Well I finally caved in and joined the dark side of mousse bibs. I've held out this long because I Dualsport few times a year and I've always heard there you're not supposed to go on the highway for very long or high speeds.
I just got tired of running 15 psi of air in my tires and bouncing off boulders and rocks when I see friends who have mousses just kind of glide through them.
So I bought a set of Nitro platinum Mousse's which are the 10 to 12 psi ones.
I did not even attempt to mount them but had a friend who had the Rabaconda tire changing device that I was very impressed with.
He likes to put in an extra tube of the silicone so I watched as it was a slimy mess and quite an effort even with the tool. He did confess he too was kind of new at changing is but my gawd there is no way I would even attempt it without that tool but I've read on here guys that do it! 😲
You guys must be using the softer tubes 6 to 8psi I imagine that would make it slightly easier?
Are there YouTube videos that i could watch?
Thanks
I must say the ride report is I was thoroughly impressed and really is a game changer!👍
I could now go up Rocky hills without bouncing off of them and the traction in corners was incredible!
Though they are way more expensive and quite a bit of hassle to change I am glad I made the switch just would like to know if I will be able to do it next time.
I recently made the switch to nitro platinum bibs front and rear. Was able to mount the front on the floor with a bit of wrestling, 2 spoons, 2 tire irons and a bead buddy. For the rear I used a harbor freight tire stand and that helped out quite a bit.
Taking small bites with the spoons and leveraging the bib with the irons worked well for me.
I as well, am very happy with the ride on all the roots and rocks in my area.
Good luck on your next tire changes, it’s not too bad once you get into it!
When you say traction in the corners are you talking about the front tire? I have heard the front tire will feel "loose" in turns compared to a tube.
Yes there are lots of videos on Youtube of installs.
Glad to know you liked the mousse as much as I did I couldn't believe the difference.👍
Did the Harbor freight stand cost around 99$ ?
does it have the push down lever for the bead I have this one that I bought for tube tires from Tusk but I don't see how it will help much without the ability to push down the bead.
The Rabaconda tire changer is awesome but it also costs around $350! 😲
I guess it depends upon which one you get there are different options.
I believe 6 to 8PSI or 10 to 12 I have the 10 to 12 and they work great for off-road riding.
Traction front and rear was great.
But I also tried the rear Shinko 505 tire--Rave reviews on that too!
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The Rabaconda is nice and makes it easier (I have one), but once you learn how to mount a tire with a bib, you can do it with a 5 gallon bucket and 4 tire irons. I just had to do it in Baja that way.
There are some good videos online of how to do it. The biggest things are watch your grill (teeth) to make sure an iron doesn’t snap back and get you, take small bites when it gets tight, warm the tire and bib up before mounting if you can, use good silicone lube unless you plan to lube them monthly or so, and keep the bead down in the center of the rim while mounting to provide more “slack” when needed.
This is the stand I am using. Has a leverage bar. I have swapped a handful of tires with it no and have been satisfied with it. For the price I can’t complain.
https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-tire-change-stand-with-bead-br…
Also, I found this video to be most helpful for me.
https://youtu.be/VNTxG-SnxMI?si=Wqwx63H6YD6MkciC
Rabaconda has some videos on their website on how to do it.
after a few times doing it, I feel like it’s just as easy as doing tube tires (when using the Rabaconda).
Just don’t bust the bead! And if you do, don’t try and ride on it…the tire will fail…
I love not worrying about flats…
Moose and Unit both sell less expensive versions of the Rabaconda. Unit is the least expensive option. https://www.chapmoto.com/unit-motorcycle-products-e1410-tire-mousse-cha…
I switched to mousses last year; splurged and got the Rabaconda. First go took a while but second one took about 12 minutes.
If you want some good videos on changing mousses using conventional tools search up tyre changing at ISDE or Enduro World Championship.
Matt nailed it, practice and a couple tricks/technique. At home I do my tire changes on a 20 gallon barrel. Four tire irons and one bead buddy and a few wrenches to keep the bead down does the trick. My sister and I would race each other on tire changes for ISDE prep. Even as you get better, changing tires isn't the most fun part of bike work, imo anyway haha.
I use the same nitro you have, I go through 2-3 sets a season. The "plushie" I try to conserve for hard enduro/slow type riding, faster riding seems to burn it out pretty quick. For a longer lasting mousse, if I'm racing a 24 hour or want it to just last longer (but be a little stiffer) I run the Michelin mousse.
It is 50% technique and 50% the right tire+mousse combo.
The combo everyone using in all videos you could most likely mount with just hands.
Try a Michelin MS6 110/90-19 and Air mousse 110/19-19 1.2kg and let me know how it goes 😂
Frankly, the front-end feel in anything other than tight single track is absolute trash, IMO of course. I ran the same mousse as the OP in the front with a VE35 IRC tire. soft sidewall+mousse=shitty feel and ok grip. I then switched to a Kenda front tire and feel was much improved. After fifteen hours in the IRC the mousse was absolutely shredded. The mousse in the Kenda lasts much better. I have since gone to a Dunlop mousse with an AT-81 front tire and I would recommend that over a Nitromousse all day. I still run a Nitromousse in the rear as it works great. Even in high speed trailed my bike feels like I am still running tubes.
Mousse Balls have a better feel than a normal Mousse I think. They also give you the ability to make them softer or harder depending on the amount you run.
Yes by other buddy who is the one that swayed me to the mousses he has that same one from Harbor freight it was his first time changing mousses and he still said it was a bitch.
Guess like anything practice practice practice.
Thanks! 👍
One thing that helps is a different lube. So the little tubes that come with them don't go far and are expensive. I've got a buddy that developed his own product that comes in a way bigger tube and is way cheaper. If anyone wants to give it a shot let me know. Everyone that has used it greatly prefers it.
Both way inferior to the Rabaconda though. Nowhere near as sturdy.
Pit Row
Have you used them?
Yes I have a Rabaconda and a Moose copy. Both get the job done, but the Rabaconda is built much better. Larger frame, bead breaking arm. I can put my full body into it with no issues. Using the Moose one it feels a lot more wimpy.
I change a lot of tires though, probably do at least 25 a year with it. If you’re a trail rider and only change a couple a year, the Moose might be fine. I’ve had the Rabaconda for 4 years and it’s held up very well.
I don't get the draw to the rabaconda myself. Seems like a lot to lug around and setup and all it really does is unmount. I've got a Baja no pinch and love it.
Would highly recommend trying Michelin mousses if you’ve only tried the Nitro’s. LOTS lighter and hold up just as well or better.
No matter the brand though you’ll have to insert smaller segments/wedges as the mousses wear, sometimes even as early as four or five hours. Otherwise the front end feel will go below “10 psi”, and if you are turning the bike much you’ll start to feel the tires roll.
Another reason to go with Michelin as the Nitro’s start heavy and get wildly heavy as you add wedges.
Also worth trying a front mousse if people are having a hard time with flighty or twitchy front ends. the Michelin mouse is 8 to 10 ounces heavier than a front tube, and makes the front end feel steadier and hold its line better mid turn.
For changing, the rabaconda just makes things easier. It’s easy to changes mousses if you use good technique on a normal stand, but the leverage of the rabaconda style stand and arm makes removing them super easy and makes it so that you are less likely to bend or break the bead on the tire if you intend on reusing it. Really, that’s been the benefit of that stand for me: I can flip a rear tire once or twice and not worry about bending the heck out of the bead when I remove it.
Final thing is I would highly, highly recommend having some pressurized air in your garage, and a soft tip for your air gun. It’s pretty hard to get rear tires to seat on the bead once your mouses start wearing. I have to use compressed air in the valves, them hole to seat them every single time, unless the mouse is brand new.
Good luck!
I just pulled this front out of my race bike I’m getting ready to sell. I had it in this bike all year, and my race bike last year. Probably 80-90 hours on it. I’m still going to use it in my Ice bike. Note, it is a front though. I usually get a full season out of my rears still.
A third for the Michelins, they last FAR longer and don’t soak up the water and lube and get crazy heavy. I use the moose changer and I’ve probably done 100 changes with it over the years and it’s worked great. The rabaconda is certainly a bit nicer but for a racer that does just a few a year I think the money saved is well worth it.
I usually run the 90/100 front Michelin as it fills up the Dunlop’s better. Seems to hold up even better in terms of carcass role as the mousse wears. The 80/100 Michelin mousse is a little thin for most non-Michelin tires.
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