The channel between center and edge knobs is what gives the bite on corners. The Assegai has that filled in with knobs. I feel the same way you do about it and the DHF.

 

Forsome things, the Assegai is just better. Barking performance on almost all surfaces is better. Grip on loose overrock or almot everything is better. But the DHF is just better at high speed cornering on hardpack.

 

I put a MaxxGrip 2.5 on the front of my trail bike and did two rides in those exact conditions, then I sold it. Not sure what the hype is about.

 

Been running Assegai 29x 2.6 front and back on my carbon Trek and I love them they do drag when crusing on pavement but I get it its an aggressive trail tire 🤟

 

Its a shite front tire, DHF is better, but Maxxis tires don’t survive long where I live.

Conti Kryptotal 👍

 

Assegai? I'm more of a Cont guy, myself.

 

Why did you move away from the DHF? I live in SoCal and wouldn’t want to use anything else.

 

Just to try something different as I have heard great things on the Assegai.

 

IMO the Minions have better cornering traction in loose over hard. Assegai is better for hardpack. I've tried the Assegai in Norcal and don't like it. I run a DHR II in front for the best braking traction in steep and loose, and great cornering grip when you hook up the side knobs.

 

Thanks all, happy to hear that I’m not the only one. Will put my dhf back on….

 

Coming from a conti setup (was on kryptotal and argotal the past two years) and put an assegai on this week for the first time in my life even though I've been riding for years, I find that it grips really well, but it's quite vague and you don't really have much feedback on where you are on the tire. The kryptotal had a bit more of a defined edge and I knew where I was and felt locked in, which is interesting considering a similar tread pattern. Assegai seems great so far just needs some getting used to, but probably not for everyone.

 

You'll get used to it. They corner super well. It shouldnt' take long because it's not really a tire you learn like the DHF. It just hooks up when leaned and communicates when you're at the edge of grip. Drifts on kitty litter over hardback are controllable. Def one of the best corning tires I've run.

I'm still a big fan of the minions too. I've been scoring DHF's for around 40 off ebay lately but it might be a while before I run one? I have 6 assagai's I got for 35 and two generic e13 assegais in generic double down casing for 33. Loving all these deals before the fat orange man taxes kick in.

 

You'll get used to it. They corner super well. It shouldnt' take long because it's not really a tire you learn like the DHF. It just hooks up when leaned and communicates when you're at the edge of grip. Drifts on kitty litter over hardback are controllable. Def one of the best corning tires I've run.

I'm still a big fan of the minions too. I've been scoring DHF's for around 40 off ebay lately but it might be a while before I run one? I have 6 assagai's I got for 35 and two generic e13 assegais in generic double down casing for 33. Loving all these deals before the fat orange man taxes kick in.

It still corners well, but has been a little more drifty and vague than the dhf. In open corners and steeps it is definitely a fast tire, it’s just in the tight corners where it is so vague that I can’t build confidence in the tire. With the minion I can go in hard lean it over and it will follow. If it’s loose, no problem, foot out and it will grip.

 

I'm still a big fan of the minions too. I've been scoring DHF's for around 40 off ebay lately but it might be a while before I run one? I have 6 assagai's I got for 35 and two generic e13 assegais in generic double down casing for 33. Loving all these deals before the fat orange man taxes kick in.

If you're referring to the Grappler I've been digging that as a front tire. Seems to roll better than the Assagai as well.

 

Was nonplussed with the Assagai as well. DHF went back on. Then I saw the light and found myself on dual DHR2s.

 

Dual DHR IIs is a legit setup in most conditions.👌

 

The assgay max grip 2.5 is my go to front tire. It works real well in a variety of conditions.

Dhf minion not as good as a general tire.

 

The DHF minion is a good tire. It's a great go-to for a good all around front tire. For grabbing roots in the PNW, as in finding traction, the assguy is a good level higher and provides more traction, so it can be a little better, at the expense of some rolling resistance and weight, but since it's not on the rear it's not a ton of rolling resistance either.

 

I have found it to grip just as well as a DHF in all conditions.

However, I only use them in the dry season from July through early September. When our clay gets wet, neither of the Minions or the Assegai shed mud quickly enough.

I’ve got a few sets of the new Highroller that I’m going to try soon. Could be a nice Goldilocks between the Shorty and the Assegai/Minion family.

 

Assegai is my current go-to front, although there are better options for soft terrain and proper mud. Used to love the DHF but it's been a long while since I had one. I've been thinking about trying it again as a slightly faster rolling option.

Schwalbe Tacky Chan seems to be based on the same principle as the DHF (solid sideknobs, wide channel) so a comparison between them would be interesting.

 

DHF in the SW. DHR2 x 2 in Appalachia. But the big Butcher everywhere except tamer trails. Kryptotal/Xynotal good quick basic long lasting tires.

 

I rode in a different area this weekend where the trails where the trails are more vertical and corners not as tight and the assegai did really well there, entirely predictable and tons of grip. It’s only on the hairpin/heavy lean corners where I struggle. Will give it another go and see if I get used to it, it could be that since I don’t have full trust I am not looking down the trail where I want to go and this end up affecting my corner…

 

Assegai will have that "floaty" feel at times in loose over, where a minion will bite in. You aren't off here man. The tire has it's applications. I like others have found holy ground on my trail bike at DHR2 front and rear. Hilarious that quite a few people posted that up. On my Ebike I am running assegai up front and on my smaller tallboy I get along quite well with the new Forekaster which is a legit little brother to the Assegai.

 

.... I like others have found holy ground on my trail bike at DHR2 front and rear. Hilarious that quite a few people posted that up. ...

which casing and compounds? Maxterra F/R or Maxgrip F and Maxterra R. I have a Maxxgrip DHR front now and am thinking about maybe going with a dual compound rear.

 

We call them Ask a Guy at the bike shop.

 

The Ass works well on the Shore, or anywhere with slabs of granite.

 

im in socal and also didnt like the assegai at all for the same reasons. . Much prefer Minions and their clones. however right now im running a wtb vigilante 2.5 up front on one bike and it feels like a half minion half assegai, cornering is still locked in , velcro braking grip, and a few intermediate knobs so less vagueness at smaller lean angles. Digging it. (Slightly) bigger bike has a wtb verdict up front which is like a minion on steroids in looser conditions.

 

Update. I decided to stick it out and now I think the Assegai is a fantastic tire. I started to gain confidence in the tire riding steeper trails, here it really excelled in corners and braking.

Once I gained confidence I was able to look further down the trails and the cornering issues were history. I do think that you need to ride it differently than the dhf though. The dhf liked to corner later in a turn to get a higher lean angle and more grip, the Assegai likes to corner earlier but is fast once you figure it out.

I am pleasantly surprised with its rolling resistance, I actually find that it rolls decent in the front.

 

Been riding assegai front and back this is my second season And love them👍