These aren't quite slicks, but the CST Cyclops that I ordered came in earlier in the week and I had a chance to try them on my Rockhopper, but as I suspected, they won't clear the chain stays. At 2.4" wide, they rub slightly on both the stays and bridge. They clear the fork legs though so I got to try one out briefly, but it's impossible to guess what the bike will feel like with two of them mounted. The tire feels firm at 40 psi and they're rated to 65, and they're very ballon-like and tall - they gave me an inch increase in stand over height vs. the Kwests.

They are really heavy (like a Maxxis Hookworm,) and it took me a few minutes to adjust to the weight of the 24" version I mounted on my unicycle. At any rate, for around $10 at Niagara, they seem like a great deal if you have a bike with clearance to run them. That's my excuse to look around for another mountain bike .

Comparison (l to r) of Kenda Kwest 1.5", CST Cyclops Pro 2.4", and Geax Sedona 2.0":

Today I was riding down to the shop... there is a nice stretch with an ever so slight decline where it is not trouble to spin out the bike and then at the end the road starts to rise.

I had the mtb spun out (109 gear inches) and as I hit the rise and geared down a step and approached an intersection a roadie pulled up from right behind me and alongside and gave me a little nod and a smile... I can usually hit close to 45 - 50 kmh on this stretch so either this guy was some kind of fast or he latched on to my back wheel and enjoyed a little pull.

Schwalbe Hurricanes FTW...

those look awesome.. too bad they don't fit in the back

I can't see why anyone would run the Marathon Plus or Armadillos unless they had to deal with goatheads or ride through glass strewn minefields... they are expensive and heavy and a tyre like the basic Marathon will stand up to a lot at rolls out much better.

I probably sound like a shill for Schwalbe tyres but over the last 5 years and well over 50,000 km I have tested a lot of tyres and always found myself coming back to Schwalbe.

The new Silentos are making me a pretty happy camper... the more I ride them the more I like them for their smooth sure ride and good handling qualities but have yet to take them off road. For $21.00-$27.00 (reflex) they are a pretty good deal.

Not slicks but good on the road and off pavement.

I run the Specialized Hemisphere 1.95 on the front and a Specialized Crossroad in the rear. I have put around 1500 commuter miles on them with no flats and no complaints. The Crossroad is rate 75 (or is it 85) PSI and has a locked ridge down the middle that really cuts down the foot print. When getting off pavement in dry dirt, sand and gravel I have no complaits, it bites well. Mud they will move you but the Hemisphere has no side bite and wants to wash out.
The Hemisphere likes to pick up pea gravel and rattle it through the fender. The tread seems to be just the right size to grab it. The Crossroad is a cross tire and while it does great in a straight line be careful taking hard corners on pavement as it will try to slide out once you get over on the sides of the tire especially at max pressure.
Wearing like iron. Unless you compare them to a brand new tire you cant tell they have 1500 miles on them. I bet they would go an easy 4500 miles.
I was hoping this picture would show them better. then it does.

Interesting, I always had the feeling that any tire for much under $40 wasn't really up to quality (flat protecting, in particular) that I need.

I really like my Serfas Drifters, but for that price, I would definitely have tried these. Nice looking tire, and cheap.

I was previously running 26x1.5 Primo Comets and loved them, but I wore them out in about 2500-3k miles. Not a single flat though. I decided to try 26x1.5 Schwalbe Marathon Racers this time. I weighed them at 340 and 380g/ea. for the folding bead. So far I've been very happy with them too. Hoping they will last a bit longer, but I would buy them again even if they only last to 3k.

I am really enjoying the new Panaracer RiBMo 1.5"s I just put on my new commuter. Goofy name and I was initially a bit surprised about a fairly pronounced V profile to the tread, but in practice, they are working out fine.

I've been on 1.25 Panaracer T-Servs for a while on a different bike and while they were OK -- smooth, easy rolling, light and fast -- they were definitely not up to Marathon par for flat protection. The RiBMos definitely have more meat to them, while being substantially lighter than Marathons. No idea about longevity, so far, but initial impression is all out goodness.

If these don't work out, I'll probably try Marathons next. I've rode them on a few different bikes and know what I'm getting with them, and not that I dislike them at all, but just wanted a lighter tire.

Hurricane: Schwalbe now gives these their highest durability rating and it is one of the fastest and most bulletprood 26 inch tyres they offer.

65er, I'm impressed with Schwalbe's line, too. I have a pair of Stelvios on my "racing bike" and they're great. Marathons have a great reputation for durability, and they're available in nearly every size. I installed one on a 16" wheel bike.

I happen to love Panaracer tires, too. They're my favorite tire company.

Cheng Shins are surprisingly good and probably the best value.

Kendas have been disappointing.

I've never liked tires like the Schwalbe Hurricanes or Conti Travel Contacts with a smooth center and knobs on the side. The knobs give less traction when you need it the most in cornering on pavement, and don't really provide much additional traction on dirt. A round profile slick like the Schwalbe Big Apple or Conti Sport Contact is a much better all-around tire for commuting on dirt and pavement.

I'll let you guys know how the CST Cyclops run. I'm about to finish up my build of my '02 Raleigh M50 with a Cannondale Pepperoni fork and the tires clear with a good bit to spare on both ends. They look like stout tires, and I think at 45 psi they'll roll very well. We'll see how it goes.

I agree with you on the traction issue of the "combination" tires. They really don't corner like a full slick, so you have to adjust your technique a bit. I've been tempted to try a set of the Hurricanes solely on 65'er's recommendation though...

Good to know that they fit the Raleigh, I am genuinely looking for a frame that will fit these beasties. Eager to hear how you like them.

I've seen a couple of builds done with the Cyclops. I think my favorite was this one based on the Surly 1x1 frame, in case you were looking for another option. He was even able to fit cruiser fenders in there. That would be a great platform for an IGH build that I might try in the future.



Flickr album here.

I'm putting together a build thread for my bike that should be up shortly with mockup images on the Raleigh

^ that is ill

Like... as in you have never tried them ?

The Hurricane and Silento corner very well at speed and they get you to the corner just that much faster ...

My spring - fall commutes take me through our river valley trails where a pure slick works but not as well as a hybrid type tyre.

Resurrection!
​​​​​What's the actual width of the Cyclops?

Wet pavement mostly seems to be a matter of tread compound.

Some manufacturers put shallow thin patterns, like herringbone or tiny speckle dots, on their road tires with the idea that the tire will interlock with road irregularities better. Whether this actually matters and to what degree is difficult to quantify, although on the flip side, it doesn't really hurt the tire's performance either.

Big deep tread patterns like knobbies are detrimental to paved riding in terms of both handling and efficiency.