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Ryan Burney Added a reply to Stronger Wheels
8/24/2026 5:13pm Here are the main reasons for rim failure. I think you're in the stronger wheel camp but I do agree with the other members that you're probably in the firmer part of your rear suspension stroke more often because of the slow rebound and it makes it harder for wheels to move out of the way > you hit rims...
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storm.racing Liked a reply to forum topic What I Learned Starting a Tire Insert Company
8/17/2026 5:55am
Appreciate that very much! Really do. Love to hear it and love to see it! Just broke another wheel yesterday... so, I think it is time to try some
This forum topic has 38 replies.
tdeems Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/17/2026 5:54am
I’ve run various combinations of carbon and aluminum rims with no inserts and different versions of Cush Core over the last 5 years. I’m not convinced Cush Core offers meaningful rim protection. I’ve broken carbon rims with CC Pro, and seriously dinged up aluminum rims with and without Cush Core. It mainly changes the ride feel and allows lower pressures, so for certain terrain or if that's what you're after, it makes a lot of sense. I’ve been most thankful for it when I’m able to ride out on a flat after an unpluggable slice, but the reason I wouldn’t...
This forum topic has 25 replies.
bmxconan Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/17/2026 5:54am
I've gone around the houses with tyre and insert combinations, currently on an XC cushcore and DH casing DHR II. A guide of ours in Finale still rides tubes in DH tyres on his guiding rig. I got back into riding in 2016 and i've just rode tubeless. Does anyone else still ride tubes or newer style TPU ones. What combo's? I've had issues keeping wheels sealed lately, new rims, new tape blah blah.... go to the garage....fffflat
This forum topic has 25 replies.
Ryan Burney Added a reply to The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/14/2026 6:06am If you guys ever see a tire insert that needs to be made but doesn't exist, let us know. Happy to prototype it and share learnings here. Could do it live on here to see what we learn as well. We are making a custom insert for a team for next season, will see how it goes!
RockhopperX Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/13/2026 1:57pm
I’d also lean towards Rim Saver for your use case. If you’re not trying to run super low pressures, I don’t think a heavy insert is worth the extra weight and changed feel.
This forum topic has 25 replies.
Snowwww Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/13/2026 1:42pm
This. Only one flat since I started running rim saver, and that was entirely a combination of user errors. Easier to install than cush or rimpact too.
This forum topic has 25 replies.
jeff.brines Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/13/2026 1:42pm
Rim Saver for sure. If you don't want the squish of a foam insert (like many do not), but still want to protect your rim, Rim Saver is by far your best option. Plus Ryan lurks around these parts, super good engineer, really nice guy.
This forum topic has 25 replies.
CarolinaCrawler Liked a reply to forum topic The best lightweight tyre insert for protecting your rim?
8/13/2026 1:42pm
I have not tried them but the Rim Saver appears to be the best. I would love to try them. They just make sense. I'm currently running the XC Cushcore in the downhill bike solely for rim protection. I will probably switch to rim saver eventually. Plus they have a great story and are made in Vermont.
This forum topic has 25 replies.
storm.racing Liked a reply to forum topic What I Learned Starting a Tire Insert Company
8/11/2026 11:25am
Who has been running these and also has experience with Cushcore? Feedback? Been a user of cushcore in all bikes for last 7 ish years. Have pro in trail bike and XC in DH bike. With the changes in tires and stuff over the years, the support aspects are less of concern now and I am really in the camp of just not wanting square edged hits to break wheels anymore. Have broken 3 or 4 over the last several years. Crap happens.. but been considering changing it up to rimsavers just for the actual rim protection.
This forum topic has 38 replies.
Ryan Burney Added a reply to What I Learned Starting a Tire Insert Company
8/11/2026 11:25am If you want to try them, here is a code you can use for 40% off. Others on the forum feel free to use it as well. "LETSGOMARTIN". Made that code for friends as Martin Maes has been running our Heavyweight insert this season and had them in for his 2x top 10 WC DH finishes. Pretty pumped on that...
iceman2058 Liked a reply to forum topic Suspension Component Technology/Functionality Discussion
8/11/2026 6:00am
Introducing the ZETA Damping Cartridge by SIMONS.LAB Externally adjustable compression and rebound tunes, Hydraulic Bottom-Out packaged in a drop-in cartridge design: ZETA is now available for FOX 38, RockShox ZEB and Intend upside-down suspension forks. Many riders know the situation: changes to the compression or rebound damping do not produce the desired effect on the trail, or an improvement in one area comes with noticeable compromises elsewhere. This is often caused by the predefined internal base tune found in conventional suspension forks. External adjusters can fine-tune this base tune, but they cannot fundamentally change it. If the tune does not...
This forum topic has 646 replies.
GumptionZA Liked a bike check Gullwing Bikes Gannet 175
7/31/2026 12:24pm
This bike check has 16 comments.
Ryan Burney Started a new thread NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/9/2026 8:06pm What stands out most about the new Norco Torrent DH is what it isn't . It isn't trying to be the most technically complex bike on the mountain. It isn't loaded with adjustability features. It isn't for people who spend more time clicking settings than riding. The launch video says it all: dad cams, donuts in parking lots, laughing with...
This forum thread has 19 replies.
sspomer Liked a reply to forum topic NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/9/2026 5:14pm
just got a note from norco - frame-only pricing in U.S. is now $2,399 instead of $2,999 They said, " Thanks to lower tariffs impacting our US pricing than originally forecasted, we were able to adjust pricing on the Torrent DH framekit in the US."
This forum topic has 19 replies.
notyouraverageJoe Liked a comment about bike check 2012 Karpiel Armageddon
6/7/2026 4:33pm
That looks amazing! Now go huck off a 50ft cliff.
This bike check has 6 comments.
TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/6/2026 3:29am
Love to see it.
This forum topic has 19 replies.
ethanrevitch Liked a reply to forum topic NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/6/2026 3:29am
You don't have to miss it Charlie! I went with the Simonetti method on my Dreadnought with help from @JankyEric and I like it! There is the occasional rattle here and there but definitely a must when swapping brakes often. Amazon's where it's at. I am kind of with you though. There's a good chance my next bike won't have internal routing for that reason.
This forum topic has 19 replies.
bizutch Liked a reply to forum topic NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/3/2026 5:49pm
At one point this was the top of the line carbon build in The Demo Center at Whistler. I rode 4 top end bikes in 3 days & they all told me...ride the Norco day 3. You'll be stoked. It was the MOST fun day I've had on a DH bike & that was like...10 years ago? Would love to play on one again. I'd immediately swap the rear for a coil & some sticky rubber. That's all. Wonder if Norco is doing full dad cam package sponsorships? 🙃
This forum topic has 19 replies.
silvbullit Liked a reply to forum topic NEW BIKE - Norco Torrent DH Bike Details & Discussion
6/3/2026 5:49pm
I like that my Stumpy EVO could be 2 or 3 different bikes if I wanted it to. But I also keep the Float X, and Grip X 36 just to simplify the setup a bit because that high-speed/low-speed rebound isn't going to shave any seconds. The answer is for riders to stop fiddle-f**king with clickers and stop reading marketing-driven mtb media dissections of minuscule, fractional gains of some particular part. It seems, in fact, that certain cough--wireless--cough components seem to be marching us in the opposite performance direction of mass-centralization, unsprung mass, and system weight.
This forum topic has 19 replies.