Maxxis Rekon 2.6” and 2.4” on my Marin Rift Zone

[@Mugtree]

Fab video, thank you. Tyre wise, I run a Rekon at the rear and Magic Mary at the front. For me in the UK slop this works perfectly and even in the mud on steep descents it grips like crazy and also climbs incredibly well. Without doubt my favourite rear tyre

[@downtoridemtb]

Seems like a solid combo although I will say the Forekaster is worth a try for a bit more rear grip. My current combo is Assegai front and Forekaster rear.

[@Mugtree]

@ thank you very much. Will be buying a forekaster when the bike shops open after the Christmas and new years break 👍. Thank you for the advice

[@downtoridemtb]

@ awesome, hope you like it!

[@Mugtree]

@ thank you so so much. That is great to know

[@WOLFTICKVIDEOS]

I need to run two different width tires because my back tire rubs a little sometimes but my OCD gives me fits with that idea. Good job on the review.

[@downtoridemtb]

Ha I wouldn’t worry about tire size not matching but my OCD would keep me from mixing two different brands!

[@josemontesino5926]

Hey man, i did same thing and ended up changing the front for a dhr2, now thats a good combo. Great video, enjoy

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! I have still been thinking about swapping the front for either a DHR2 or a Dissector. I’ve heard good things about both.

[@downtoridemtb]

@john cole I’ve actually put a DHR on the front since filming this video. Check out my channel, I did a review on it. Overall I like it but I’m starting to wonder if it’s overkill for the trail around here. May still try a Dissector.

[@Jdksjcjiv]

DHR's are supposed or suggested to be a rear tyre, not front

[@josemontesino5926]

@@Jdksjcjiv agree, but even check different brands and they sell their bikes with dhr as a front tire because their very versatile on trail conditions, i encourage you to try them, anyway sorry for replying late

[@josemontesino5926]

Santa cruz do this a lot

[@grant22vids]

Looks like a great place to ride

[@downtoridemtb]

Yes it is, we have some great trails in the area

[@poledog2414]

Thanks for this advice! Ride similar-type trails as you, and this combo ripped today on my rift zone. Set some pr’s even lol 🔥😤

[@downtoridemtb]

Awesome! Just beware of front end wash outs. I replaced my front tire with a DHR2 for more grip. Rekon rear is still great though!

[@poledog2414]

@@downtoridemtb yep that’s exactly what I started running 👌🏻

[@downtoridemtb]

Great combo!

[@DCImaging118]

I appreciate your series with the Rift Zone! Very interested in this bike, and am favoring it over a Trance right now. Hope to purchase if/when they become available. Thank you again for the videos!

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks. The Trance is a really good bike too. A little more expensive than the RZ2 but considerably better suspension.

[@misteraxeman2680]

Get a Marin Hawk Hill instead

[@junboo8730]

MisterAxeMan Why?

[@misteraxeman2680]

@@junboo8730 I have no idea! 😂 I have the 2019 Hawk Hill 3 tho but I think the only difference is the rift has 29ers but idk might be more

[@desertratmtb]

I absolutely love the rekon as a rear tire. But for the areas i ushually ride in it sucks lol and ended up going with the minion DHR in the front. Also they wear really quickly with the rock out here

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah I considered the DHR for the front. The Worldwide Cyclery guy mentioned that combo in a lot of his tire videos.

[@ButerFiv]

Great video as always man! But you got some balls putting that Rekon on the front haha I would not trust those side knobs. I did run a Rekon on the rear of my bike and found that durability was an issue. They don't seem to last very long if you ride on very rocky terrain. I maybe would suggest the Ardent tire in the front or rear if you end up finding the Rekon to not last very long but still want it to be light and fast rolling. Its slight loss in speed due to the extra weight will probably be made up for in the cost to your wallet. Now I ride with the 2.4 trail boss front and rear in the light/fast rolling in spring/summer and it seems to be perfect. I ride either dual 2.3 Vigilantes or DHR 2's front and rear in the fall/winter when things start to get a little more muddy and wet.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks. Yeah if it were more rocky terrain around here I would not be running this setup. Good point about the fall and winter. I’ll probably put a DHR or Dissector up front. I don’t want to be pushing that Rekon into turns on leaf covered trails and those were the other two I was considering before I decided on this.

[@gixxerrydder]

DHF Front /Rekon on the back is outstanding bro. Nice riding.

[@downtoridemtb]

Just swapped to a DHR on the front actually. Video soon on it.

[@gixxerrydder]

Down to Ride MTB sweet bro. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts .

[@2WheelBuzz]

G'day, have the 2020 Rifty 3 running 2.5 Minion DHF on the front and still the oem 2.35 rear. Heaps of grip out front and the rear is ok in the dry but wet roots are sketchy. I weighed the rear Flow Snap last week on calibrated scales, came in at 1019g. Thinking of Minion DHR 2.4 when the time is right. Also upgraded the bars to black/orange Spank Spike 760mm, Nukeproof Sam Hill 35mm stem and volume spacers front and rear. Great to see another Marin out there.This is my 2nd in17 yrs, previous being a refurbished 2008 Hawkhill hardtail, still going strong. Cheers

[@downtoridemtb]

Hmm that’s interesting about the weight of the Flow Snaps because I know when I got the bike I looked up specs on them and it was like 1200-1300g. Now their site has changed and it lists something different. Maybe Vee Tire updated them early this year as I got my bike in December. 1019g isn’t bad at all but that “gap tooth” profile would still make it too slow of a roller in the rear for my riding and the style trails around here. I’d run it in the front though.

[@downtoridemtb]

Well I just weighed my old Vee Tire Flow Snap. 1043.5g. Pleasantly surprised. Still a slow roller due to the tread pattern but it might find it’s way back into the bike as a front tire one day.

[@mrvwbug4423]

I've heard nothing good about the flow snaps, or vee tires in general. 1200g is like a DH casing Assegai or DHR or Black Diamond casing Butcher.

[@MrMegatron85]

Just put some Ikons on my rift zone. New fav tire

[@MrMegatron85]

And now I just realized the rear is on backwards....

[@downtoridemtb]

Oh no! What width did you go with? Same front and back?

[@MrMegatron85]

@@downtoridemtb 2.35 front and back. Trying to make this thing as light as possible

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah those Ikons are crazy light. Glad you like them!

[@mrvwbug4423]

grip is overrated haha. My hardtail came with Ikons, fast rolling but an almost comical lack of grip, I went to Ardent race on it when I converted it to tubeless which suit it perfectly. My trail bike came with High Roller 2s which are about the polar opposite, grip for days, but roll like boat anchors haha.

[@ThomasLaang]

Nice review. On that type of trail I would go even lighter, Maxxis Aspen 2.4 comes to mind.

[@downtoridemtb]

I learned the hard way that your tires should match the hardest type of trails that you ride, even if you only ride them occasionally. Aspen maybe for the rear but for me I’ve gone the other direction. DHR on the front and I’m thinking Dissector for the rear when this Rekon wears out.

[@brassmnky33]

I think tire weight is a lot more important on Richmond trails that cause you to slow down and speed up often. A lot of trail systems are fire roads up to the top and then extended downhill where rotational weight isn’t as big of an issue and grip is more important.

[@downtoridemtb]

VERY good point!

[@brassmnky33]

I recently put Maxxis ardent 2.4 on front and back and really liked it although I think a 2.6 on the front would have made the bike way more capable without giving up much.

[@downtoridemtb]

I had matching 2.25 Ardents on my old hardtail and really liked them. I think that a wider tire up front isn’t as impactful as simply a more aggressive tire though. I have recently swapped the front out on mine to a 2.4 Minion DHR. Only one ride in but I like it so far.

[@arneilson4450]

I run a DHR 2 up front and Dissector in the back and I love it but they are a bit heavy considering I mostly ride technical XC type of stuff. I got a new rear wheel and I'm having a Rekon mounted on it today as I want something a bit faster for the dry summer months. I tried an Ardent in the rear last year and absolutely hated it. It was fine if it was super dry, but if there was a cloud within 30 miles that thing gunked up and lost all traction. Thanks for the review!

[@downtoridemtb]

I’m actually on your exact setup now and I do feel like the Dissector is a little more draggy than the Rekon but not by too much. I went with the Dual Compound. Anyway I do like the added grip though over my worn out Rekon. Or at least what my mind thinks is added grip.

[@arneilson4450]

@@downtoridemtb Yeah, the Dissector is amazing. I am getting the new wheel with the Rekon today so I will try it out as it has been really dry around here and see if I can feel a difference.

[@downtoridemtb]

Right on let me know what you think

[@TheJofrica]

I ride a Scott Spark 950, comes fitted with Maxxis Rekon 29 x 2.4s. They are super fast and light for the flat trails, but actually most of the trails in my area (SoCal) are rocky and loose and steep. I recently put 2.5 Assegais on it front and rear, and wow the difference in stability is amazing. The bike is super heavy now, and I am 100% sure Assegai on the rear is overkill. I just wanted to see how it felt. Super stable on the descents and it's absorbing all the rocks and chatter, but the bike has lost much of its quickness and pop as an XC-trail type hybrid downcountry thing. On asphalt the bike literally stops rolling after a few feet if you don't pedal or aren't going downhill. I do have a Dissector that I will try out in the rear. Just wanted to chime in and say that the tires really, really change the character of the bike. I still have the Rekons, they are in pretty good shape still, I might throw them back on occasionally if I hit up some flatter XC trails.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah tires can really change a lot, especially when going to that extreme of grip with the Assegai. I’d definitely recommend putting something a little faster on the back. That Dissector would be good. I’ve still got the Rekon on the back but now with a DHR2 on the front. Seems like a good compromise of speed and grip.

[@TheJofrica]

@@downtoridemtb For sure, thanks for the advice. Yeah it was pretty hard to pedal last weekend. I'm excited to try the Dissector!

[@downtoridemtb]

Let me know what you think about it because I’m considering it too

[@TheJofrica]

@@downtoridemtb Will do!

[@TheJofrica]

@@downtoridemtb Ok, apologies for a late response, but I've been testing a few setups. Here's my comments on it all: Assegai Front, Dissector on the Rear: -"Confidence inspiring" is not just suspension and geometry on an MTB - it also includes grip, because I felt way more confident on the turns with this setup than with the Rekons. I think you mentioned this in another video. -Ass/Diss is WAY faster than dual Assegais. Dissector in DH casing is apparently heavier in weight than the Maxx Terra Assegai I got. But it is incredibly faster, so it's not the weight. It's truly rolling resistance. -"Rolling resistance" isn't just about the wheel stopping after it's already rolling. I think it also includes the initial push and acceleration going from a stop or low speeds to a sprint. Overcoming the inertia on the Assegais was quite difficult, and sprinting and accelerating was difficult. I eventually switched to Dissector front and rear. Assegai still felt muddy and slow on the climbs even with the Dissector out back (very good on descents though) Thoughts on Diss/Diss combo: -Dissector on the front and rear is absolutely killer! I think it's my new favorite setup. I initially was just concerned about climbing grip, but it's no issue with the Dissector - I'd spin out with the Rekons, but not with the Dissectors. -I also somehow could notice the asymmetry with the Assegai/Dissector combo, like it was very front heavy. I like the balance and weight distribution with Dissector front and rear -The Assegai made the front wheel heavy and a bit difficult to control. Like if you point it to the right or left, the weight of it wants to pull the entire bike down in that direction. Didn't notice this with the Dissector even though it's listed as heavier than the Assegai. Could be the knobs or something on the Assegais making it balance differently. EDIT: I totally forgot, the Assegai is a 2.5, the Dissectors are 2.4. That's probably what I'm feeling with the asymmetry here. -Stability on the Dissector/Dissector combo is less than the Ass/Ass combo, but I like the overall playfulness of it more than Ass/Ass or Ass/Diss. -Maxx Grip on the Dissectors is amazing - I really like it. Now only thing is monitoring the wear, people say they wear fast but so far they're doing okay after a few weekends of riding. -I don't think I'll go with a Rekon out back/Dissector or Assegai up front. I tried the Rekons again recently and they truly spin out on me when climbing. These SoCal trails are very loose and dry. In conclusion, I realize I had been trying to convert my lighter XC/sprinty 130mm/120mm travel Scott Spark into more of a trail/all mountain bike. Which, the tires helped do that, yes. But I have since ordered a Commencal Meta AM for more enduro/downhill stuff. Now I will return the Spark to its more XC use when the Meta bike comes in in a few months. I will likely use the Spark just for flatter XC trails and actually for pavement road work too, which I do on weekdays. I'll wear out the Rekons to the ground on the road and then look into maybe the Maxxis Aspens. (even lighter than the Rekons) for using the Spark on the road. My hardtail road bike just hurts my butt now on the road, but I found that the Spark on the road eats up the bumpy streets where I live. That's a lot, thanks for listening. Hope you find your right tire setup! I got close with the Diss/Diss combo I think for me and my trail purposes for now. I'm also intrigued about the DHR 2 up front, I might try that when the Dissector wears out, especially now that I know that Diss/Diss is basically a go-to win for me from here on out. I think the Dissectors are kind of designed specifically for the dry/hard pack/loose trails like the ones here in SoCal.

[@kevbomtb6078]

Nice - its about time for me to get new tires! I did the JRPS "featured route" over the weekend for the first time. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so crowded... still a pretty fun ride. A good mix of everything.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah it can get really crowded on weekends. For the tires, I still really like the Rekon for the rear. For the front I switched to a DHR2 for more grip.

[@keithvalerio3155]

Outstanding review! I’m switching to Maxxis over the Vee setup.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks! Depending on your riding you may want to try something grippier up front. I currently have a DHR2 up there. Still love the Rekon for a rear tire though!

[@stevencole7331]

Maxis seems to be smaller in width than advertised . I had maxis 2.4 ardents that measured out to 2.2 . Now I just replaced them with a 2.4 Continental trail king up front and a 2.3 mountain king in the rear which measured out as advertised . The ardents were fast and had ok grip but the unpredictable wash out on a corner leaves you a bit timid . I actually had reckons on order before the Continentals but Noticed they were wide tires which wont work on my 23 mm rim . Lucky I was able to cancel . New tires are fun . Especially when it improves your riding experience.

[@downtoridemtb]

You’d think Maxxis would have that width figured out. I mean, at least in my case I’m just going by looks and I’m probably not a reliable source for seeing 1/10” of difference. Anyway yeah tires are a fun way to change the characteristics of your bike without spending a ton of money.

[@doncrescas]

I'd sacrifice weight for better tires any day. You do not want a front tire to fail or wash out. Especially on the rocky desert terrain I ride. Minion DHF and Dissector on my RZ.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah on rocky desert terrain I completely agree with you. I still may try a Dissector up front on mine.

[@netgeek19]

Great video. I just went tubless on my rift zone.

[@downtoridemtb]

Awesome! Stock tires or did you swap the too?

[@netgeek19]

Down to Ride MTB I wanted to upgrade. But just switched the stocks to tubeless. Only $40 at Outpost biking. Rides so much better now. Not as slow rolling for me. In time I would like to get some Maxxis tires.

[@downtoridemtb]

Not a bad deal considering you need valves, sealant and some labor to set it up.

[@matthewkramer8613]

Reckon tires seem to have pretty good grip while being fast rolling. Ran a Reckon as rear on my XC mtb for some time but felt it was more sluggish that I wanted out back, but the traction was pretty good. The tire did seem to ware kind of fast though. I ran a 2.25. Reckon is probably better as a front for mixed conditions. If you're trails have loose rocks, though it may be better to have bigger nobbs up front and a channel pattern.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah I think it all depends what you want to do with it. If you only have one bike and do a mixture of trails, then I think it’s a good on the rear. Pure XC bike though and yeah I can see it might be a little slow. I never felt it was slow at all but I fall into that first category. The front only stayed on a couple months before I swapped it for a DHR2 for more grip. As much as I liked it on the rear, when it wore out I replaced it with a Dissector also for more grip.

[@MichielUrban]

Did you have any problems with the Dissector's side lugs wearing quickly? I read people losing them after only a few months of use. This is why I consider a Rekon on the rear instead of Dissector..

[@matthewkramer8613]

@@MichielUrban have not run a Dissector. But from general experience from Maxxis tires the lugs a pretty solid maybe unless you are hitting sharp rock gardens and running a softer compound. This happened to another tire I was running and had no issues after getting the same model in hard wearing faster compound. Maybe another can comment on this.

[@meteormedia7021]

Personally, I always suggest buying the Maxxis Forekaster. Surprisingly good allround tire, basically a poor mans Minion DHF

[@dennislarosajr7320]

I just put forekaster up front and aggresser in the rear. Lovin so far

[@downtoridemtb]

Hmm I always thought the Forekaster was more designed for wet so I never even looked at it.

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@dennislarosajr7320 weird, I think the Aggressor probably has more grip. The Forekaster is a wet condition XC tire, the Aggressor is a faster rolling enduro rear

[@dennislarosajr7320]

@@mrvwbug4423 This is the set up my bike shop reccomend for my riding. I really don't ride to much mountains, mostly flat in South Jersey and kinda wet most of the time.

[@1bad99superduty]

@@dennislarosajr7320 I have a forekaster on the front with a ikon in the back. Its fast rolling but can get alittle sketchy at times. Keeps it exciting.

[@ronalcasid3844]

I hate those root gardens! LOL

[@downtoridemtb]

If it’s not actually a term, I’m coining it!

[@nathancouse3596]

If u find that the rekon is a bit sketchy. Try using a bontreger xr4 in 2.4 it only weighs 780 grams and it's still fast rolling and bigger knobs. I ride that on the front of my xc bike and a specialized ground control on the rear. Are u tubless ?

[@downtoridemtb]

Yes setup tubeless for sure. I’ll add that XR4 to my ongoing tire list. It does look nice.

[@archetypex65]

I'm running the xr5 2.6 on the front and the xr4 2.6 on the rear of my fuel ex 8 plus and I find it is an absolutely perfect mix for all types of trails. 👍

[@NickMacDonald]

Nice video!

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks!

[@ybb3211]

Hi man, thanks for the review. I was wondering, why not try maxxis dissector on the front? Will give you more traction and will be fast rolling

[@downtoridemtb]

I did consider that but at the time I was very much focused on less weight. I actually have now went one step grippier than the Dissector up front with a Minion DHR. Rekon still in the rear. It’s a really good combo except when things are wet.

[@downtoridemtb]

@@polcastella if you’re riding a hardtail, maybe the 2.6 to get a little more volume in the tires, slightly less pressure and a little more cushiness. Full suspension, go 2.4. Keep in mind that for the 2.6 you should have rims that are 30mm wide or wider. Also the 2.6 is a little larger in overall diameter so that could be good or bad depending on what you’re going for.

[@tigerbalm666]

Hey, nice ride...I has the San Quentin 2...should I try 2.6 front tire? Normally run 2.35. I got a Trail Boss rear too!

[@downtoridemtb]

2.6 is good depending on your preference. The overall diameter is slightly bigger so it will almost make it look like a mullet bike. If you’re just looking for grip, I think a more aggressive tread is more important than tire width.

[@MountainBikeAdventures]

Trying out Assagai 2.5 up front and a 2.4 Rekon 3C EXO+ on my hardtail

[@downtoridemtb]

Interesting combo. Kinda the two far ends of the spectrum with MTB tires (excluding pure XC tires). Curious how you like them.

[@MountainBikeAdventures]

@@downtoridemtb I’ll let you know how my bike handles after a few rides. My local go to trails are pretty all mountain. My previous combo had a 2.4 Dissector in the rear which was a great combo. Unfortunately it has worn down and needed to be replaced. Cheers!

[@MountainBikeAdventures]

Update on the combo: So far so good the Rekon EXO+ 2.4 rolls significantly faster than the Dissector EXO 2.4. I ride my local park that has a little bit of everything. Climbs the gnar, and so on. Big rocky climbs are no problem, braking is excellent, and the added puncture resistance is a plus for me. Cornering, grib, and rolling resistance seem far better in comparison. I hope this helps anyone trying to pick out a tire combo.

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks for the update. I’m actually considering Vittoria Aggaro tires right now for front and rear. Seem slightly more aggressive than Maxxis Rekon.

[@MP19861]

What's a good PSI for a Race Recon 29 by 2.4 I'm 170 lb and light trail/gravel type of riding. I got em at 20 in the back and 18 up front.

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s mostly personal preference in how much grip you want vs rolling speed. I’m a bit heavier and I’m usually at 24/26 on dual Maxxis Forekasters.

[@jasonlee8719]

I just wonder if those big Knobby wear off because you’re riding hard pack trails where an xc tire would be more useful

[@downtoridemtb]

I wouldn’t be worried about that. It’s a mix of hard pack and loose over hard. The rear lasted around a year.

[@PogiFromButao]

Hi! i just want to ask if i will put new tire to change my stock tires of 29x2.4 with new 29x2.5 or 2.6 i am not sure if it will work? btw nice video dude keep it up!

[@downtoridemtb]

Hi thanks for watching! 2.6 easily works in the front, no problem. On the rear, it could be a case by case scenario. I think the Rekon would be fine but something with bigger side knobs might rub.

[@naxxxxxxxooooo]

I just bought the same combo for my hardtrail, could you tell the difference in size visually?

[@downtoridemtb]

Yes, the 2.6 is noticeably wider and o think slightly taller knobs too. The 2.6 is also a bit bigger in diameter.

[@kojichinkabuto8536]

What tire pressures are you running front and rear that felt good for you on the trails? Thanks!

[@downtoridemtb]

I have settled on around 25 front and 28 rear. Much lower than that and I tend to get rim strikes. But it all depends on your weight, riding style, and the type of trails you ride.

[@ingopaul67]

Certainly faster rolling, personally I'd put a High Roller II or even a DHF on the front for a bit more grip.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah I had considered a lot of front tires including those two. But the biggest biggest contenders were the DHR or the Dissector. I’ll probably try one of them out eventually.

[@archetypex65]

Exactly Paul. And then you don't need to go with a wider Tire up front. 👍

[@mrvwbug4423]

High Roller 2 is a good winter tire, but if you're mainly in the dry I'd run the DHR2 instead if you need THAT much grip. HR2 is basically a DHR2 with wider spacing on the tread to clear mud. Dissector is faster rolling than the DHR2, but grippier than the Aggressor. DHF grips well and rolls fast, but you have to be very aggressive pushing it onto the cornering knobs as it has no transition knobs. Nothing wrong with wider tire up front, less likely to snag on tire catchers on rocks and roots.

[@downtoridemtb]

@Marc Gallant Thanks I’ll add that to my list of possible future tires. So far I’m really liking these at least for summer tires.

[@downtoridemtb]

@JF thanks for that bit of info. I think I’m going to go with that setup in the fall/winter.

[@MMDX70]

Is there reason why you are using 3C compound instead of DC in the rear Rekon if durability and rolling resistance are concern?

[@downtoridemtb]

Good question. I never even really considered the dual compound. Cheaper so I figured it was a lesser tire. 3c Max Terra is right in the middle between speed and grip. Seems like it was the best to me.

[@cwesty9341]

Nice video! I too am looking for faster tire setup but still good traction. Currently have 2.3 aggressor Rear and run either 2.4 DHR or now back to my origiy 2.3 DHF to compare rolling resistance. I like the dhr for sure for rockier trails and DHF being bit smaller seems to roll better. But still looking for better roll and keeping good grip for my cc/light trail trails,so either 2.4 dissector or Vittoria 2.35 Martello (or 2.4 Mazza but prob not as fast as Martello or dissector, but could be a great replacement for my dhf/dhr rowdery trails). Any thoughts? Cheers

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah the Rekon is great as a rear tire. And I did switch to DHR up front not long after filming this video. I ran that Rekon for about a year though on the rear and only just recently swapped it for a Dissector dual compound. The Dissector is a little more draggy but grips very well. Lots of lean over grip where I think the Rekon would have broken loose. I think it would be a good front tire too although I might go 3c max terra up there. Hope that helps. I don’t have any experience with Vitoria.

[@cwesty9341]

@@downtoridemtb i wonder how the Rekon and aggressor compare on the back? i would assume the Rekon rolls faster but not as durable or stopping power? Im not racing or anything, just notice im lagging when riding with faster riders on the flats or ups, so wanted bit more speed without giving up much grip/traction.....like everyone else! ha. I think im going to start with the Martello up front, thinking less aggressive than DHF/DHR, rolls better and still good traction overall. i dont want to go to XC because most trails always has a few hairy downhills that we all like to go fast on and don't want to compromise too much on grip and stopping power. If you or anyone knows if Rekon is much faster than Aggressor on rear and still overs good traction/stopping power, i may give the 2.4 Rekon a try on the back. PS - im limited to 2.4 max for my 25 id rims. Cheers!

[@downtoridemtb]

@@cwesty9341 check out a channel Dustin B Johnson. He has tested a lot of Maxxis tires extensively. I know initially he liked the Agressor but then later said Rekon was his favorite rear tire. He would be the perfect person to ask in a comment. I just have never ridden the Agressor. From a visual standpoint, I’d bet it’s slower since there is no ramping on the center knobs.

[@cwesty9341]

@@downtoridemtb ok thanks, and yeah i have watched a few of his vid.... good and funny at the same time! I think the Rekon would be faster too, so may get one of those for the rear and something bit meatier for the front that still rolls well (dissector or VIttoria has 2 good options - 1 looks just like DHF but supposed to grip better??). Anyhow, thanks, I'll update with what i go with and what works good or not. I'm in Ontario Canada, so a good mix trail conditions, either sandy, loamy trails to ride after rain days or rocky escarpment/hardpacked clay trails when dry...why we benefit from 2 sets of tires. Happy riding!

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah 2 sets of tires makes sense there if you can. Anyway good luck!

[@davidcarvalho9035]

maxxis tires usualy come a bit less wide than onther brands, because they might mesure them at higher pressures

[@downtoridemtb]

I have heard that a lot actually. Kinda silly, just mark them with the actual width.

[@baddriversofcolga]

Do you notice the front tire folding any when cornering hard? I know at a certain point you need to go with a wider rim when you use a wider tire so I'm just curious if you've noticed anything with this setup.

[@downtoridemtb]

I haven’t noticed that yet. They are 30mm rims which is supposed to be compatible... but of course at the recommended limit. I also saw a few other reviews that measured it at more like a 2.5 anyway.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@downtoridemtb Ahh, okay, good to hear!

[@mrvwbug4423]

I've heard that a 35mm rim works really well with 2.6 tires. I've tried 2.6 fronts on 30mm rims on some demos and I didn't experience any folding issues, my own bike is 2.5 front on 30mm width and it's never folded.

[@thomasreid9540]

Hi! I currently run a 2.4 width DHR 2 in the rear, and a 2.3 maxxis shorty in front. Should I switch them? Because they keep telling me you should run a wider tire up front for enduro. Also the dhr2 is a bit heavier than the shorty

[@downtoridemtb]

I would say it’s more important to have the more aggressive tire upfront, exactly as you do. 1/10th of an inch isn’t that much of a difference so if you’re happy with it then ride on! Otherwise get a 2.5 DHF or Assegai for the front.

[@thomasreid9540]

@@downtoridemtb thanks!

[@downtoridemtb]

Welcome!

[@roundabout136]

Never ran thinner tires in the rear, any noticeable grip difference? Running 2.4 Ardents front and rear currently.

[@downtoridemtb]

Well it’s not so much that I went thinner in the rear as it is that I went wider in the front. Did that just hoping to squeeze out a little additional grip from a more fast rolling style tire. 2.4 for a rear tire is pretty good.

[@archetypex65]

@@downtoridemtb you're not really going to get more grip you're just going to get a little bit more stability. But you're also negatively affecting the steering geometry that the bike was designed around. As Paul mentioned prior and as I had mentioned, going for a softer compound with deeper knobs up front will be the key for more grip. Stick with a 2.4 in the front and a 2.6 in the rear if you want to go different sizes but you really should try to match the tire sizes.

[@endriuu100]

Hi. I'm also thinking about buying a rift zone but No. 3. Or 130mm is enough travel on this frame?

[@downtoridemtb]

All depends on the trails you are riding. For me and for here it is great. Bigger rockier downhill stuff and you’d want more travel.

[@endriuu100]

@@downtoridemtb Thx I don't buy a trail bike to ride dh. at most, there are larger roots on my trails.

[@farghom]

inner width of wheel also important. 😀👌😎

[@downtoridemtb]

This is true. These are 29mm I think so 2.6 is probably the most you want to go on that

[@farghom]

@@downtoridemtb i'd go with maxxis Assegai for front insane grip!!

[@brandonshuck]

What is the widest tire size that you can run on the front and rear of the bike? Thanks

[@downtoridemtb]

Purely a guess... maybe 2.5 or 2.6 in the rear? Maybe 2.8 in the front? These fit with no issues.

[@brandonshuck]

Down to Ride MTB Okay awesome, thanks! I just snagged one of the last Rift Zone 2 from Govvelo today. I was super back and forth about whether to get the RZ2 or something with a little bit better components. My precious bike was a 2008 Yeti asr with 26” wheels - great bike but very outdated technology. This will be my first 29er and dropper post, etc. I figured it’d be good to start with the RZ2 to build my skills and adjust to the new modern geometry before working up to something more advanced. Your videos definitely helped and gave me confidence in the RZ2 and also Govvelo in case anything goes wrong, so thanks! I might try and swap the rear for Maxxis Aggressor and keep Flow Snap on front or maybe swap front for DHF.

[@downtoridemtb]

Glad you were able to get one! I’m sure you’ll like it. I still believe that it is one of the best value bikes in this price range especially if you qualify for a discount through GovVelo. I’ve heard good things about the Aggressor as a rear tire and I think it would actually pair pretty well with the stock tire in the front.

[@billymartyn5573]

oh, wow! that's Forest Hill Park. 7:08. Edit: okay, after I posted that, you say FH park 2-3 times... lol

[@downtoridemtb]

Haha, yep one of my go-to lunch ride spots!

[@paultorres4866]

I've been running a DHF in front and Dissector or rear of my Bronson for a long time and is a great combo. Running a DHF front and Rekon in back of my Ripmo...no time on it yet, but expect it to be a great combo as well. Rekon not meant to be a front tire.

[@downtoridemtb]

Yeah the Rekon didn’t stay on the front very long before I replaced it with a DHR. That’s a great combo so I think you’ll like the DHF Rekon combo too.

[@Drogos79]

how does that recon feel upfront on dry ?

[@downtoridemtb]

Dry hard pack: excellent. Dry and loose: not the best. It really wasn’t on my bike too long though. I had a pretty bad crash on some slick rocks so I took it off. Not sure really if was even down to the tire but it made me feel better at least.

[@arlennewton6873]

Would the 2.6 fit on the rear? How much room have ya got?

[@downtoridemtb]

I think it would fit but I never tried it. Keep in mind that a 29x2.6 is generally a bit larger in diameter too and will effectively raise the back of the bike a little.

[@tanertatltug5336]

Which tire is the largest tread maxxis 2.6?

[@downtoridemtb]

For 29er rekons 2.6 is the max. For 27.5 I think they go up to 3.0. Gotta make sure your rim width is within spec though

[@tanertatltug5336]

​@@downtoridemtb did you test maxxis assegai 2.6?

[@downtoridemtb]

@@tanertatltug5336 I have not. I would recommend something more along the lines of that for a front tire though if you’re riding anything loose or sketchy. 2.5 DHF would be good or even a 2.4 DHR.

[@xxzmk]

maxxis rekon tires tend to be a little narrower than advertised. My 2.25 at the front is wider than my rekon 2,25 at the back

[@downtoridemtb]

That’s strange you’d think they could get the size right. Anyway I still like them

[@mrvwbug4423]

Maxxis and Specialized are both known to run narrower than advertised.

[@cliffsangelsphotography]

Great vid. You should try a 2.3 Aggressor and 2.4 Dissector. Coming from 2.5 Assegai front/rear on my Ibis Ripmo with 29mm rims, my bike its definitely rolling faster and still has plenty of grip

[@downtoridemtb]

Thanks for the suggestion. If I wind up switching the front, it will be a Dissector that goes on there.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Dissector/Rekon sounds interesting. In Colorado the Dissector is usually run in back, with an Assegai up front, but our trails are also mainly rocks and loose gravel. DHF/Aggressor and Assegai/Aggressor is also popular here along with the usual DHF/DHR2.

[@arlennewton6873]

C J Did u run a 2.5 on the rear? How did it feel? Did it rub the frame? Do u think a 2.6 will fit the rear?

[@toanmaxdark7]

Hey dude, I also noticed a lot of the weight is in the rear wheel. Think that's the cassette? I'm having trouble finding a lighter cassette than the 11 speed sunrace mine comes with.

[@downtoridemtb]

I’m sure your cassette is on the heavier side as is mine. Even though mine is a SRAM cassette, it is a Shimano freehub style instead of the SRAM XD driver hub. The XD driver cassettes are considerably lighter. So for me, if I ever upgrade wheels I will be getting XD driver hubs. It looks like all the higher end (lighter) shimano stuff has moved to 12 speed so there may not really be a lighter option.

[@mrvwbug4423]

The new Deore 10/11/12 speeds are all running steel cassettes, nigh indestructible but not light by any means. The SRAM NX eagle cassette is plenty durable, and shifts just as well as GX eagle, but is no lightweight. The only super light cassette I can think of that would fit on the standard shimano hub is an 11 speed XTR, but they are expensive, hard to find, and notoriously short lived.

[@toanmaxdark7]

@@mrvwbug4423 but if you look at the weights of the sunrace compared to any cassette, there really isn't much lighter. Maybe 50 grams is the lightest difference I've seen

[@michaelutley7661]

DHR ii on the front brother..

[@downtoridemtb]

Just ordered one a couple days ago!

[@parkinkevin]

How can the 2.6 be lighter than the 2.4? im confused 🤔

[@downtoridemtb]

It does seem strange but they are a different TPI. One is 120 and one is 60

[@parkinkevin]

@@downtoridemtb Aha, I got the impression they were the same specification. Thanks for clearing that up 👍

[@downtoridemtb]

No prob!

[@mikeharris4562]

Are these going on the original rims?

[@downtoridemtb]

Yes, original rims.

[@AEA_]

Максис Маломерят? Maxis 2.4=2.15" CST Maxis 2.6=2.25" CST ???

[@greenleafycabbage8715]

You used to measure tires dude. I came here to know

[@downtoridemtb]

I think you might have me confused with someone else. I don't even have a way to accurately measure them

[@greenleafycabbage8715]

Oh my bad. I comment the wrong video

[@onlyonecannoli3952]

A whole 1/2 pound. That's worth spending a couple of hundred dollars for...or...you could just take a dump before you go on your ride and put that $200 back in your pocket.

[@downtoridemtb]

Rider weight and bike weight are not equals. 100lb man on a 100lb bike versus a 180lb man on a 20lb bike. Who do you think is going to be faster on climbs, hit jumps better overall have more fun?

[@MrWniebowzieci]

Please weight those Vee Tire Flow Snap.

[@downtoridemtb]

I’ll see about getting an exact weight when I can but they were somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200-1300g each.

[@downtoridemtb]

Well I stand corrected. Just weighed one... 1043.5g. Still a slow roller based on the tread pattern but it would make a decent front tire.

[@archetypex65]

Not really sure why you would go with a slightly wider Tire in front. Okay so you'll get a little bit better braking stability but what it is also doing is slowing your steering down a bit. If it's grip your after then go for a softer compound Tire with deeper knobs. But by re-engineering the bike you are throwing the steering geometry slightly off. You'll never see a Motocross or Supercross or Enduro motorcycle with a wider Tire in the front and there's a reason for that. If you're looking for more stability than you want to run the slightly wider Tire in the rear. 👌 Not sure how this notion got started way back... but whoever started it is a bit mixed up when it comes to two-wheeled physics. 🤔🧐😄

[@downtoridemtb]

I wanted to squeeze a little more grip out of a fast rolling tire. I don’t think 0.2” is going to do much in term of slowing the steering or changing the geo. And if i’m being honest it probably won’t do much in the grip department either. I don’t believe that Moto is a good comparison. The cornering approach and technique is different.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Mountain bikes aren't MX bikes. Wider up front is actually very common and normal for MTBs. The wider front is there to improve front end grip and help the tire float over obstacles better, narrower rear is to improve rolling resistance as changes in rolling resistance are more noticeable out back.

[@witchdoktor69]

Tell that to all the pro racers who have won with a wider tire on the front. Guess they don't know what they are doing.