I've just received some 2.25 Aspens in the post but I wasn't aware that they have the Exception casing - the CRC site only lists the 2.1s with the Exception casing so I assumed the 2.25s had the 60tpi standard one. I've cut a couple of Exception sidewalls on other tyres in the past so I'm not sure how these will hold up especially as I will be running them tubeless (on XT tubeless wheels).
Anyone?
I've run the 2.25 on the rear for about 2 months. Its a great tyre. I can imagine in rockier places (I'm on mendips) that sidewalls will be an issue. Although there are rocks here, they're of the smooth and rounded variety - I'd think twice about taking it somewhere where the rocks are sharp and pointy.
I was running it on a stans rim without a rimstrip and TBH, the bead was too slack for safety. I'm therefore sticking it on my DT 5.1s with a rimstrip, which should (hopefully) sort the issue
Hopefully there will be a LUST or standard single ply later this year?
I ran a 2.1 Crossmark exception tubeless for a while. It was fine around Bristol area (although sidewalls looked very threadbare after a couple of ridea) but first ride on the Skyline trail and i slashed it open on the final descent....straight in the bin and went with a normal 2.25.
I think all exception tyres are very fragile and defintitely not a good tubeless choice.
I ride Bristol, The Mendips and the Welsh trails centres so I think I'll send them back.
On further research it doesn't look like a non Exception version is available which is a bit of an oversight given how many riders are tubeless now.
Its a new tyre design - there aren't many options available at the moment.
I ripped the sidewall of my Aspen Exception tyre, riding uphill! Great tyres but very flimsy sidewalls.
I've been running a 2.25" Aspen eXception tubeless on a Flow for some months. No problems so far, although I'm always a little aware of it when hitting rock sections. Riding is generally Clwydians, Llangollen and Llandegla - plus the occasional forray to places like CyB, Penmachno and the Marin. Superb tyre, but yes, you do need to be careful of that casing.
As an aside, the 2.1" Aspen I simply cannot get to hold air reliably - just too damn light, I think (456g!).