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Submitted by
Manj "d man"
a Downhiller
from Butuan, Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Bon2x,pianing, nong2x, dumalagan uphill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | my cousin (a former dh/freeride) 2nd hand to me | | Strengths: | they're bad as they wanna be. Helps you stabilize your cornering. Can handle drops w/out a mess. Light in its class | | Weaknesses: | heavy for xc racing | | Bike Setup: | Freeride, nose up, 145mm gts fork,2 wide type rims mavic x138 in front & hen li double track-rear, v-brakes w/ booster, 2.0 specialized enduro front wheel, 2.1 little albert-schwalbe- rear. | | Bottom Line: | this rims are for dh but also good in freeride in the free world! makes me more confident to ride in the rocks even in a fast pace. No more tacoed drops worries unless your too heavy. Still you can climb but not too fast 'coz of weight. You won't regret this super wide rim folks | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jorge Zayas
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, Costa Rica
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Finca las flores | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Guilly's bike shop | | Strengths: | They mantain true no matter what
Good braking surface
Very light and fast | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Sun rims cr18 | | Bike Setup: | Supergo's access full shimano xt | | Bottom Line: | I've been not only riding on these wheels but abusing them for quite a whike now and they seem to be indestructible, plus the bike looks great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, ON
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bay Sports | | Strengths: | Been wicked reliable. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Full suspension Devinci Massai. | | Bottom Line: | These rims have been excellent. They came with my bike. I have been riding on them for 5 yrs(light XC, with a few smalldrops here and there) and I have yet to even have them trued (sp?) Front and rear are both still straight as arrows. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ED
a Cross Country Rider
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Knapps Bikes | | Strengths: | Lasted 1 year | | Weaknesses: | Became bent beond Repair | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | Specialized 2003 Full suspension FSR Pro Comp Disc | | Bottom Line: | This Rim is OK for light riding, very light. This thing became so bent the disc got messed up from rubbing the pads constantly. its probobly not good for you if your over 120 lbs and especially not if you own a hardtail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Old Bay Rd | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Christies Cycles | | Strengths: | Light, durable, holds its true | | Weaknesses: | No guady clour scheme for posers | | Similar Products Used: | Arai, Mavic X223disc | | Bike Setup: | MTB touring and XC | | Bottom Line: | These rims have stayed true for me over 6 years of xc and touring use. I wonder if there is a difference between the X138 and X139. Mine are X138 with 36 spokes and eyelets, can't understand anyone getting cracks around the spokes. I dont ride freeride stuff and for the past 3 yrs have mainly used them for expedition touring, but this includes carrying 30kgs of gear on mountain firetrail descents. Iam only a fly weight but have ridden these rims over rough stuff at speed with no ill effects. No spoke failures, rims have stayed true (well the rear has a little wobble), not too bad after 6 years of zero service and about 12000-15000 kilometres. I would buy these again happily for XC riding | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the luge | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Rock and Road | | Strengths: | So far, they take what ever I throw at them. | | Weaknesses: | No bragging rights about cool wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Specialized Enduro with Marzocchi Drop off comps. The wheels have a Stout front hub with a Deore rear. | | Bottom Line: | This is for the 139's that came stock on my bike. I've been riding them for awhile now and I can't complain for coming stock on my bike. I weigh 225lbs and ride a few times a week and as of yet, they are still true and rolling along. I don't avoid drops and gaps but I don't seek out crazy stuff either and these have earned their keep. Of course, I'm going to upgrade them when they fail me but until then, why spend the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Foresthill Divide | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Hmmmm...None | | Weaknesses: | These things tacoed going into an easy XC corner | | Bike Setup: | Kona Dawg | | Bottom Line: | I was going down a beginer XC trail and went into a corner and the wheel tacoed throwing me over the bars. I weigh 200lbs and am a decent rider. This scares me as I wasn't doing anything abnormal and they just bent in HALF! I will just get heavy string rims this time so I don't have to worry about dying on a ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad E
a Racer
from St.Catharines Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Short Hills Niagara | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Rapid City Cycle (most awesome bike shop) | | Strengths: | -Wicked fast
-Wicked light
-Wicked stlye | | Weaknesses: | Not as INDESTRUABLE as every rider would like. We all want the lightest Indestructable Rim. you lose Strenght with weight... Its a given. so don't huck yourself on rims that arn't ment for It... tune your bike accordingly I would take a 100$ bike down a heavy shore line trail and drop It 7-10 feet, hey how did I bend my rims? | | Similar Products Used: | Rhyno Lite XL Rocky Mountain Wheel Tech. | | Bike Setup: | Norco Torrent/Mavic 139/Disc /Z5 Bombers / Shimano XL Drive Train | | Bottom Line: | Not only was I so overwhelmed by the difference the x139 had on my Rhyno lite XL both done by RockyMountain Wheel Tech. It Increase my response incredably. Acceleration was very noticable. If yah wanna pick up speed and not lose too much Strength these wheel sets rock... PROPS to rocky mountain.... "REVEIWS THAT ARE REAL" | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred not dead
a Cross Country Rider
from around
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Strengths: | Price, cool blue ano to match LX hubs | | Weaknesses: | Mavic low end rims
no welding/machining | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517, 221; bunch of Suns, Weinnmans/Rigidas, Bontragers | | Bike Setup: | steel hardtail beater with LX/x138 rims | | Bottom Line: | x138 are the basic Mavic XC rims, the lowest in Mavic food chain. As they are they are not welded just pinned; sides are not machined. Profile wise they're very similar to 221 (save CNC and welding) with 2 round loops on sides, made out of same Al 6106 alloy and after break-in perform similar.
For high end rims like 517 Mavic uses Maxtal alloy said to be 30% stronger then 6106. Still 221 and 138 should be about as strong thanks to triple cavities. Life expectancy is lower, but who cares if you can get 6 rims for price of one 517?
Some of the comments below are just plain ridiculous. Taco? easy to bend? break spokes? my ass.. YOU just got bad wheel build, period. I've build a set and after 3mo of abuse on hardtail (several rocky pinch flats) the most truing rear needed was 1/8 of the turn.
Notes about metal shavings are true. Mavic rim profiling/anodizing leaves microfractures on surface and since sides were not machined you may get it esp with cheap brake pads. Watch out for it on new rims and clean pads if need.
On new rims I'd also recommend to file seams to save brake pad wear.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon Lo
a Weekend Warrior
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso snakes and ladders | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath (came with the bike) | | Strengths: | Light and fast. | | Weaknesses: | The rims hit my brakes on some rocky sections making a pinging noise. | | Similar Products Used: | no-named brand garbage, some other Alex rims. | | Bike Setup: | Stock 2002 Rockhopper A1FS with M515 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | The rims are great, fast and light. The only complaint i have is that even with a new hub and properly tensioned spokes it still hits my brakes and pings. Aside from that try to avoid soft brake pads, they wear like crazy with these rims. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Olivier
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver BC
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | cove bike shop (they rule!) | | Strengths: | double walls
strong for me
| | Weaknesses: | none so far
(well can't use shrader with those without dremeling) | | Similar Products Used: | other mavics | | Bike Setup: | stock for now | | Bottom Line: | Well, I am starting to wonder if we are talking about the same product here: those are x139. I am pretty heavy (200+), use them everyday commuting, hit curbs, and on the week ends I go on those fantastic trails here in Vancouver (ouhou North Shore!). Never had any problem with those. Considering buying a new set to mount my slicks on, I'm tired of changing the rubbers every week end. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CityCommuter
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Lauderdale
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Plaine's Cycle, New York | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, straight. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap. Major cracking around spoke nipples. | | Similar Products Used: | Various other Mavic rims. | | Bike Setup: | Old Spec. Rockhopper with drop bars, lights, fenders, racks, 1.25" slicks - commuter bike. | | Bottom Line: | I purchased the Mavic x138 wheelset for road riding and used it for a bit over a year. While retensioning the rear wheel I noticed large cracks and bulges around two of the nipples. There have been no major single stresses I'm aware of. I use this wheelset exclusively on the road, and expected to wear through the sidewalls before having any other sort of problem with it. I am still riding on it, and so far so good - there are two drive-side spokes that are a little loose now, but I'll just ride it until it's really shot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fermat
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Mountain Bike City | | Strengths: | matches the yellow and black paint of my bike | | Weaknesses: | ONE LOUSY ROCK AND PIIIIIINNNNGGG!!! | | Bike Setup: | stock rims on 2002 Cannondale Jekyll 500 | | Bottom Line: | the X139's came stock with the 2002 Jekyll 500 setup. I've been riding some fairly easy XC trails for the past month and ran into about a 100 foot long downhill sloping double track section with your average rooty/lumpy trail consistency. Halfway down, I blew my line and struck a smooth faced rock which cranked my wheel over about 60 degrees to the left (which also launched me over the handlebars as well). The front rim folded like a soft taco and has the curve of a sombrero.
Normally i'd expect more out of mountain biking gear.
I'm 165 lbs, I don't ride insane downhill (in fact, i'm freakin' scared of doing anything with a steep pitch), and I don't drive my front wheel into crap like curbs and rocks.
I'd expect that a rim should be able to stand up to the occasional root or rock that juts out on the trail - well, this one doesn't.
My advice, upgrade your rims before your stuck walking your bike back to the car. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any where in sedona | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Held up like a champ in sedona. Even big steps and drop offs on the down hills. | | Weaknesses: | came with cheap deore hubs other than that works just fine. I dont know what some of you guys or girls do but i am a heavy rider and i have taken these wheels to hell and back. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic X221 | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Hammer | | Bottom Line: | The Wheel works. Held up to what i have thrown at it. And i usually ride trails where dual suspension would be nice. Although there is much better rims out there so you decide. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a
from
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | none that I found | | Weaknesses: | you can put them on a bike | | Bike Setup: | fire mountain | | Bottom Line: | I ve just bought a bike with x139 on it ,and boy
they manage whole two weeks (at least the front one) rear
bend in somewhat "L" like shape after sunday xc ride.
If you like to woble ,and drive with out rear brakes than
theese are just for you.Oh they also look great so woble isnt a problem realy when I put a chick on my rear pack on top of that black x139 wheel so she could woble on ....but
the bottom line is - chiks like dicks - not wheels DONT BUY IT
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kwik- Z
a Cross Country Rider
from Severna Park MD
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | lbs, stock on bike | | Strengths: | relatively strong, dont bend too often cheap | | Weaknesses: | some bending, but once they are trued from the first dings and bumps, they seem to stay straight. | | Similar Products Used: | yo momma | | Bike Setup: | kona fire mountain, marzocchi Z4 air, XT derailleurs | | Bottom Line: | only an ultra-moron could possibly think this rim would stand up to 10 foot drops. its good for XC, even aggressive XC and wont bend even when i think it should be tacoed. sometimes i will have a horrible crash, blazing down a hill at 30mph or so with lots of rocks, i get up and look at it, and its fine even though i expect the rims to be semicircular or something. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Carter
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Weight, Reliability | | Weaknesses: | Maybe strength issues would concern some riders but for their intended purpouse they are just fine. | | Similar Products Used: | Alex | | Bike Setup: | Scott Vail 98, Indy S, Panaracer SS, USE XCR | | Bottom Line: | Great Rims for light stuff, Mine have done over 5000 miles hard riding and show no signs of damage. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from DC
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Bothell Bikes | | Strengths: | Cheap
Sturdy | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Bike Setup: | 99 FSR, Specialized hubs | | Bottom Line: | These came stock on my FSR, and I planned on upgrading them from the start. Now, a year and 1800 miles later, they are still going strong. I'm not dropping off ledges or jumping big, but I do ride aggressively. I've had to true them a few times, but nothing major. They do weigh a ton, but just think of it as better training. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | NONE | | Weaknesses: | Too much flex for jumping, trail riding, or any other type of riding. Bends like it's made of rubber and the spokes can't stay tight on the rim. | | Similar Products Used: | Alex | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Kona Caldera Deore/XT setup | | Bottom Line: | These rims suck!! If you jump, these rims will probably end up slamming into your brake pad before the end of your first day. I've only had them less than two months and the front and rear rims are bent in at least two places. They are good for little more than street riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zach brin
a Cross Country Rider
from pipe creek. tx. usa
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | flat rock creek | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | uhm, i couldn't find any | | Weaknesses: | weeker than a newborn | | Similar Products Used: | mavic x221 | | Bottom Line: | i hate these rims, i'm 14 and i weigh 120 pounds, i was riding and did a small drop going about 25 and these stupid crappy rims folded on landing. i flew over the handlebars and was unable to walk for several weeks, these rims should not be used unless you just want to ride around without doing anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Richman
a Weekend Warrior
from Norman, OK, USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ClearBay | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | supergo.com | | Strengths: | * stays true
* works well | | Weaknesses: | * a little heavy, but nothing serious for me! | | Similar Products Used: | Weinmann ZAC19s
| | Bike Setup: | 99' Voodoo Hoodoo | | Bottom Line: | This wheel stays true once you true it. I have had no flat spots, or even bumps. I don't abuse it that much -- but it has lasted a lot longer (and stayed true a lot longer) than the ZAC 19's. Really good rims! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scotty
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver,BC
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban Assault | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | Cheap, light compared to others at this price range | | Weaknesses: | Weak, flex a LOT, brake pads will rub on a 2.25 tire on these skinny rims. | | Similar Products Used: | 138's, Rhyno Lites | | Bike Setup: | Kona Lava Dome, Z4,Chain God, Tioga DH2.1 | | Bottom Line: | I destroyed the rear within 6 months. Lots of dents, flat spots and the seam began to seperate. I replaced it with a Rhyno Lite and curbed it(flat spot) in the first weak but its holding together flawlessly. The front is still OK but needs to be replaced by somethig wider and stiffer to fit a 2.3 tire. If your looking for a cheap rim and don,t abuse your bike(jumps, drops, logs & stuff) go for them, but not suited for aggressive riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Indestructible (almost)
Easy truing once destructible | | Weaknesses: | Weight, I suppose | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized stock rims, Sun CR17's | | Bike Setup: | '98 Kona Caldera, Judy T2 | | Bottom Line: |
It took three months of daily abuse to put a flat spot into the rim. It took three beer and a 2x4 to keep it going after that. Semi-regular truing kept it in tune after that.
Retired the back rim this spring, after two years of cross country pounding. The sidewall was going to give way soon. But the front rim won't die. I stopped checking the true six months ago. I guess I'll just have to upgrade the rims (more Mavic!) without breaking it.
It's a stock rim, most of the time. And it's a good rim while it lasts. Then you rebuild your wheels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tracee
a Weekend Warrior
from Douglasville, GA USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | After some major endo's the past couple of days I was sure they would be bent, nope still straight as an arrow. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Blast with Manitou Mangnum | | Bottom Line: | Good rims, don't let the other reviews scare you off. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
buck wild
a Weekend Warrior
from nowhere
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | stand up pretty well to abuse | | Weaknesses: | not for serious riders | | Similar Products Used: | other mavic's | | Bike Setup: | 99 voodoo hoodoo | | Bottom Line: | I have beat the hell out of these things and they have held up pretty well. i'm 200 lbs so i'm not a fly weight but not a tank ass either. After 3 months of solid abuse the back rim needs to be trued but I can still ride fine on it. I wouldn't buy them as replacement rims but if they come on a bike you should get atleast a couple seasons out of them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leev Traxx
a Cross Country Rider
from Nashville, TN
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Land-Between-The-Lakes | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Appear to be a strong enough rim. Has taken some serious punishment so far. Price is great and name is good. | | Weaknesses: | Need trued after every two trips or so. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic and more Mavic | | Bike Setup: | Modified Mongoose | | Bottom Line: | If your looking for a cheaper rim that will hold up well. This is the the rim. If your looking for that professional level, better go to something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Weekend Warrior
from Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | spokes always break, Wheel needs to be trued all the time. | | Bottom Line: | If your thinking of getting this rim, look harder! The rim will spend more time in the shop with spokes being replaced, and the rim being trued. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Farrell
a Weekend Warrior
from Menasha, WI
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | zippin down speedy singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | inexpencive, hold up to nominal abuse | | Weaknesses: | cheap, can't take serious abuse | | Similar Products Used: | Zak 19 (cheap as they come) | | Bike Setup: | 99 diamondback x-2, z3 100mm, lx-lx-xt, lx crank, ect. | | Bottom Line: | I'm only 130lbs. so they held up well, until... flyin down a ski hill at 30-35mph, hit a pointy, coconut-sized rock, ouch, left a rather large dent, went home early.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | stay reasonably true | | Weaknesses: | heavy, bad braking surface | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey OCR | | Bike Setup: | lx/xt GT hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I've used the front rim with a cheap GT hub for ~2 years, and the rear for 1 year with very little trouble. I should mention that I don't do many jumps and only weigh 150lb, which might explain my good luck with the rims. I've had no problem with the seams.
I think they're fine for entry level riders, when you start ruining them it's time to upgrade your equipment anyway! Don't think of these as quality upgrade items or you'll be disappointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
patrick
a Racer
from calgary, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | sammy's chanter | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | cheap | | Weaknesses: | worked in a bike shop. trued them virtually every day. | | Similar Products Used: | ??? | | Bike Setup: | lx/xt 99 cindercone | | Bottom Line: | bend easily. do not use for anything other than xc or road. a dual slalom crash left them as toast a good 3 inches out of true. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Eckel
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pine Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Inexpensive, remained fairly true | | Weaknesses: | |
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