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Lightweight DH Riders...rims, tires, and PSI

Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
I have a son getting ready to make the transition from 24" wheels up to 26" wheels. There will be so many options! He weighs 83 pounds and rides an XS Demo 8. Couple questions for all you small riders out there:

1) Is a 500g rim like the DT Swiss EX500 or Stan's Flow EX a good rim for DH tires with 2.3" and 2.5" widths?

2) Does he need 2-ply casings? A tire like the Specialized Butcher SX has a weight advantage, but lacks the pinch protection designed for full size riders using low psi. Is that a big deal?

3). What PSI works well? (Pls let me know your weight and tire type)
 

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
Flows or ex500s with Maxxis DHF 2.5 3C single plys and Maxxis Ultra lite tubes. My daughter is 85 lbs and rides Whistler with this setup. She runs 20 psi with no problems.
 

frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
I am 145lbs, I've been on local Dartmoor Raider rims (570g) with EXO 2,5 Minions, Flyweight tubes, ~1,5BAR
I've just switched to WTB i23 rims (485g), same tires, same tubes but I am going to try recommended pressure, now.
 
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juanbeegas

Monkey
May 6, 2008
355
2
Singapore
Weight: 125lbs
Rims: WTB I-23 Frequency
Tubes: DH Tubes(Can't remember the brand)
Tyres -
Maxxis DHF EXO
25psi front
30psi rear or

Schwalbe Hans Dampf(not the new super gravitys)
20psi front
25psi rear or

Continental Baron 2.3
30psi front
35psi rear

Has worked so far, for me.
 
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norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
I am 145lbs, I've been on local Dartmoor Raider rims (570g) with EXO 2,5 Minions, Flyweight tubes, ~1,5BAR
I've just switched to WTB i23 rims (485g), same tires, same tubes but I am going to try recommended pressure, now.
Have in mind you have a pretty "light" riding style. I still felt the float at your weight on 1plys
 

frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
Have in mind you have a pretty "light" riding style. I still felt the float at your weight on 1plys
I do... I don't think kids, that just switch to 26" shread as hell ;>
You did what? ;>
 

Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
Flows or ex500s with Maxxis DHF 2.5 3C single plys and Maxxis Ultra lite tubes. My daughter is 85 lbs and rides Whistler with this setup. She runs 20 psi with no problems.
Nice. What bike is she on?

What height/weight did you go from 24" to 26" wheels? Did that coincide with a bike/frame change?
 

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
She is 5' and 85lbs and rides a FSR Gromhit. 24" rear and 26" front for resort riding. She runs a DHF 2.5" single ply front on a FLOW and a Specialized Roller 2.3/1.5 ply rear. I went to the 26" front tire to give her ground clearance and tip the bike back for resort riding. For AM riding she is still on 24s.
 

msaman

Chimp
Dec 6, 2012
64
1
Just under 150 lbs and I run Stans Flow Ex,2.5 Minions 2ply ofc and 100 gr tubes.
PSI depend on the weather - muddy conditions 20-22 psi for Fort William 28 -30 psi.
If I were u I would stick with the 2plys and run lower pressure .This will give him much higher grip and wont be afraid of punctures.
Schwalbes are much better than Maxxis at low pressure I can easly fold my sidewalls when cornering hard.
 

Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
Thanks the replies everyone. I have some wheels being built up and some tires on order to let Ben try 26" wheels on our last few trips to bike parks in 2013. We are going to try Hope Pro 2 Evo with Stans Flow EX. Front tire: Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 2.5 Single Ply 3c. Rear tire: Maxxis HighRoller II EXO 26x2.4 3C MaxxTerra. I'll have the 24" wheels on hand so he can compare. I'll also have some 2 Ply DHF and Highroller if the EXO singly ply's aren't up to task.

Logic on the wheel configuration:
- Hope Pro 2 EVO: we have 4 sets of these hubs - sticking with what we know.
- Stans Flow EX: light rim (500g), but wide profile gave it the edge over DT Swiss EX500. Decent price.
- Maxxis tires: it is what I use, and until my son is able to give good feedback on how things are working, (he is 9 years old) I'll stay close to what I'm using. We'll use the Roller tire on the rear to keep his speeds up on the Flow trails and places where it isn't very steep.
- Tubeless? Would like to try it, but will probably just run standard tubes and see how that goes. He is still only 85 pounds. I have some DH tubes and Welterweights if needed.
- PSI: I think I'll try lowering his PSI a bit to 20 front 22 rear. He runs 22/25 f/r now on 60a High Roller dual ply 24" wheels...and I think I've always been a bit high. Some of that is based on PSI we need to keep him rolling fast being so light. I know a tire that doesn't rebound as much will help him in roots, rocks and rock garden...but he likes to go fast on jump tracks...so we take the good with the bad.
 

Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
For comparison: i suppose pro Enduro spec would be more demanding on a tire than youth DH. I'm guessing this guy Jared Graves can dish out more punishment on a pro Enduro course than my 9 year old can on the DH tracks he rides. Graves runs Maxxis DHF EXO 3c (single ply) with a ghetto tubeless setup on DT EX500 rim

http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Jared-Graves-Enduro-World-Series-Les-2-Alpes-Race-Journal,532

That said - I realize I will have to keep psi at a reasonable level to keep the bead seated if I run low psi, or to protect from pinch flats if I run tubes.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
weght is around 150 lbs

rims: Alexrims SupraD
Tyres: Maxxis Minion 2Ply 2.5
Tubes: SV13

PSI:

Front: 26
Rear: 30

Typre pressure is not bombproof but works on most tracks I ride.
 

tabletop84

Monkey
Nov 12, 2011
891
15
weght is around 150 lbs

rims: Alexrims SupraD
Tyres: Maxxis Minion 2Ply 2.5
Tubes: SV13

PSI:

Front: 26
Rear: 30

Typre pressure is not bombproof but works on most tracks I ride.
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
I've had Xander down at snowshoe twice this year, I spoke to you and ben at race 1 breifly. He's a lot smaller than ben and is riding his grom hit FSR like Kntr's daughter. He only weighs 50lbs though, we run right about 15psi for him still. I like the idea of the high roller ii when its dry around here.
 

Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
I like the idea of the high roller ii when its dry around here.
Hey there! We'll be at Snowshoe Race 3 this weekend. Ben will be trying out his 26" wheels for the first time. We will have some first hand experience with these Maxxis EXO tires and tubeless. They are holding air just fine, and when using soapy water to help seat the bead on the Stan's rims...it seemed to pop in nicely. I think I'm going to try 20 psi...maybe a tad lower in front. I will see how his rolling speeds are, and ask if it feels 'funny' on fast turns before I go too much lower.

I wonder: how low can I go on PSI with singly ply tires for an 85 pound rider...without compromising how the tire handles turns.

(I'm taking the 24"s too...just in case it is too much of a change and he has more fun on the 24"s. His bike feels and looks bigger, but actually since I flipped his rear shock setting to the low BB height - the BB (and standover) is only about 1/2 inch higher )
 
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kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Hey there! We'll be at Snowshoe Race 3 this weekend. Ben will be trying out his 26" wheels for the first time. We will have some first hand experience with these Maxxis EXO tires and tubeless. They are holding air just fine, and when using soapy water to help seat the bead on the Stan's rims...it seemed to pop in nicely. I think I'm going to try 20 psi...maybe a tad lower in front. I will see how his rolling speeds are, and ask if it feels 'funny' on fast turns before I go too much lower.

I wonder: how low can I go on PSI with singly ply tires for an 85 pound rider...without compromising how the tire handles turns.

(I'm taking the 24"s too...just in case it is too much of a change and he has more fun on the 24"s. His bike feels and looks bigger, but actually since I flipped his rear shock setting to the low BB height - the BB (and standover) is only about 1/2 inch higher )
Cool I'll look for you guys. :thumb:

Xander making a run down Pro DH. He's still quite small even on the 24" wheeled gromhit FSR

 
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Oldranger

Chimp
Jan 20, 2013
22
1
USA
Last weekend Ben ran his 26" setup for the first time. He handled the change well and never even asked to go back to the 24" wheels. We went with 18-19 psi front and 20-21 psi rear. Tires held air pressure and the bead just fine at those pressures. He rode all open trails in Western Territory that day, so got experience on a good variety of conditions.