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Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.1 Review
I had a chance this week to put about 40 miles on my Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.1 tires this past week. Some trails have finally opened last week so I finally had a chance to test these tires and my Xclusive frame (review later this weekend.).
So here is a small review on them.
Mounting:
I mounted these up using Tubeless using sealant. The tires at first were very hard to get aired up on a Mavic 819 UST rim. The bead would not come out of the channel and lock against the sidewall with a floor up or CO2. So I mounted a tube in each wheel and let sit for 30 min.
After 30 min I removed each tube and proceeded to add sealant to each tire. With a little straight dishwashing soap against the beads with some water sprayed on lightly, the tires aired up and popped into place with my floor pump. The tires leaked very little sealant any where and held 40 psi for 36 hrs with no air loss
.
The tires look like a nice 2.1 and about the same size as the Racing Ralph 2.1
Ride review:
The trail I rode has a mixture of everything you can throw at us down here but sugar sand (hardpack, small crushed coral rock, loam over hardpack and some nice gooey to soupy mud.)
The tire were pumped up to 36 psi up front and 42 psi in the rear for my 165lbs. The pressure could be dropped slightly, but I wanted to get a feel for the pressure and not to go too low. (When I tried 32/36 psi in my Blue Grooves, I flat spotted my Crossmax in the rear.)
The tires kick some serious butt!!!
The traction in the front is very nice. On hardpack they rolled smoothly and turning and steering over lose rock and loam is exceptional. Going downhill on the crushed rock over hardpack, I has able to steer and pick lines with no fear of washing out or loosing grip.
The rear rolls very fast and again, traction a rolling resistance is exceptional. Going uphill and standing, the tires gave me no wheel spin. I grip the rocks nice and just kept me climbing.
The Nics seem fine in the mud that i was going through. This mud did not have a sticky like tar substance that I find on some trail here that will pack up almost any tire once you hit the bone dry dirt. the tires shed this soupy, thick clayish mud pretty darn well. Once I hit the hardpack and fire roads, the tire were all but clean.
With the trails being slight wet from puddles I has a little worried about slipping on the roots. No issues what so ever. Even going slightly sideways over the wet roots and fallen logs, tractions was fine. Not as sticky as some of the Kenda line, but good enough.
Rolling resistance seems pretty good. The tires rolled very nice on the tarmac and fire roads with a little hum coming from them due to the knobs.
I felt confident and had grip and rr everywhere I need to. At no time did these tires fail me!!
Overall view:
My favorite tires for our local trails in order:
I look forward to riding them up front with a Racing Ralph 2.1 in back.
I am also looking to go with a 2.25 NN up front for just a little more bit and size.
The Nobby Nics in 1.8, 2.1, 2.25 and 2.4 will be available in the US readily in January 2006. The 1.8, 2.1 and 2.25 will also be available in UST.
I had a chance this week to put about 40 miles on my Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.1 tires this past week. Some trails have finally opened last week so I finally had a chance to test these tires and my Xclusive frame (review later this weekend.).
So here is a small review on them.
Mounting:
I mounted these up using Tubeless using sealant. The tires at first were very hard to get aired up on a Mavic 819 UST rim. The bead would not come out of the channel and lock against the sidewall with a floor up or CO2. So I mounted a tube in each wheel and let sit for 30 min.
After 30 min I removed each tube and proceeded to add sealant to each tire. With a little straight dishwashing soap against the beads with some water sprayed on lightly, the tires aired up and popped into place with my floor pump. The tires leaked very little sealant any where and held 40 psi for 36 hrs with no air loss
.The tires look like a nice 2.1 and about the same size as the Racing Ralph 2.1
Ride review:
The trail I rode has a mixture of everything you can throw at us down here but sugar sand (hardpack, small crushed coral rock, loam over hardpack and some nice gooey to soupy mud.)
The tire were pumped up to 36 psi up front and 42 psi in the rear for my 165lbs. The pressure could be dropped slightly, but I wanted to get a feel for the pressure and not to go too low. (When I tried 32/36 psi in my Blue Grooves, I flat spotted my Crossmax in the rear.)
The tires kick some serious butt!!!
The traction in the front is very nice. On hardpack they rolled smoothly and turning and steering over lose rock and loam is exceptional. Going downhill on the crushed rock over hardpack, I has able to steer and pick lines with no fear of washing out or loosing grip.
The rear rolls very fast and again, traction a rolling resistance is exceptional. Going uphill and standing, the tires gave me no wheel spin. I grip the rocks nice and just kept me climbing.
The Nics seem fine in the mud that i was going through. This mud did not have a sticky like tar substance that I find on some trail here that will pack up almost any tire once you hit the bone dry dirt. the tires shed this soupy, thick clayish mud pretty darn well. Once I hit the hardpack and fire roads, the tire were all but clean.
With the trails being slight wet from puddles I has a little worried about slipping on the roots. No issues what so ever. Even going slightly sideways over the wet roots and fallen logs, tractions was fine. Not as sticky as some of the Kenda line, but good enough.
Rolling resistance seems pretty good. The tires rolled very nice on the tarmac and fire roads with a little hum coming from them due to the knobs.
I felt confident and had grip and rr everywhere I need to. At no time did these tires fail me!!
Overall view:
My favorite tires for our local trails in order:
- The Hutchinson Mosquito F/R, Mosquito up front with a Python in the rear. The new Bulldog is close to the Mosquito.
- The Schwalbe Big Jim 2.25 with a 2.1 Jimmy or 2.1 RR in back.
- Hutchinson Bull Dog 2.1/Python 2.0
- KENDA Blue Groove 2.0 LITE-DTC
I look forward to riding them up front with a Racing Ralph 2.1 in back.
I am also looking to go with a 2.25 NN up front for just a little more bit and size.
The Nobby Nics in 1.8, 2.1, 2.25 and 2.4 will be available in the US readily in January 2006. The 1.8, 2.1 and 2.25 will also be available in UST.
