Huck Norris Tire Insert - Review
Huck Norris appeared out of the blue at Eurobike 2016 to much fanfare and attention, a closed-cell foam insert that is placed into tubeless tire and wheel combinations to help ward off hard impacts. It's intended to act as a cushion to help prevent rims from being dented or dinged, and it should also cushion the tire carcass between the rim and rock as they try to connect upon impact, hopefully avoiding splitting or damaging the sidewall.
When it debuted, there were plenty of "Why didn't I think of that?" and "Is that a piece of a yoga mat?" comments. Curious as to if Huck Norris was up to the task, over the last few months on various bikes, I have been trying to smash into obstacles to try and break him down.
When it debuted, there were plenty of "Why didn't I think of that?" and "Is that a piece of a yoga mat?" comments. Curious as to if Huck Norris was up to the task, over the last few months on various bikes, I have been trying to smash into obstacles to try and break him down.
Huck Norris Details
• Fits 27.5" and 29" tires.
• Three sizes to suit rim width
• 84 grams (actual) for 29" x 55mm size.
• Includes 'Face Kick Fender' packaging
• Patent Pending
• Made in Finland
• MSRP: €79 / $85 USD (approx.)
• hucknorris.com
• Fits 27.5" and 29" tires.
• Three sizes to suit rim width
• 84 grams (actual) for 29" x 55mm size.
• Includes 'Face Kick Fender' packaging
• Patent Pending
• Made in Finland
• MSRP: €79 / $85 USD (approx.)
• hucknorris.com
Installation
The Huck Norris comes in a 29" length, with simple cutting guides for 27.5" wheels. If you have 26" wheels, then you can cut another 19cm off and voila, although you will need to be a little more creative to join the two ends together as there is no guide for this wheel size.
Use the velcro strip supplied to join the two ends together, place it inside your tubeless tire and Huck's your uncle.
There are three widths available depending on which size of tire and rim setup you have. The smallest 50mm Huck will suit 21-28mm rims; the 55mm insert works with 27-35mm rims and the largest 60mm will work with 34-45mm rims and plus sized tires.
The only mechanical skill required to install Huck Norris is Velcro attachment.
Let's Play: Marketing Claims, True Or False?
There were a bunch of claims and hype at the Eurobike launch and in the press release, but does Huck step up to his plate of promise?
Material specially developed for MTB use with actual scientists. Three times the impact energy damping than anything commercially available.
Hmmm: Well, I have no way of proving that actual scientists were involved and how much energy this can truly absorb, so I guess we need to take Huck's word for it. It is harder than the average yoga mat, though.
No more punctures in tubeless MTB setup.
False: I haven't managed to get a single puncture using Huck Norris, but it doesn't remove the possibility of cutting tires on sharp objects. That being said, the risk of splitting the tire in between the rim and rock is massively reduced.
No more nasty dents in your rims.
True: Riding Huck Norris-less, using a SRAM Rail 50 wheelset I suffered a ride ending rim ding using a mid-weight E13 TRS tire inflated to 28psi. After some workshop time, the rim lived again and I installed the Huck. I then chose one of Finale Ligure's most rocky and treacherous trails, and starting at 26/28psi, I hit everything possible. I then dropped the tire pressure by two psi per run, eventually getting as low as 10/12psi. Not only was it incredibly scary and dangerous trying to stay on this high-speed trail at this pressure, it also ended happily with the rim damage free.
I checked the rim after riding and it had survived perfectly intact. Nearly every time I hit a square edge, I winced, awaiting the well-known rock to rim dinging noise, but it never came. Sometimes there was a noise, which could have been the rim connecting with a rock outside of the tire, or the noisy bladed spokes of the Rail wheelset.
Even though Huck Norris is a closed cell foam, it will collect a coating of tubeless sealant, exactly how much depends on the viscosity of the fluid.
No more hassle with tubeless setup.
True and False: It does make mounting the tire a little more difficult; there is less space inside the tire than normal, and it does spread the tire sidewalls out towards the rim bead. This makes it more difficult to create slack in the tire to mount it on to the rim; it's still possible but takes more skill and precision to keep the bead in the middle of the rim.
Once the tire is mounted, though, it does spread the tire closer to the bead and helps with tubeless inflation.
No modification to your rim or glue needed.
True: Join the two ends with Velcro and throw it into the tire.
No need for compressor to install tubeless anymore.
True and False: The Huck does help a little by spreading the tire sidewalls, especially on lighter, more flimsy tires. But a particularly difficult rim/tire combination might still require a pressure boost, either from a compressor or an Air Shot style canister.
No need to over-inflate the tires to avoid punctures. Use the pressure you want!
True: Proven in my test riding, you can run much lower pressures without the risk of rim damage. Just the risk of poor handling from trying to ride such soft tires.
No more downhill tires on trail bikes
True and False: It depends on why you are using DH tires on your trail bike. If you are doing this simply for rim or puncture protection, you could move to a lighter tire. If you are doing this because you like the feel and support of a heavier casing tire, then no, Huck will not help you in this situation.
Thoughts
The Huck weighed 84 grams for a 29" tire. But, once coated in latex, this figure jumped to around 120 grams after I had removed it and let most of the fluid run off. The foam is closed cell, so won't absorb fluid, except where it has been cut into shape or damaged by hitting rocks, opening the cells and allowing fluid to enter. Also, the tubeless fluid has more surface area to cover compared to the inside of your tire; you will need some more fluid.
To some people, adding up to 240 grams to your total wheel weight will be sacrilege. But for people that err towards riding gnarly stuff, this won't be an issue. In comparison, Schwalbe's dual chamber ProCore system that offers some of the same benefits weighs around 440 grams in total.
€79 euros might sound like a lot of money, but if you are a regular rim smasher, then the Huck could save you money in the long run. It will wear out eventually and need replacing, or quickly if you manage to strike the rim in the same place repeatedly. The foam cells will break down upon impact.
The Huck Norris may be of most advantage to trials riders, where a very low tire pressure is a must and chances of pinch punctures are very high. People who ride choppy and greasy technical trails can gain an advantage by using lower pressures for grip. Bike park hooligans who ride smooth hardpack will be using higher tire pressures and have the least to gain from Huck's rim and tire protecting qualities.
Pinkbike's Take
 | Huck Norris lives up to most of his claims. An efficient way to add tire and rim protection with no added hassle. - Paul Aston |
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It might be an awesome product, but F my A that's a lot of money for some cut out foam.
Though, I should probably charge $50 for a set.
But no PB "review" ever documented anything of any use. There is a policy about head-to-head reviews or something? Or some BS about appearing biased. Hence no shoot out results between bikes.
Like when Kashmoney RF parts were released they were spendy! A half year after release I was able to get the riser bars for $52usd from $74. The Kashmoney cranks were $178, but I got them at $128.
The A727 Chrystler transmission, when it released in 1956 it was sold at $430. Now I can pick up a new high performance A727 from JEG Performance Parts for $940. If inflation were to play a role, I should be paying somewhere around $3873. Factoring in inflation to metal cost, it has gone down in price by 30%.
Bike parts don't have such longevity. Though, I just bought two DT Swiss FR 570's at $54 each(not including shipping), not advertised or listed as discounted. When the FR 570 released in mid 2014 it was $100 a hoop. If inflation were to play a role, I should be paying $103 a hoop. Since the release of the FR 570 it has gone down in price by 49%.
@hamncheez - It's hard for me to comment on that (unlike other topics I have no experience with, like economics...). I guess if you had a narrow rim it could theoretically be more likely for inside of the tyre contacting the ground to push the outside causing burping.
The thing is, guys at HN say you can run the pressures you want. And that's the only BS I found about their product. The thinner the sidewall, the more suitable their product is, but at the same time the more pressure you need to run for the sole purpose of bike handling. Even if a folding tyre wouldn't burp it would feel like crap (a similar case to ProCore - I spoke with two guys owning it, and they both hate the tyre roll and run normal pressures). I mean: my pressure providing tyre with enough stability for handling is already high enough to make it rather unlikely to puncture (unless I run Schwalbe Evo...)
I did puncture Schwalbe supergravity and spec grid tyres. For general riding the sidewall stability of these is enough for me. If Maxxis Double Down feels fine for me, I will still run Huck Norris as a form of insurance. I guess Huck Norris is a Godsend for folks running lightweight XC tyres with small knobbs on their short travel bikes that don't allow you to go fast anyways.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAWAqxWtL8g
So it's rather small speeds but at least rocks are bigg-ish.
The DD has considerably more support compared to Highroller II 3C MaxxTerra foldable.
PS Most of the time I ride natural, fast trails with rocks all the way
I have tried both casings, i was running dd shorty front and back. I have changed to dual ply shorty on the back as the dd doesnt offer as much protection close to the bead. I pinch sliced the tyre twice. What i was wanting from the dd was a dual ply with a kevlar bead and although the dd is only 100gs lighter and has a kevlar bead i dont believe it offers as much protection.
are u sure? I already tryed 2 different foams. one absorbed the milk (like 150 ml) the other one was too soft and broke into 2 pieces and snagged in the tire.
now the commencal dh team is using it, and i think 50€ for 2 is a fair price.
Invent something new, manufacture something new and do marketing for the product. Then sell it for 10 € a piece and see if you can make a profit.
Maybe you're right and they are playing games, but I honestly don't think anybody goes into making mountain bike accessories thinking that they're going to get rich or something.
You pay more for tubeless compatible rims and tires. Then you add the cost of this product.
Then you add the additional weight of said tubeless rim, tubeless tire, sealant, this product, and then more sealant to ensure everything holds.
I get the advantages of tubeless in a trail bike. But aren't we getting to the point where tubes make sense again at least for downhill/freeride bikes?
production costs less than 50 cents i guess
it's almost like as soon as cycling is added to a use for something the price sky rockets
I have no experiance of this, but packaging, getting a website set up, trying to recoup initial investment, and all of the time they've spent on this must make up a massive percentage of the final cost.
And I mean, ffs, should they not get to make at least some money from this? Or do you expect for them to basically pay all of the costs and time themselves and then sell them to you at material cost?
Your attitude is basically:
"Cool, that's a good idea! What?! They want me to pay for it?! Just so that they can make there money back?! Well f**k them! I'm just going to steal the idea and make my own! Then they'll be stuck in a hole where they put a bunch of money into the idea and not be able to get that back! Hahahahaha!"
It's not like they're ever going to become millionaires off the back of this, it's a cool product that they probably just wanted to share with the community and make a bit of pocket money for a new bike. Stop drinking the 'everyone's out to screw me over' koolaid.
Hope that works, to be honest I dont know if they can send to Europe but give it a try! Cheers
Ordered one at ebay.de for €69.95 (size M)
Then the better price of the milk Version would be gone ;-)
Could let you run stupid low rear pressure for traction.
However, slagging on the company for not providing scientific evidence to support their claims, then acting like the anecdotal experience of one rider in one location on one rim/tyre combo is in any way a "scientific" process shows a distinct lack of understanding of the scientific method. At the very least, I'm looking forward to a future when an N>1 is available for bike research.
FWIW, I'm pretty psyched about the product here. Just also being a self righteous dick about semantics and science.
The installation was easy. To fit it for 26" needs just 5min more. Shorten the insert (-21cm), burn 2 holes with a hot skrewdriver in each end of every foam strip, and use a velcro strip for each hole.
I don´t care if the material is specially developed by scientists or not...it is working pretty good. And the guys from the company are very obligingly and supporting. I wish them much succes...
Im running two WS - 29 ZTR Flow Ex with Conti Der Baron Projekt front - Spec. Butcher Grid/Purgatory Grid rear and Spec. Roval Fattie 27.5 with Spec. Purgatory 3.0 front - WTB Bridger/Spec. Ground Control 3.0 rear.
Got no flats, no smashed rims and my home trails are very rocky, rooty, steep as f*ck and tehnical so I ride on low pressures (max 26/28 psi).
I have also made a ride with somewhere 14psi on back (WTB is loosing pressure all the time but I forgot to check it before shuttle and I was without a pump). No problems, no damage.
I was on EWS In La Thuile as Tech rider and destroyed (nasty 2cm+ holes) two 29 Minions EXO (new ones) in one day without Huck in it.
Some EWS riders showed me "hard beaten" Hucks in Finale Ligure and I decided to get it for me. From that time I dont now flats, destroyed tires and rims.
For me its worth it 50€ and as I heard they want to lower their price somehow.
Material isnt even slightly similar to some yoga mat or something but is much more compact/hard and hard to destroy it as easy as yoga mat material.
For me was also no problem to install the tires - only Baron needed some power with tire lever. I also tried to pump it with backpack pump and it worked out on ZTR and Spec. tire without any problem, normal as with compressor, only little longer.
They got me and I wil keep riding it in all my wheelsets, bikes,...
And when I say really expensive, I mean so expensive that I can totally see why this is priced how it is and I doubt there's even that large a profit margin in there.
If you want to make them by hand, figure in how long it would take one person to perfectly cut one of these with a craft knife (and they have to be perfect - functional is not sufficient, they need to look like they're properly made), and don't forget the health and safety stuff, business overheads, pensions, insurance and so on.
And whilst you're at it, have a look into the cost of patent protection - that's thousands of pounds for every country you want to protect it in - so probably all of Europe and North America for starters.
So having spent maybe 50k-100k on getting things up and running, how many do you think you're going to sell, considering pinch flats are not that big a problem for a lot of riders since tubeless came along? Good luck making back that investment if you sell them for less than cost! ;-)
False: I haven't managed to get a single puncture using Huck Norris, but it doesn't remove the possibility of cutting tires on sharp objects."
So that's more of a 'not proven' than 'false'.
Been riding a steel rigid bike this season... Oh no punctures then either!
Whether I have less gripbor not is subjective, but I definitely had no punctures!
If you want to ride faster with more grip, through lower pressure then it's a great product.
Seems like they're at least using his likeness, if not his whole damn identity.
I'd feel better buying one if I knew the Chuck-ster was getting a piece of the action
www.homedepot.com/p/Reflectix-4-in-x-50-ft-Expansion-Joint-for-Concrete-EXP04050/203151902
Typo?
(27.5*pi-26*pi)*2.5..?
Good idea? yes!
Pinch flat prevention? f__ no!
£80 for a bit of foam? Suckers!!!!!
What if I only want the Huck Norris mudguard?
Yes, they all use 29' wheels.
19'/20'/24' please?
- Doesn't fit 26" while it's still the most used tire size in downhill (maybe not for a long time but anyway)
- Overpriced !!! Better to build your own with some foam.