THE SCOOP ON SCOOP TIRES: MR. KNOW-IT-ALL
MOUSSES FOR DUAL-SPORTS AND THE SCOOP TIRE TREND: AUGUST 2025 ISSUE
WHAT’S THE SCOOP
Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
I hear people saying all the time, “I am running a scoop for this weekend,” or “Man, a scoop would be perfect for these conditions.” What are they talking about, and is this something I need to be using?
“Ouchy” TJ
via  [email protected]
TJ, nowadays, usually when people refer to “running a scoop” or “the conditions would be perfect for a scoop,” they are referring to the tread pattern on their rear tire. Made for soft terrain, the knobby pattern will be curved and act like it is scooping up the terrain when under power and propel the motorcycle forward. Almost every off-road tire manufacturer makes a version of a scoop tire. However, until recently, unless it was extremely muddy or predominantly a sand track, we didn’t see many people using this style of tire because they do not work well on harder-packed terrain. But, Dunlop recently introduced their MX14 soft-terrain tire with the goal in mind to change this. Let’s just say Dunlop was very successful in doing this. There is a laundry list of technical specifications on why the new MX14 works well, but all that matters is it’s not just good in sloppy or sandy applications now, it handles harder terrain as well. Of course, in harder-packed terrain, the lifespan of the knobs is drastically reduced and, in extreme cases, knobs will chunk off, but nothing like previous versions of their soft-terrain tire. If the conditions are soft, loamy, sandy or muddy, you won’t go wrong with the use of a scoop, TJ. Unless you have a Dunlop MX14, just make sure as the terrain dries out or harder conditions develop, you might want to switch tread patterns.Â
DUAL-SPORT MOUSSE
Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
I just got back into riding now that my kids are grown and out of the house. I have a Honda CRF450RL dual-sport that I absolute love, and can’t believe I am legally able to ride it around town on my way to the trails that I spend most of my time on. With that being said, is it safe to use a mousse on a modern-day dual-sport? Thanks for your help.
“Dual-Sport” Daryl
via [email protected]
Daryl, there are a lot of variables when the words “dual-sport” are spoken that may affect the answers to certain questions. It sounds like you’re just like me, and a dual-sport ride consists of minimal amounts of pavement getting to the trails. Most of the ride is on dirt or some form thereof, and then minimal amounts of pavement to get back home for tacos and a beverage. The most important thing to remember about mousses is that heat is your worst enemy and will destroy a mousse faster than just about anything else. Extended high-speed pavement, asphalt or concrete sections will produce large amounts of heat inside your tires and cook a mousse faster than ice in a microwave! Another thing to be aware of is mousse technology has also evolved huge in the last few years. NitroMousse is one of our go-to companies, and they now offer two different types of mousse: one for general off-road or moto application that uses a standard-type mousse (Platinum), and the other is a softer mousse they call the Plushie for use in EnduroCross or Extreme Enduro application that’s typically lower speeds with maximum traction needed. Fitment is also key, so make sure you get the correct size mousse for the size and brand of tires you’re running. NitroMousse has a very detailed list of what mousse part numbers should be used in what tires at www.nitromousse.com. The last thing we can’t stress enough, just like with most moving parts on your motorcycle, is lube is your friend. More is better, because a dry mousse will become a bad mousse quickly! So, Daryl, to answer your question, yes, it’s safe to use a mousses on a modern-day dual-sport if you keep all these things in mind.
email: [email protected]  |  mail: Dirt Bike Mr. Know-It-All 25233 Anza Dr. Valencia, CA 91355
