mousse can deflate?

Got a spanner in the works? Post your motorcycle problems here.
garyboy
Posts: 4443
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Has thanked: 2280 times
Been thanked: 992 times

mousse can deflate?

Post by garyboy »

crf250rally rear

I've got a problem with my rear tyre. I've got a mousse fitted ..
a Wise mousse, to a 110/100-18 maxcross IT. both are new and barely 20 miles old.
Ive fitted a new clutch and the bike has been standing for about a month, maybe less, waiting for the rain to stop.
When i came to do a test ride for the clutch, the rear end was bouncing/bumping like mad.

It felt like the mousse had deflated and the rim lock was thumping along the tarmac.
Is this even possible. ?????

could the mouse have spread inside the 120 rim?
User avatar
Scott_rider
Posts: 2437
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:47 pm
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 294 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by Scott_rider »

I used to use mousses and they could shrink and soften a bit with age and mileage and they were always a very tight fit to get on in the first place (redbikejohn used to fit mine for me). Was the mousse big enough for the tyre or is the tyre maybe spinning on the rim?
Suzuki GSX-S1000F...the KTM 450 EXC-R has gone
garyboy
Posts: 4443
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Has thanked: 2280 times
Been thanked: 992 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by garyboy »

I don't think its spinning .. but it feels a lot softer than when fitted ... and its only done 20 miles.
Someone on fb reckons it could be a flat bottom from standing in the garage ... I didn't know any different.

I #m taking back to the fitter tomorrow to see what he says.

I was just wondering what the hell could cause that?????
DavidS
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 11:38 am
Location: East Sussex
Has thanked: 830 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by DavidS »

I used to take my nephew’s moussed FE250 for it’s MOT so he would drop it off to my place a few days before.
For the first mile or so it felt like riding on a flat tyre until it had warmed up a bit - twas ok after that.
2023 Husqvarna Norden 901
2014 KTM 690 ENDURO R
garyboy
Posts: 4443
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Has thanked: 2280 times
Been thanked: 992 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by garyboy »

It seems like I can feel the rim lock
garyboy
Posts: 4443
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Has thanked: 2280 times
Been thanked: 992 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by garyboy »

the mousse was flattened at the bottom from standing in my shed. A good run out soon sorted it as it warmed.
The bike is now on a scissor stand lol.
redbikejohn
Posts: 2159
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 84 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by redbikejohn »

Mousses generally are designed for racing and they are not supposed to be used for:
1. Longish road rides at speed.
2. Being left in a tyre compressed.
3. Sitting on the floor inside a tyre.
4. Not getting lubricated regularly.

Also worth noting is that they really do need to be matched carefully to the tyre. Many tyres differ in volume so might not be compatible with a specific tyre. Most mousses soften off differently with the gold standard being the mitchelin desert mousse.

So I think the idea mentioned above that the mousse has compressed at the point it was sitting on the floor is correct or it's popped off the rim from being too small for tyre.
Yamaha tenere 700
XT660Z written off from behind by car.



Check out www.redbikejohn.com for ride & race reports (enduro, H&H etc).
garyboy
Posts: 4443
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:14 pm
Has thanked: 2280 times
Been thanked: 992 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by garyboy »

I was wondering if it was too small .. being a 110/100 on a 120/80-18 rim?
but tbf, when it was fitted it was really good. its still new, in a new tyre.
My bad... i've never had mousses before ... its a `Wise` mousse ... but i may get a michelin next time? ..... or even go back to an inner tube ??/ see how it goes.

thanks for the input.
its raised off the floor now. :) 8-)
redbikejohn
Posts: 2159
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 84 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by redbikejohn »

As a rule of thumb mousses and tyres should be 'matched' together not just in size but brand too. You are using a 100 which has a lot of volume compared to a 80 enduro. I remember using a mx tyre on my ktm and it would stretch enough at speed to rub on swingarm/mud flap compared to an enduro loop. While not many hobby (if any) riders will do it but mousses are designed to be removed after use, cleaned and lubbed! Yea I didn't.
Yamaha tenere 700
XT660Z written off from behind by car.



Check out www.redbikejohn.com for ride & race reports (enduro, H&H etc).
Richard Simpson Mark II
Posts: 3519
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 9:03 pm
Has thanked: 1414 times
Been thanked: 1669 times

Re: mousse can deflate?

Post by Richard Simpson Mark II »

I've considered fitting mousses, but haven't because:

a} they aren't street-legal and could invalidate your insurance

b) they seem more hassle then getting a puncture for occasional use.

I can see the point, if you are racing every weekend, regularly changing tyres to suit different tracks etc, but not for casual trail riding.

Decent quality inner tubes for me, please.
Post Reply

Return to “TECHNICAL”