Submitted by
Justen
a Weekend Warrior
from Alamogordo, NM Date Reviewed: February 16, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Reasonably lightweight, grippy, easy to get on and off of the rim.
Weaknesses:
For the price- None
Similar Products Used:
IRC, Michelins, slicks...
Bike Setup:
Hardtail with Indy C fork (I know, I know...)
Bottom Line:
I was pleasantly surprised with this tire. After reading the reviews on this site I bought one for the front and have been happy with it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
arpit
a Weekend Warrior
from sydney Date Reviewed: January 4, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Worked very well as a rear tyre while it lasted. Rolled well on asphalt
Weaknesses:
Paid 45 aussie dollars at LBS-- Expensive for something which doesn't last long and probably costs 45 cents to manufacture. However, this is true for all mountain bike tyres. Soft compound lost like a millimuetre of tread off one pass on the commonara parkway.
Bike Setup:
hardtail ritchey z max on front, excavader on back- 2.1 both
Bottom Line:
It was working really well as a rear tyre. Became sketchy after 6 months of light riding. I bought it because I thought the horizontal treads had a nice bite- It'll lose this quickly if you ride on asphalt. I'd prefer a tyre with a harder compound since I ride on asphalt and my offroad riding consists primarily of sandy and rocky terrain- IE- nomatter how soft your tyre is, when you lose traction it'll be because the terrain itself rolls or shifts(sand grains, small rocks)
I'd reccomend this tyre for -people who ride on hardpack (soft compound) -people who don't ride on rough asphalt (soft compound wears quickly) -people wo ride on loose terrain who are willing to replace the tyre regularly.
I will now try this (worn)tyre as a front one on my other bike , since the side knobs are still fine. I'll be running a semi slick on the back.
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, Colorado Date Reviewed: August 16, 2005
Favorite Trail:
401 in Crested Butte
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
Low rolling resistance. Pretty good rear-wheel traction. Cheap.
Weaknesses:
Washes out during cornering.
Similar Products Used:
None, this is pretty unique tread design.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Epic Marathon with CrossMax XL.
Bottom Line:
As a back tire, these babies rock. They are fast and hook up just right on hardpack soil and pretty good on loose, sandy stuff. As a front tire, I can't stand them. I'm scared sh**less cornering on them at any speed. Feels very unstable but everyone else seems to like them on the front. Not me. Needs a taller shoulder with some big ol' knobbies for use as a front tire.
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Submitted by
J.S.
a Cross Country Rider
from Slovenia Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Very low rolling resistance, fast, good traction, low price
Weaknesses:
Wears out fast if driven on asphalt
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos xc, Ritchey Speedmax
Bike Setup:
Scott hardtail, Deore, Marzocchi, Time,..
Bottom Line:
I have Excavader 2.1 Comp in front and Elavader 2.1 Comp in back and I'm very pleased with these tires, especially if you consider the price. I had Mythos before I switched and they felt very unsecure cornering and braking comparing to Ritcheys. They will wear out fast (I think I can make some 2000 km with them) but I don't really care if I change them for new ones next year becouse they are good and reliable and reasonable light. Probably I'll go with Pro version to see how much better they are and to reduce some extra weight.
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Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Nevada Date Reviewed: January 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Great traction and Low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses:
A little narrow for a 2.1
Similar Products Used:
Way too many to list.
Bike Setup:
Light Hardtail.
Bottom Line:
These tires are a little harsh riding for a 2.1 because they are a little narrow and not very supple(WCS and Pro) and the Pro is very hard to get on ond off the rim, but other than that I can't find any other gripes. They feel almost like semi-slicks that get great traction in everything I have put them through.
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Submitted by
Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Central Coast Australia Date Reviewed: November 12, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
The edge
Strengths:
Lightweight,Good in Sand , Low rolling resistance. Great feel at the right psi.
Weaknesses:
Running at 35psi on tubes they pinchflat constantly due to thin sidewalls.Going to 40+psi they skip and loose traction.
Similar Products Used:
Larsen tt, Michelin hot s ,Ritchey Z Mill... Scott Cougars.
Bike Setup:
Scott Genius MC 30 Xtr Rear Der. FSA Bars Fizik Seat. Easton stem.
Bottom Line:
Overall the Zed max millenium has a better constructon a faster tread pattern and will do every thing better except mud.Going to try with Stans to avoid the flats.Otherwise run two Z Max.
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Glendale, AZ-----USA Date Reviewed: August 10, 2004
Favorite Trail:
NON-paved
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
cheap price, low rolling resistance, seemed to ride faster, traction works great paired with the Elevader
Weaknesses:
didn't come factory on my ride
Similar Products Used:
(most recent)irc mythos xc, wtb velociraptor,+ various others thru the years
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Sugar2 totally upgraded
Bottom Line:
I puchased these tires (2.1 size) after reading the reviews here and can honestly say I am happy with them. I have a much stabler feel when riding fast in sand and on gravel. They replaced the mythos xc's I had because the mythos tended to get "squirlly" on me in some situations--gone with the ritcheys. I also ride faster and corner harder with them. I started out with excavaders front and rear but recently put an elevader on back to try it out, and I like it. BOTH combinations have worked well for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Learux
a Cross Country Rider
from Valencia, CA, USA Date Reviewed: June 28, 2004
Favorite Trail:
so many
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
bikeman
Strengths:
Everuthing U want in a tyre. Great hookup
Weaknesses:
Dont know of any
Similar Products Used:
ALl sorts of rubber
Bike Setup:
Epic avid disk
Bottom Line:
This is my second review of the tyre. It lasted for about 800 miles. That is 400 miles up and 400 miles down a steep fire road with a million rocks with various sizes.
I weigh 230 pounds and teh tyre took all this abuse without problems.
More of you guys should try this tyre especially if you ride in dry hard conditions. Dont know if it will work ok in the mud. My gues is it will!
Try it you wont be sorry.
Learux
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: April 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
bikeroom.com
Strengths:
Fast rolling, sheds mud well, great grip on rock and root. Makes a great front tire.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
IRC Mythos, IRC Pirhana
Bike Setup:
KHS FXT Comp
Bottom Line:
With the trails being a mixed back of mud, wet rock, and roots, so far the excavader has done a great job keeping the front in check. Works well with the elevader rear.
In a few months, we'll see how they handle the dry season
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from West Hartford, CT Date Reviewed: October 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Nashahegan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$49.00
Strengths:
ExcaVader: Richey WCS 1.9 $49 and 490 g’s fantastic tire, true lightweight, rolls fast and with good traction in wet/dry condition in compared to Hutchison Pyphon Lite. Good side bite wet rocks/roots and didn’t plug up in the wet, plus better in sand. Mounted easily to non-UST rims using Stan’s NoTubes. Sidewall appears to be stiffer then the Python’s and the tire appear to be a lower profile. I would rate traction as 25% better then the Phython’s and equal in speed. Good-looking tire/tread patter and rolls true, straight with no tread wander during rotation. Can’t describe dry conditions results yet here in CT, can’t wait! Ran 40 lbs pressure,
Weaknesses:
None identified
Similar Products Used:
Hutchison Python Lite and Alligators Gold (700g's)
Bike Setup:
AMP Research B4F4 carbon w/American Classic wheelset, Avid Disc, RaceFace, Sram, SpeedPlay, CT2 and overall 22 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Excellant tire, added control in all situations
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
joost ooijman
a Cross Country Rider
from velp netherlands Date Reviewed: September 14, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$19.00
Strengths:
good grip, great look
Weaknesses:
after one month they fell apart, very weak tyres, punched two tubes at back and forewheel
Bottom Line:
don't buy, unless you like changing tyres
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
A. Klasuer
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing Date Reviewed: September 9, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Very fast XC tyre, especially on hardpack/fire roads it is amazing, how fast it is and how well it grips.
Weaknesses:
None, if you don't do downhills with it
Similar Products Used:
Many
Bike Setup:
TREK OCLV 9900 Pro Issue 1998
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up on Excavader 2,1 WCS front and Elevader 2,1 WCS rear. I use them with Michelin C4 Latex Tubes (130g). Both have hold out very well a year of use on moderate soils and not too aggressive riding. I still have to find tyres that are faster on hardpack soils typical for fire roads (Conti Twister Supersonic included). And they grip like hell on this kind of surface. No flats either (self being 220 lbs and the use of light Latex tubes), as the tyres are NOT ultra light (beyong 500g). The direct ahndling should be mentioned , too. Very recommend for fast XC-Fullies or race hard-tails. Verry rrecommended. And these endure.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Learux
a Cross Country Rider
from Valencia, CA Date Reviewed: July 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
so many to name
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$21.00
Purchased At:
bikeman.com
Strengths:
Grip and looks. Low rolling resistance on asphalt
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
all sorts of rubber
Bike Setup:
epic with avid disk
Bottom Line:
These are great tires. I use them in Socal where they hook up great in the loose sand on fireroads.
They were cheap $20 a tire for the pro version.
I am curious how much better the WCS version grips.
I used to ride on the old Ritchey Z maxes(the red one 2.35)and ritchey didi it again tjis tire rocks.
Very fast on aspahlt and hardpack (low rolling resistance) and also very good grip in the climb and braking.
i am using it for a rear tire. Something inside me says teh tire wont be a great one on the front.
We will see how fast it wears. So far looks good. U got to try this tire I like it a lot
Learux
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO Date Reviewed: July 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Kennebec Pass
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Give away
Strengths:
It was free.
Weaknesses:
It is falling apart after less than 1 month use. The turning knobs are ripping off. This tire has pinched 2 tubes in the last month, even with increased pressure.
Similar Products Used:
Lots
Bike Setup:
Excavader Pro
Bottom Line:
These tires were give aways. And a good thing to. They have not lasted at all.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from MD Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$9.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Price - at $9.00 a tire, you couldn't beat it. Soft compound makes it stick to the trail. Low rolling resistance so it is quick on hardpack.
Weaknesses:
Soft = quick wear. Tread pattern is not "super aggressive" but works.
Bottom Line:
I was in the market for tires and was narowing it down to either the Panaracer Fire XC or the WTB Mutano Raptor when I ran across the Ritchey Excavaders. I bought these tires based on reviews here and the sale price. I delayed this review until I had the chance to use them on the trail, plenty of asphalt miles though. On asphalt they are sweet; low rolling resistance makes them quick and the tread pattern keeps the hum down. I rode a 7 mile loop (singletrack and fire roads) that varied from dry hardpack, soft dirt, sand to swamp. The mud is thick, black swamp mud and with all the rain lately, the trail was still pretty wet. I run a FS and had the tires at 50psi each. The Ritchey's carved through the semi-dry hardpack quickly acting as if on a rail. They floated over the majority of the mud holes allowing me to quickly and cleanly traverse each mud hole. They only broke traction once in a mud hole while climbing a small hill. I stood without moving my weight back causing the rear to break traction. Rider error as I was in to tall a gear to start with! The tires didn't pick up or throw a lot of mud and they stayed pretty clean in the center. The reviews here were right on - I am extremely pleased with the Ritchey Excavaders and would recommend them to all but the Freeride/Downhill types who would need a much more rugged tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe G
a Cross Country Rider
from Murrysville, PA Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Laurel Hill SP
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$21.00
Purchased At:
Bikeman.com
Strengths:
Awesome Tire! Looks cool, too! Great traction in mud, on rocks, packed trails, and pavement based on 150 miles so far. Low rolling resistance on pavement and hardpack. No specific front/rear pattern means that they can be rotated to increase life. Similar Elevader tire is rear specific for better climbing. The wire bead version is dirt cheap at about $14 from bikeman.com, but I had to go for the Kevlar.
Weaknesses:
Seems to wear quickly on pavement - but what else do you expect from an agressive tire.
I bought these tires based on the reviews here and their looks. I was not disapointed. They roll fast, hookup in mud, sand,wet rocks and roots. I ride in the North East where we get all conditions, I dont want to have to change tires with the seasons, I wamted a onr tire does it all set up.and these have been the trick. I will not buy anything else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
henrik strøier
a Cross Country Rider
from Denmark Date Reviewed: October 19, 2002
This is about Ritchey Excavader WCS 2.1 front and Elevader WCS 2.1 rear. Excavader seems to be a derivate from the Z-Max, Elevader from the ZED. Well these Ritcheys were always fast tyres, but this one is very fast indeed, just like the Conti semislick. But it bites nicely, too. I am a heavy rider, so I am dependent on good grippy tyres. What is atypical for Ritchey tyres: volume may just be a 2.1 and it has much less rubber on it than the classic Ritcheys. This you fell: while the old ones were very comfortable, these new ones are much harder. One feels the lack of both air volume and rubber. So these tyres has a very direct handling. So, in summary, these new ones are the best xc tyres I've used, best for a racy hardtail or a xc-fully. These are no downhill or mud tyres, and if you want a comfortable tyre for touring, you may be happier with one of the older Ritchey tyres. But the Elevader and Excavader are very, very fast, just in caes if I've forgotten to tell you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd A
a Cross Country Rider
from Tarrytown, NY Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hall Ranch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
Performance Bike
Strengths:
Traction, speed, weight
Weaknesses:
Strength, wear
Similar Products Used:
Velociraptors, IRC Mythos, Nanoraptors, many others cant remember
The traction to speed ratio of this tire is incredible. It grips everything aside of wet rocks and rolls nicely. Tire is lightweight and feels it. Only rode on it a couple times and pinched quite a bit (1 flat). I can deal with that, by far best tire I've ridden (REAR) in the last few years. Also appears to wear quick. I love climbs and steeper the better and this holds up nicely.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Snyder
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon, IL USA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Prison Run, Lowell Park IL
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$39.00
Purchased At:
excell
Strengths:
incredible hook up in any conditions, i havent slid on this tire yet not on gravel, mud, roots, nothing!!! simply amazing! also rolls very fast. sweet looking tread design
this tire just keeps amazing me, traction is great, fast rolling, dont know about wear yet, but in the time i have used them i havent seen any signs of wear, and they look cool too. if you are a cross country rider who rides in all conditions, this is a great tire.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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