Okay, everyone one the web is probably familiar with the Honey Badger meme at this point – you know, Honey Badger don’t care? Well the latest badger related video circling the web shows that not only do Honey Badgers not care, but they’re also one of the smartest animals around. Smart, tough, and versatile? You can see why Kenda has chosen the Honey Badger to name their all condition tires after.
Honey Badgers have been available in the Pro version for a bit, but now Kenda is expanding the line in both directions to include XC and DH. We had a chance to check out the DH version in Taipei which will be offered in both 26 and 27″ and in 2.2 and 2.4″ widths. We spotted Eric Porter with some Badger Prototypes which had a new rubber design Kenda is working on which uses a dual layer rubber compound on the cornering knobs. We’re told that the harder rubber underneath provides support, while the softer rubber on top provides the grip.
The other news for the Honey Badger is a smaller, faster rolling tire perfect for the XC crowd…
Built with a smaller, more efficient carcass, the Honey Badger XC Pro uses a redesigned version of the Tri-bite knobs to offer plenty of grip while keeping the rolling resistance down compared to the originals. Available only in 27 and 29″ tires, the 2.05″ wide treads will be offered in standard DTC (dual tread compound) and in Kenda’s Tubeless ready SCT casings.
Another tire we caught wind of in Taipei was the new Juggernaut fat bike tire. At first the tire will be offered only in a 4.0″ version but we’re told a larger version might be on the way. Utilizing a tread pattern based off the Nevegal, the tire is designed for light weight performance at 1295g for the folding bead. Maybe more impressive is the wire bead version of the tires which is said to weigh only 1350g. If that holds true, the Juggernaut wire bead may be an excellent tire for those looking for something light that won’t break the bank.
