EB17: Breezer Doppler Pro steel 650B touring bike doubles as Cafe city commuter

Happy to! I bought one of the first pairs that WTB shipped out, before they were even in stock at QBP, and they have been great. It was one of the easiest tubeless installs I’ve ever done, with two passes of Scotch strapping tape in WTB KOM rims and a floor pump to seat them. I experienced one flat over ~5000 miles, when a piece of steel went in one side of the tire and out the other (the kind of thing that would have flatted a Schwalbe Marathon). I put a tube in and rode home, then reinstalled fresh sealant was riding them again the next afternoon. I rode them probably 5000 miles, entirely tubeless (sans the one flat), and replaced them with another pair of Horizons last month. Honestly, they’re not even THAT worn, but I figured it would be prudent to replace the pair, and then I could use my old front as a spare in case something happened on my upcoming tour.

My biggest complaint might actually be that they are TOO heavy duty. If the center tread were a thinner, then they would wear a little faster, but would presumably gain some speed and ride quality, and this is a trade-off I would happily accept. Still, they roll reasonably well, partially due to the cut in the center tread that lets the tire deflect a little more over bumps and such.

The new batch I got from WTB are definitely different than the first. They are noticeably skinnier (true 47mm down to 44mm), which might be a concession to OEMs, and the color is different (no big deal). Still though, a great tire. Next time, I’ll probably spring for the Compass, now that they have an actual tubeless-compatible bead, because as I stated earlier, I am definitely willing to trade some long-term durability for a increased comfort and speed.

But the Marrakesh is pretty sweet……