Great shifters with good looks. What I like are the crisp shifting and easy braking. This is what one expects from this tier in SRAM. I do wish better graphics were on the shifters to standout, but that is just esthetic and not necessary in the grand scheme. What I hated with these and it is not a performance issue, but just something stupid by SRAM.....the fact a shifter/brake set come charged with DOT fluid!!!!! You have to bleed the darn things to install or at least for internal routed frames like my Cannondale SSE. Then you have to add it again and pressurize the system! Come on SRAM! Ship these dry! Ok.....off my soapbox. The D2 system is great!
The 32mm wide tires allow me to ride with TPU tubes at 51 psi front & 54 psi rear, due to firm sidewalls, and provides a soft ride with great traction. I don�t yet know the longevity of these tires, but others have commented positively. Although they�re more costly, all the benefits seem worthwhile and the reviews are very positive (https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com). My only negative is that they�re really hard to install (probably because they�re intended to be used as tubeless).
I got these for winter commuting, but I will probably leave them on most of the year (except summer). They really smooth out poor roads, are really grippy, and so far are durable, all as Kenda states. I really do like the feel of these tires. They are okay on hard packed gravel. I'm not sure I would want to try them in loose conditions.
Do not expect these tires to be exceptionally fast. They aren't as slow on the road as my knobby gravel tires, but they are significantly slower than my summer tires. I'd say they roll similarly to a Schwalbe Marathon Plus or a Continental Gatorskin, but with a much better ride. Seriously, at the right pressure the worn roads on my commute feel like butter.
The thing I like best about these tubes is the air nozzle is completely threaded and includes a ring that seats against the wheel face, making it easy to fill. I ride a lot of miles every week, and it is inevitable in this area to pick up a sand burr, especially in August. All tubes must have seams because of manufacturing processes which can be a hindrance to a patch repair, but these tubes don't seem to cause problems in that area. I am very glad that I discovered these tubes.
