| |
Submitted by
Daveooo
a Weekend Warrior
from Glastonbury
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Can't remember, but | | Strengths: | Everything you need in a rim | | Weaknesses: | nothing. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 121 (remember those!) WTB something or others standard spec on wy full suss untill I break them anb then it'll be Mavics! | | Bike Setup: | Was a DMR Traistar, now a Curtis Super X | | Bottom Line: | Amazing! I have snapped my frame (the DMR), bent 2 sets of handle bars (24seven things & some thing else I can't remember), cracked my forks (old school Marz Z1's) and the front rim is only just showing signs of stress at the spoke holes! and its 8 years old!! The rear died about a year ago (sorry memory re-engaging... had 2 on the rear!) but they're still fab. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from South Wales
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Where | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclogical | | Strengths: | Strength. Marketed as a downhill rim by Mavic but light enough for XC. Maybe not racing though. Never had to have these trued up, maybe it was the wheel builder who did a great job (sadly no longer there). Weights not an issue to me being 240lbs. I'd prefer a strong wheel which I know won't break than a lighter wheel which may. If I need to get lighter I'd lose some weight off myself. C'MON, HANDS UP WHO'S ALREADY THOUGHT IT? | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic X221, Mavic 321, Halo SAS, Halo Combat | | Bike Setup: | I use these on my hardtail, GT Karakoram (old school with the 'groove tube' top tube), RST Mozo Pro 4.5's, The rest of the kit is Shimano Lx, Raceface Prodigy Stem, RockShox suspension seatpost, and the rest of the parts change when I feel like a change or fancy something new. | | Bottom Line: | Good strong rim. I'd recommend it to anyone riding cross-country to downhill. Highly rated. Shame they aren't made anymore. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Oak Bluffs
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The Trails of Martha's Vineyard | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Frankford Bikes | | Strengths: | Mavic Ceramic D521 36º rim. Excellent rim. Takes a harsh beating with no problems.
Over 7 years or riding on the Tandem and 3 years on the rear of my single bike. | | Weaknesses: | None What so ever | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Ceramic X517 | | Bike Setup: | On our tandem bicycle. White Brothers duel crown fork, Chris King Stainless Steel no thread set, Thomson seat posts. Flite saddles, Phil Wood hubs and Schwalbe 2.35 Fat Albert's front and rear.
My single bike, a Litespeed Elevated Chain Stay bike with Chris King no thread set, Thomson seat posts, Flite saddles, Marzocchi Atom Bomb fork with a Black Spire fork crown, Cook Brothers crank, Chris King 36º hubs with a Mavic Ceramic X517 rim on the front and D521 on the rear running Schwalbe 2.40 Knobby Nic front and back.
The wheel on the rear of my single I call my Armageddon wheel as that's just about what it will take to destroy it | | Bottom Line: | The Mavic Ceramic D521 rim is an all around great rim for either slamming over rocks and roots or fully loaded tandem tour. Over 7 years on our tandem I have yet to touch them up on the truing stand.
Those rims just may out last me.
My only disappointment is that they no longer make the D521 in the 36º configuration though I do have a spare Ceramic D521 if needed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JIM
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | none that i can see | | Similar Products Used: | none. (no need!!) | | Bike Setup: | RST Mozo Pro 4.5 forks, saracen Ruftrax Hardtail XC frame. | | Bottom Line: | i ride everyday, have had many crashes however i have NEVER trued the rims. the greatest XC rims ever!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Horsham
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized 2000 S works FS | | Bottom Line: | This rim is running on Hope XC ti Hubs with Disc. It's been chipped by rocks, has ridden France, Italy and raced in America. The Axle has finally bent and the bearings are also being repleced, yet these rims still are in perfect shape. Yes the rims are a bit heavy, but show me a match for these perfect hoops. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vandal
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came w bike | | Strengths: | Very durable, actually light considering its bombproof
Cool stealth grey color | | Weaknesses: | on the heavy side for XC | | Similar Products Used: | Sun CR18 | | Bottom Line: | Its a perfect choice for anyone doing more agressive riding, cuz otherwise its too heavy, but i had mine with an XT hub | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jorgex
a Weekend Warrior
from Almada, Portugal
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | -everything
-two possible colors: silver or black | | Weaknesses: | -heavy for XC, very heavy and still heavy with light setup
-tire smaller than 2.1 will wide up | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey's Rock WCS/OCR WCS, Mavics... | | Bike Setup: | Giant escaper'92 (hardtail) with today's stuff like RF atlas, manitou, gripshift, xt, rohloff, dt, hope, x-lite... | | Bottom Line: | 6 years setup: d521 black, dt champ. black spokes, lx/xt/hopeXC rear hubs and xt QR.
In 2000, my LBS advice this this one for my rear wheel after 2 or 3 broken rims in the last 2 years.
Today, the walls start to crack on both sides.
I think it's normal after all these years of v-braking, 3 hub changes, 16000km of rocks, dust, mud, dog piss, 3 tire blasts(and going home with a flat tire), 10 different tires(from 1.75 to 2.3), all possible tire colors(from yellow python to red hot s to blue nokian to orange continental) and my self(over 100kg).
Probably THE BEST RIM NON TUBELESS for extreme XC and enduro rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stuart
a Downhiller
from calgary, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | bow cycle | | Strengths: | bullet proof
strong
light | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | alex | | Bike Setup: | kona stinky primo (2002) | | Bottom Line: | great rims love them never trued them lasted longer than my buddies single tracks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Chalkwell
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Tough, look the dogs, light enough for XC, strong enough for freeride, not that expensive, come in stealth grey!
GREAT RIM! | | Weaknesses: | Anodizing wears of under braking with rim brakes | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing except 2 sets of cheapo rims. | | Bike Setup: | Saracen X-tort frame, Zokes forks, Tioga DH bars+stem. | | Bottom Line: | These rims will not break, they have stood up to things my forks haven't!
Also not that expensive for a bombproof downhill rim.
Buy them, you won't regret it, whatever you ride, trials, street, downhill freeride, jump or XC, these are perfect! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dragon j
a Downhiller
from cebu phil
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | wellson | | Strengths: | very strong. after 3yrs of hard trail riding only had to tru this rim once! | | Weaknesses: | not wide for 2.7 tires | | Similar Products Used: | 321 singletrack singlewide | | Bike Setup: | yeti asx | | Bottom Line: | great rims for x country light freeride n downhill! pwerting lig-ona parikoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham Coe
a Weekend Warrior
from Liverpool
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Delamere | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | edge lane cycles | | Strengths: | absolutly bomb proof. I went for the d521 cd's and i can't kill these rims at all (and i really have tried!!!) I'm not the gentalist of riders and these rims just keep rolling. They've helped me survive many a sticky situation and i really have landed these rims on everything possible and they havent died, be it rock, root curb or anything these just keep going. | | Weaknesses: | none whatsoever | | Similar Products Used: | alex d20's, sun double tracks. | | Bike Setup: | coyote dh3, mavic 521's on deore hubs, mrp, lm cranks, tioga stem, etc etc etc. | | Bottom Line: | Buy these rims. you will not regret it. ive read the reviews saying they squirm with tires more than 2.4 but ive been riding irc kudos downhill 2.65's and havent noticed at all. These rims keep on rolling and have never let me down in all the time ive been riding them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan O'Toole
a Downhiller
from Norman, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | NuDraper | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | AnoCycle (in yamaguchi, japan) | | Strengths: | great lateral rigidity, superb breaking surface, welded seam | | Weaknesses: | a little narrow, making pinch-flats a concern | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Rhyno Lite | | Bike Setup: | 12" Louis Garneau Casper XC (asian market) w/ Sun Rhyno Lite front, Mavic D521 rear laced to lx hubs; 26" wide titec hellbent 1/2" risers; 105 short cage rear derailleur; custom 7speed trials-specific cassette | | Bottom Line: | Note: I'm not a downhiller. This rim was used for mtb trials (which suspiciously is not a choice).
This rim was paired with a shimano lx rear hub via 14 guage spokes, handbuilt by a friend. the wheel has performed as well as a similar wheel built from a rhyno lite rim. trials riding usually means fairly low air pressure, so i have dinged the sidewall, but not enough to hinder breaking performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sean hehr
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | don't have one | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | pinkbike.com | | Strengths: | it is welded togathere to make it extra strong | | Weaknesses: | chain saw or a tree haha | | Similar Products Used: | a 321 or a dee max | | Bike Setup: | 03 kona rost with a 01 super t and a 321 in front and a 521 in back hussafelt cranks and more | | Bottom Line: | the rim is a tank I would recamend it to any one looking for a good strong rim. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ted
a Weekend Warrior
from PG
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | tougher than expected | | Weaknesses: | not wide enough for 2.6's | | Similar Products Used: | wienmann, rhinos, bontragers, blah, blah, blah... | | Bike Setup: | boxer w/ this rim, xt 20mm hub, xt dh brake. | | Bottom Line: | this rim has done better than i thought it would over a year of hard urban and fr. when i got it, i thought it would be done by the end of the year, but it's still true, no flat spots or blow up problems. the sad thing is, i'm building a 26/24 fr bike for this year, and it just isn't wide enough to work with the 2.6 up front, but i'm not getting rid of it, worth saving for a spare. if you are an all mtn. cycler that uses 2.3'sor smaller and want a good all round rim for a good price, get these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Salikan
a Downhiller
from Vancouver BC Canada
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | A-Line | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | the product's strength is the product's strength! | | Weaknesses: | it's just plain not weak. no weaknesses here! | | Similar Products Used: | 321, Mag 30, Doubletrack, etc. | | Bike Setup: | used crappy bike with some nice parts (ie rims!) | | Bottom Line: | they're freakishly strong, rim brake compatible, and somewhat light! i've got a 26" 32 hole polished one laced to an XT qr non-disc rear hub that i'd like 2 sell (purely cause i switched 2 discs, and got a complete new bike, not cause they're bad). taking offers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skinny
a
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Mac's Cycle Center | | Strengths: | -Light
-Strong
-Welded Seam
-Easy to get tyres on
-NEVER goes out of true | | Weaknesses: | -Not as strong as hoped
| | Similar Products Used: | Rhyno Lite - Not strong enough for the rear wheel, but it'll work on the front | | Bike Setup: | DMR Trailstar, 2003 DJ3s, FSA Pig headset, Rhyno Lite front, 521rr, Aricle Bulldog BMX cranks, Formula hubs, SS setup, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This rim rules. I've ridden this rim for a long time (almost a year now). Imagine my sadness when I was finally able to flatspot it. It was an amazing rim that held up to many a case, drop, and tweak. Come to think of it, I wailed on this rim, and it didn't complain once.
RIP my 521 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | strong
light | | Weaknesses: | can't handle very high spoke tension, and will crack if you try | | Similar Products Used: | 321, laserdisc DH, rhinolites | | Bottom Line: | This rim embarasses Rhinolites. It is amazingly strong for it's weight. It's even stronger than some downhill rims I've used.
I hear that the Mavic sponsored downhill pros have their deemax wheelsets with 321's switched out for 521's and then put the deemax labels on them.
It is a pretty narrow rim though, so if you are running bigger tires (say over 2.4 or so) you'll get some squirm. If you run bigger tires get a Mag 30, the other best rim on the market. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KIMO
a Weekend Warrior
from AIEA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$72.00 | | Strengths: | Tough, strong rims. Hold trueness very well. Nice charcoal gray anodized finish. | | Weaknesses: | The pins that align the weld joint came loose and are clanking around. | | Similar Products Used: | "NO-NAME" rims that came on the bike.
| | Bike Setup: | GT XCR-4000 | | Bottom Line: | Excellent rims except for the pins mentioned above. Watch out what brake pads you use as certain soft rubber pads will squeal like hell. Solved my squealing problem by using "ceramic" pads. The anodized braking surface has held up so far to the harder rubber ceramic pads. Haven't had to true these rims since I got 'em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Surrey BC
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | The Frog | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This Mavic 521 rim has survived with out any damage 4-8foot stair drops onto flat. 3-16foot drops on dirt. | | Weaknesses: | Can't use it with my 03'Jr.t | | Similar Products Used: | ryno lites....cheap but, need to be trued all the time | | Bike Setup: | Kona Firemountain hardtail
D521 Fr. Marzocchi QR20 hub
Alex supra sigma rr. Specialized S.T.O.U.T hub
race face forged cranks Snafu Peddles
Ring god, Black spire rings
Marzocchi 03' Jr.t | | Bottom Line: | Wicked rim that will hold up. I only weigh 145lbs but ride very hard. I am passing it on to a lucky rider, due to lack of disc compatiblity. To all the riders that are cracking or blowing up their D521 rim.... Try not to hit trees as much and upgrade from the suntour and rst front forks you must be using. I can pound into 7inch curbs straight on and my fork absorbs it no problem!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sakari
a Downhiller
from Jyväskylä, Finland
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike & Outdoor | | Strengths: | NONE !! | | Weaknesses: | Broke down at first try in DH-trail. One over 3inch crack in the middle of rim and two over 1,5inch cracks. | | Bike Setup: | Cyclepro Halley Yellah + much more | | Bottom Line: | No more Mavic for me !! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Murphy
a Downhiller
from Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Granton | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | It came with the bike i got | | Strengths: | It is very strong, looks good and it is light | | Weaknesses: | I ahve not come across any problems or weaknesses yet | | Similar Products Used: | I havent used any other products that are similar | | Bike Setup: | Avanti Hotdog, Marzocchi Z3's, shimano cranks, kore handle bars, hayes 6" mechanical disc (front), kenda tires. | | Bottom Line: | It is a strong rim ideal for freeride and downhill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dana
a Weekend Warrior
from Mesa
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Bicycles | | Strengths: | Strong and beefy, wider profile accepts wider tires.
Most of the Mavics I've had before cracked between the eyelets (517-519)not these. | | Weaknesses: | Weight but only for the weight weenies, could only get silver at the time not black. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517's, 519's, 219D's | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar XLT 21" Shimano XT drive train, Hayes disks, Fox suspension etc... | | Bottom Line: | This the first rear rim I have had that I didn't kill in six months. I'm not what you would call a smooth and gracefull rider, I have a tendency to go over, and through, most stuff that I should go around. I am a clydesdale at 6'7 250lbs and Matt at Adventure Bicycles built this rim up beautifully It has withstood urban assault and trail rides without any problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from St Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Kokopelli Trail loops in Fruita | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Balwin Cycles | | Strengths: | strong as all hell without being ridiculously heavy; look beefy; don't want to come untrue | | Weaknesses: | as wil all Mavic rims, the rivet in the inside of the rim came loose and now it rattles; also, right on the weld, the front rim has a bit of a ripple that is too small to true, but is noticable when braking on a smooth surface | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Satellites, Bontrager Corvairs | | Bike Setup: | a frankenbike, with these wheels being the strongest part | | Bottom Line: | first off, the $180 price i quotes up there was for the whole wheelset, which is these rims with wheelsmith spokes and LX hubs. it got a killer deal because the shop owner who built them for me has known me forever.
anyway, for a rider who never seems to loose weight, only gain weight, these rims have been a godsend. they never flex. i've got them set up with 36 spokes, so they are even stiffer than most. but i love these things. i have ridden them for about a year and a half, and i have never had to touch any of the spokes yet. i am so happy with this wheelset. they look really good with the gray anodized color.
bottom line? i weigh around 230, but i can hold my own and then some on the trail in terms of speed. and with all the trials and drops i've done with them, they've been great. now if only i can get a fork that works just as well as this rims do... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a
from Dover, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many too just pick one! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Craft in Parsippany | | Strengths: | REALLY REALLY STRONG! Provides strength with considerable stiffness as well. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | CAAD 4 Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I bought these rims because I wanted someting bombproof and thats what I got. I have flown through so many rock gardens with these rims that I can't even cout them any more and they have stayed perfectly true almost every time. I mostly ride cross country and have never really had a problem with the weight, if I were to start doing epic journeys that took me out for 5 hour rides I might consider buying lighter rims but for anything short of that they are fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Metty
a
from Bridlington, East Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | woolyhatshop | | Strengths: | Very strong, fairly wide and light. If built up properly these wheels are virtually indestructable. | | Weaknesses: | erm... i havent found on after 2 years | | Similar Products Used: | Alex rim, Mavic 217 | | Bike Setup: | DMR Sidekick, Marzocchi Z4s, Mavic D521(CD) on deore rear and D521 silver on deore front. 24/7bar planet X stem, magura hs33, Tioga DH tyres. | | Bottom Line: | This rim is awesome.
I have had this rim on my bike for two years now and it hasnt failed me yet even riding trials and street, it has been thrown off many stair sets and big drops and has still held up. Ive had it trued only twice during the time ive had it. It survived the death of my last frame and is still going strong.
Get this rim built properly and it will stand up to anything you throw at it, its cheap and strong. I strongly recomend it to anyone who tends to land heavily or anyone looking for a rim that can be abused and still run straight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Weekend Warrior
from australia
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | strength, weight, 'value' (last forever), what else can a rim be expected to do | | Weaknesses: | wouldn't mind a few colour options: eg white, black or yellow.. but you can always do that yourself i guess | | Similar Products Used: | mavic d121, d321, f519, deemax. sun rhyno, you name it... | | Bike Setup: | intense m1 w/ progressive, rs boxxers, hope m4 +bulbs +headset, evil srs, dt alpine iii, michelin 32/16, thomson post + stem, easton cullys, xtr, race face ns, odi, etc.. | | Bottom Line: | the 521(cd) is probably the best rim made for freeriding and dh... it is not too heavy, and when built well with good spokes and hubs make them pretty much unbreakable. they can even be built surprisingly light - a friend has king-dt-521 wheels on 2 bikes and they work a treat. almost everyone i know now runs them, some even resisted the move just to be different. they ended up almost needing to buy the other rims by bulk since they simply don't last. i use a 321 on the front to widen the tire a bit, but on the back a 521 is preferable because they don't flat spot as easily as a 321 (or any other 'wide' rim) and they roll a bit faster...
there is a good reason almost every dh racer, freerider, trials rider, etc uses the 521 or a 321/521 combination. note what vouilloz used to rave with and peat still does... i haven't come across any rim which comes close. i can't count how many suns and the rest i've seen taco'd or constantly out of true. they simple aren't made at anywhere near the same standard. maybe they aren't ideal for dropping off cliffs, but you'll need more than a bike wheel for that.
the only thing i might try out in the future is the mavic d3.1 tubeless, but i can't see any point at the moment... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Pyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Local | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Oslo Sportslager | | Strengths: | Strong | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 223 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F1000SL | | Bottom Line: | I bought a pair of hand-built D512 +XT hubs for my cannondale at the end of last season. I am a heavy rider, and I swear to God the old Mavic 223s that came stock with the bike were in for truing more than they were on the bike. After six months the new wheels are still as true as when they were mounted. The joy is back in biking. Maybe there is a lighter rim that is just as strong, but for the moment: I recommend these rims for anyone over 230 lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont PQ | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle World Cornwall, ON | | Strengths: | Tough, look good, Stays true | | Weaknesses: | None for my style of riding (read crash a lot from riding over my head) | | Similar Products Used: | stock mavic rim that came on the bike, Sun Sub IV | | Bike Setup: | 99 FSR/w JR T, FSA Pig Head set, RF Prodigy DH cranks with bash gard, XT rear LX front derailers, Mavic D521 front rim laced to XT disc hub, rhino lite rear rim laced to stock Specialized hub, XT disc brake(front), stock V brakes (rear), Tioga DH 2.3 front tire 2.1 rear tire, and tioga multi control II seat. | | Bottom Line: | I have had this rim on my bike for 2 years and have abused it every summer. It has been huck numerous times over 10'+ drops, crashed hard, and slamed a car at about 30mph and still is holding its trueness. I brought it in last summer to have the spokes retensioned but it didn't need it. The bottom line on this rim is with a good build the rim is rock solid. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Cole
a Cross Country Rider
from Cheltenham, England
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | strong | | Weaknesses: | heavy | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | Orange Gringo | | Bottom Line: | after the weak-as-water WTB rims I got with the bike, I wanted something bombproof. The fact that Steve Peat won the DH World Cup on these rims seemed a good enough recommendation. I've got them laced to XT hubs with the typical sterling Merlin build. I have damaged them: coming off on a DH section at about 30mph. I went one way, the bike went another and I think the impact of the landing broke two spokes. Spokes replaced, and wheel trued and no problem since.
To those criticising these rims, I have to question their wheel build. A wheel is most definately the sum of it's parts, and a wheel built well with these rims, decent hubs and strong spokes will make for a very tough wheel. Without that, the rims can't do it on their own.
Only prob is the added rotating weight, but that just gets you fitter!
$60 seems a bit steep. In the UK the silver rims go for £20-£25, the CD (anodised) ones for about another tenner, with the ceramic ones weighing in at around £50 to dent that wallet. For a front and rear wheel from Merlin, with XT hubs and cassette, I paid £135 ($190?). I just ordered another set for my other bike, on '01 hubs which will set me back £90 ($130?).
And Steve Peat uses them. Nuff said | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew wickenden
a
from England
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | fast ones! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | halfords bike hut | | Strengths: | stays true
looks the part
fat | | Weaknesses: | i havent come accross any yet | | Similar Products Used: | none! | | Bike Setup: | mavic D521 rims on lx hubs, rockshox, dmr bars, fsa headset bearings, lx mech, lx shifters, truvatic husselfelt crank set.............. great ............. | | Bottom Line: | Strong rims and advisable for others.................. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from Gdañsk, Poland
Date Reviewed: December 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | I have never had any probleems with it this is the best rim i had. It has never made bad or something like that and it's for V-brakes, PRICE!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Weigh (590 gram) but it's only weekness | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | Beautyful :)) (love it) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from england
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | woburn | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$62.00 | | Purchased At: | Chaineyes cycles | | Strengths: | Strong as hell,light as hell | | Weaknesses: | none, you try and find any!!! | | Similar Products Used: | |
|
$ 60.00
