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Lovin’ the Moots MootoX RSL
Funny how getting a bike “dialed” settles paper arguments.
I’m having more fun with my Moots MootoX RSL than any mountain bike I’ve ever had. The ride is magical, and the hard-tail design is not an issue at all, what with 29er wheels and tubeless tires.
The change that really unveiled its character and made it a hoot to ride was the switch to the Schwalbe Furious Fred tires, which quickened every aspect of the bike, allowing the race-bred performance to shine through. The MootoX RSL now rides like a 26er for sprinting, handles nearly as quickly (except on very tight stuff), stays on track through sweeper turns, and is WAY faster on all my downhill stuff, and rolls over bumps and lumps like a 29er. Fantastic. And yes, I now prefer it to the Moots YBB 26.
And that’s not all— the already svelte 22.7 pounds MootoX RSL dropped to about 22.0 pounds with the tire change.
Weight will soon drop to about 21.6 pounds, with no compromises to durability (some of that reduction already there via the tire change). Stay tuned for how the RockShox 2012 SID XX World Cup with carbon steerer pans out (it requires a different headset that slackens the geometry about 0.5°, but saves another 200g or so).
Don’t skimp on wheels, because those Easton EC90 XC 29er wheels seem to make a big contribution to the handling.
The RSL’s new 2012 MootoX YBB sibling with the same oversize head tube and choice of PressFit 30 or standard bottom bracket is already on order, with a thorough writeup to follow in late October or early November.
