Over the past year we've had numerous requests
for a review of the Motoz Hybrid tyre from a cross training angle -
riding gnarly technical terrain with more of a trials and extreme enduro focus.
Here are our thoughts after about 20 rides, and down the track we'll add
our very long-term thoughts in the pinned first comment.
Many dirt riders have experimented with trials tyres for technical riding, with mixed results.
The Motoz Hybrid is similar but has stiffer sidewalls, side knobs for cornering,
and a tougher compound to handle the stresses of dirt riding.
A pleasant surprise, it was easier to fit than your average knobby.
The Motoz Hybrid really shines when you use low tyre pressures to get that massive footprint,
so the TUbliss system was used and it was a match made in heaven -
the stiff carcass meant 0 PSI was used for our slow technical rides,
and around 2 to 4 psi for faster rides.
This is a tyre that rewards the rider into throttle control and traction,
a style that is growing along with the popularity of extreme enduro.
In loamy or loose hill climbs,
it was the equal of a knobby as long as there wasn't too much wheelspin.
This was a huge surprise as we felt a trials pattern simply couldn't match a knobby on
hill climbs, but it does in most conditions due to that huge footprint on the ground.
But this benefit is lost if you are ham-fisted on the throttle and start to wheelspin too much.
When you are almost at a standstill and think it's all over, this tyre often refuses
to give up and you just lug your way to the top - inspiring stuff.
On rock slabs and hard packed terrain, the Motoz Hybrid stands out, as you would expect.
There is far more rubber on the ground than a knobby, so it grips much better and you
need to start moving forward on the bike to prevent wheelies from the excellent traction.
On soft sand, it literally floats across the top.
The Motoz Hybrid was paired up with the fatter Goldentyre front and the big footprint at both
ends meant virtually ignoring soft sand as the Beta floated over the top instead of digging in.
Mud?
It's been quite dry here so couldn't test the Motoz too much in mud, but impressed so far.
The tread pattern doesn't clog up the way we thought it might, and suspect the low
tyre pressure means the flexing of the carcass is probably preventing clogging.
The traction and drive through mud was excellent, but there was a bit more slide slip than a knobby.
Rear braking is more effective with the Motoz.
Our coach, Chris Birch, emphasises being just on the point of locking up for maximum
braking and the tyre gives a loud and distintive sound just as you start to lock it up a little -
very easy to pick and the massive footprint does provide noticeably
more rear braking - a great feeling on steep downhills.
On flat fast trails, I noticed the tyre did wallow a bit at 0
psi so kicked up the pressure and it handled well.
At speed it probably doesn't quite a knobby as the tread pattern favours slow technical riding,
but again the big footprint means great traction so it isn't far
behind the typical knobby for fast riding.
Others report the tyre is very puncture-resistant with long term use due to the tread pattern.
With the TUbliss I doubt I would notice a puncture until the end of the day.
I haven't used this on the road, but others report it handles very well once pumped up,
and excellent wear characteristics - excellent for dual sport use.
Tyre wear is looking exceptional.
I've done about a 20 rides so far and there is almost no wear.
Plus the knobs don't round off the way a knobby does, so the traction doesn't drop off.
Many are reporting 2500 miles or 4000km is the usual life to having a 1/4 tread
left where reportedly traction drops badly and it's time to bin the tyre.
Very good news if you like getting your money's worth, or hate tyre changing.
The negatives?
If you are obsessed with minimising weight, the stiff carcass,
long wear and close tread pattern come at a cost because it is a heavy tyre.
We couldn't tell the difference and definitely appreciated all the benefits.
And Motoz is soon bringing out a few versions and a lighter
one for the weight-conscious is on the way.
As mentioned, if you are heavy handed on the
throttle and love roosting then this tyre won't work for you.
There were only two situations where I really felt a knobby would win hands down over the Motoz...
one was a climb filled with loose little rocks and pebbles.
I still got up, but a knobby would have dug in better and had more drive.
And the same situation if stopped in soft sand - the Motoz takes longer
to get going whereas the knobby would dig in and drive off faster.
But once you have speed the Motoz floats away over the surface.
If you want to ride on the road, but have a tyre that is the equal
of a knobby in most respects, the Motoz Hybrid is awesome.
If you are into slow technical riding and cross training, again it's awesome.
For everyone else, it could still be worth considering if you like the idea of long
tyre life unless you are predominantly into fast riding or lots of throttle and wheel-spinning.