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Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften up

N

ninayu61

Joined Aug 2010
74 Posts | 1+
Currently running the Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib) (over 200 miles) in both the front and rear tires:

Font-Michelin S-12 XC Soft Terrain Tire
Rear- Michelin X-11 Competition Trials Tire (Tube Type)

At this point the Bib is still way too stiff. Any advise on how to get the Bib to soften up would be appreciated.

Things I have tried so far:
Driving on the road for an hour and a half
Driving up curbs for over an hour
Drive into every log, rut, rock, or root
used a binding strap to compress the tire and Bib overnight

I like a tire pressure of about 9 to 10 lbs in the front and 5 to 7 lbs in the rear.

Please limit the response to breaking in the Bib. I have have a history of rim flats that have slice open tires and cut 4 gashes (double snake bites) in an inner-tube.

Thanks taking the time to help me out.

Todd
 
Easy, swap me for mine. :D
I feel that mine are on the too soft side now. I ride a lot of rocky areas, still not suffering rim hit, i just feel they are too soft and squirming around too much for me.
 
I presume you are running a Michi M15 enduro mousse in the front, what about the rear ??

Unless you use the front for about 6 months and really hammer it, I'd doubt you would get it to be similar to less than 10lbs in a hurry, they are usually about 14lbs new.
 
squizz said:
Easy, swap me for mine. :D
I feel that mine are on the too soft side now. I ride a lot of rocky areas, still not suffering rim hit, i just feel they are too soft and squirming around too much for me.
Click to expand...

Squizze,

Be glad to swap, when will you be in town? At this time the holiday plans lack any Australia time you know, paying for the Bib and all.
 
Gazza said:
I presume you are running a Michi M15 enduro mousse in the front, what about the rear ??

Unless you use the front for about 6 months and really hammer it, I'd doubt you would get it to be similar to less than 10lbs in a hurry, they are usually about 14lbs new.
Click to expand...

Gazza,

I am running the following:
Front Michelin Bib Mousse Foam Tube 80/100x21Part # 1033980001
Rear Michelin Bib Mousse Foam Tube 140/90x18 Part # 1033980007

From what I read, you are correct about the tire breaking down. If I can not get the Bib to soften up a bit, I might have to take a knife to it. Funny thing, I was told (because I cut up tires and inner tubes) that the Bib would not hold up too long.

Thanks for taking the time to post a response,
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

Hi
I've just fitted an AC10 120/90-18 with a Michelin Bib mousse (M18) and am suffering the same as you.
Any tips to get the thing softer ? How long/miles does it take? At the moment it's solid and making life very difficult
Cheers
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

I don't have personal experience with this but I was told that some guys are drilling 12mm holes into or through the mousse, the more holes the softer it feels. I don't know how this would effect their durabillity.

Steve
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

Todd, I gotta say I doubt you'll ever get a mouse to feel like 5-7 lbs in a Michelin X11. I have the same problems and have resorted to around 9-10 psi and watch for rocks / carry spare tubes.
Cheers
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

tazer said:
I don't have personal experience with this but I was told that some guys are drilling 12mm holes into or through the mousse, the more holes the softer it feels. I don't know how this would effect their durabillity.

Steve
Click to expand...

Drilling is your best bet. Trimming or cutting the bib will make it smaller but will not make it softer. 12/13 mm holes drilled every inch across teh tire and through the tire ( make a cross ) will soften it up. Use LOTS of lube to slow the breakdown of the tire.

Might be a tramatic experience to drill into it....seemingly ruining it, but it works like a charm.
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

I have given up the Michelin Bib Mousse dream. For my FE390 2010 my set up is as follows:

Rear- I run the IRC M5B Soft Terrain Tire, Bridgestone Ultra Heavy Duty Motorcycle Tube, and two Motion Pro LiteLoc Rim Locks.

Front - I run the Michelin S-12 XC Soft Terrain Tire, Bridgestone Ultra Heavy Duty Motorcycle Tube, and two Motion Pro LiteLoc Rim Locks. For added protection, I slit a used Heavy Duty Tube and inserted between tire and new tube. The slit was made on the inner seam of the tube and removed the vale stem.

I am running both front and rear at 5 to 6 PSI. Yes, 5 PSI sounds low, but it works great for logs, sand, bogs, hill climbs; like a trials tire on steroids.

I love this setup (it might not be right for you), and have never gotten a flat. If I ever get a flat, the two Rim Locks will bring me home (I might not even know when I get a flat).

Hope you all find the tire setup of your dreams for Xmass,
Todd
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

First, get rid of that Michelin front tire and put a Bridgestone M59 on it. Then use a 140/80-18 rear mousse, not the 140/90-18.

I have at least a 1/2 dozen sets of mousses that are too soft and are ready to go in the garbage.

Ryan
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

rbott said:
I have at least a 1/2 dozen sets of mousses that are too soft and are ready to go in the garbage.
Click to expand...

Any chance you live near Baltimore MD, I want to go through you trash.
Todd
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

ninayu61 said:
Gazza said:
I am running the following:
Front Michelin Bib Mousse Foam Tube 80/100x21Part # 1033980001
Rear Michelin Bib Mousse Foam Tube 140/90x18 Part # 1033980007
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I don't recognise the 10-figure part numbers - when I Googled them, the only thing that came up was this thread!

There are two different Michelin 80/100 x 21 mousses - the M15 and the M16. The M16 is the harder of the two.

Michelin do not list a 140/90 x 18 mousse. Do you mean 140/80 x 18? If so, this would be the M02 mousse. You could get the feeling of a softer pressure by using the 120/90 x 18 M14 mousse.

The 'M' numbers are embossed on the mousses. It's probably a little late now .....

Greg
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

Not helpful if you have a Michelin Mousse already, but I would try a set from Golden Tyre next. They are supposed to be very nice and soft for excellent traction, Graham Jarvis uses them in his extreme enduro events.
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

So I have been running the Techno mousse Sahara now for about 900k's and it still hasn't softened up much. I was riding Mt Disappointment on Saturday and I struggled big time. Its like running over inflated tyres. Front end wouldn't do what I wanted it to (like when tyre over inflated), it still deflects a heap off of rocks making climbs harder and when popping over a log the back kicks up real harsh as it bounces over it (last weekend almost causing a big moment in the high country for me).

I was about to dump these as it ruins my nice suspension, but I thought I own them, maybe drill them and try one more ride on them. My question is, what way do I drill them? I remember seeing something ages ago but I cant find much about it. From the top down straight through? 5mm, 10mm, 15mm holes? How many holes? Any other tips?

Has anyone been doing this recently?
 
Re: Michelin Bib Mousse (Bib), How to get the Bib to soften

I did it with my last bib mousse. I used a 10mm drill and drilled both from the side and towards the rim. I had the holes quite close, 6-7 cm, and I was happy with that.
 

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