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Schwalbe
Marathon Plus ATB
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Submitted by
Cilo
a Weekend Warrior
from Turkiye
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Local store | | Strengths: | I guess it is not indestructable but i could not puncture it in a year, where the others took only one or two rides to get flat.
Reflective sidewalls are really good in traffic where drivers can't see your headlight or the flasher on the back.
With high pressures it rolls great and no sound on pavement. Fair grip in other conditions. | | Weaknesses: | It is lighter than a stone wheel, heavier than all the other tires. 1,2 kg per tire... (2 pounds and 10 ounces.) | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager, continental and kenda tires. | | Bike Setup: | Duke race fork, xt-xtr drivetrain on a Trek 4000 frame with easton handlebar/stem and seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | An all around good performer and incredibly flat-proof. If you don't care about weight, these tires are perfect... I omitted my puncture set from my pack 6 months ago and have not regret it for now... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | ill keep that a secret | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$48.00 | | Purchased At: | A local-style bike s | | Strengths: | Durability and Puncture resistance, reflective sidewall | | Weaknesses: | If i had to say something the tread could be a little more aggressive, a little squirrely in the softpack...but if Im riding strictly that Ill put on other tires anyway | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Jones ACX, some other Bontrager weak stuff that came on the bike | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Fisher Wahoo, WTB Stealth gel seat, Schwalbe Marathon ATB tires, | | Bottom Line: | Have goatheads in your area? Then these are your new best friend! I was getting flats about every other time out until I bought these (even with liners and slime), and since then whenever Ive used them its like no worries! Glass and road debris have not been able to puncture them either, so on that note they are outstanding. The tread life on these also seems really good to me, so although they cost more than alot of tires I looked at, in the long run I think the value of these tires is better too. Ive got over 1000 miles on mine and just starting to notice the detail on the knobs wearing off, should last alot longer. Im 6'3 and 250, so a lighter rider may even fare better. (In contrast, the stock tires on my bike were pretty worn down after 300 miles!) They run like a hybrid tire too, roll nice on the hard trail or paved and they hold alright in the dirt, gravel and mud. Watch out for the soft stuff though, not enough tread to dig you through for example a sandy wash. Bottom line, this is all I'm putting on my everyday bike from here on out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Western Australia | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Reflective sidewall. Look nice. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Slow. Dont' live up to advertising. | | Bike Setup: | Commuting MTB. Giant 19" M, XT,magura HS 33, Crossmax, slicks. | | Bottom Line: | Well. I suppose there is always the negative of any product. Here it is..... I use slicks for communting to work and back and do about 200km a week on the bike.
I got these tires because of all of the hype, they cost a lot and were very heavy but wanted to give them a try. BAD MISTAKE. They are really slow and they puncture like any other tire I have had.
Bottm line.... Save yourself the money. Get a good pair of light racing tyres and good quality tire liners. Go faster and get fewer punctures! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rufudufus
a Cross Country Rider
from Corvallis, OR
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything with dirt on it | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycles | | Strengths: | Resists punctures
Long tread life
Reflective sidewall | | Weaknesses: | 1.7 is pretty fat | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper rigid SS, set up for commuting | | Bottom Line: | This is for the Marathon XC, not the ATB. The tread on the XC is v-shaped, it doesn't have the continuous center tread in the picture. I bought a 1.7, but it's about the same size as some 1.9s I've had. I mostly commute on this bike, but I do some trail riding on it and the tire has been OK.
Have not had a flat since I've installed it, and I've gone through several broken bottles. I used to flat every few months, so i think this tire is doing it's job well.
Recently we've had some snow storms, and the XC gets pretty good traction. It's sketchy on icy patches, but what isn't?
Overall I'm happy with it. I was expecting it to be a bit skinnier (I had the shop order it, they didn't have any on the shelf), but I don't really mind the extra volume because I do take it off road occasionally and I sometimes commute through snow. If I were strictly commuting on dry pavement I'd get something narrower, but then I wouldn't be posting on MTBR. :-) For somebody looking for a low maintenance, do everything, street/trail tire, this is a good choice.
After 6 months of commuting 4 miles a day, the tread on the rear tread looks like new, so I expect I'll be riding this a long time.
3 value chiles 'cause it's the most expensive tire I've ever bought, 5 overall for long life and no flats! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rollinabout
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | The Schwalbe Marathon Plus ATB is great. I mounted it on the rear. I wanted smoother road riding with no flats, durability, plus the chance to do light dirt riding whenever I saw the chance - and it delivers on these fine. I've had no flats in a year of riding. It has worked well in easy-going combo road/dirt usage. The reflective sidewall is a nice road feature. The bead around the center makes road riding pretty smooth and hasn't seemed to get in the way of light dirt/gravel riding where it's been a reliable gripper. After a year, the center bead is wearing well though starting to show some wear, and the knobs have held up with no cracks at all. | | Weaknesses: | None. I have read that others consider it heavy but I don't have any issue with its weight. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Revolt Super X. | | Bike Setup: | The Schwalbe Marathon Plus ATB is on the rear of a front suspension Stumpjumper with a Bontrager Revolt Super X on the front. This combo has worked well. | | Bottom Line: | It is working nicely for weekend warrior road/dirt combo riding, and all-around town riding. Tough and reliable. They were a little pricey, but have shown themselves to be a value because it has really delivered on the promise of durability. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Humpje
a Racer
from Holland
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | hard road & deep mud | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | very puncture resistant. looks. very low rolling resistance on hard surface. versatile. | | Weaknesses: | #*!%^@#ing heavy. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Terrago XT/XTR Dual Control, Chris King, MX Comp, Mavic X517 ceramic. | | Bottom Line: | These are good tires if you're looking for reliability and versatility. I chose them because i got sick of flat tires.
One time i noticed a thick, sharp piece of glass in my front tire when coming home after a ride. When i tried to pull it out i saw that the thing had embedded itself deep into the rubber. When it finally came out a big hole remained visible for a while, but no air leaked out! A normal tire would have been killed by this, i'm sure. Soon after i noticed a strange noise when riding. When i stopped to look i saw the tire had been hit again with a big piece of glass. Pulled it out, checked for leaks. Nothing! This tire is one tough cookie! But, as with anything armored, it's heavy. 1.2 kilograms per tire is no lightweight! Though i must say i hardly notice the weight when riding (or climbing). In return you get a low as can be rolling resistance (which gives you a lot of speed on the road)and a reasonable grip in the dirt. I found deep mud not too much of a problem, the tire 'sinks' easily, providing grip. Cornering with this tire is also no problem. Also in sand and loose soil, the grip is ok, better than most semi-slicks i guess. And the 'rib' in the center helps keeping you on track. Bottom line is: this is one of the best all-round tires. And though not 100% leak-proof, if you want puncture resistance, this is the best. Unless they start making tires from titanium. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ifestion Papadam
a Downhiller
from Thessaloniki - Greece
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Cyclist Shop | | Strengths: | Absolutely FLATPROOF!!! Robust construction, it seems they will last for ever. | | Weaknesses: | Only the weight, almost 1.2 Kg, but that's the price for none flats. | | Similar Products Used: | Continental, Hutchisson | | Bike Setup: | Canyon All Mountain 1, Chris King, Marzocchi, Mavic, Deore XTR | | Bottom Line: | An amazing tyre for someone who want's to FORGET THE FLATS FOREVER, and doesn't care for the extra weight. I use them daily for more than 40 Km distance, going through broken glasses, nails, thorns and going up and down the pavement. I tested them even on normal off road tracks and they behave very secure. I'm still using my first tubes on them and the bottom line is that they are very robust and relliable tires for normal all around use, on the most hostile conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Petaluma, CA
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | NO FLATS. Seriosuly. Good slick tread, with some grooves - not for serious off roading, more for touring and/or commuting. Reflective sidewall. Rated to 80psi. | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY! Hard to find in the states. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Speedmax 700X35, Continental Sport 1000 700x23 | | Bike Setup: | Takara tourer from the 70s converted to a fixed commuter/beater bike. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the normal Marathon Plus, 700X38, with SmartGuard - not the ATB version. These have a more slick tread for road riding.
SmartGuard works. Period. Before I got these, I was riding Ritchey Speedmaxes WITH Mr. Tuffy liners, and I was STILL getting a few flats per month on my commute to and from work (I ride about 8 miles on a highway on the shoulder - crazy road debris). Once I switched to these tires, the flats disappeared. Really.
I've done SOME off roading with these (my commute also has about a mile or so of some fire road/trail), but I wouldn't recommend it. These are definitely designed for on road commuting and touring, for which they are perfect. The reflective 3M sidewall is a nice touch for visibility at night, too.
If you're looking for decent, easy to find, do everything (including pavement and trails and commutes) mountain tires, check out my review of Specialized's Crossroads Armadillos. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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