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EB16: Huck Norris uses rally car tech to eliminate tubeless pinch flats, rim damage

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huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_retail-packaging

Designed, engineered, and manufactured in Finland the new Huck Norris flat protection system is designed not only so that you can ride supple sidewall mountain bike tires tubeless without fear of pinch flatting, but also so your nice lightweight rims won’t take a beating every time you roll through a rock garden. Based on a similar idea to the foam-lined, run-flat tires that have been used in rally car and motorcycle racing, Huck Norris puts a light foam band inside your tire that adds extra security while letting you preserve the better ride quality of thin sidewall tires on even the most technical trails. Plus as a side benefit, it even makes it easier to set up your tires tubeless in the first place. Check out how it works, how much it weighs, and how much it will cost you after the break…

huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_diagram

The Finns behind Huck Norris were tired of destroying their nice lightweight trail tires riding their local trails, and even more annoyed that they were wearing out the sidewalls of expensive mountain bike tires long before the tread wore down. And at the same time they were frustrated by the stiff ride of more gravity-oriented tires that had better sidewall protection. So instead of sacrificing ride quality by adding more pressure or switching to more reinforced tires, then came up with another solution.

Such was born Huck Norris, what they call the guy that lives inside your tires to ward off pinch flats and dented rims. You may be thinking, we’ll I haven’t got pinch flats since I switched to tubeless. But for those of us riding on super rock trails and who like the trail feel of low pressures and thin sidewalls, pinch flats are still a real thing even with tubeless. And anyone who has bombed through a rock garden, has probably come out the other side of one with a fresh dent in their rims.

huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_foam-strip

Huck Norris is a simple cellular foam strip that you put in your tire, and offers a bit of a cushion between the flexing/folding sidewalls of the tire in an impact. Being there it spreads the load of a hit across a wider area and cuts down on the number of sharp edges coming together to try to scrape a hole in your tire to give you a flat (even with tubeless) or to bang a flat spot into your rim. While you are riding along, Huck Norris sits in the middle of the inflated tire and just lightly touches the sidewalls. That means that is doesn’t affect the rolling feel or flex of the tire, but is there when you need it; in what should be a big improvement over stiff reinforced tire sidewalls.

huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_flat-with-without-strip

At the same time as protecting your tire and rim, Huck Norris also is said to support the shape of your tire when mounting it tubeless for an easier seal and inflation.

Huck Norris comes in three sizes now to fit rims from 21-45mm internal widths and generally 2-3″ wide tires. (A fat bike version is also in the works.) All sizes were designed to fit 27.5″ or 29″ wheels, but as the company founders say, that was really because they weren’t riding any 26″ setups anymore. They tell us that if you want to use if on a 26″ bike, you can totally get creative and cut them down to fit.

huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_widths

It is simply a technical foam strip that you place inside your tire cavity, that engineered to withstand the sealant environment and designed to work with tubeless setups.

Why don’t you just cut down an old camp mattress yourself? Well, that’s kinda how they started prototyping the Huck Norris, but in the end they worked with a material scientist to develop a more refined foam to use that offers better protection than what you probably have lying around, and also to work better with a range of sealants. In the end the material the use is designed to be lightweight, yes still shield your tires from impacts, while also absorbing those impacts so they don’t damage your rims. It was apparently a tough balance to hit, as the stronger the foam the more it protected the rim, but was hard on light tire sidewalls themselves.

huck-norris_foam-strip-tubeless-flat-protection-system_hang-tag-fender

Huck Norris sells for 80€ a pair to set up one complete wheelset, and includes a plastic, strap-on fork fender that doubles as some creative packaging. The standard XC width adds just 75g for the pair to the inside of your tires, while versions up to 10mm wide for plus sized tires add just a few grams more. They are available now direct from Huck Norris either through their e-commerce site or getting in touch with the company directly.

HuckNorris.com

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34 Comments
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strange
strange
7 years ago

The name and packaging are enough to at least make me want to try a set.. ha
Big ups to the designer that came up with all of this!

matt
matt
7 years ago
Reply to  strange

on the other hand, who is still making chuck norris jokes in 2016. come on, son

Joe Locke
7 years ago
Reply to  matt

Chuck Norris read this and is pissed!

codyish
7 years ago

$90 a pair! For a strip of foam? I was expecting 15 bucks. My dented rim is cheaper to replace than that.

myke2241
myke2241
7 years ago
Reply to  codyish

Ya way over priced!

john smith
john smith
7 years ago
Reply to  myke2241

Must give 40$ each to Chuck Norris trademark man !

MattM
MattM
7 years ago

Cool idea, but not worth $90+ USD for some foam strips. I also worry the cutouts and porosity of the foam will clog with sealant and start to weight much more.

Dave
Dave
7 years ago

Like the idea and yes it’s a little expensive but I think well worth it. The name, packing and marketing is well put together.

I am sure this will do well and then you will see knock off products from Specialized, Trek ,and Giant.

So Huck Norris make your money while you can.

Todd
Todd
7 years ago

How much sealant will those foam supports suck up?

Looks like a great way to make your lightweight CF wheels, really heavy, and to make any of the liquid sealant you pour in, nothing more than added weight.

postophetero
postophetero
7 years ago
Reply to  Todd

+1 on the sealant getting absorbed by the foam–coat/seal off the open foam membrane for v.2.

John
John
7 years ago
Reply to  Todd

2% according to their website

bearcol
bearcol
7 years ago

I would prefer to have that weight added to the casing of the tire.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

They’re gimmicky, but at least they’re expensive

Juanny A
Juanny A
7 years ago

Chuck Norris created that rock garden playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. He chose Scissors.

Jack Moore
Jack Moore
7 years ago

I’d like these for my CX bike & wheels. I have a set of Stan’s tubless wheels that take a beating with the skinny 35mm tires. This leads to dinged rims and a poor seal that will go completely flat in a few days.

typevertigo
typevertigo
7 years ago
Reply to  Jack Moore

Agreed. Looks like it’s only a small hop from the smallest size available to make it feasible for cross and gravel – smallest width strip is for 21 mm internal rim width already. A version to fit 17-19 mm internal rim width would be perfect.

Oderus
Oderus
7 years ago

Maybe it’s a misprint and it’s supposed to be $9. For $90, I can buy two new tires or a new rim to fix an issue that I’ve never had in 10 years of riding tubeless.

Joel
Joel
7 years ago

They may have some problems with that name in the U.S. Chuck’s peoples may not be too happy.

Sucks Norris
Sucks Norris
7 years ago

I am thinking this qualifies for using Chuck’s likeness.. Hope you guys have his approval.

SoupaDuPa
SoupaDuPa
7 years ago

Maybe I’m missing something but I’ve not dented my rims w/ tubeless yet. However been only using tubeless for one year now so maybe it’s just a matter of time. Also most of my rims are carbon now and not showing the hits like alloy rims I’ve dented plenty of time on past wheelsets. Until it becomes an issue I’ll consider it then. Also tires are way larger volume now so it’s more of a rarity to pinch flat.

Funkytown
Funkytown
7 years ago

Chuck Norris doesn’t get flat tires. Never. Ever.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
7 years ago

Chuck Norris would never use these, he doesn’t need them. One the tires are so scared they of being anywhere close to him that they keep their shape out of self preservation. When he does get a flat on his gravel bikes (he rides two at a time straddling them in a split) he seals it with his bodily fluid and blows it up with his mouth in one breath.

Laifer
Laifer
7 years ago
Reply to  Ripnshread

Chuck Norris flattens rock gardens. End of.

Mortimer E Gormsby
Mortimer E Gormsby
7 years ago

The laser printer at my place of employment is going to get a work out. Can’t wait to make some. Might draw up some now.

Mortimer E Gormsby
Mortimer E Gormsby
7 years ago

Laser cutter that is (was a bit excited)

Erik
Erik
7 years ago

After 4 flats on RPI I’m about ready to try anything.

Jeb
Jeb
7 years ago
Reply to  Erik

@Erik, what wheel/tire combo were you running? I was running Maxxis Ramblers tubeless (on hookless carbon rims) and clanked my rims hard numerous times which led to much cringing but no flats.

dontbelievethehype
dontbelievethehype
7 years ago

Despite the yellow graphics, if you check product pics it looks pretty much like standard closed cell sealing strip (also sealant safe, a few people have discussed this on tubeless forums).
I’d been playing around a couple of months ago with seating 10 and 5x15mm widths in the rim to help prevent burps, and thinner bits under the rimstrip to invert the u shape of a rim (but its impossible to get the tyre on/off easily), just purchased the 50mm stuff to try and recreate this idea. I’d buy the product but its $5 of strip cut and sold for about $70, which is a bit too greedy for my liking. Keeping it real for the budget minded. EBay $10

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
7 years ago

My guess is that this is a closed cell foam that won’t absorb sealant.

jbizzle
jbizzle
7 years ago

Pool noodle from dollar store….

EDE
EDE
7 years ago

@Veganpotter
Even with no absorption, the entire foam will get covered with latex, of absolutely zero efficiency.
Could be efficient, but at a cost ($$$ and grams)

John Madsen
John Madsen
6 years ago
Reply to  EDE

latex sealants is for fools, they dry out in 1 – 3 months and stop functioning. Get a sealant that does not dry till the tyre is worn out.

shawnshank
shawnshank
7 years ago

good “get rich quick” scheme…no thanks, i’ll just walk.

John Madsen
John Madsen
6 years ago

only fools still use latex sealants.

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