire for AM, or epic XC riding EVER. Don't be discouraged at the retail price, these are high quality tires that roll fast and grip hard.
650B fans are anxiously waiting for MORE from Pacenti! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any and all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great grip, nice knobs, combines solid traction with very good rolling resistance. Good sidewall strength - good width and volume. | | Weaknesses: | Need more ride time - but so far so good. | | Similar Products Used: | This is the only one out there right now. | | Bike Setup: | Carver Bumblebee Prototype | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding the 650b Neomoto as a rear tire on a Prototype Carver Bikes Bumblebee that we'll be reviewing at www.ridemonkey.com in the 29er forum.
The rear Neomoto tire is an excellent complement to the Panaracer Rampage that is up front on the Carver - perhaps because they were made by the same parent company. The tire hooks up great as a rear tire and rolls real well for the amount of knobbiness it provides.
I'm anxious to try one up front at some point in the not too distant future as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl Schlemowitz
a Cross Country Rider
from New Paltz, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very good grip over a variety of surfaces, inspires confidence, supple ride feel, rolls fast even though it has an aggressive tread, fairly light for a large volume tire, durability | | Weaknesses: | The bead fit is a little loose when mounting the tire, though it has never been a problem on the trail. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Vicious Cycles Mambo Sun steel frame, Vicious Cycles disc fork, 08 XT kit, Velocity Synergy rims | | Bottom Line: | The introduction of this tire truely validates the 27.5"/650B platform. Because it is the only tire available right now it is essential that this tire delivers performance.
The Neo-Moto delivers this expectation and more. It inspires confidence descending and ascending. It is durable enough to slam rocks and roots without knobs ripping off or pinch flatting. Rolling resistance is low for a tire with so much meat. It is a tire that you don't really think about, it just works for you.
We believe in this tire so much that we created a new model for the 27.5"/650B platform, named "Mambo Sun". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thad
a Weekend Warrior
from Abilene, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Pacenti Cycles | | Strengths: | Excellent traction...durable carcass...sets up as tubeless, even as a non-UST tire | | Weaknesses: | none really | | Similar Products Used: | tons of other tires | | Bike Setup: | SC Nomad with this tire on the front...26'er on the rear. | | Bottom Line: | I was impressed with the 69'er concept, but you have to sacrifice the long travel fork to mount a 29'er. The NeoMoto 650B allows the tallest wheel/tire setup while retaining a long travel fork...'08 Nixon 160 in my case. The 650B NeoMoto was the best compromise.
As it turned out, it was an excellent compromise. Regardless of the taller tire advantage, the NeoMoto is a superior tire for traction, durability, and overall performance. Though not a UST tire, it set up in tubeless manner with Stan's DH strip and sealant quite easily on Velocity Blunt rim. And though I've only had this setup for less than a month, I get to ride 4-5 times a week in highly technical and rocky terrain. This terrain challenges the best tires, and sidewall cuts and rock punctures are common. This tire has shown no adverse affects, no sidewall scoring, no knob tearing, and no bead separation running as tubeless. The taller tire/wheel setup provides better cornering and better roll-over performance in rocky, ledgy terrain. For a 730g tire in a 2.35 size, it's easy to live with for long distance rides. I'd buy the tire in a 26" size if it was available. It's that good.
It may be the only real MTB tire in the 650B category at the moment, but it is on par with the best tires I've ridden for many years through the bike shop I work at. Whether the 650B concept succeeds or fails, the tire itself stands on its own in terms of quality and performance. Aggressive riders will like it on their long travel bikes, and because of the tire weight, even more XC oriented riders will appreciate it. The tire can fit a wide variety of user application. For me the taller wheel/tire 650B concept has proven ideal, as it has allowed me to retain an excellent bike like the Nomad and my preferred longer travel fork. This excellent tire was just icing on the cake. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zack Rielley
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | 9-mile | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Strengths: | More traction in most conditions than I ever thought possible. The tire rolled very well, especially for its size and aggressive tread pattern, and never bottomed out. The tires floated over rocky section with ease, like on a 29er, but was noticeably easier to handle through slow technical sections, than a larger wheeled bike. | | Weaknesses: | Kind of on the big side for general cross country use, but perfect for very rocky places and more aggressive trail oriented bikes. The tread pattern would work very well in a 1.8" or 2.0" | | Similar Products Used: | None for 650b, but for 26" Panaracer Cinder X and Continental Gravity 2.3" | | Bike Setup: | Custom Steel ZR Cycles hardtail, with Rock Shox Reba 29er in the front, XTR with DT 240 hubs and Velocity Blunt disc rims. | | Bottom Line: | Being the only 650b mountain bike tire, for now, there is nothing to directly compare it to. This is a high quality tire with a very functional tread pattern. It is very fast for its size, but is not a 1.8" semi-slick. Most people should find the tire a very good fit for most riding styles and I just can't wait for more tires to be available. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Downs
a Racer
from Phila, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Pennypack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The traction on loose dirt, mud and rocks never let me down. On hard pack the tires still roll faster than you would think considering how aggressive the tread feels in the winter's slop. | | Weaknesses: | Availability is an issue as they are not widely distributed. I think this will pick up as the 650b wheel size grows in popularity. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing in 650b before. | | Bike Setup: | 26" single speed, hard tail frame with Velocity Blunt wheels | | Bottom Line: | With this new wheel size I was monster trucking through creeks, muck, into stairs, curbs, rocks and logs. I wanted to feel out the wheel possibilities. The Neo-Moto tires never pinch flatted or folded when taking a hard turn or landing off camber from a jump. The sidewalls felt perfect, not too stiff or mushy. The rubber itself is high quality and offers traction on rocks where many tires would slide. The tread pattern offered plenty of traction climbing up wet and leaf covered trails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fisty
a Cross Country Rider
from Ithaca ny
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great all-round tire. Characteristics are very much like Panaracer's Rampage as would be expected but a seem grippier on hardpack. | | Weaknesses: | Perfect for allround. | | Similar Products Used: | Lol, name it. | | Bike Setup: | Cidale Taurine 650B and Spyder B29er. | | Bottom Line: | For the first 650B (and only)MTB tire ever made, Paccenti made the correct choice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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