I used an EXO Ikon on Monday for a 4 hour ride in the Peaks and it was awesome, but there was no mud so I can’t comment on how it’d be in the mud.
Marginal would sum that one up… I’ve run one a bit on the back and it was okay and fast rolling, but even thought it’s ‘EXO’, it still feels a lot less substantial in the sidewall than an EXO Ardent 2.25 or a Minion DHF in same. Personally I’d run the Ardent every time in the Peak anyway, but a few years ago I’d have happily gone with an Ikon on the back.
I was thinking about a 2.25 ardent up front with a 2.1 ignitor out back, but this might be overkill? Interested to hear how folks have got on with the ikon and aspen long term?
I run an Ardent 2.4 on the front of a rigid, singlespeed 69er mutant thing btw, works well on rocky stuff. My lasting memory of the Aspen was that it was really fragile, around 10% faster than an Ardent but also about 50% less grippy on anything loose or soft, though it’d probably be better on a 29-inch wheel.
The Ardent / Ikon mix with 29″ wheels sounds like a winner to me. Your current set-up sounds sketchy as **** for rocky stuff tbh, but what do I know.
And writing this it occurs to me that I don’t have the faintest idea what I’m talking about cos it’s all relatively to your personal preferences, where you ride and how lethally skilled you are. I’m splendidly average on all counts.