Submitted by
OregonMTB
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: July 8, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$15.00
Strengths:
Nice stiff knobs. Predictable on the corners. Long lasting (black only).
Weaknesses:
Not very long lasting (for the blue ones)
Similar Products Used:
Just about everything.
Bike Setup:
I use them on all of my bikes
Bottom Line:
These tires are great on hardpack and crushed granite. They last forever. The knobs are very siff and they dig into the corners very well. They roll very fast and the big aggressive knobs are on off to the sides.
The blue tires had a much shorter life.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Sweden
Strengths:
good control in varied conditions, blue color,
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Panaracer, Bontrager
Bike Setup:
trek 8000
Bottom Line:
I bought these in the blueish color and it looks great on my bike. The tread pattern is specific for the front and it gets the job done. The tire keeps me going in the right direction and noticed it after switching from my panaracers. Work in all coditions. Right now they are still holding up, but rubber compound is wearing out and about time to replace.
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Submitted by
LEE PORTER
a Cross Country Rider
from WALES Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
WIGGLE
Strengths:
VERY STRONG AND REASONABLY LIGHT TYRE, GRIPS LIKE SH!T TO A BLANKET.
Weaknesses:
NONE THAT I CAN FIND.
Similar Products Used:
INTENSE COMP 70.
Bike Setup:
ORANGE SUB 5 WITH FOX UPGRADE.
Bottom Line:
LIKE I SAID, VERY STRONG AND KEEPS ROLLING IN THE DIRECTION YOU POINT IT ON ANY KIND OF SURFACE. STANDS OUT FROM THE REST ESPECIALLY IN THE GLOOPY STUFF. A CONFIDENCE INSPIRING TYRE. A GOOD CHOICE FOR AN EXTREME CROSS COUNTRY/FREERIDER.
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Submitted by
Travis S
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso, TX, USA Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Anything twisty
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Traction similar to WTB Velicoraptors without the extra weight.
Weaknesses:
None yet...
Similar Products Used:
WTB Velicoraptors
Bottom Line:
My Velicoraptor front, after a year of use, finally gave out. While looking for a new front tire, I came across the reviews on MTBR for this tire and decided to give it a whirl. I ridden it on a variety of desert conditions, and it has done well in every circumstance. I have been very pleased, and plan on giving the Boazobeana X a try for my new rear. I would highly recommend these to someone looking for an all-purpose front tire that doesn't want to have the run-of-the-mill WTB logo on their tire.
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Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Alliance Date Reviewed: October 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Vultures knob
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$19.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Great cornering in loose terrain
Weaknesses:
Noisy on some hardpack
Bottom Line:
When I first used this tire on some trails in Michigan, I had some concerns: 1)the tire sounded like a swarm of bees on the soft/hardpack 2) there was increased resistance. I've since used them in Oh, and have noticed different characteristics. I recently used them at Vulture's knob track in Wooster and found the tires to have very low resistance on the hardpack, I was able to fly through the single track (probably faster than I wanted to!). The tire offers excellent cornering capabilities on both hardpack and sandy trails.
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Submitted by
Kevin Lowe
a Weekend Warrior
from Nottingham Date Reviewed: June 27, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Sherwood forest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
Bike-hut
Strengths:
Directional stability, Cornering ability, mud clearing, Fast rolling,
Weaknesses:
Used in the local woods for single track. No faults at the present, just the best tyre sofar.
Similar Products Used:
IRC Back-country, Gazzolodi duals
Bike Setup:
Raleigh Ti, cross country set up
Bottom Line:
Just the best tyre so far. Put it back on just over a month ago after trying winter mud tyres. Fantastic, put a smile back onto my face. Throw the bike into corners and it just hooks up, holds its line and will not be thrown off. Basically catch me if you can.
Currently running with specialized comp rear as the Nokian rear is not quite up to the job.
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Submitted by
Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from VT Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
PhatTire
Strengths:
Superior cornering! Extremely low rolling resistance. Perfect profile, sheds mud like nothing else. Superior tire.
Weaknesses:
None. Period.
Similar Products Used:
Many
Bike Setup:
Very nice...
Bottom Line:
This is the very best front tire I have ever used. It corners incredibly well, and has such looooow resistance you think you're on slicks. I recently switched to UST, and SORELY miss my Nokians (FWIW, I run only Noikian on my autos...). They are truly superior at diving into corners on loose terrain, and at holding superbly on off-camber. Nice, squared profile. Buy one!
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Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon Date Reviewed: January 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
eBay
Strengths:
Blue color Light weight Hooks up great in the corners Stiff knobs Long-wearing Good on dry and mud
Weaknesses:
Other tires probably have less rolling resistance
Similar Products Used:
Corratec Diamant Grip Mich Wildgripper Panaracer Dart (back in the day) Conti Explorer Pro
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Heckler
Bottom Line:
This tire has been great. I searched long and hard for a tire that would hook up on the dry crushed granite of my local trails. Other people have commented on fast wear. I have not experienced that at all. I do believe there are different compounds out there. The one I have is blue with black sidewall and has a very stiff compound. This tire hooks up great in the corners. Get one!
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Submitted by
jack
a
from newport beach Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$45.00
Purchased At:
laguna cyclery
Strengths:
six months and no flats. Holds exceptionally well in the corners. Can basically take your mind off steering concerns and point the bike where you want to go. The front tire lasted a whole lot longer than the rear baozabeano. For two weeks in Colorado, I rode with these tires everyday on rocky mountain shale which is pinch flat heaven and the tires never let me down. Trudged through snow and mud and the tires hooked up great. Very reliable and consistent.
Weaknesses:
the rear baozabeano wore pathetically fast. That's about all though. Maybe they were more or less designed for x-c racers who want max. traction and don't mind the ridiculously fast tread wear.
$ 40.00
Overall Rating:
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