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Average Rating
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4.24/5
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# of Reviews
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104
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Description:Use: Cross-country racers looking for a wheel that offers maximum efficiency, performance and sensations and a reduced risk of flats
Black anodized Maxtal SUP welded rim
Fore drilling technology.
Ceramic 2 sidewalls
Integrated freewheel hub with FTS-L system
Adjustable, removable, sealed cartridge bearings
8/9 speed HG compatible freewheel
Zicral straight pull spokes with integrated aluminum nipples.
18 front spokes, 20 rear spokes.
Front radial spokes, rear Isopulse concept
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Submitted by
Brett Wolmarans
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | space mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | follow up to previous review. Just got back from Sedona, was riding around on sub rock, going too fast and twice went over this 2 ft drop to flat, BANG totally bottoming out the 4" travel frame. Oops. But the wheels? True and straight, no hops. The person that posted that these wheels are too weak and flexy for their 170lbs must have got a defective set because these are some bomber wheels ( for XC what they are designed for ). I suggest that person return the wheels because there must be something wrong with them. | | Weaknesses: | Cost if bought new | | Similar Products Used: | Buddy's hand built Stans 355's | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy | | Bottom Line: | great | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brett Wolmarans
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | space mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | used - had to drive to Ontario! | | Strengths: | very strong - I'm 215Lbs and hit some rocks and little drops pretty hard. I think the chainstays would break before these would. Easy to service. | | Weaknesses: | none so far - maybe one a little tricky to mount tubed tire, first time the tube popped off at 35lbs made a sound like a pistol going off, good thing my hand wasn't there. Oh, and the price, I would never pay new for these, I got these used these are the 2003 CrossMax UST ( not XL, not SL, just original one) | | Similar Products Used: | crappy Deore hub 223's | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy comp 04 - the silver dream machine | | Bottom Line: | great. use the mineral oil (buy it at home depot, etc butcher block oil) to lubricate the pawls to get that nice snick-snick sound. Remember to pull the cap off to get the 10MM hex wrench in there. Giving 3 value chillies because even though I only paid $250 these are just so freakin expensive for mass produced wheels when new. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josè Luis Cendejas
a Cross Country Rider
from Mèxico
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | La Resinera | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, faster, UST, great desing, another good product from mavic, blade zicral spokes and ceramic coating sidewalls are the best. | | Weaknesses: | Weak in side to side movements, hard to find spokes replacements, even ceramic brake-pads (because ceramic rims are not popular in Mèxico). | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic X517-XTR hubs-DT Swiss Champion spokes, Mavic 217-XT hubs-Wheel smith spokes, Sun Rhyno Lite-Spec. stout hubs-DT swiss revolution spokes. | | Bike Setup: | GT I-Drive Team-Manitou Qrl shock, Full XTR 2002, Rock Shox SID 03 w/pop lock remote, FSA aheadset, Easton carbon/aluminium components, Time Atac TITAN pedals, Hutchinson Spider UST tires, Specialized Alias saddle and of course... mavic crossmax UST. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are made for racing, but is possible to use it for training, also these are made for low weight raiders, but they are strong to carry me whitout any problem (210pds is the number in my scale, YEA... I'M HEAVY!!!). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad
a Racer
from Park City, UT
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lightweight, cool looking | | Weaknesses: | Flexy, rear hub has to have constant TLC, rim is weak, ceramic finish chips off. | | Similar Products Used: | Spinergy Xyclone Race | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Element TSC. Built up frame with various components | | Bottom Line: | This reveiw is for the Crossmax SL's non disc. I weigh 170 lbs and these wheels are too light and flexy for my weight. When riding, it always feels like I have a low or flat tire due to the rear wheel flexing so much. I constantly have to true these wheels and service the rear hub at least once a month. The rim is very weak or made of a softer aluminum as there are a bunch of dings and dents. I have had to replace one of the spokes and many of the others are bent. The ceramic finsish is chipping off. For the price you pay for these wheels, I would expect a better longer life product. After two years of use, my LBS has recommended I retire these wheels and get some new ones. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Hueneme, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Los Robles | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$331.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Super strong and stable wheels. Ceramic braking surface. | | Weaknesses: | I hear the hubs are wishy washy. I havent had any issues. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager asym wheelset. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000. Upgraded with xt/xtr der's, shimano crankset, xt 8 speed cassette, 04 Marzocchi Marathon S (see my review) Bontrager seat post and handlebar, teflon der cables. Much to follow | | Bottom Line: | Bought these used but from what i can see so far these are very strong and stable. Little or no flex when leaning to one side. Cermaic braking surface is good shortening your stopping distance. More in control of bike which gives confidence. These are super fast and super smooth. Glad i chose to go with these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Sornson
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Noble Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Blacksmith Wheels/Rose Cyn Cycles | | Strengths: | Stay true, flats rare (with tubeless tires, at least). | | Weaknesses: | THE HUBS!!! They both suck, but the rear is unbelievably bad and even Mavic can't fix it (see below for story). | | Similar Products Used: | Various mtb wheels (517s on XTR hubs, Sun Ringle, etc.) | | Bike Setup: | Titus Swithblade, full XTR, non-disc | | Bottom Line: | These wheels were the worst cycling purchase I ever made. Although they look nice, the hubs are ridiculous. Besides spokes pulling out, the bearings drag like nuts and the parts come apart with NO TOOLS.
History: I bought the wheels in the summer of '03, and the rear wheel dragged right from the start. Cranks would turn while wheel spun, and if back-pedal the wheel would turn backwards. In other words, BEARING DRAG. I lived with it until I finally got a "death squeal" that caused a terrible vibration and moise thru the whole rear end of bike.
The guy who sold 'em to me replaced the bearing (blaming me for the problem, by the way), but the drag was just the same and the death squeal returned after very little use. A friend just took the wheels to a race where Mavic supposedly worked on them (both hubs come apart by hand, no tools required), but the drag is STILL THERE!
Someone on a newsgroup I read (AM-B) with the more expensive SLs (I have the Crossmax XLs)had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM (death squeal), but the sales guy treats me like I'm from the moon for even suggesting there's a problem.
First a spoke pulled out (snapped back in), then the death squeal, then BOTH hubs came apart by themselves. I just visited Mavic's site and there's not even a way to write or call them.
Bottom line: avoid these Ps OS. If you even LOOK at water, then the hubs will seize up. Mine bite the big one; not sure why others seem satisfied... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Turnbull
a Weekend Warrior
from Superior WI
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Munger trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$519.00 | | Purchased At: | Price point | | Strengths: | Light,stiff beutiful wheels will make any bike look grest.Improved cornering ability on my hardtail Stumjumper dramaticly. | | Weaknesses: | Pricey,owners manual.But you get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Stumpjumper wheels | | Bike Setup: | 04 Hartail Stumpjumper,Thomson post,Easton flatbar carbon 90,Avid SD7 brakes | | Bottom Line: | Its almost Sept here in upper Wisc and winter is not far off. I just purchsed theese wheels two days ago and have been riding as much as I can.Its almost like theese wheels added another dimension to the bike,a step beyond shall we say.The Stumpjumper is already a fine bike and with addition of theese wheels makes it a GREAT bike.Get a set | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Thunder bay
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | uhh shuniah mines | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | i have taken these wheels off ten foot drops and and they're soild. for how light they are the strongest wheel set i have ever riden ceraminc coating is awesome ude have to like smash them on a rock to chip it. | | Weaknesses: | havent found any yet | | Similar Products Used: | mavic crossrides and crossrocs | | Bike Setup: | trek fuel 98 | | Bottom Line: | i first tried these wheels and the 2004 ontario summergames.
the course was pretty intence and i ride hard and these wheels are still perfectly true. the bottom line is these wheels rock | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Vangelisti
a
from Markham, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Durham Regional Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Markham Cyclepath | | Strengths: | CXM UST wheels roll very well and are quite light. They do look extremely cool and will turn heads at any race. I have found that they hold air extremely well with either UST or regular tires. | | Weaknesses: | I ride real trails, not the kind you will see during the olympics or some NORBA races. If you ride enough you will enventually lose it, from time to time for sure. Our crew rides that edge/mix of cross country and freeride. As such after a good wipe a rim can become a little out of true. After 6 in one ride, both can. While it is a bit of a pain, I don't think it makes the rim a bad one. A little more rider still would help. It is likely a trade off you have to make if you chose to ride such a light rim. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Dolomite. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 M5 S-Works. Full XTR, Easton E709, Shimano 959. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is that these are high performance race wheels for skilled cross country riders. They are not for hucking gaps or big drops. They are for winning X-C races. Buy accordingly. Also buy a set from your local bike shop. You will get the tools and the instructions needed for proper care. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$415.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeNOW | | Strengths: | Tubeless, fairly light for the price | | Weaknesses: | flexy, fancy stickers come off quickly, threaded axle started chewing out the dropouts in my yeti frame. grrrr. freehub tight from the factory | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221 w/ XT hubs, Crossmax SL's (demo), old Crossmax (demo) | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC, Avid Single Digit 7, Maxxis Larsen TT UST | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the 2004 Mavic Crossmax Enduro. These are the cheapest Crossmax and you can tell, if you buy them because the stickers look cool enjoy them while they last, after a couple of months they'll be so tacky the wheels look better without them. Whereas the SL's and XL's have a nice round machined part on the axle these have a Hexagonal thing that has started eating into my Yeti. It has pushed away all the powder coat on the frame and now the wheel sits noticeably off centre in the frame although perfectly dished and trued. Makes for a hell of a job to get the brakes working nicely. The front is radially spoked and while the Sl's and Xl's have no problem with this the Enduro seems to flex a fair bit. No matter who sets up my brakes or how they do it when i'm out of the saddle ing they flex and you can hear them hitting the pads. The last annoying thing is that the freehub was tight from the factory, tight enough to peddle the bike when you spin the wheel. On the other hand they're tubeless and I love it, they are relatively light weighing in at 1720g and are in a more reachable budget. I bought these because I needed new wheels but wasn't lashing out on SL's as I want discs. They're an Ok wheel but when I get discs I'll be buying Sl's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Trails in Pt Mugu and Chesboro | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This review is for the 04 SLs. Light, smooth hubs, stiff, ceramic coating for improved braking. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | 02 Mavic Crossmax | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Silk Ti | | Bottom Line: | I like them. Light, strong-I weigh 185 and ride them fairly hard-smooth bearings. Excellent XC race wheelset that seems strong enough to use for everyday riding.
I was using the 02 Crossmax wheels prior to purchasing the SLs. Those wheels held up well. I replaced them purely for the weight savings. The other wheels still work fine.
I've read the other reviews re: spokes pulling through and the like. Have I just been lucky? I don't know. But I do know that I trust these wheels.
I'll post again after a few more months of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom S
a Racer
from Auburn NH, USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Very Strong, Good looks, Durable | | Weaknesses: | not much, the plasic spoke trueing tool was useless, pricy, but worth it | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Propels, Bontrager RaceLites, Mavic X517, Mavic X317 | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude Race, Trek Fuel 98, Trek STP400 | | Bottom Line: | These wheels have lasted a rather long time, and have survived three race seasons. They are rather light, and look awesome, they can seriously make any bike look nice. Since purchasing them I’ve had to replace two spokes, and the bearings in both front and rear hubs. The bearings lasted two years of NE riding, which usually includes a lot of mud, so I’m quite content with the length they lasted. I’ve used these wheels on my last three bikes (Trek STP, Trek Fuel, and Klein Attitude Race), and I’ve always been impressed with them. They are very stiff, with no lateral flex. I may retire them this year, but if i do, it will be with a pair of CrossMAX SL’s. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Pt. Mugu, Chesboro | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Strengths: | Reasonably light weight, smooth bearings, stay true, tubeless. | | Weaknesses: | Something broke lose in the rim cavity. It isn't a spoke nipple. Aside from an annoyning noise from time to time, it isn't a problem-at least that's what the folks at Mavic told me. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisrt tubless wheelset | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Silk Ti | | Bottom Line: | This is a 2 year follow up. Fortunately, I haven't had any of the problems others have listed-spokes pulling through, bad bearings, weak. They've worked well for me. In fact, my next wheels will probably be Crossmax SL disk. And I've been riding them fairly hard-including several XC races. I weigh 185, so I'm not exactly a lightweight, either. I think these are the '02 Crossmax wheels. Perhaps there has been some QA issues since then? I've gotten used to the feel, but I still remember the first time I took these wheels out. What a difference! Much better traction, slightly better comfort. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Hill
a
from Christchurch
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Nothing really apart from looking nice. | | Weaknesses: | Rim eyelet strength. Ceramic coating on braking surface. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517 and 618 rims | | Bike Setup: | 2003 S-Works FSR. | | Bottom Line: | Steer clear of these wheels. I have ripped 4 spokes out of the rear wheel and it cost me $350(NZD) to get a new rim that took 1 month to arrive. The ceramic coating on the front rim is starting to flake off. A friend has the same wheels and has experienced exactly the same thing. Mavic told him that the spokes ripping out of the rim was just normal wear and tear. Save your money and some weight and get something else. By the sound of it Mavic are making too much money off everyone to care so lets stop buying their product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roger
a Cross Country Rider
from Lincoln, NE.
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | Smooth hubs, stay true. | | Weaknesses: | Spokes pulled out of rear wheel on initial ride, cost $180 to replace rear rim. Ceramic brake surface "peeled off" on new rear rim after < 2 months riding. Front and rear wheel very "flexy". | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Dolomites, Bontrager Race Lites, etc.... | | Bike Setup: | Klein Adept, XTR, AVid brakes with XTR Ceramic pads. | | Bottom Line: | I have wanted a set of these from the time I first saw them and finally bought a pair in July from EBAY. On the first ride, a 2" diameter stick flew up from the trail and jammed into the rear wheel, causing the spoke to pull from the rim and ruin the rim. (I understand this is not the wheels fault, but it still cost $180 to fix and was gone for 4 weeks) I then rode for a couple of months without problems, but I did notice quite a bit of flex in both the front and rear. I'm around 190lbs and not a real aggressive ride and I heard brake rub on technical sections. The wheels stayed true and have remained so. I then went to Moab in late October and when I returned I noticed the ceramic surface had a chip out of it and quite a bit of the rim had what looked like blisters on it. I took it back to the LBS, (those guys are great) and they sent the wheel back to Mavic. The Mavic rep told them to ask if I had used XTR ceramic pads. (I have been using them) He said he had seen it several times because the XTR pads are too hard. Has anybody else heard of this?
I normally am not to hard on anything on my bike and try to take good care of it. I think Mavic is going to warranty this last thing, but I'm not sure. These might be okay for only racing, but I don't think they are durable enought for everyday use like they are advertised as. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sean
a Cross Country Rider
from winston-salem
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Stokes County | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Looks cool, has smooth hub action, and the ceramic braking surface is a nice touch. | | Weaknesses: | Spokes will rupture through the rim! | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race Tubless | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale hardtail with headshock, xtr throughout. | | Bottom Line: | Hesistate ever buying Mavic products again. I keep hearing more and more incidents where people have had their Crossmax spokes pull through the rim. Might be a suitable wheel for racing only, but they're pretty damn expensive to be so unreliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dale
a Cross Country Rider
from Vail
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | good looks, ceramic brake surface, smooth bearings! | | Weaknesses: | haven't experienced any! | | Bike Setup: | Giant MCM, XTR | | Bottom Line: | reluctant to buy at first from reading some bad reviews about the poor mavic rims but gave in b/c of vanity! after riding along some rocky trails, over 500km, only had to retrue the back once, and only slightly! handled all the abuse and still rolling! in fact, I notice that I gain speed on decents and have to hang on to my brakes! have to adjust the cones once in a while, but that is it. still using v-brakes and perform exceptionally in the rain. no probs and very glad i invested in these wheels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Somxay
a Racer
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | light wieght, tubeless, strong and great looking wheels | | Weaknesses: | hard to install tubeless tires | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | RM Vertex team SC, full XTR, Crossmax UST, and Sid Race fork, sub 21 LBS race bike | | Bottom Line: | Great race wheels there light and strong. I got mine on Ebay for $400shipped. The only problem I have with them are installing tubeless tires, there a pain in the butt. Rather then that they hold up great and looks great. Maybe later on in the future I will get the Crossmax SL. But for now, these wheels are great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Graham
a Cross Country Rider
from Provo, Utah USA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | It's so good I don't want to share... | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with 2001 S-Works | | Strengths: | Durable, lite, quiet, low maintenance, Great looking. | | Weaknesses: | Flat spokes will not double well for shishkabobs...???
Also, I suppose they are a bit on the pricey side. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing compares! | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Specialized S-Works with XTR, SRAM X.0, Easton Monkey lite, Thompson stem, Chris King headset, hutchison tires. Huffy seat, handlebar streamers and air-horn (joke). | | Bottom Line: | I have loved these wheels from the day I got them. I keep checking them to see if they are out-of-true, but they just stay perfect. I have read many of the reviews and all the complaints seem to deal with Mavic customer support; If what the complainers say is true then I suppose I'm lucky I haven't needed to try to get a fee replacement or anything. However, I think some riders perhaps are just plain spastic and break everything they touch--and then want the manufacturer to take care of them with a new replacement when anything goes wrong.
I weigh in around 190 (all muscle ;) ) and I don't go easy on these wheels-lots of riding on rock, stairs, logs, moab's skickrock, etc. So far I don't have a single complaint about them.
These wheels are stiff. I have read complaints about too stiff, too flexible. I say they are stiff. As for "too stiff", let your shocks do the flexing.
And, as an added bonus to the outstanding performance of these wheels, THEY LOOK SOOOOO SWEEET!!!
My recommendation is BUY, BUY, BUY.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
j rocco
a Racer
from dc,dc
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 500 | | Strengths: | weight,looks,brand name | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Similar Products Used: | crossroc ust(2yrs) | | Bike Setup: | hardtail,crossmax SL | | Bottom Line: | save your money.don't buy em.
these were purchased as a replacement for my worn crossrocs. the rocs never gave me any problem, but they were tired and i was ready for the upgrade. in the first race with the max sl's the front came out of true. kinda weak for a front wheel, but at 650g i was suspect of their performance. goofy spoke wrench makes it easy to realign, but im not interested in doing this everytime i ride em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Riaan
a Racer
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Strengths: | UST related strenghts - low roll resistance, better traction, etc.
Wheel set itself - stiffness, weight, looks, reliability & responsiveness | | Weaknesses: | None (yet?) | | Similar Products Used: | X315's & Mavic Cross Ride | | Bike Setup: | Race orientated, but with a preference towards functionality (stiffness & durability) rather than pure weight freak. | | Bottom Line: | I have the Crossmax XL. I've chosen it above the SL due to increased weight (I figured it would be more stiff and reliable).
When I first received the wheels I had to use tubes (couldn't get my hands on Michelin tubeless). Fitting: getting the tube and tyre on was as easy, or as difficult, as an ordinary wheel. Ride: at low speeds a bit of flex was noticeable from the front wheel, otherwise I came away impressed - refer to strengths excl UST remarks.
Tubeless: I prepared myself for a struggle to fit the tyres, it turned out to be easier than the tubes versions! (I used soapy water as recommeded - but didn't do anything else out of the ordinary). To help prevent leakages and punctures I squirted a "slime" like substance (a SA product - designed for road tyres, light and with the ability to get it throught a presta valve)in just before completely fitting the tyre (no need to use the valve - another adv of tubeless). With this system I only have to touch up on air pressure every 3 to 4 weeks!
The ride turned out to be just as promised - it is really a step above the rest. The flex in the front I mentioned above was totally gone?!
I've experienced two puncture flats - apparently the "slime" like substance couldn't sort this. On the recommendation of a mountain bike mag review I deflated the tyre, and squirted some glue inside. I coudn't believe that it actually worked!
My weight is 190 pounds and tyre pressure used 2.3-2.5 bar. I do mostly cross country in dry rocky, sandy and hardpack areas. Riding style: semi aggresive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eladio Roca
a Cross Country Rider
from Caracas, Venezuela
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Specialized bike shop | | Strengths: | NONE | | Weaknesses: | Ceramic flacking off from side walls, UST forget it, air leaks no matter what trick you use, I try it ALL. The Worst thing Mavic customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race X Lite Tubeless | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-Works FSR 2002 | | Bottom Line: | In sum a very weak product.
I bought my Specialized S-Works FSR 2002 with Mavic wheels installed as standard, thinking that at MSRP $800 wheel set would hold up in time. After 2 months of use, ceramic flacking started. Not what I would call a reliable and durable product, but a terrible one. Mavic France hasn’t been really supportive with anybody (Specialized retailer and local Mavic representative), after an 8 months claim. Buy wheels you can repair yourself, because Mavic sure isn’t interested in helping you repair theirs.
If Mavic Crossmax it’s a super wheel why 2002 price drops down so drastically compare with the 2003 wheel set (check any internet bike shop). Why did Mavic introduce an improvement call “Ceramic2” on Crossmax XL 2003? Mavic needs a serious revision of customer care, knowing they have a faulty product in the market and not taking any positive action to solve it. Specially in countries near the Equator.
I’d think twice before buying Mavic’s products that can fail on you so bad. This is a message to the bicycling community worldwide. Support what supports you!!! and companies that back up their products and where customers are the main reason of their existence. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sal
a Cross Country Rider
from san francisco
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | great xc wheelset, its stiff for its weight and better traction because of lower tire pressure. | | Weaknesses: | its a f!@#$%g joke to get parts replaced for this wheel. see below. | | Similar Products Used: | original crossmax, chris king wheels | | Bike Setup: | superlight with xtr and manitou fork. | | Bottom Line: | I bent a rim beyond repair and it has to be sent back to mavic and its going to cost me over $250 to get a new rim and some spokes. the front wheel didnt even cost me that much. it will probably take more than a few weeks to get it back also. Its way too expensive to repair, im better off buying a new front wheel. The only thing making me keep this product is the performance i get out of them when they are working. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wingsprint
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ.
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cave Creek Dam Reserve | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Great wheels! Strong and light. No wheel is perfect, but these are very good. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | You name it. | | Bottom Line: | Now that you can get these $800 wheels ($499)on clearance at many places, run don't walk and get some. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ethan
a Racer
from Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything on 18 Road | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Tubeless is the way to go. At 28 psi control is unbelievable. And I haven't flatted any of my tires to this date. | | Weaknesses: | Stifness. But that is relatively minor in book. If you learn how to ride them then it isn't a problem | | Bike Setup: | 20" Moots YBBair, Full XTR, SID Race Carbon. | | Bottom Line: | I have experienced none of the customer support problems that people below have. When I finally pulled a few spokes out of the rear rim, this fall, two years after I got the wheels, Mavic had the wheels back to me in less than two weeks. The tubeless thing is amazing. At the National in Mt. Snow, I hit the rim three times and didn't pinch. And they weren't easy hits. I've ridden and raced some of the most demanding trails from Moab, to Snowshoe and most of what's in between. The wheels held up superbly. In October, while riding slickrock, I pulled three spokes through the rim. But I had been expecting that. I didn't think that the wheels would last as long as they did, but they did, and that's what is important. I don't plan on riding anything but tubeless wheels from now on | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manolo
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany, Black Forest
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Kandel | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | - Tubeless system (grip, less flats, damping)
- good weight / stability ratio
- looks | | Weaknesses: | - frontwheel stiffness | | Similar Products Used: | Mavix 517 / 521, Wolber AT 18, Rigida and so on | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar LE, XTR, Atom Race, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up of my earlier review.
On the trail hundreds of miles of singletrack riding have confirmed my first impressions: the use of tubeless tires (i ride Michelin XLS / Front S) generates a very smooth ride feeling with excellent grip. You really feel closer to the trail, cornering is excellent as well. I cleared sections, I never did before. Another advantage is the fact that pinch flats are a thing of the past. I did not have one single pinch flat since I ride these wheels for one year now and I really bashed over some rocks and roots ! In total I had only one flat at all because the rear tire picked up a nail on the street.
I had to true the rear wheels two or three times and the fornt wheel once, which is ok for me. Truing is quite easy with 18 / 20 spokes. The spoke wrench should be made of metal and not of crappy plastic. However I think Mavic wants to prevent that people do overtighten the spokes and therefore crack the rim.
The other gripe besides the spoke wrench: to my opinion the front wheel should be a little bit stiffer. When hard downhill bashing causes the fork to use all of its travel I notice some flex in the frontwheel which decreases steering precision.
For the bottom line I would say that this is a great wheelset for cross country riding.
Tubeless is the way to go !
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Submitted by
Mike R.
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix,AZ USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Organ Donor/Shultz Creek/Little Bear | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light weight, Strong Rims and Spokes, Sealed Bearings,
UST tires fit thes |
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