Schwalbe Big Ben opinions

[Michael Ullmer]

Does anyone have any experience using Schwalbe Big Bens?  I am building up an old Schwinn Paramount PDG 90 Riv style and want to have a wide tire that is a cross between knobby and slick, something I can go offroad with but also ride to that offroad location on the street without being too slow. Has anyone used them in that past? Are there any other great tires I should consider in roughly this width I should consider? How do Big Ben's compare to the ride quality of a Compass tire? The widest mtb tire that Compass offers is 1.75, compared to the 2.15 of the Big Ben. Further, does anyone happen to have a pair of these they want to unload? 

[Shoji Takahashi]

Hi Michael,

I have Big Bens (measure 52mm) and Compass (measure 44-ish) for my Hunqapillar.

The Big Bens are a wonderful tire. Fast on the streets with little noise, and great float on the trails. (Going over roots at low pressure-- you won't even know they're there!)

After reading all the great things about the Compass-- they're true! The Compass 26" are very fast on the roads. I'm probably shifting up 2+ gears on the same streets compared to Big Bens (which I don't think are slow). It's like riding with a tailwind.

I don't have much trail experience with the Compass. Some short stints haven't shown any downside.

Here's the thing: the Compass are a lot narrower than I'd like. I did pinch flat it. (I was pushing the bounds, and I'm used to the Big Bens...) If only the Compass was offered in 2" version!

If I were doing a road tour on my Hunqapillar, I'd choose the Compass. If I were doing a mixed terrain, I'd choose the Big Bens. (The extra width is worth it for me.) When I'm pulling my kids, I prefer the Big Bens. 

Good luck!

Shoji

[Liesl]

I have Big Bens on my Custom and, while I can't compare them to the Compass tries as I haven't tried them, I concur with Shoji in all regards about the Big Bens.  They handle a wide range of pressures and they are FUN!  Yes, roots disappear and I don't fear/need to pay nearly so much attention to potholes in the same way.  Plus, they come in a wonderful brown if that's your cup o' tea.

I second the request for a slightly wider compass 26" tire.

good luck and keep us posted.

RCW

[Rod Holland]

Last year, while building up a Surly Trucker DeLuxe, I ordered a pair of 2.15" Big Bens and a pair of Compass 1.75". I put the Compass on the Surly, thinking I'd try switching the Big Bens in later, but absolutely fell in love with them--fast, agile, comfy, good on-road and off--and never swapped them. However, I couldn't stand to see the Big Bens go to waste, so I put them on my elderly GT Karakoram, circa 1987, a veteran rigid frame mountain bike that in recent years has been my winter icebiking ride, wearing studded Nokians; the big Schwalbe balloons give it something to do in the summer. The Big Bens are, indeed, delightful, good on the road and roll over the damnedest things on and off. They're heavier, and not quite as quick as the Compasses, but once they're rolling, angular momentum is your friend. Bottom line: you can't go wrong for mixed-terrain riding with either tire; each tire has lots of air volume (the Schwalbe has more), a moderate tread, and supple sidewalls (the Compass is somewhat more supple); if your balance is tilted a little more to off-road, you might want to go with the Big Bens, although the Compass will do fine there; if you value quickness on the road, you might want the Compass, although the Big Bens will be perfectly at home. If you're worried about puncture protection, the Schwalbes have it, the Compasses don't, but I've never had a flat on either (no goatheads in Massachusetts, but we do have beer bottles). In short, I've managed to avoid choosing, but in the process have determined that there are no wrong choices here, just nuances. One thought: it may be attributable to the contrasting nature of the frames I've mounted these two different tires on, but I have used the Compass tires for longer rides (by a factor of 2x, at least) than I have the Schwalbes; whether the added weight of the Schwalbes limits their utility for long rides is something I consider to be an open question; I simply don't know. I may have to swap the tires between the two bikes to settle the question for myself. Anybody do a century on Big Bens? How was it?

Finally: here's a ride report with the Big Ben 2.15", and another ride report with the Compass 1.75". 

Add me to the list of people who would go for a 2" Compass if it were offered.

rod

On Friday, July 11, 2014 6:53:04 PM UTC-4, Michael Ullmer wrote:

[rcnute]

Any of you tried the 650B version?

Ryan