While I wouldn't consider myself a weight weenie, I do look at the weight on tires and wheels. The internal, smaller, tread is even more durable. They sure looked the part for a do all tire in the Pacific North Wet (yes wet) with their well-spaced ramped center tread and transition nobs. Was it an Ardent 2.4 width that let go on you? I've noticed it's washing out a lot more recently though and I'm having to back off in the corners. The DHR2 is a hell of a tyre on the back though. The blocky tread is somewhat of a wonderment, being very grippy on the loose stuff as well as equally adherent on bare rock something we werent expecting. Aggressor rolls much quicker in the dry/firm, but it is dual vrs 3C too which will have a bearing. Something to sit between the Aspen/Ikon/Ardent and the Assegai/Minion/Dissector. Strengths: Huge volume at a reasonable weight. Billed as a Jack of all trades tread, wed have to agree that this is some of the best all rounder rubber available and weve used these tyres on multiple bikes now. I also never wore out a back tyre after 4 sets of ikons, as they always died when I slashed them. Aggressor brakes ok in dry . Wheels and tires are what make the most difference when it comes to weight and on a small travel bike, the best weight to traction ratio win the spots on my bikes. I currently use a Forekaster in the front in those wet Autumn and Winter months, and I gotta say, Ive not been impressed with it. The Maxxis Ardent is a light duty trail tire that rolls fast in dry conditions. Once inflated, it is easy to see the rounder profile compared to the Ardent Race it replaced, and holding them side-by-side the extra spacing . All Styles XC (Cross Country) Trail Enduro Downhill Fat/Plus Aggressor Rear tire for dry, rocky terrain Read More Buy Now Ardent XC and light duty trail Read More Buy Now Ardent Race A meaty XC tread Theres a huuuuuge gap between an Aspen and a Minion; you can probably fit 3 tyres in that gap.and Id say Maxxis already has! The ample sipes on the nobs make for some sure-footed climbing on both medium dirt and rocks. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them. Having mid-height almost square knobs across the tire that is spaced out quite a bit, it's as close to an XC spike you can get. A nippy tyre for modest trail bikes. Ardent 2.4 in front. Then again, what I know about XC tyres aint a lot. That said, if you already have the appropriate tools and a pneumatic pump on hand, theres no reason no to speed the whole process up. Feast your eyes on these four tyres treads that roll fast but fill you with confidence in corners and when it gets rough. The Rekon Tire might be the most under the radar as its a new tire packed with some really awesome features. An Aspen is never enough in the front, and if it is, then you should be riding a gravel bike. Support us! Contis Black Chili compound seems to improve with use. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Overall Conclusion When it comes to deciding on tires, the order of importance for me personally is grip, durability, then rolling resistance. The Minion lasts much longer before starting to lose its superior grip. Vittoria Syerra downcountry tyre is also 292.4 and weighs 850g a tyre. I am currently riding on Maxxis Ikon 292.35 front and rear on my full suspension cross country bike. Earlier this year, the 2.6 Maxxis Forekaster won me over for its proficient, playful, and predictable mannerisms. Maxxis Forekaster Features. When I first saw the Rekon, I thought it looked like an XC version of a Maxxis High Roller II and Maxxis Minion combined. When it came time to put together a tough and light wheel/tire combo I looked at Conti, Speci, and Schwalbe but ultimately returned to Maxxis. Its a blocky tread that reminds us vaguely of the pattern found on Schwalbes Hans Dampf that cant be a bad thing and was developed with input from freeride guru Richie Schley. Forekaster are great all around tires, Adrdents are still ok tires IMO but honestly since riding 2.35 Forekaster and 2.4 Rekons I cant ever see riding an arent again either. Review | Dynaplug tubeless repair tools continue to set the gold standard, Continental Tyre Review | Argotal, Kryptotal & Xynotal Tyres, Trek Fuel EX 2023 Review | A bigger, musclier & hugely adaptable trail bike, Specialized Stumpjumper Mullet Review | The Stumpy gets a bigger fork & mixed wheels, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. The Ardent is decent as a rear tire, but to echo what many others have already posted, I would definitely not run them as a front tire. Frankly, I'm too scared (read: lack the skill) to ride those. Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox. The Maxxis Ardent is something of a do-it-all trail tire thats had relatively high success rates and popularity with mountain cyclists for a while now. Were told that the 29 x 2.4 Dual compound will be available very soon, with prices ranging from $83 to $101. The 2.25 width option is a great aggressive XC tire, and like the Rekon, the Ardent in a 2.4 width fits right into that trail category. Maxxis Dissector. The hang up there is it's only .15 of an inch difference, and Maxxis tires often times won't measure out to their stated dimensions, so I might be stuck with the same tread after a swap if I just get a bigger Rekon. Looks like Ill be looking towards their more XC-orientated models next time, which is a shame as I like the larger side knobles than is typical for a light tyre. The Ardent Race sees the same tread pattern as its Trail- and Enduro-oriented siblings, but has had a few millimeters snipped off the tread height all around. CLP The trade show is only a piece of the events at the Sea Otter Classic; racing is still a part of the festival. JavaScript is disabled. Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad. There are intermediate knobs but spaced out quite a bit more than the other tread, leaving a gap where there isn't an intermediate knob. So probably Minion/Dissector up front and one of these out back if you wanted a bit more speed, or new Forekaster both ends for extra extra speed. Both are also tubeless-ready, or TR, so you have the additional option depending on how youd prefer to ride. If your your rims are inner width i25mm or wider (which is how most XC bikes come these days), you might consider a 2.6in tire like the Maxxis Rekon. Please, It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is. The Maxxis Ardent EXO is an excellent choice for the rider looking for a fast-rolling, efficient, and lightweight tire for XC style riding. Maxxis Singletrack uses affiliate services calledSkimlinksandwhich means we may earn revenue if you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer on our site. Two thumbs up. This allows the center of the tire to. After pouring through their catalog comparing tread designs and weights, I settled on a Forekaster and Ardent. While the Maxxis DHRII comes in a vast array of widths, casings and rubber options, the only ones to look at here are the 2.3 and 2.4 widths with EXO protection. Would run as a rear though. The Ardent is also somewhere in the middle of wider profile tires. The Ardent is just a touch thicker than the Ikon, 2.4 compared to 2.2. However, the new tread pattern is more densely packed for better rolling efficiency and taller side knobs are there to really dig into the corners. That being said, the Ardent tests well as both a front-mounted tire and a rear-mounted tire. Bontrager have really hit the mark with the XR4 tyres for all round aggressive trail use. I went down on it yesterday, so it's time for something more sticky up front. Ill be after these as soon as theyre available. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Manage Settings I am going to give it a try. Continue with Recommended Cookies. I was initially running a 2.35 Ikon on the back and while it has a surprising amount of grip, in the fall with the leaves on the ground, I found it lacking in traction when crawling up steep climbs and in the corners. Lastly, I simply can't trust a trail tire that doesn't have some sort of added protection. I rode Ikons front and back on my 29er XC hardtail in 2.0 width for a while, but after a bit I started noticing the front was washing out more than I'd like. The Forekaster rolls ok / brakes ok and actually it does a pretty good job when its wet. The tires can be installed with no tools and a simple floor pump. While it doesn't get picked up as much as these other dry tires do, it holds its place in the Maxxis lineup for the XC/Trail mud tire. ADVANTAGE: MAXXIS, BY A MILE. Off to buy one before they are out of stock! The Forekasters don't have as aggressive side knobs as the ardents plus the forecaster will roll faster. The Ardent supports a moderately aggressive lean, but it takes a little experience to figure out where the limits of the tire really are. Well look at where the Ardent stands out, where it falls a little short, and the differences between front and rear mounting this tire. Still feels like it rolls pretty good even mounted reversed. For similar rolling speed with improved braking and cornering performance, check out the Rekon. Ardent sidewalls seem to be a bit soft. Maybe this new version will fare better? Singletracks Merch | With riders from Nino Schurter winning many races on this tire to the more adventure marathon riders like Geoff Kabush also riding this tire for a wide range of events, it shows its speed with results alone. The Ardent marks yet another classic XC/Trail tire for Maxxis, bridging the gap between super fast rolling but sometimes not enough tread, and something more like a Minion DHR II that moves into large tread territory. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Similar post over on bikepacking.com shows an image of a Forekaster in an Exo+ casing, I wonder if those quoted weights are for the thicker casing? The two tires have a similar width, with only .05 inch different (the Forekaster is the narrower of the two). Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers, or when switching memberships). What they really didnt have was something like this, funnily enough. Dissector will be more aggressive than this, I liked the Dissector but it did occasionally feel vague when leaned over due to the big gap between centre lugs and side tread. With the siped center knobs and the transition blocks creating an aero head, the Ardent Race leans slightly more onto the traction end of Maxxis cross-country tires. Guess Ill start stockpiling the outgoing model. Hi, after a decade of riding a 2007 Giant Trance, I've finally upgraded my bike to a Merida One Twenty XT with 29" wheels. Its no weight weenie xc tire but it does roll much better than either of the Maxxis Minions. I dont know about the forkaster but I can say I dont consider the ardent to be exceptionally grippy or confidence inspiring. Two different rubber compounds will be offered with Dual or 3C MAxxTerra, and all models will have EXO sidewall protection and Tubeless Ready Casings. Our review is really focused on the performance of the tire and how it stacks up to similar offerings that are designed for a similar kind of trail ride. The low profile tread also has ramped center knobs allowing the Rekon to roll similarly to other dry XC tires. This is not a tire that you need to worry about blowing the side walls before youve squeezed the last life out of the tread, which is saying something when the tread is as long-lasting as the Ardent. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. That said, the tread is only moderately aggressive, and it looks like less of an all-terrain all-condition tire than many of its competitors. The tread of the Minion is similar in design to the Ardent. The Minion is a significantly heavier tire than the Ardent, but with that said, there are some definite advantages to the Minion if youre an especially aggressive rider, or if you tend to ride very rocky trails or trails with loosely packed dirt. The tread on the Ardent resists degrading. I think it's the fastest rolling tire and has recently been adopted by most of the XC World Cup Maxxis riders. At 782g, the 27.52.6 is 92g heavier than the 2.35 Forekaster of the same diameter. Not to be confused with Maxxis Wide Trail tires that are designed around a 30-35mm rim. I have a buddy that runs the Forkaster front & rear on his Primer raves about them. The Maxxis Forekaster is a bit more of a rarity to see, being the go-to Maxxis XC tire for very loose soil or mud. The old Forekaster was basically Maxxis version of the Nobby Nic, but then Schwalbe updated the Nic tread with more aggressive and closely spaced cornering knobs and which improved that tyre immensely. As a rear tire, the Ardent has a lot of floats and can be a little drifty, while its more of a speed demon as a front tire. Never again! They didnt really need that many racy XC rubbers. The Dissector is available in 3C Maxx Terra and 3C Maxx Grip and comes in both EXO and Double Down casing. We have one guy ion our group that tried them on his Ripley and ditched them after 2-3 rides. In your case, that would be the Ardent Race. It has the grip and predictable handling of bigger, burlier options with faster rolling speed and a little less weight. As my skills improved and my bikes got better, my speed also increased and I gradually progressed to a Butcher front and a Purgatory rear. At low pressures, the Hans Dampf has a large footprint that floats beautifully over sand and delivers mountains of climbing traction. They work great for getting loose when you want to. Both 2.35 on 27mm IW rims. We noticed this most on hardpack or sand, while in loose conditions it didnt seem to affect the tyre greatly. I know that Maxx Terra tire wore phenomenally well though compared to the Maxx Speed after almost 400 miles the knobs are still sharp and pronounced and look brand new. dam the tyre looks like it could take a beating. We should all have to include where we ride, what type of bike/rims we have and what air pressure we run. I/m loving the advances in technology over the 12 years! Run a 2.6 x 27.5 one on my hardtail for a lot of the year. Thanks Ziphead, I just discovered that there is a Maxxis Ardent Race 2.35 tire. While Ardent tires are very durable and rolling resistance and reactivity dont generally change much with wear, they do tend to become more prone to slips and drifting as they age. Durability is one of the areas that the Ardent really shines. Details and Specifications: Use: Aggressive XC,. Use as a front paired with an Aspen or Ikon rear for an "aggressive" XC setup. In some pics the knobs look shallow, in other pics they look a bit taller. In 30 years, this will probably be the first time I plan to replace the worn out rear tire with an identical tire. Visit the high-res gallery for more images. Put in back and its durability and ability to take a hit really shine. Slightly faster rolling speed with the same grip could have me changing to one of these new ones. In this review, our customer Jordan goes with the Ardent in front and Forekaster in the rear. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines. Can anyone point me to the best front tire of the two to pair with my rear Ikon? If that doesnt work out the plan is to move it to the rear and put a Forekaster on the front. I got a Forecaster to last 18 months & was amazed to wear it out. I know the 2.25 on my 29er and the 2.4 WT on my 27.5 measured out the same, and the 27.5 was on a rim that was 7mm wider internally. Ardent tires are also relatively puncture-resistant, and unlikely to give way even on cheese grater rocks and other difficult terrain. Got a bargain Forekaster/Reckon (front/rear) 2nd hand from a lad who took them unused off his oEM Orbea- delighted to have them and only 40 quid or so. EUR All rights reserved. I will join in on the I don't like Ardent camp. When an Aspen in the rear isnt enough (wet Autumn and Winter), I mount an Agressor (god I love this tyre during those months). The Ardent offers great traction in the beginning, but the weaknesses of the less aggressive tread design start to show within a few months of regular riding. Maxxis Ardent or Forekasters as a front tire - Singletracks Mountain Bike News Maxxis Ardent or Forekasters as a front tire Mountain bike trails & Mountain bike reviews Protected: Forums Mountain Bike Forum Maxxis Ardent or Forekasters as a front tire Viewing 9 reply threads Author Posts June 1, 2019 at 19:52 #263456 pauldominy The Forekaster and Rekon combo is a popular setup for a lot of the NICA racers in Utah. If at all possible I avoid riding when it is wet and most of the trails where I ride are loose over hard with lots of roots and the occasional rock garden. I know the 2.25 on my 29er and the 2.4 WT on my 27.5 measured out the same, and the 27.5 was on a rim that was 7mm wider internally. Ride the fastest tires you feel confident on. the Ardent is my least favorite tire that I have ever run. No longer marketed as only a wet weather option for the XC world, Maxxis all-new tire takes aim at the quickly growing world of aggressive XC & Trail. CAD The Rekon comes in a few width options as well as two casing options, all with Maxxis 3C rubber to make sure you are getting the most traction from the rubber itself as possible. I wouldn't run it on the front no matter what. Bike Check: Cal Poly Students' Handmade All-Mountain Tandem - Sea Otter 2023, www.transylvaniatimes.com/lifestyles/popular-pnf-trail-receiving-needed-reroute/article_aff86265-21bb-5c1b-85f6-833d5944b1fa.html, www.amazon.com/Natrapel-Mosquito-Insect-Repellent-Individually-Wrapped/dp/B001ARBSTO. Nice to see theyre finally offering it aftermarket in a 3C version, always annoyed me you could get the old Forekaster in 3C OE but not standalone! I will start with the faster rolling, smaller tread tires and continue into the heavier, knobbier tires that tend to have more traction. The Rekon mentioned above is another very popular tire, it seems 70% of people love them and the other 30% hate them. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. FWIW, Im a big fan of the DHF up front. In light loose soil, its nicely responsive and stable. . When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. However, the Ardent is a better performer if youre looking for a most solid kind of grip in a responsive and speedy tire design. I personally really like to ride this tire out back, be it a 2.2 or 2.35. When should you choose the new Forekaster? The Forekaster weighs only 735g with dual compound and EXO sidewall protection. Given their robust almost paddle-style centre tread blocks, the Trail Kings arent sluggish at all, something we can only attribute to the Black Chili compound. My first trail bike came shod in Maxxis Ardent 29x2.25 with no option for tubeless. Durable compounds. Front and rear for fastest rolling and max speed. With seven core tires that we looked at and with all of the tires coming with different widths, casings and rubber options, the possibilities really are endless. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Pinkbike Poll: How Many Volume Spacers Do You Run? Impetus - Interesting you would say that about liking the Rekon more for a rear. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It was an immediate improvement from the Ikon and it's been there for a year. EUR MSRP for the Forecaster 3C/EXO/TR is $85, and . Maxxis Crossmark II EXO TR 29 x 2.25in performance. Thats why you go 2.6 if you have the room. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I am cuurently running Forekaster up front and Ardent Race rear on a HT Stumpjumper. That should work well for the conditions you describe, 2022 Trek Top Fuel 9.8XT. That thicker design also provides greater longevity in the Minion.