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Submitted by
Todd
a Weekend Warrior
from Ogden, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Price, weight, rolling resistance | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Tom Slick 1.5's | | Bike Setup: | Electra Townie 7D set up for commuting duty | | Bottom Line: | These tires are above and beyond the tom slicks they replace. The rolling resistance and weight are a huge improvement over the tom slicks. They are a bit more expensive however I think they are worth it in the time saved getting to and from work. I did not have the same problems mounting these tires as some others did. It may be the tolerance of electra's rims however.
Once winter rolls around I'll have to get some studded tires but I am not worried about the rain after reading previous posts. I have not ridden them in the rain yet but am not worried after reading previous posts. These tires are definately for the street because of the width and lack of any tread. Do not take these off road! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sacrac
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, FL
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Carter Road, Santos, Snow Hill (for training) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Orange Cycle Works | | Strengths: | Excellent puncture resistance for a 1.25 tire. | | Weaknesses: | Cant think of any | | Similar Products Used: | Continental Town and Country | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale Hardtail, Specialized Hard Rock (wife's bike) | | Bottom Line: | Just put them on the wife's bike for a ride from Key Largo to Key West and back, +200 miles (http://www.bubbafestbiketours.com/). All I can say is that we passed numerous other cyclist fixing numerous flats. We had none to report. I was on Continental Town and Country tires, which I usually use to urban stupid riding in downtown Orlando. I keep a set of wheels with the fatboys for speed work as I never was a roadie kind of person. Anyway, what it comes down to is I bought about three tubes and many air cylinders to fix the flats that we were "going" to have with all of the glass and other nonsense, but never used a thing. In fact I was giving away cylinders and patches to all of the roadie riders that were on their, not kidding, 4th or 5th flat each day. I dont work for specialized, but these tires are... slick, 1.25 diameter, round, tough, and a noticably feel different from knobbies. Well worth the price. Dont know about the weight, but if you are buying slicks for a mtn bike... get a road bike if you are going to freak about weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sum1
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Ohlone Wilderness Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle Garage | | Strengths: | Almost completely silent and very smooth ride on smooth pavement (unlike knobby mountain tires), excellent cornering. | | Weaknesses: | Makes bike look weak and skimpy. Not much faster than the Specialized Resolution Tires (standard on 08' Hardrock models). Also hard to get off rims. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like it. | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Hardrock Comp Disc | | Bottom Line: | I switch back and forth between these tires and my Resolution tires to save the tread on the Resolution tires. These are great commute tires. If you ride your bike to work or school everyday, these tires are the best you can get. I also would recommend these tires to people who ride on the road for fun. If you spend most of your biking time on very rough roads, keep looking for another tire because these tires would get annoying after awhile. Every little bump is transmitted up the bike with these tires at 100 psi. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zazznpazz
a Cross Country Rider
from Shropshire, UK
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | Unknown - it was 13 | | Strengths: | Used on 26 mile round trip 5 days a week for four years. Fast responsive ride in wet or dry. never failed me | | Weaknesses: | can be hard to get off rim | | Bike Setup: | Kona Explosif | | Bottom Line: | cruise | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
al
a
from denton tx
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | round, black | | Weaknesses: | excessivly hi rolling resistance | | Similar Products Used: | most all slicks | | Bike Setup: | mtb set up for 4000+ miles/yr commuting | | Bottom Line: | give these a miss: expensive! very high rolling resistance & mediocre traction & flat protection. the $10 Nashabr slicks are an equivalent tire, and lower rollign resistance! I felt like i was pedaling the bike through an inch of sand, even at 100psi.
for this kind of money you can get real tires like Schwalbe Marathons, Conti Sport Contact, Panny t-serves, etc. Sorry but Specialized is trading on their name recognition. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek Brereton
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | High PSI, fast rolling. Makes for a fast commute. Made to sprint on a green light. No flats. | | Weaknesses: | Avoid skidding the rear tire. It can slide. | | Similar Products Used: | IRC tires. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale BadBoy, hybrid. | | Bottom Line: | Great city tires for any 26" hybrid or hardtail turned commuter bike. I love em!
Keep looking if your commute includes anything that is not paved.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cody Ooka
a Cross Country Rider
from Claremont, CA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Claremont Wilderness Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay (price includes shipping) | | Strengths: | Fast. I like how they hum on pavement. Low rolling resistance. | | Weaknesses: | They're expensive if you buy them from a store. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Mobybite. | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Schwinn Homegrown, Green, 2008 LX rear derailleur, older XT front derailleur and LX shifters, Avid 1.9L Levers and Arch Rival 50 brakes, A.R.C. carbon flat bar, Wellgo Mag pedals, | | Bottom Line: | They're quick and I haven't had a flat in them yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Moeur
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | Various locations | | Strengths: | Very light & fast for a 26" tire | | Weaknesses: | Thin sidewall (on older skinwall versions) is susceptible to cut flats | | Similar Products Used: | IRC Metro 1.25 | | Bike Setup: | Cruiser (hardtail) | | Bottom Line: | I've used Fat Boys off & on for about 15 years now. They're excellent tires for 26" street riding. Wet weather traction & cornering is only an issue on oily or dirty surfaces. I usually get about 1500-2000 miles out of a tire (rotating F-R every 400-500 mi or so). I had one with only 365 miles blow out through the tread, but I think it had been sitting around for a while before I mounted it. IRC Metro 1.25 tires (the older version with skinwalls) also pump up to 100 PSI, and I've gotten 3000+ miles out of the Metros, but IRC doesn't list that model anymore (only a lower-pressure version). To those who complain about road shock: I'll take a 100 PSI Fat Boy any day over a 100 PSI 700C road tire - the added cross section (but nearly-same rolling resistance) makes a big difference.
http://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chvad SB
a Cross Country Rider
from Brooklyn, NY
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Specialized | | Strengths: | 1) Super sticky. Grips to the road extremely well.
2) Light
3) Quiet
4) Practically resistance free. | | Weaknesses: | 1) Difficult to mount.
2) Once mounted onto the wheel, the side walls are thin and it was hard to get the tire to set right into the wheel. Patching a flat on these will be a serious pain. I'd recommend looking into carrying a long a fix-a flat type of device with you instead of pulling the wheel of to patch it. | | Similar Products Used: | Kenda Krisp Hybrid | | Bike Setup: | 2007 Ibex Alpine 550, Marzocchi Marathon SL forks ('04), TruVativ Blaze cranks, Specialized Lo Pro Mag 2 Pedals | | Bottom Line: | A great wheel. I'm worried about it's reliability in the long run as this is my first experience with it and Specialized Flak Jacket Technology but so far, riding has been a unique experience. Quiet, fast, corners insanely well and fun to ride on. It's like turning your bike into a stealth bomber. Recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen B
a Racer
from Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Possum Box | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | BRM | | Strengths: | . They are THE Mountain Bike Slick
. Grip, These things just hang on and on and on.
. Puncture Protection
. Warp Speed
. Whisper Quite
| | Weaknesses: | . Mounting - hard to get on
. WET WEATHER - DON'T BE A DOUCHEBAG - THEY ARE SLICKS, Slow down when it's raining, don't ride on grass, not dry grass, not wet grass, don't ride them on loose dirt, hard pack, hard over loose pack, mud, snow, ice, don't ride them downhill, ride them on the ROAD! | | Similar Products Used: | Conti' Sportcontact | | Bike Setup: | Giant Thermal2 trainer/commuter - completely standard | | Bottom Line: | These tires are, quite simply the best slick for your MTB. They are extremely sticky, have a very low rolling resistance and they give confidence during hard cornering.
Lets not be stupid. These tires are not intended for you to ride them on anything other than Tarmac or Cement, not hardpack, not loose, grass(dry or otherwise), not snow not anything else. Tarmac or Cement.
There's alot of "These tires suck in the wet" in the reviews here. If it's wet, slow down, period.
I've ridden these things for almost 4 years and through maintenence(picking bit of crud out of them) have never had a flat, never blown out a sidewall, nothing. I ride on some of the sh*tiest roads in Australia. Use them everyday and treat them mean they won't last for ever, you'll wear them out, deal with it!
The biggest issue with these tires would have to be that they telegraph every vibration through your shoulders, if you're running 100PSi.
Want to go fast on the road on your MTB? Want to commute on your MTB and do it quick? Get the FATBOYS! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Chapman
a Cross Country Rider
from Canterbury, Kent, UK
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Strengths: | Superfast! Puncture resistant! Look cool | | Weaknesses: | Hard to fit, can cause hairy moments if trying to stop really fast. | | Similar Products Used: | 2.3" MTB tyres! | | Bike Setup: | Scott Voltage, few extra bits... | | Bottom Line: | I used this for commuting to work, I was cycling about 200miles a week on them, they work fine in the rain and hardly lift any rubbish from the road. They stop you fine unless the surface is very smooth and wet, or if you're going really fast and trying to stop very quickly because a van has stopped right in front of you. Only got two punctures, both super thin sharp shards of flint, loved them only problem is that they really do transmit every little bump, but then they are truely amazingly fast! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ern
a
from San Antonio ,Tx
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | The Fatboys have very low rolling resistance therefore making them fast. These tires are also light, smooth and they don't look that bad. I thought they would considering they are a small thin tire. | | Weaknesses: | Well maybe the sidewalls are a little thin but nothing to really gripe at. | | Bike Setup: | XC Hardtail all the trimmings. | | Bottom Line: | I needed a road tire so I wouldn't waste my xc tires on the street and these turned out to be perfect. You can train on these, burn weight/calories, or if you simply need tires to commute in the city , these tires are for you. Would I buy these tires again? ---Probably. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark MacNab
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | outback | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | rebec & kroes | | Strengths: | very low rolling resistance, quiet (obviously) | | Weaknesses: | craptastic wet weather performance. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Nimbus, Ritchey tom slick, Avocet slicks, & a couple others I can't remember. | | Bike Setup: | These are on a vintage mtb that won't give up. | | Bottom Line: | I have a fair bit of experience with other slicks having used the nimbus to tour across the rockies and the avocets and ritcheys in the alps and while the fatboys are super fast, they do absolutely SUCK in wet or slightly wet conditions. I was reluctant (for awhile) to completely blame the tire as I use this bike for runs to the pub so operator error could very well have been a factor in a couple of wet pavement slideshows but last night they completely quit on me and dumped me on my ass for no good reason.
..I still like them for the low rolling resistance in dry conditions (and they're cheap) but am strongly considering relegating these to the trainer and picking up a pair that can handle a little variety in conditions. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth Cooley
a Cross Country Rider
from West Haven, Ct, USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | zane's | | Strengths: | This thing has awesomely low rolling resistance, just like everyone has said, it's quiet, it looks cool, and I just plain go faster. | | Weaknesses: | I haven't found any yet other than the nervousness that has been inspired in me from people's warnings about treadless tires... | | Similar Products Used: | These are my first slicks. | | Bike Setup: | Older model Fisher Supercaliber, xtr rear, xt front, king hubs, bontrager race-lite wheelset, racemodified seat-post and bars, xt v's | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a set of slicks or light and fast semi-slicks for my mountain bike to make it go faster with less effort cause I'm planning on doing some long rides (150 miles for instance) with some roadie buddies. I picked these things up for 20 bucks, though apparently they were supposed to be 25, and mounted them fairly quickly (the roadies were hurrying me along). First thing I noticed; they look pretty cool, and I especially like the "Specialized" in white on the side.
Then we were off for a beginning of season ride, my three roadie buddies on brand new carbon and alum speed machines and I. After about 20 miles, I kept up with them the entire way, and even led for some time, and was still ready for more at the end. Not to mention, I felt infinitely cooler on a mountain bike than I would've on a skimpy road bike, AND I kept up! What more can you ask for.
I had been looking for continental grand prix mtb's after reading their reviews here, and stumbled across these. For 20 bucks (20 or 30 cheaper than the conti's I believe), I bought them, then came home and read the reviews, and then slapped em on, satisfied with what I saw. So far they haven't disappointed.
I plan on swappin out my mtn bike tyres whenever I wanna ride the single track. These are great on the road, so they'll stay there. Now all i've gotta do is make my aero bars... (yes, make. Fiber-glass and foam... mmmm....)
If I find any weakness (since it WAS only their first day), expect another review. But don't count on that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
paul
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | bike path commute to work | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | bow cycle | | Strengths: | very slick, very fast. | | Weaknesses: | at 90 psi the ride is a little rougher than my old tires | | Similar Products Used: | 2 inch semi slicks | | Bike Setup: | 1998 specialized stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | these roll much easier than my old 2 inch tires. I could run 2 gears higher with these slicks. I tested these tires today on some tame off-road (a grassy hill with some wet grass...) and they survived ok but most most importantly, they were awesome on the dry pavement. I recommend these to anyone who wants to shave a few minutes off of their commute. these tires are a cheap way to turn your MTB into a commuter that will hold its own against some of the road bikers. These tires make for a rough ride if you bike paths are in rough shape but for me the speed is worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$21.00 | | Purchased At: | neron qc! | | Strengths: | very fast | | Weaknesses: | never rode on wet road so no weekness so far | | Bike Setup: | stump v-brake, crossland | | Bottom Line: | good but you have to buy an other set of wheels cause changing those tires is very hard. so i bought a pair of crossland and put these slicks on my mavic 317 rims. it's nice and it cost less than a road bike, maybe not as fast but fast enough for me to train on road | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Cross Country Rider
from canada
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$21.00 | | Purchased At: | neron qc! | | Strengths: | very fast | | Weaknesses: | never rode on wet road so no weekness so far | | Bike Setup: | stump v-brake, crossland | | Bottom Line: | good but you have to buy an other set of wheels cause changing those tires is very hard. so i bought a pair of crossland and put these slicks on my mavic 317 rims. it's nice and it cost less than a road bike, maybe not as fast but fast enough for me to train on road | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noah Meyerhans
a Cross Country Rider
from Somerville, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Ace Wheelworks | | Strengths: | Virtually puncture-proof.
VERY low rolling resistance. | | Weaknesses: | Really slick in the rain. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4500, mostly stock components. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great tire for urban commuting and other road riding. They're not much fun on wet pavement because they're so slick, but when the weather is good, they're really excellent tires. They're very fast and can take a lot of abuse. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Chin
a Weekend Warrior
from Chin
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Josephine Peak | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Montrose Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Cheap, fast, tough | | Weaknesses: | Lack of treat precludes even light off-road riding. Not a problem if you stay on pavement. | | Similar Products Used: | chunky tires | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | They feel like butter! I loved having slicks on so much that I bought an extra wheelset so I could switch between tires faster when I get off the trail. My friend uses Continental slicks and has had multiple punctures. I have not had a single flat with these, but even if I did, it would not be a very expensive thing to replace. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a
from Eart
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Flak Jacket technology really works
Not TOO heavy | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing lately. I ride Specialized's exclusively these days. | | Bike Setup: | Yeti A.R.C. | | Bottom Line: | Specialized Armadillo tires are arguably (no, make that no argument) the most flat-resistant tires ever made. However, they come at a price: weight. You didn't think all those layers of Kevlar were a free lunch, did ya? Well, the Flak Jackets are a step down in terms of puncture reistance, but I chose them because of the lighter weight. This is true for the Fatboy and the Turbos I run on my Tommasini road bike. I've been using Specializeds for about 8 years and during that time, I've had a grand total of...2 flats.
To say that Fatboys don't perform well in the rain is pure hogwash. Ever hear the term hydroplaning? Well, it doesn't exist in bicycle tires! Why? The contact point is too narrow. You can find the test conducted by Jobst Brandt in Google - I'm too lazy to get the link. Hydroplaning occurs in automobile and motorcycle tires because of the wider contact point. In fact, having NO tread pattern on the Fatboys is why they perform better in the rain. Tread pattern/rain performance is one of the many urban myths in cycling. People see no tread and they immediately freak out.
Anyhow, back to the Fatboys. Put these suckers on your MTB bike and it's like having a rocket ship on asphalt. Ride is a bit harsh at 100 psi, but that's what also propels you so fast. Get 'em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Owings Mills, MD
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | whatever is my newest find | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Hudson Trail Outfitters | | Strengths: | smooth ride, easy to mount, super fast, road grip | | Weaknesses: | price | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized MTB, TREK 830 | | Bottom Line: | Having decided that I wanted to do some road biking after shin splints became an issue in my running, I looked at ways to make that happen. Getting some slicks for my mtb seemed to be the quickest, easiest, cheapest way.
I read many reviews of all sorts of tires and decided on these. They do not disappoint. However, they were a little difficult to find in the Baltimore area w/o a special order. The only place that had them in stock is notoriously the most expensive place to buy anything.
They are worth every penny though. My first time out on them I tore 30 minutes off my 20 mile loop, and ran out of gears. I love them, and would buy them again, and again, and again.
5 PEPPERS for these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
o.z chi
a Cross Country Rider
from San Mateo, CA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Talbot | | Strengths: | Very light, fast rolling, easy to install on rim after the first 3 times. | | Weaknesses: | Very weak rubber compound on the sidewall. Cracks on the casing makes the tube extrude, leading to "explosive decompression", a.k.a. a flat tyre. Had a crack within the first week of riding, and then another about 2 weeks ago. | | Similar Products Used: | Performance City Slick ST 1.5. Hutchinson Top Slick 1.2. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7000 8-sp commuter. | | Bottom Line: | I had a lot of practice patching tubes lately. It has been a combination of both tyres getting old, and the FatBoy getting sliced on the sidewall. I fixed the tyre using a tyre boot from Park. But considering I did not have this problem on the Performance or Hutchinson tyres, I think Specialized needs to take a look at reinforcing the sidewall structure.
I change tyres every week because this is also my XC bike, so the bead gets worked pretty good.
I would not buy this tyre again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Crawford
a Weekend Warrior
from lincoln, Ca., USA
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | Bobs Bicycle shop | | Strengths: | fast. Low rolling resistance. quiet. good flat protection. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have found yet. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Older Gary fisher MTB, nothing special. | | Bottom Line: | With these tire I can ride longer, farther and faster then I could with the knobbies that came on the bike. I haven't had a flat since I put these tires on. Hitting 25 mph on a nice flat piece of road is not a problem. I already have another pair hanging in the garage to replace the pair I have on now when the time comes. Oh and they look great on the bike. I definitely recommend these tires for anyone wanting a 100 psi for their MTB. And they'll help you keep up with the raodies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BigSmiley
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Ausralia
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Always looking for a new one! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | V.fast!, decreases rotational weight, wears reasonably well | | Weaknesses: | Finger-bustingly hard to mount. Not the grippiest tyres in the word. I have some issues with tyre cuts. | | Bike Setup: | Kona hardtail, giant hardtail, Giant Vt2 | | Bottom Line: | Very fast yres for your mountainbike. If you are a city fweller you will not regret purchasing a set of these! For the price, they're not bad. probably the elast rolling resistance of any skinny tyre designed for MTB's.
However.. the total absence of tread/groove etc mean they are not wet weather tyres.On damp ground they're okay... in the rain they're just plain scary! I experienced severe aquaplaning on the front at speed(traffic sprint!).. *Although it was scary as hell.. it was somewhat strange too.. almost so that i want to try again in my own time!)
Also, my tyres and that of some of my riding buddies have developed some fairly deep cuts lingitudinally... maybe glass, maybe hard grit.. maybe tram track.. but no-one has any recollection of running either of these things over!
Have used these tyres for about a year and a half ... no problems yet... Although, it should be noted that these tyres can be "flatspotted" if you have a fairly hard lock-up.
Conclusion: For the money - spot on. Use for fair weather days and you won't regret the speed and weight advantage of these tyres! - Give them a try.. you won't be disappointed. In fact, you;'ll probably start running out of gears on your MTB! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Dry, fast, and swoopy. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Lifesport | | Strengths: | - The best looking commuter slick on the planet.
- You can crank 'em up to 100 psi if you want to. They have extraordinarily low rolling resistance at that pressure, even compared to my ultra-swank road bike. | | Weaknesses: | Mediocre traction and wear rate. | | Similar Products Used: | Tioga City Slicker (1.25"). | | Bike Setup: | My faithful commuter is a 1992 Cannondale Delta V hardtail with a rigid fork, new Tiagra crankset, bargin-bin 11-23 8-speed Dura-Ace cassette, and other wacky but super cool retro odds and ends. | | Bottom Line: | These are wearing considerably faster than my Tiogas while offering considerably less traction.
100 psi is very convenient if you ever choose to, say, go on a long and fast road ride with hardcore roadies before you've bought yourself a road bike (just take my word on this), but too firm for general commuting.
They're average tires at best, but I might buy them again simply because I don't ask much from my commuter slicks and these look super cool.
BTW, I don't recall if they ever came if other sizes, but I'm running the 1.25" version. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Relatively high inflation pressure, low rolling resistance, small contact patch, decent puncture resistance. | | Weaknesses: | Weak sidewalls. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB, Panaracer, Ritchey, Michelin, etc... | | Bottom Line: | Prior to purchasing a road bike (or two), I was putting considerable road miles on my mountain bike. In search of a low rolling resistance tire for 20mph+ flat speeds, I eventually came upon the Fat Boy. Perhaps the closest thing to a road tire I have seen in the 26" size, it performs its job quite well. Low rolling resistance, good flat protection, decent cornering / handling, and moderately high pressures. However, the sidewalls are terrible. After multiple sidewall blowouts on different sets of rims, I gave up on these tires. I never put more than about 500 miles on them before a blowout. Other than these tires, I have always had to replace due to tread wear (or cuts for road tires). Overall, I think these tires give a mountain bike the closest chance of being a road bike of any tires out there - but it comes at the cost of always carrying a tire boot... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lori Beach
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, CANADA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Benchlands, Canmore, Alberta | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | 15 | | Strengths: | great for putting on a mountain bike to use on roads | | Weaknesses: | obviously not made for jumping curbs | | Similar Products Used: | some Mountain Equipment Co-op slicks, which couldn't hold much air. | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Stratos (aluminum hard-tail) | | Bottom Line: | These slicks are great for using your mountain bike on pavement. They're fast and they hold their air (100 psi). I haven't had a flat - they have some sort of puncture protection that seems to work. The price is also right. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Pfister
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cap'n Jacks | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Springs bike shop | | Strengths: | Fast, no road noise, seemingly indestructable. Only MB tire I found that is rated at 100PSI!! Wonderful pavement cornering, maybe even better than a road bike. | | Weaknesses: | Easy to loose traction when starting on wet roads. Useless on wet grass (duh!). Dropping off a sidewalk onto the road at 100 PSI with no suspension really hurts! Never seem to be onsale either. | | Similar Products Used: | A really old pair of Fat Boys (1990?), various no-name tires with the stripe down the middle. | | Bike Setup: | Pro-Flex K2, full suspension. | | Bottom Line: | I bought a pair of these somewhere around 1990, and rode them a bit then, and loaned them for others to try.
Just put them back on this spring -- they had some nasty looking slices, dry-rot, etc, but still worked great, and a couple hundred more miles without a flat.
I just replaced them with newer all-black versions, as I didn't know how much longer I could trust a 12 year old tire. Same great ride, but more peice-of-mind.
These tires do surprisingly well on hard-packed gravel, and occasional dirt, but really accel on the road.
It may seem to ride a full-suspension on the road with fatboys, but the ride is smooth and comfy. I have absolutely no worries about crappy roads (they are grinding the roads here before repaving), potholes, or riding on the shoulder under traffic pressures. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aman
a
from Perth WA Australia
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistance | | Weaknesses: | Hate putting them on and off | | Bottom Line: | These are good tyres but don't buy them if you to MTB. I don't like slicks full stop. There real hard to take on and off, and their only for road.
If you do MTB buy MTB tyres. If you do Road buy a road bike, trust me these tyres are not worth it.
If you have a MTB and only ride road, these are good tyres but who in this world is that stupit. That's what they made road bikes for.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Urban Lauski
a
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Edinburgh Cycles | | Strengths: | Fast
Robust
Good value
Good looking
| | Weaknesses: | Not the best in the wet
| | Similar Products Used: | Conti Grand Prix, Michelin Wildgripper City | | Bike Setup: | 52T single Tiagra crankset with single LX shifter. Deore rear derailleur/LX cassette. X221s with Deore V's. Specialized rigid cro-mo fork. Conti Grand Prix 26 x 1. Claude Butler 7005 w/Cane Creek integrated h/set. Deda Nero stem. | | Bottom Line: | I can see various aspects of my experience of Fat Boys evenly distributed in the reviews below.
Ran these for over two years without a murmur of complaint. Whilst amazingly never had a puncture, there are loads of cuts (from glass) and they look quite deep. Still on original inner tubes though but do remember that they were OK to get on to my rims.
The most noticeable differece about getting slicks is the glorious lack of road hum from the tyres. Also, you do go considerably faster and routine journey times are noticeably shorter.
Handling in the wet is hairier than with my present Contis and am not completely certain why. Someone suggested to me that the contact area is larger in the Fat Boy's compared to my 1 inch Contis (which also have tiny grooves at the edges) and so you may get some kind of 'aqua planing'. Quick traffic light starts in the wet are sometimes a bit messy as is cornering. Not sure how much of this to take on board since one should ride a little more cautiously in the wet when there is traffic around anyway. Drain covers and painted lines in the wet as usual are lethal - avoid.
All-in-all, I am picking at tiny points in what was a fantastic (first) experience with slicks. They ride well, look cool and last. So why did I change? Well - I just wanted more straight-line speed and hence changed to a thinner tyre. I still have the Fat Boys on my hack but if you are an experienced rider (that would be most of you), I'd highly recommend the Conti Grand Prix's.
But as a first time slick - the Fat Boy is the one to go for. If you love riding and you also commute, your best investment this century will be a pair of slicks. Try these - your view of urban cycling just might change forever. You have been warned! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Perth WA Australia
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | Nice fast rolling tyre, good value for money. | | Weaknesses: | Hard to get on and off rim. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first set of slicks. | | Bike Setup: | Giant Iguana, Cateye computer, Giant bar ends | | Bottom Line: | A nice tyre, fast, little rolling resistance. I've only done 150 km on these tyres but they seem to be working nicely. I would recomend this tyre to anyone that wants a set of slicks but who dosn't want to spent to much $$$. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
winston
a
from boston
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | it was very fast while it lasted | | Weaknesses: | the sidewall split on the first day | | Similar Products Used: | ritchie moby bite 2.1, maxxis hookworm 24x2.5 | | Bike Setup: | 01 enduro pro | | Bottom Line: | I wanted a thinner tire for more speed but I guess my 215 lbs and a little hop off a curb did them in. I now have a maxxis xenith 1.5 up front and its doing well so far. I've had good experiences with maxxis tires and my moby bites are pretty good too but are not easy on the eyes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michel
a
from Montreal, Qc, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Vélodidacte | | Strengths: | Low friction on pavement, easy to install, long lasting flat resistance. Takes up a lot of pressure (100 psi). | | Weaknesses: | Is there any? | | Similar Products Used: | Cheng-shin slicks, Specialized Nimbus | | Bike Setup: | Raleight hardtail mtb, used for messengering. | | Bottom Line: | Good for the city, gravel cycling paths, or dirt roads. The perfect mtb tire for messengering! You will be free of flats for a long while if you care to pick out the rocks and pieces of glass that gets caught in the slits as the tire gets old. These tires lasted me the longest without flats than any slick or threaded tire.
Great in the rain or snow! Sure it slips if you lean in a turn, but not more than any threaded tires on pavement. For one thing it won't get packed with snow and make a heavy to carry tire.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Low rolling resistance, high pressure, light weight | | Weaknesses: | Weak sidewalls on the non-blackwall tire version. | | Similar Products Used: | Primo | | Bike Setup: | Nothing to special. | | Bottom Line: | Has been a good tire but when I saw it with a score of 5 I thought, "It's not that good". I've had three of these over the years and the non-black sidewall on one has rotted out, the other died after my car's tail pipe heated it up, Blamm! The tire with black walls is still rolling.
These can occasionally be found on sale through a catalog vendor for less than the MSRP of 19.99
This has always been the 1.0 100PSI version. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david maddux
a
from irvine ca. usa
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | san diego creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | sportmart | | Strengths: | little rolling resistance, good grip on dry pavement | | Weaknesses: | at high pressure air "seeps" out and they have to be "topped off" about once a week. | | Bike Setup: | old univega alpina ultima used mostly for street | | Bottom Line: | except for the above mentioned "seepage" a great tire to reduce the rolling resistance of mtn bikes on the street.I have experienced some slippage on wet pavement and the current set does have a few cuts from sharp stones but they have been fairly puncture resistant. (always carry a spare tube just in case). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Los Angeles, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Runyon Canyon (L.A.), Solvang Century (on Fatboys) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | e-store from Specialized | | Strengths: | Let's you go fast with confidence on pavement | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Turbo Comp ATBs (discontinued by Specialized), Continental Grand Prix | | Bike Setup: | Specialized 2001 Stumpjumper hardtail, stock except for the Fatboys | | Bottom Line: | Specialized doesn't lay too much hype on these tires. "Instant black top speed for your MT." That's what you get, at least compared to real fat tires.
When I want to cruise city streets, I usually slap on my Fatboys. They offer good grip, low rolling resistance, they are inexpensive, and I can keep up with my non-racing roadie buddies (sometimes to their chagrin). I've even done century rides on these tires.
I can't prove it, because my 1.0 Contis and Turbos have never flatted, but the Fatboys seem more robust. They are definitely less squirly in marginal conditions, like wet pavement, than my narrower tires.
I've rolled over hardpacked dirt with my Fatboys - on fire roads and trails - enough times to learn not to worry unduly about punctures. And Fatboys have just enough width - 1.25 - to give me at least a little confidence when going uphill over hardpacked dirt and rocks (I recently biked up Wonderview Drive, above the Hollywood Resevoir, onto about a mile of dirt access road, and I was amazed at just how well the Fatboys let me climb in steep, rocky conditions, although they don't hold a candle to true mt. bike tires).
But of course the Fatboys really excel on pavement. I know lots of people think tread is a necessary component of a bike tire, but that's not true on the road (a fact long appreciated by stock car and drag racers). If you want to enjoy high performance on the road with a mt. bike, make the switch to Fatboys.
Five flaming chilis each, for value and overall rating.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave B
a Weekend Warrior
from Salinas, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Goat Trail/Fort Ord, CA | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Bobcat Bicycle - Salinas, CA | | Strengths: | Fast and sticky. Perfect for road rides. | | Weaknesses: | ? None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 98 Voodoo Bokor | | Bottom Line: | i took these out for the first time Sunday and went 36 miles on my mountain bike with a group of roadies. they had me on the flats but I was faster on the downhill (I weigh 270). Will recommend this to anyone looking at long road rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, UK
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Harry Hall Cycles | | Strengths: | Light-ish, fast, good grip in wet & dry | | Weaknesses: | Cuts really easily, wet grip is thrown by manhole covers, leaves, road markings (but what tyre isn't?). | | Similar Products Used: | Some continental minimal tread 1.5's who's name escapes me at the moment | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Trek 4000 - no special mods. | | Bottom Line: | Does what it says on the box. Fast, just watch out for those road hazards in the wet. Cuts easily, and punctures fairly easily, but slime liners seem to have cured this.
Good for a fast smooth urban commute. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
new york trash
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Colorado Front Range | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | cycle smithy | | Strengths: | Fast slicks for mountain bike tires. | | Similar Products Used: | First slicks I've used | | Bike Setup: | cannondale f1000sl. | | Bottom Line: | Had to move from Colorado and live in Chicago for the summer. Took off my big-knobbies and slapped on these fatboys. Much more efficient and super fast. Very Sticky -- grips the road very well but watch out for sand and water. Performs excatly as you would expect in the city. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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