MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I recently got an 08 Dawg, to replace an old Kona Kikapu, thinking it would be a good all round beast.
I am finding it a real struggle on climbs and even on the flat, despite it being a similar weight. Downhill it's a blast.
Is there any tuning I can do to help this - I have already put a longer stem on - or have I just got the wrong bike.
Thanks.
I found the same when I demo'd one last year. I put it down to the Kenda tyres on it...
I wondered that too - any suggestions for replacements for all round Scotand use. I also wonderd if this was just tweaking round the edges rather than making a noticable difference.
Kenda nevagal tyres are really really slow, for some reason, despite the fact that they don't look it.
Try going tubeless on them - really made it roll faster for me.
As the others say its more than likely the tyres, if you can get a set of Snake skin Nobby Nics or Maxxis Ignitors it will roll much, much faster.
For all round use in Scotland on a five inch travel bike? High Rollers.
Thanks for all that, that will at least postpone the Dawg's listing in the classified section!
High Roller Super Tacky on the Front and High Roller in MAxPro on the rear should sort that out.
Conversly a set of Ignitors in eXception series are mega fast rolling esp on hard stuff
i have a 08 dawg and I race on it it's fine up the hills came 7th in a race last year. tyres make a lot of difference i run a 62a 2.35 ignitor on the front and a really fast roiling tyre on the back for trail centres and full racing tyres for racing.
i love my dawg i just put new forks on it as the ones on it were heavy compared to my fox forks and new wheels as they make a lot of difference as well
High Roller Super Tacky on the Front and High Roller in MAxPro on the rear should sort that out.
**** me, you think?! I had that combo (2.35") and the front tyre was draggy as hell, but then it was the steel bead downhill version...
Non tacky Kenda's in 2.1" flavour are actually not too bad I reckon, or combo of tacky at the front/non tacky rear. If I recall though, the Dawg comes with the 2.35" Kendas? I had them in tacky flavour front and rear on my own bike and while brilliantly grippy, were horrendous on the road and flats.
My Coiler climbs OK and I bet its a shed load heavier than your Dawg. I do have a smallish rear Conti Speed king rear tyre though.
Just checked & it's got 2.35 Ignitors on. Will do a wee trial & swap for the contis on the old bike
Our Hire fleet last summer consisted of a number of dawgs - most people found them great all round bikes, in fact I rode one for about the half the time I was guiding. We ran them with Ignitors for most of the season, and I could tell the difference in rolling speed between those and the high rollers on my own bike. if you're only riding trail centres you could try a crossmark, or maybe a 2.35 larsen tt - very fast rolling indeed but pretty pants in the wet.
Thanks, most of my riding is north Scotland natural trails - single track through the woods, rough hill tracks. Looks like the high rollers get most votes?
Never mind the tyres......
....just get out more / get fitter !
It's got to be better than a Rocky Mountain DH Rig ??
Still sticking with maxxis, you could try the ignitor/high roller inbetween tyre, the advantage? In a 62A eXception version? or 60A maxxpro
I had an old style 5" Coiler. Struggled with it to start, but as I got fitter (and added high rollers) it suddenly came alive and would romp up anything. Check your shock is tuned right, and mojo it if needed.
Now put that short stem back on!
Getting out more sounds good - it's the contrast between the old & new bie that struck me - kinda took the excitement of having a new bike - hence it's potential to go on the transfer list!
..............The rocky mountain DH rig was fine it was the morning's XC one I didn't like!