Those who ride endurance with dirt bikes tend to come across all types of terrain, including sand, water, mud, gravel, loose stones and even rocks.
While dirt bike tires can withstand just about all the terrains mentioned, the tubes in the tires don’t always do quite as well. For rocks and stones, it’s recommended to run with a softer tube, which gives you more grip as the tire can flex around the rocks and stones easier, making more things possible as you have a lot more grasp. Of course, this also means you can pinch a tire much more comfortably, leading to punchers when you can afford it least.
Sure, you can fix it next to the road or even install a full new tube, but that means you need to take quite a lot with you when riding, including tire levers, a tube, tools to remove the wheel and more. And all that in addition to the tools you need for other parts of the bike and let’s face it, tire levels are small and easy to pack again, and they tend to have quite a lot of weight to them as well. So, what’s the alternative?
One of the most popular options is a mousse, which is a tube replacement that’s made of foam. These work great, but they do come at the cost of around $100 for just the back wheel, and no they don’t last forever. Most recommend changing them as often as six months, making it quite a costly addition to your dirt bike running costs.
Of course, there are other ways to give you tire the pressure needed to make the most of your enduro rides, which doesn’t cost nearly as much as a Mousse or replacing tubes every time you get a puncher.
Tennis balls seem to have become a top choice for riders who do the casual weekend mountain trips and occasional rock climbs. One such option is Tennis balls, which would replace your tube and provide the protection needed to make the most of your ride.
It’s been said that a dirt bike tire with tennis balls is similar to the pressure of a tube pumped to 12 psi, making it perfect for the average rider. Those who do significant rock climbs tend to prefer a softer back wheel, some as low as five psi.
One of the significant factors with any tube replacement is the weight and heat these tubes run under. Firstly, you don’t want to pack on too much pressure onto the back wheel as it takes away from the feel you need to get up mechanical parts.
Secondly, the tube, mousse or Tennis balls can get quite hot with long, challenging rides, so be sure to lubricate the balls, which keeps them from getting too hot from friction and popping.