Has anyone ridden Kenda Excavators? I'm looking for something between Nevegals and Small Block 8's and this tire looks promising. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, but I'd really like info on size, pressure, and conditions. Thanks in advance.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

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Thanks for the reply, but I don't want to run a 2.4.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

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[quote="Canaan"] I'm looking for something between Nevegals and Small Block 8's ...quote]

I haven't ridden Excavators, but I have SB8's and Neves. It seems to me it's more like the Neve is between the SB8 and the Excavator in aggressiveness and application...?

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

I haven't ridden Nevegals, so I don't know -- from what I've read, the Excavator is fast-rolling, like the SB 8's, but has larger knobs, like the Nevegal. I suppose if the Excavator were superior to the Nevegal and the SB 8, I would have received at least one response from someone who has ridden it.

Found this if anyone is interested

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=365435

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

So...yeah, that thread pretty much says more aggressive, as does Kenda. No ramps -- ramps usually are for less rolling resistance. Aimed more for DH'ers, while your bike & fav trails are more XCish. And the MTBR reviews are from all over the country.

Take a look thru the Tire Review thread at the top of this forum, and maybe on (oh nooo) STR. Those opinions will be from So Cal folks for So Cal conditions like we ride. There are many opinions, but my reading of them says the favorite tire by far is the Nevegal, followed by varieties of Maxxis, usually a R/F combo involving a Minion I recall...

I haven't tried Maxxis but may next time. I have SB8/Neve 2.1 on a more XC bike and Neve2.1/Neve2.3 on a trail bike. I've been thinking the Larsen TT might be a good rear XC tire for summer...pretty similar to SB8 tho.

Happy tire shopping!

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

There's also another tire that I picked up but haven't mounted yet that fits between the minion and the high roller...the ardent. Pretty nice. Check em.

You can see the taller treads on the 2.4 vs the 2.25. Pretty sweet.

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naked 3po, the first weight weenie

Let me know how you like those -- I'll keep them in mind for my next set of tires. Just bought Nevegals at Beyond Bikes for $21.82 apiece. Rode them today for the first time (bike came with Small Block 8's) -- hooked up really nice, especially descending, and weren't significantly slower than the SB 8's.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

Saw some Excavators recently on a bike at the LBS -- every other center knob was ramped, and the tire had a rounder profile than the Nevegal, sort of like a burly Small Block 8. Ended up buying Nevegals because Beyond Bikes has them for $21.82 apiece right now. Rode them today for the first time -- I can see why they're so popular with the DT crowd.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

yeah, the nevegals are good no matter what.

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naked 3po, the first weight weenie

I've been running a Nevegal on the rear for a long time now. It works so well for me that the only time I actually notice it is when I have a brand new one to put on. I like when I wear the center treads down for decreased rolling resistance. They hook up better than anything else I've run back there, but thats not to say they are the best tire for traction, just the best rear tire for traction for me.