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Submitted by
Arnie MtnBkr
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen, CO USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | 3 sisters | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Performace | | Strengths: | Very Strong | | Weaknesses: | None so far...wait my 517 sticker is peeling off. (no biggie, couldnt think of anything else) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900, LX V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | For starters I weight about 220lbs. I ride in the front range of Colorado. So most of the rides are a nice long uphill followed by a long downhll. Plenty of rocks, roots and water bars. I have beat the crap of the the wheels with no problems what so ever. Althought I do think riding with a bit of finesse will get more life our of your wheels. I dont think I've really even had to true these rims since I bought them. They're bomber. Highly recommeded if your on a budget and want a very very solid wheel. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgan Hill,CA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | One I am riding | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond | | Strengths: | I have XT Discs with the XM819 tubeless rim. Very light with Michelin Comp S Light standard not tubeless tires and Stan's sealant. Strong rim with the triangular cross section. | | Weaknesses: | Wish they were just a bit wider like the old F519 rims loved those. | | Similar Products Used: | F519,Bontrager Superstock and Rhyno Lites | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 with Fox Talas and RP3. | | Bottom Line: | Posted here because there is nothing for many custom wheels. The fact I use standard tires 460g with Stan's and no rim strip -50g makes for a super light setup. The Stan's seals so well it rarely loses pressure. The XM819 looks ultra cool and the XT Disc hubs are very reliable and have big flanges so you can use shorter spokes with good stiffness. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Poto | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Light, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Build quality. | | Bike Setup: | Steel hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | Bought these as an upgrade to the heavy "entry-level" wheels that came on my bike. I have ridden and raced for a whole season on these wheels and have been very happy with the quality. The only complaint is that the rear wheel was built very poorly and I had to practically rebuild it after a few rides - not Shimano or Mavic's fault.
Also, I weigh 160 and ride XC (no drops over a couple of feet) so I haven't had the bent rim problems some of the other riders have had.
Highly recommended for XC and racing if you can't afford one of those $800 wheelsets. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Buch
a Racer
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bull Jake Combo | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Strong, stays true. Takes ruddy bumby terrain. 172lbs I've hit 5 foot drops with out truing the wheel | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Cross Link, Cross Rides | | Bike Setup: | XT XTR Airborne Lucky Strike Cross Link in the Front xt/517 in the rear | | Bottom Line: | I haven't had any problems with 517 rims. I've under inflated my tires and hit a sharp rock to flatten one rim but that isn't the rims fault. This a great setup for the money. I think the dudes who are complaining had hamburgers build the wheel or don't pumb up their tires to at least 58lbs. Alwasy check for loose spokes before you hose the rim. Right? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B M
a Racer
from Falls Church, VA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Strengths: | ? | | Weaknesses: | They are WEAK | | Bike Setup: | Hard-tail Mountain bike | | Bottom Line: |
I ride 150 miles a week to work on the road (no off-roading) and run my tires 50-60 psi. I thought I would "upgrade" to the 517's from Mavic's 2 series.
Within 3 months I had the rear wheel's spokes pulling through the rim on the drive side. I bought a new 517 rim since the dealer blamed me for over-tightening the spokes??
Three months later, same thing happened and I didn't touch the wheel. Cracks are appearing on the rim at most of the spokes on the rear wheel drive side.
Called Mavic and they said I am too big for the wheel and I should of known better (6'0, 200). Right...I should of known the 517's are a piece of crap. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Race Track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light-weight, all quality parts (from hubs to nipples to rim strips), did their job for a time. | | Weaknesses: | When they do go out, there's no saving them! My XT/517s gave me a little over 2 years of good riding, but I wish they had more to give. They started to get noisy and wobbly, so I took them to the LBS. I got them back trued and the nipples and spoke contact points lubed. The good times didn't last too long, though. The creaking and the wobble came back--and they're here to stay! | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Mavic 238/STX-RC, Bontrager Superstock (current), Bontrager Maverick (bomb-proof) | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakota XC | | Bottom Line: | Not the lightest or most durable wheels out there, but for the price they give you a few good seasons, and that's good enough for most. I'll probably salvage the hubs, but I'm pretty sure the rims are toast. The local Trek shop has a cool deal on Bontrager Race-Modified wheels for $200, so I think I'll move on to those. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mattg
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Strong Wheel | | Weaknesses: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | 97 Trek Y-11 | | Bottom Line: | A few years ago, the spoke on my rear wheel pulled thru so I had to upgrade the rear wheel. That wheel was replaced with a Mavic 517 with XT from the LBS.
This is a great wheel. It lasted me three years. Riding mainly in the bay area doing lots of single track and downhill stuff. Not extreme downhill though... (ie: Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, SF Bay Area riding).
The 517 has to be replaced because somehow it got a flat spot as well as warped. Not sure what I did, but I'm pretty sure I hit something hard. Up until now, this Mavic 517 never had to be serviced, trued, nada. This is pretty good (IMHO) considering I am 200 LBS and have thoroughly abused the wheel.
With my current 517 unrepairable due to a flat spot, I went on a quest to replace the wheel set. Nothing wrong with the front wheel - but what the heck.
I looked at a lot of the Bontrager and Mavic wheel sets. Mavic has a lot of nice wheels but I'm leary of using their hubs. Heard too many bad things about them. The other issue(s) are some of their hubs must only be serviced by Mavic, and the custom spokes might be hard to come by. If a LBS services them, warranty is voided.
On the Bontrager wheels, I would have liked to get the Valiant with XTR. Had such a difficult time finding a LBS or web vendor that carried it that I gave up. Sorry Bontrager :(
For the hub portion of the wheel, I wanted XTR. Chris King is nice, I have some Chris King components and they work great. In this particular case, I didn't feel like paying up for Chris's Hubs :( So I went XTR. Where I don't have Chris on the bike, I have XTR. I am a big believer in paying up for quality components. They work better, feel better, and last much longer.
To sum it up: Ended up going with a custom build from a web vendor. XTR and a Mavic 517 in the front and just to be safe, a Mavic 519 in the rear. Using wheelsmith double butted spokes.
The web vendor I used sells the Bontrager Valiant, Mavics: 517, 519, 618, among other wheelsets/rims. They all price out about the same. In talking with their techs, they felt the 519 would be a good rim to go with over the 517 (for strength). Since they were all at or around the same price point, I didn't get the feeling they were trying to sell me the higher priced rim - thus, no bias's.
When I called to make the purchase, I was going to get 519 on the front and rear. They recommended doing 517 in the front and 519 rear. Sounded good because the 517 weighs less and, the front wheel takes less stress. I have yet to warp a front wheel :)
I talked to them about the 618's and they felt the 519 would better serve me. 618 sounded interesting because of the Ceramic but I think the 519 is stronger. They also said they sell more 517/519 than 618.
The 519 is slightly heavier than the 517 (60 grams or something). When you are 200LBS, carrying a camelbak with 100 oz of water, plus power bars, plus, .... who cares about 60 grams.
I could have got a complete Mavic 517 wheelset from my LBS for a little cheaper than this custom build wheel set. But, I felt I'd get a better wheelset with exactly the spokes I wanted, hubs, colors, ... rather than the off the shelf set from the LBS.
One other thing: The LBS had the Mavic 517 wheelset with XTR for $360. Found it on numerous web sites for $270 to $290. For fun I haggled. The LBS couldn't/wouldn't match it.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with the 517 and 519 wheels.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kyle pitts
a Racer
from columbia, tn
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | chickasaw trace | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | last forever,
after about a month u true em and they stay true | | Weaknesses: | a tad weighty
have to be trued after first month but newheel does
had to rebuild rear hub after about a year and a half | | Similar Products Used: | ovation disc hubs on 139's | | Bike Setup: | 01 marin rocky ridge, full xt | | Bottom Line: | good wheels, im 175 and i ride hard. do tricks and race. ive used these wheels all the time for everything. very strong. pretty light for the price. good all around wheel | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NFG
a Racer
from Rhode Island
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Big River, Lincoln Woods, Arcadia, Foxboro | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedro's Fest, Providence Cycle | | Strengths: | Strength to weight is very good. The XT hubs get the job done | | Weaknesses: | Not the strongest, and not the lightest. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crossland's (too weak), Sun 0º XC's (these were good, Sun Rhyno Lite's and Sun Mammoths (these are what I use training and practicing trials) | | Bike Setup: | aluminum hardtail with seatpost shock and front suspension, run 1.95 and 2.1 tires (all of these do factor into how long wheels will last) | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 165lbs and ride relatively technical singletrack. 517's are my favorite wheels because they are light enough to race but strong enough to last through regular riding as well. Also they cost very little compared to other wheels. They will save you money both from the original cost and from the fact that they will last longer. There is nothing worse than buying expensive wheels that last less than six months. I recomend the 517's to XC racers and all around riders who weigh less than 180lbs. And I don NOT recommend straight lace spokes, especially on the rear wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ziggy Stardust
a Cross Country Rider
from Outer Space
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Wormhole | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | lightweight, look cool | | Weaknesses: | Needed truing after just a few rides, rims ground down after only one season (from braking in mud) | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 223 with Deore hubs | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are lightweight and the XT hubs are decent and durable. You can usually pick them up for about $200 clams from Supergo or Jenson, which aint a bad deal considering how light they are.
However, you must understand that when you get such a lightweight wheelset for this price (which is cheap), they are almost always machine built wheels. This means you must either true the wheels yourself (if you know how) after a ride or two (or three) and keep up on the trueing a few more times, OR have the LBS do it for you. Dont expect to pay 200 bucks and then simply slap 'em on and forget about them...because it won't take long before brake rub, rim warpage and ultimately wheel failure. (like what happened to some of the unenlightened pinheads below)
Another factor is that if you ride in the northeast (or elsewhere there is a lot of mud), these lightweight rims will grind down on you from the V/cantilever brakes scrubbing grit on the sidewalls which then get get dished and paper thin (I actually blew one out last year). I've heard that the ceramic coated rims are much better for this application, but I haven't actually tried them so I personally cannot attest if ceramic has better durability.
All in all, I think the 517 and XT hubset are a great combo offering lightweight and great price. You simply must accept and understand the following:
1. They are not freeride wheels. I would go with something else (heavier duty) if you are much over 200 lbs.
2. The machine built wheels (which are the inexpensive ones) must be trued a few times after first riding them, (either you do it or have the LBS do it).
3. Due to their light weight, brake grinding in muddy conditions will wear them down...if muds your gig, pay the extra skins and try ceramic instead. (or go with disk brakes like I did)
If you can accept these conditions then you will not be disappointed with the overall value and performance offered my the 517/XT combo.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirkland
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | outside | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Only 6 months and they are out the door | | Bottom Line: | Bought these wheels through price point. After two rides the wheels were out of tru, found all spokes loose on the trail, end of a good ride. Had them trued at a local shop on price points dime. Have worked ok until on the last three rides I have broken 3 spokes. This is un heard of!
Oh well, now I bought some mavic Cross rocs, hopefully my reviews will be a little more positive with these.
The real Bottom Line.
If you weigh 215 and ride hard, spend the dough and get some better rims! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$194.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | light wheelset, xt hubs have low friction | | Weaknesses: | dont buy mail order, all the spokes were loose as hell, profesionally made wheelsets | | Bike Setup: | 02 hardrock comp | | Bottom Line: | they are good after you LBS properly adjusts them. they are light rims, no problems wit the hub seals. went out of true easily due to loose spokes. DONT BUY MAILORDER WHEELSETS!!!! they all suck. if u do have ur LBS adjust them before u ride them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike wong
a Cross Country Rider
from costa mesa
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | whiting ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$189.00 | | Purchased At: | super go | | Strengths: | *the wheel set is smooth it rides nice
*strong
*did i mention it was strong again | | Weaknesses: | *it dosent stay true for very long.
*but hey eventualy u'll have to true it so not a biggie | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 221 | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS 97 FULL XT RACE FACE SEATPOST | | Bottom Line: | This wheel set is a steal for its price at supergo they ride nice and they take a beating get them while they still have them in stock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J.W
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any good techy trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap and light | | Weaknesses: | Bad wear on the rims and the hubs and freehub needs constant attention | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 217. 220. 221. 238. 138. Rolf Dolomite. Bontrager Mustang. | | Bike Setup: | Klien Mantra Comp. Manitou Mars. Middleburn. XTR. | | Bottom Line: | I got these wheels as a second set to ease the wear on my Rolfs. They were great at first but I had to true them a few times....O.K....no problem. Then after only 3 months the hubs had got contaminated ( poor seals ). Then I noticed my rims starting to wear into a concave shape really quickly. Then my freehub went after 6 months and cost me over £30 to replace. Although they are relatively cheap wheels I still expected more from the rims and hubs than I got. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Racer
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | fairport | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | L.B.S | | Strengths: | Light and reasonably strong. Cheap hubs. Nice looks ( mine are red ) | | Weaknesses: | Sidewalls wear quick. seals on hubs don't keep out the muck. freewheel needs overhauling. | | Similar Products Used: | almost all the Mavic range and hubs from Alivio to XTR. The best are Hope. | | Bike Setup: | Genesis with full XTR but X517 Ceramics on Hope hubs. | | Bottom Line: | The 517 wears a bit quick on the walls when you ride in the wet and mud like I do. The Ceramic version is the one to go for in my opinion, it lasts much longer. My rear 517 only lasted 7 months, the front stretched to 12. You have to keep on top of the XT hubs too. Service them every 3 months at least if you ride in the muck. It doesn't matter what Shimano says the seals let in after a bit. Keep an eye on the freehub. I lost mine after only 6 months, had to get a replacement ( ouch! ). These are nice wheels so long as all your riding is sunny and dry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carbon
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chubb | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Held up strong to a lot of abuse. Light. Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Constantly loose spokes | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Truth. Judy XC with Englund Airs. Panaracer Fire Pro Tires | | Bottom Line: | Got these wheels out of a recommendation from my friends dad who had tried them. Cheap, light and strong.
I've heard a lot about the strength to weight ratio for Mavic Rims and it has definitely held true for me. I really don't like Shimano, but these hubs have surprisingly held up.
When I first got the wheels, the spokes were constantly coming loose and I kept having the LBS tighten them back down. I was really fed up, blaming the LBS when I took it to another one that I truely trust now. They showed me how bad a job the other shop had done and they offered to completely re-build my wheel and lock-tite it down. They said I would then get about a half a season out of it before the wheels would blow out. It has been a year later and I have really abused these wheels. I hit the downhills hard and done quite a few good sized drops with them. They have remained true and strong this entire time, and I'm looking forward to another season with them. You'd have to really not know how to ride to screw these things up once they've been locked down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G.Y
a Racer
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Store | | Strengths: | Nice and light wheelset | | Weaknesses: | weak rim...can't take the pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf dolomite. Bontrager mustang. Mavic crossride. | | Bike Setup: | Gt Zaskar. Sram Esp9. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these as training hoops for on the road. Said to myself...hey if they're strong enough for off road they'll be a sinch the the tarmac. Not so ...within 3 months both rims cracked in a couple of places between the spokes. Still under warranty I took them back and the guys at the store said ...It's a common problem when you ride slicks and pump up the pressure. I told them I got the recommended pressures from the Mavic Site. Seems a common problem. I got a set of 618s instead, a bit heavier but so far they're doing the job. Not impressed with the 517. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.A
a Cross Country Rider
from York
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Grizedale forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Light. Fairly cheap. easy to maintain. | | Weaknesses: | rims not that strong. go out of true a lot. hub seals not good. freehub doesn't last. | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 221. 238 220 217 618 | | Bike Setup: | Kona Explosive. Marzocchi Z2 XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are O.K but I've been a bit disappointed. I thought they'd be a bit better than they were. I have changed them for 618s......a stronger rim. And i'm on LX because I don't think XT is worth the money. My 517s wore through the rims in no time and they were always going out of true. Added to that the hubs got dirt in them real quick and the freehub packed in after a year. But then I suppose you get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RJ
a Racer
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight, low rolling resistance. Reasonably durable. Braking is good. No noise from the XT hubs. The price is right. | | Weaknesses: | the rear rim came untrued frequently until I replaced the tapered spokes with straight spokes. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221 | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fischer genesis geometry frame, Rock Shox Duke XC, | | Bottom Line: | I originally purchased these wheelsets to lower the overall weight of my older bike (a GT Ricochet). Initially I had problems with the rear rim coming untrue after rides and I even broke spoke during a race (nothing slows you down like a rim rubbing against your brake pad). I replaced the tapered spokes in the rear with straight spokes from my old Mavic 221 rim and now I dont have any problems. I have never had a single issue with the front rim. I weigh 215 lbs and I think that is just too much for those tapered spokes to support for an aggressive rider like me. I have since built a new bike using a Gary Fisher genesis geometry frame and now, with the Mavic 517 rims with XT hubs, I have an XL bike that weighs just under 23lbs. I think you get a good deal on these rims. The price is low (comparitivly speaking) and they are light and reasonably durable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
manley
a Cross Country Rider
from London U.K
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed-y-brenin | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin | | Strengths: | Light, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Weak rims, weak sides, bad hub seals, bad freewheel | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager mustangs, Mavic Crossrides, Mavic 217 221 220 238 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4, Manitou, Middleburn, Avid Arch etc | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately into my third set of 517 on XT and I still haven't learned. I put semi-slicks on, pump up the pressure and the rim pops and the spokes pop. This isn't unusual the bike shops are now telling me and that's why Mavic have brought out the 618...exactly the same rim but thicker! The hubs are getting bad too. Shimano don't seem to make their hubs as well as they used to. Muck gets in easier now and that's it. The freehubs don't seem to last long at all. I think it is time for a change.......buyer beware. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Hoang
a Downhiller
from Houston, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Price was affordable. Good cross-country rims but will not hold 2-3' drop-offs. Stay trued pretty well after a hard ride. Braking surface is pretty decent. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels came with Wheelsmith spokes which were awful. Had to constantly replace broken spokes. Seems as I have replaced most of the rear spokes!!! Rear hub is making grinding noise. Will try to repack the bearings soon. Not really light wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Satellite. Not impressed at all. | | Bike Setup: | '01 Stumpy Comp. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are good for secondary wheels. Expect basic wheel issues such as broken spokes and hub noise. For the price, they are worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M Clarke
a Cross Country Rider
from Merseyside
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | North Wales | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Reasonably price, light. | | Weaknesses: | Weak rims, Poor hubs, lousey freehub, very bad rim wear. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 217/LX,238/Alivio,221/LX,517cd/XTR,Crossride Ceramics,WTB's,Ritchey OCRs. | | Bike Setup: | RL 853,Z2,XTR,USE,Selle SLR,Crossrides,Bontrager. | | Bottom Line: | I am unimpressed with this wheelset. I have found no evidence to support Mavic's claims that Maxtal is 30% stronger than 6106 Alloy. Quite the contrary in fact. These Maxtal rims wear faster, under sustained braking, in poor conditions, than do either the 217s or221s.Nor are the CD version any improvement.And Shimano continue to slide on their consistent & procarious descent into producing sub-standard quality components, a slide begun in 1999, with poor xt hubs & a lousey freehub which lasts a pittifully short time. It's time that Mountain Bikers stood up for themselves & said...." If you are selling this stuff as MOUNTAIN-BIKING EQUIPMENT then it should be up for the job". This wheelset is not. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Berkeley Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 3rd Divide | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharp Bikes | | Strengths: | The Hard Anodizing made the rims last much longer than my previous rims. Took some pretty good hits without bending. Low maintainance: but like all good machines they respond well to attention | | Weaknesses: | None, really | | Similar Products Used: | Bonti Mustangs, Valiants | | Bike Setup: | Bonti Racelite. XT, Atom Bomb. King Headset. 858. LP. | | Bottom Line: | I gotta say that this is a journeyman product for a modest price, considering the next level of wheel is about $400/set. They cleaned up nice, stayed relativly true, and lasted pretty long. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
duh huh
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Reasonably light, strong for their weight. XT hubs seem to work well. | | Weaknesses: | Rims lose true pretty often, wheels probably not built well from the beginning. Had to true them straight out of the box. Well I have a lot of time and am pretty patient mechanic..... | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek Wams - make the 517s feel light wet noodles! | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for? These things are backups now with slicks on em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul T
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Urbane Cycle | | Strengths: | Strong, fairly light, good quality. Rim surface is exceptional in wet weather. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey 440's, Rhino lites. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels needed truing after about 200km. Since then have been fine. Hope to get at least a year out of them.
Best cross country wheel that I have tried for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sevenzero
a Weekend Warrior
from Simi
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
|
$ 200.00
