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Fast, quiet, affordable – yet still with a touch of off-road capability. Schwalbe’s new Kojak sounds almost too good to be true. But can this tyre really be an option for lightweight e-bikes, gravel bikes and everyday road bikes?
BIKE verdict: Surprisingly good!
The Motion Kojak* It’s more of a style tyre than a technical showpiece, yet it still performs to a very high standard. Even with the eco-friendly Green Compound, the tyre rolls quickly and leaves little to be desired in everyday use. Highly recommended! - Adrian Kaether, Test & Technology Editor
Tyres are the most underrated part of a bike. When buying a new bike, people think about the frame, the gears, perhaps even the brakes – but hardly anyone associates the bike with its tyres. Yet hardly anything has such a direct impact on the actual riding experience as the two strips of rubber on which the whole bike rolls. Schwalbe knows this, of course. And with the Kojak, the tyre specialist is now entering a contender into the race that, on paper, promises an unusual combination: urban suitability, all-round performance, eco-friendly green rubber and a stylish look – all for under 40 euros. We wanted to find out whether the Motion Kojak lives up to its promises.
Design & Workmanship: Scales instead of studs
The most striking feature of the Kojak is its tread pattern. Unlike its semi-slick predecessor, the new Motion Kojak has a proper tread pattern. Instead of traditional rows of lugs or a smooth racing tyre look, fine, uniform scales run across the entire tread and up the sidewalls. It actually looks good and serves a functional purpose too: the uniform tread pattern is designed to ensure smooth, predictable handling whilst delivering grip during acceleration and when cornering, without unnecessarily increasing rolling resistance. Of course, for functional reasons, the scales wouldn’t need to extend right up to the rim, but this design keeps the look very consistent.
Incidentally, anyone familiar with the Schwalbe range might recognise these tyres: they look exactly the same as seen on the tread of the G One RS racing gravel tyre (reviewed here), the fastest gravel tyre in the Schwalbe range. Now that’s what I call a promise!
The build quality and finish make a solid impression. However, anyone hoping for a lightweight folding tyre option will be disappointed: the Kojak is available exclusively as a clincher. That means extra weight – in our test, the 40-millimetre-wide tyre 615 grams on the scales. For an affordable everyday tyre, that’s perfectly acceptable. However, those keen on lightweight tyres will have to look elsewhere and be prepared to spend a bit more.
On the road: light on its feet and pleasantly quiet
On tarmac, the Kojak immediately shows what it’s capable of. Rolling resistance is noticeably low – the tyre rolls effortlessly and is also surprisingly quiet. It creates a pleasant sensation that hardly any energy is wasted, that the bike simply rolls without any drag – almost like a racing tyre. This is no coincidence: the eco-friendly rubber compound, combined with the uniform scale-like tread pattern, works well together here. Admittedly, the Kojak probably doesn’t match the rolling efficiency of high-end road bike tyres – it lacks the specific high-performance compounds – but for an everyday tyre costing under 40 euros, it performs at a very high standard.
The ride is pleasantly smooth. No jarring bumps, no unexpected rough patches – the even tread pattern pays off here in terms of high predictability. Anyone who commutes daily will appreciate this unobtrusive performance: the Kojak simply gets the job done, reliably and without any fuss.
On gravel: Better than expected
Things get interesting off the tarmac. The Kojak isn’t a gravel tyre – nor is it meant to be. But it performs noticeably better on loose surfaces than a classic city tyre or even a narrow racing tyre. On light gravel, the scale-pattern tread still provides sufficient grip; braking also feels controllable, with no risk of unpleasant slippage.
It’s certainly enough for the occasional detour onto unpaved field or forest tracks – but if you’re serious about gravel riding, you’ll need more tread. Schwalbe’s own G-One Allround also rolls along very briskly and should therefore be the better option. The Kojak is clearly best seen as a complement here, not a replacement. For the typical commuter scenario involving the occasional gravel track, however, it’s perfectly suited.
Puncture protection & sustainability: a solid foundation
The RaceGuard puncture protection belt is Schwalbe’s tried-and-tested middle-of-the-road solution – not maximum protection, but perfectly adequate for everyday use. If you’re cycling over rough city pavements, this offers you reasonable protection. However, simply riding straight over broken glass – as you might with the Marathon Plus, for example – is probably not a good idea.
Particularly worth mentioning: the ADDIX Green compound. Schwalbe uses recycled industrial carbon black from its own tyre recycling programme. This isn’t just a ‘greenwashing’ label, but a concrete step towards a circular economy. The fact that the tyre still rolls well makes it all the better.
Wet grip: the question mark remains
One area that requires further investigation: wet grip performance. Initial impressions suggest nothing negative, but we still lack reliable data from variable conditions. We reserve the right to make a final judgement on this. It is often the case that cheaper tyres perform less well in this respect.
An unsung hero in the Schwalbe portfolio
The Kojak isn’t a tyre that boasts spectacular superlatives or scores top marks in test rankings. But it is something that is perhaps more valuable in everyday use: a reliable all-rounder with clear strengths, acceptable weaknesses and a price that leaves little room for debate.
The biggest problem is the competition from within the same range: a G-One Allround is also still very fast and very predictable, and is likely to offer slightly more grip on gravel. What’s more, the tyre is lighter and tubeless-compatible; the Performance version is similarly affordable but probably not quite as durable. Those who prioritise everyday practicality and want a reflective strip, for example, should opt for the new Marathon Almotion. The G-One RS gravel tyre mentioned above is, of course, also an option as a fast tyre, but it costs more and, due to the significant difference in tread pattern between the tread and the sidewall, requires a steady hand when cornering.
| Width (tested) | 40 mm |
| Weight (test subject) | 615 g |
| Available sizes | 24 × 2.60" to 28 × 2.35" |
| Design | Clincher tyres |
| Puncture protection | RaceGuard |
| Rubber compound | ADDIX Green |
| EIA | 38.90 euros >> available here* |
Rating
- ✅ Low rolling resistance
- ✅ Responsive steering and quiet running (on the road)
- ✅ Good value for money
- ✅ Sustainable rubber compound
- ✅ Solid grip even on loose gravel
- ⚠️ Wet grip: not yet fully assessed
- ❌ No folding or tubeless versions available
Adrian Kaether
Editor