This fall we made a huge switch on our dirt bikes that we are really excited about. We finally switched from traditional tubes in our tires to Nitromousses. With this switch comes many benefits but one of our favorites is the fact that we can “say goodbye to flats.” Not only do we dig the feel of the Nitros, we are now carrying less with us out on the trail. We should’ve made the switch sooner, but we’re glad we’re here now.
If you’re reading this review, you likely know what a mousse bib is but there are a few things to mention about Nitromousse and why their technology stands out. Nitromousses aren’t just simple foam inserts, they’re made with proprietary materials that Nitromousse has developed based on performance and durability. The foam tubes are made from “elastomers that have millions of nitrogen charged micro-cells” (nitromousse.com). No matter what you throw at your tires, the Nitromousses will take the abuse.
Have you changed your fair share of tubes either in your shop or out on the trail (hello pinching the tube when you’re grabbing your last bite)? You’re going to be pretty skeptical the first time you go out and ride without an extra tube on hand. It’s really wild to have a totally, 100% flat-proof system but also one that feels good and performs well. Leaving extra tubes at home feels pretty great the first time you do it.
There are two different options for Nitromousse so you can choose the best feel for your riding style. The Platinum model is great for the mixed rider, meaning someone who rides single track but also gets out on those dirt backroads. Platinum is a 10-12 PSI feel. The Plushie is geared more towards technical single track riding and is a 6-8 PSI feel. We opted for a Platinum in the front tire and a Plushie in the rear. So far it’s been working out really well for us. We are typically riding technical desert single track with the occasional fast and flowy dirt trail. The “feels like” PSI on both the Platinum (front) and Plushie (rear) are our typical pressure settings. We haven’t put enough miles on yet to wear out a Nitro, but once we do we’ll update this video with a pinned comment talking about the longevity of the Nitromousse. Note that there are different sizes depending on the tires you are running. You must get the right size! Be sure to triple check the fitment before ordering.
Some of our friends don’t love the feel of the Nitro in the front tire. Their fix is to install the TUbliss system in the front. At this point you can still get a flat on the TUbliss system but you’re still not having to deal with tubes. Performance and reliability are off the charts with one or a combination of these systems and are hands down a much better option than tubes.
Installing Nitros are super easy if you have the right tools and follow the correct technique. One tool that has significantly cut back on both time and frustration while changing tires and or swapping from tubes to Nitros is the Rabaconda Tire Changer. The pros literally change Nitros in less than 3 minutes using this system and while we’re not quite at that time yet, it is sure a lot quicker than it was before we had the Rabaconda. Installing a Nitromousse is pretty simple and there are many videos out there that can guide you. There are a few important things to note when installing Nitros so be sure and read the directions. It is very important that you use the provided Nitrolube Cooling Gel. You will use an entire tube of lube per Nitro. It seems excessive but it will reduce friction and disperse heat ensuring that your Nitro won’t wear prematurely.
If you do a legitimate cost analysis on how much money a Nitromousse will cost you over a traditional tube setup, you may not feel like it’s worth it to spend more then you would on tubes. Let’s just not forget that you have to always have several tubes on your garage shelf or in the trailer. Especially if you’re heading out on a trip (we always have two motos) so then we have to be prepared for flats for 2 fronts and 2 rears. We would always forget to order tubes ahead of time so then we would get a little gouged at the only motorcycle shop we could find on our way. Anyways, I think it’s fair to say that you won’t save money if you switch to Nitromousse (unless maybe you get an unruly amount of flats) but what they won’t save you in money, they will make up for in saving you time! And can you really put a price on not stopping the whole group out in the middle of the desert for 45 min while you stop to fix a flat? Or missing the group ride in the first place because you procrastinate and were changing your flat right before the ride but it was ok because you had one tube left but then you went to grab your last bite and you pinched the tube? No! You can’t put a price on that and I understand that a lot of people don’t understand what their time is worth but remember, time is the one thing that we can’t get back. So use it wisely!
Overall, we’re really psyched on our Nitromousses and can’t wait to get out to the desert this spring with them. We’re also excited to see how much life we get out of them (it will be different for everyone) and will be sure to update this once we’ve worn them out. If you’re ready to never have to fix a flat, it’s time to switch to Nitromousse. Be sure to head to their website to check out the fitment guide and if you want to save even more time, check out the Rabaconda 3-Minute Tire Changer.
*We received this gear for free in exchange for a review, however, it’s important to know that all thoughts are our own. Also, we are really excited that Nitromousse wanted to work with us but we were ready to make the switch regardless and would’ve bought this system if they didn’t want to work together.
