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Submitted by
Gobiking
a Cross Country Rider
from Elkhorn, WI, USADate Reviewed: March 20, 2011
Strengths: Light, fast, and great traction!Bottom Line: What an incredible tire! The only limitation to this tire would have to be on an absolutely wet and soggy course. Otherwise, with a 29er they are the way to go! Extremely light, durable, and great traction. These tires will surprise you.
Favorite Trail: Cheq Fat Tire
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
lkosl46305
a Racer
from new yokDate Reviewed: December 31, 2008
Strengths: great traction rolls fastWeaknesses: noneBottom Line: rode today in a snow storm and never had traction issues.these things hooked up and never slid or washed out.I've used kenda karmas which I love but for under 500 grams these are the best tires out there period
Favorite Trail: gr
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At: online
Similar Products Used: kenda karma
Bike Setup: on one scandium 29er hope hubs stans arch wheels custom laced
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
srwings
a Cross Country Rider
from Potomac Falls, VADate Reviewed: July 28, 2008
Strengths: - These tires roll very nicely.
- Your hard tail will feel like a full suspension bike with these tires at the recommended 25 psi.
- Did quite well hooking up on hill climbs with loose rocks and inch or two of dust.
- Does very nicely in rocky descents.
- One of lightest tires out there. My 29er Crows weighed in at 450 grams each. By comparison the Specialized Fast Trak Pro 29er tire weighs in at 590 grams.
- While the Crows are semi slicks they will do ok for the occasional mud hole or wet hill climb.
- Excellent loose gravel tire. They float nice and roll fast.
- Work great on dry secondary roads.
- The Crows are superb in hard pack to slightly moist but firm soil.
- Excellent on dry fire roads and gravel.
- Will perform nicely on asphalt if your race course includes some of that.Weaknesses: Limitations:
- I'm not too good when it comes to cornering and the Crows did nothing to improve my confidence. Some of it me and some of it the tire, I suppose. I've never gone down on the Crows but I have had times when the tire started to wash out without much warning.
- These are pretty much race tires given that they are best suited to a more narrow range of trail conditions than a more knobby tire. But if you are looking to get the best possible race time when those conditions exist this is your tire.
- I maintained two complete set of race wheels. The Crows on one set and another set with a Rampage on the back and a Fast Trak on the front. Sort of a hassle dragging two sets of wheels to a race and then stewing over which set to use. I gave up and just decided to run Fast Traks.
- I wish Stans made a version with some knobs on the side.
- Consider running a Crow on the back and a knobby up front for looser conditions.Bottom Line: Crows are a niche XC and endurance race tire that will serve you well under the right trail conditions. Give these tires a shot if you are willing to do everything possible to get on the podium.
Best used for: XC and endurance racing on tracks where there's not a lot of hard cornering in loose soil.
Anecdotes:
I used these tires for a 13 hour endurance race and they were perfect for the event (dry to tacky trail with no hard turns). Side wall hits were my main concern during this race since there were a number of sharp, abrasive rocks. The sidewalls survived all the rocky hits no problem. I'm very glad I used the Crows.
I also took the tires to Panama with me for two weeks of riding on 4WD roads. It was the dry season so traction was excellent on the clay soil. I put a small hole in the sidewall while screwing around bunny hopping sharp curbs in the city. A tire patch and Stans sealant fixed that though. Despite taking that sidewall leak, the Crows really impressed me during fast descents over baby heads. During an all out one mile gnarly descent of nothing but loose sharp rocks I fully expected to puncture the Crows but they held in there no problem and allowed me to descend much faster than I would have on another tires.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: Notubes
Similar Products Used: Rampages, Fast Traks, Exiwolfs, Ignitors, etc.
Bike Setup: Lenz Leviathan 3.0 XC racer. Rider Profile: Sport XC racer who usually finishes in the top 50% and occasionally bags a podium finish.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Racer
from Longmont, CO, USDate Reviewed: May 20, 2008
Strengths: Light and fast.Weaknesses: Like all tires it is not for all conditions.Bottom Line: This is a great tire for hardpack. It can handle rocks, but other tires are better for those conditions. It will spin out on hills when you get out of the saddle if it is loose and you do not pull up on the bars. I would not even think of riding it in med. to deep mud. Some light mud is fine.
Use it for what it was made for and you will love this tire!
Favorite Trail: Gooseberry/Little Creek
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: Stan's
Similar Products Used: Python
Bike Setup: Niner Jet 9 with Sram XO, Thomson, Reba 29 Race, Float RP23, Notubes ZTR 355 w/DT Swiss hubs, Juicy Ultimate, Python tubeless front, and Crow rear.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Eckel
a Cross Country Rider
from Westford, MADate Reviewed: April 9, 2008
Strengths: Fast, Light, Tight on the rimWeaknesses: Difficult to install on the rim (as to be expected)Bottom Line: Great tires for smooth, dry conditions. I've also subjected them to many torturous rock garden rides and the sidewalls are still fine. They are light and fast, corner well and are demons on packed singletrack. Leave them at home if you are planning to ride mud or sand.
Favorite Trail: Haystack
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: Stan's
Similar Products Used: Hutchinson Python 29er, Bontrager Jones, Kenda Klaw, WTB Exiwolf
Bike Setup: Two race-spec'ed XC 29ers on ZTR/Olympic custom wheelsets.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
RacerVA
a Racer
from VADate Reviewed: December 10, 2007
Strengths: Nicely fits on the rim- tight.
FAST, low rolling res.
Weaknesses: Expensive.Bottom Line: This is your best tire for racing on 29er. Of course good only on hardpack and smooth trails.
If used as intended- very good tire.
Really bad in mud, but that can be expected.
I am running it tubeless and am very happy.
Weight around 500g, very fast and smooth. It's overpriced at $50.
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: web
Similar Products Used: WTB nano raptor, Maxxis crossmark, maxxis ignitor, and more
Bike Setup: Race ready- light full susp. and hardtail. X.0 and XTR. Own build both bikes. Gary Fisher frames.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Whitney Jones
a Racer
from Wooster, Ohio, USADate Reviewed: December 9, 2007
Strengths: -Super Light,
-Fast Rolling,
-Unexpected... Great grip.
-Long lastingWeaknesses: -Skidding the rear wheel is easy.
-I had one sidewall cut maybe 3mm long that Stans did not seal(Only run 30g of sealant)
-Reduced cornering traction in dusty or dry sand conditionsBottom Line: Great tire for smooth riders/racers. Use your head a 500g semi-slick will not be a good choice for a muddy for loose over hard pack race in most cases. Great rear tire.
Favorite Trail: Vultures Knob
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Bontrager XR, Maxxis Ignitor, Kenda Nevegal, Irc Notos, Bonterger ACX
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher X-Cal w/reba, Gears, 22.3lbs, Maxxis Ignitor in front, Stans crow in back.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross Country Rider
from the M.V. , CADate Reviewed: August 24, 2007
Strengths: Light - fast - do what they were designed to doBottom Line: I had to give a review after reading these negative comments. You don't take a knife to a gun fight and you don't mount a semi slick ultra light race tire for mud or ultra endurance rides.
As for the sidewall complaints - give me a break - I travel for a living - usually with my bike - have ridden literally all over the U.S. and Canada - and the couple times I've had sidewall cuts (not on Crows) they were ALWAYS "unexpected" and one time I couldn't even see what caused it. Sh#t happens and so does tire damage.
If you use these for what they are designed for they are unbeatable for weight and speed.
If you want all mountain / all day then put on a set of WTB 2.55 Weirwolves and ride on.
Favorite Trail: browns camp
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: several 29ers - all different
Bike Setup: f/s Zinn Mega Bike
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Vinton,Va,U.S.ADate Reviewed: August 14, 2007
Strengths: Fast!Fast!Light,low rolling resistanceWeaknesses: It is a race tire so it is not as durable as othersBottom Line: I run this tire in the rear and have done 6 races so far and love it.You just have to be aware that it is a race tire but suprisingly it hooks well!I think i already mentioned it is fast!
Favorite Trail: Carvins Cove
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: Bike29
Similar Products Used: About all 29er tires nothing quite the same
Bike Setup: Salsa Dos Niner Bike29Royale wheelset (sweet!)Sram x9 and shimano xt components,kenda karma front
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Weave
a Racer
from York,PADate Reviewed: May 7, 2007
Strengths: Fast - very fast! Very grippy - feel confident on these immediately, until......Weaknesses: Side walls - sliced sidewall on third ride - happened to be a race - was running at 25 psi - stan's man said at my weight (162) could probably run at 20-22 and might have made a difference - I doubt it...Bottom Line: great, fast tire but sidewalls are a show stopper
Favorite Trail: Anything at Michaux
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$42.00
Purchased At: Jason's Cycle Works
Similar Products Used: going to Kenda karman 29ers (we'll see)
Bike Setup: Dos Niner - Stan's ZTR355 (awesome light wheels) 1x9 SRAM, Rigid Carbon fork
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Racer
from Austin, TXDate Reviewed: April 10, 2007
Strengths: Fast rolling, remarkably good traction for such a slick tire
Weaknesses: cuts easilyBottom Line: Fast rolling and remarkably grippy for such a low-profile tread tire. Light, fast grippy - what more could you want? Well, if you race or ride anywhere with rocks, look out. I cut a sidewall on this thing very easily.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Similar Products Used: all.
Bike Setup: Orbea Alma 29er, XTR, karma front, crow rear.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a
from Colo Spgs, CO, USADate Reviewed: April 5, 2007
Strengths: Very light tire with minimal tread for fast rolling hardpack.Weaknesses: Weak sidewalls, too expensive.Bottom Line: I bought these tires thinking they were a perfect match for the Leadville Trail 100. The light weight and minimal tread looked perfect for the mostly fast rolling course with a mix of pavement/hardpack/and some loose stuff. I found out at mile 52 on the way down from the turn around that I had cut the sidewall. The Stan's No Tubes sealant was not able to fill the cut and I had to install a tube. Bottom line is they would probably be fine if a side cut was impossible due to the conditions. Definitely would not race LT100 again on these.
Favorite Trail: More Fun, Loma, CO
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: NoTubes.com
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Jones
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Paragon with XT crankset, Easton seat post, eggbeater pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Warren
a Racer
from Roanoke, VADate Reviewed: April 3, 2007
Strengths: Very low rolling resistance and rotating weightWeaknesses: HORRIBLE traction in wet conditions and while braking. WEAK sidewall. $$$Fitty Bucks!Per tire!!Bottom Line: My first race of the season was on an 8-mile lap course that contained forest roads, soggy singletrack, and a ton of loose and embedded rocks. I had these imitation tires mounted on Bonty Race 29 wheels with Stans rim strip and sealant - about 21 psi. The only section that these tires were of ANY use at all was on the fire road. These were the worst tire choice I've ever made. Traction was non-existant. Three miles into the race a loose rock torn a two inch hole in my sidewall. DNF
The only use for these tires in a racing situation would be in a race where ZERO braking was required - like an uphill time trail.
Favorite Trail: Lots and lots of favorites
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Never used anything this bad
Bike Setup: GF Paragon- mostly stock - nothing fancy.
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bruce Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Des MoinesDate Reviewed: March 4, 2007
Strengths: Lightweight race tire with surprising grip. The two I own are both sub 500 grams. Can be used tubed or tubeless.Weaknesses: Not the best tire when the combination of extreme dry, off camber and steep is mixed together.Bottom Line: I used these in 4 races last season which including some mud, climbing, sand, leaves and buff singletrack. They were champs for the courses I used them on and I have no complaints. It is surprising how much grip they actually provide in spite of the visual of such low profile knobs. The only course I pre-rode last year where they were not good was at 7 Oaks in Boone, IA. I went down hard a few times as they washed out too often. Obiously, I decided to use another tire for the race. However, they were champs on the other courses I rode. No tire is perfect for all conditions, but these can be the right tool for the right course and conditions.
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At: NoTubes.com
Similar Products Used: Nanoraptors, ACX's, Karma 1.9's, Kenda Small Block 8's
Bike Setup: Dos Niner
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
rich
a Cross Country Rider
from nyDate Reviewed: February 19, 2007
Strengths: light and fastWeaknesses: limited front tire traction.Bottom Line: The tires inflated very easily with a floor pump and 2ozs of fluid and the bead seated just as easy.
The tires are very fast, although the lack of side knobs limits cornering traction. A Crow in the rear and a Karma in the front works excellent.
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Purchased At: Bike Junkie
Similar Products Used: Bontrager ACX, Kenda Karma.
Bike Setup: Curtlo 29 softail, Stans 355 rims.
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