At the BIKE Festival in Riva, the Italians from Mr Wolf presented the Banger, a plastic ring that aims to put an end to punctures once and for all. The idea is not new and is even old hat in the motocross sector. However, in order to transfer the technology to mountain bikes, the company spent five years working on a special high-quality polymer foam that is supposed to achieve the almost impossible: enable riding with particularly low air pressure, thereby improving the riding characteristics, while reliably holding the tyre in the rim and effectively protecting it from punctures.
In contrast to Huck Norris Mr Wolf's Banger fills the casing almost completely, with only five percent of the tyre volume being filled with air. Combined with tubeless milk, this would guarantee almost complete puncture protection. According to the manufacturer, 20 to 40 millilitres of sealing milk are sufficient to protect the tyre against punctures. The banger itself should absorb neither water nor sealant. Even if the tyre is completely deflated, you won't be lost in the forest. The banger gives the tyre emergency running properties that will easily get you home.
Puncture protection is one component of the fluffy foam ring, improving handling is the other. The low air pressure allows the tyre to respond sensitively, while the banger insert is intended to provide a strongly progressive end progression and massively improved damping behaviour. In addition, the tyre should sit better on the rim when cornering and the so-called burping (air loss with tubeless tyres when cornering) should be a thing of the past.
The other side of the coin: depending on the tyre size, the weight varies between 180 and 350 grams. In 27.5 inch for 2.35 tyres, the system weighs around 220 grams. This puts it in the range of Schwalbe's Procore double chamber systemwhich promises similar advantages. The price is also immense. You can currently buy the Banger as part of the Kickstarter-campaign for 179 euros, the market price will later be a hefty 249 euros. Per set, of course.
A laboratory and practical test will show whether Mr Wolf can keep his promises and whether the Banger is worth the money - coming soon in BIKE.
