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Submitted by
Aaron W
a Cross Country Rider
from Needham, MA, United States
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Smooth rear hub design and engagement, solid bearings, etc..
Rim may be junk, but is 28H, so lacing to a fresh rim is possible. | | Weaknesses: | All of the straight pull spokes can rotate inside of the hub flange! That's why I got it for free! | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic XC717, X3.1, Bontrager Super Stock, Crossmax XL, Velocity VXC, WTB LaserDisc, Sun Rhynolite, etc... | | Bike Setup: | 1993 KHS Montana SS, rigid, tubeless, 23lbs | | Bottom Line: | If you're buying these as a used wheelset, bring a spoke wrench and check for the rotation of these damn straight pull spokes! If your a wheel builder like me, take some straight pull BLADED spokes and lace the hubs up to some nice 28H rims or some other nice rims if you like the hubs. The bladed spokes allow you to wrench away on the nipple without the spoke rotating with it. 5 for value, the rear wheel was free! 2 for overall, as they are repairable, but problematic. (Remember, back in 1998 this straight-pull spoke idea was relatively new.) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington,TN
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Stanky Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Looks, light | | Weaknesses: | weak rims | | Similar Products Used: | Spinergy Cyclone...Mavic Crossland | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS/Klein Mantra Pro/Santacruz Superlight/Serrota SS | | Bottom Line: | I purchase these wheels in 1998 and have used them on four bikes. Three years ago the one of the spoke nipples ripped out of the drivetrain side of the rear wheel. Instead of having it repaired for way too much money, I took a alluminium sprocket bolt, drilled it out to allow the spoke nipple to pass through it. I then countersunk a 1/4" hole to allow the nipple to seat inside the new "eyelet". This allows the spoke to put pressure on the inside layer of the rim instead of the cracked outside layer. I have repeated this repair five more times since then as other nipples have pulled through. I have been abusing these wheels on a single speed for the last 3 years. I have had no problems with the front or the hubs, only the drive side of the rear wheel.
If you have a broken older crossmax, instead of trashing it you might try this simple repair, it takes about 30 minutes.
I'm giving them a four because they did last five years with no problems. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EUAN
a Weekend Warrior
from TAYPORT
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | GLENTRESS | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | DALES , GLASGOW | | Strengths: | LOOKS, LIGHTWEIGHT, TUBELESS | | Weaknesses: | SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED | | Bike Setup: | S-WORKS FSR XC 2001 | | Bottom Line: | I only use this bike for proper riding (not for going to the shops) so they get a pounding every ride. never done any maintainence. Bearings still smooth, rims still true! I used to knacker wheels in no time and these have laughed it all off so far. I really should get the special tools to do maintainence.
Recomended for heavy XC users ( I'm 14 stone). I'm getting a disc set soon as i'm upgrading the brakes to disc.
Only 3 chillies for value as they aren't cheap. but running costs are zero. Tubeless rules. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Howard Kaiser
a Cross Country Rider
from Chandler, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | SoMo Geronimo | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | S Go | | Strengths: | Light and durable. Holds air. Needs very little maintenance. Alum spokes are holding up well. Looks good when clean... | | Weaknesses: | Lots of stickers to get messed up. Black looks crappy when dirty. | | Similar Products Used: | No other tubeless. These wheels came with the bike | | Bike Setup: | Stock 04 Hollowpoint Team - Panaracer Fire XC Pro Tubeless tires | | Bottom Line: | Love the tubless! I don't even carry a pump and spare tube on my regular rides. Getting a good tire on it is the trick to reliable rides. Holds air. No leaks. Stays true. Takes a lickin' Bearings and freewheel are showing no signs of going south after 2 years (close to 5K miles) of daily, cross-mountain riding.
I have trued them once due to a dinged spoke and thet's it! I have not kept the spoke really tight as I don't know how much tension the spokes or the rim can tolerate. Based on posts here about spokes pulling out, I have kept the spokes a little slack. The rear feels a littie loose on hard climbs but I've gotten used to it. It has not seriously affected the handling of the bike and I think has preserved the rims.
I've experimented with lots of tubeless tires and the best combo I've found for this bike (wheel) and my riding style (x-mtn) is the XC Pro's. Other tubeless tires were either too heavy or came apart or punctured easily.
Bearings and freewheel have been trouble free. I check them regularly because I've found that sealed bearing seldom stay that way. These boys are still sealed and still rolling smooth.
These are expensive wheels. That's why I gave it 4 on value as there may be equally good wheels out there for less money. I'm not sure that I would spend that kind of money ($800 list) to upgrade my other bike to tubeless, but they came with the bike and I'm glad. I would highly recommend these wheels if they can be gotten new or slightly used for a reasonable price (~$500?). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gregg
a Weekend Warrior
from Indy, IN
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | when you make something light, it can't be that strong | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 517's | | Bike Setup: | stock KHS soft-tail | | Bottom Line: | I got a deal on these wheels from my LBS, however I ride Clydesdale and these are NOT strong wheels. During one of my many trueing sessions with these wheels, I noticed the valve stem had torn the rim (similar to the nipple pulling through that others have mentioned?). I understand strength to weight ratio but come on! at this price there should be a gold stamped disclaimer if you weigh over 165. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Clemmow
a Racer
from Umhlanga
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Homtini trail Kynsna | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$510.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light, stiff, strong, durable | | Weaknesses: | The ceramic bush in the freewheel unit is prone to wear | | Similar Products Used: | XTR / 517, | | Bike Setup: | KHS Alite 4000, XTR 03 everything, Easton and USE components, Marzocchi Xfly fork | | Bottom Line: | Lurv these hoops. I used to trash a set of XTR 517's every 6 months. I've been riding these suckers for over 3 years, racing most weekends and apart from a few scratches on the spokes they look like new. I've had a few problems with the freewheel unit, where the ceramic bush gets dry, rough and sticky, but regular stripping and relube has sorted it out. I weigh 165lbs and race cross country so I'm not that hard on components, even so, they've never needed truing, no wear, no chipping of ceramic absolutely nothing. I stick about 2 oz of slime in each tubeless tyre, mount it on the rim, and then dont even bother taking a pump, spare tube or anything. Awesome | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Looks, weight | | Weaknesses: | Durability | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh Special Products tinanium frame hardtail, Sid shocks, XTR | | Bottom Line: | Wheels came with the bike (bought 2nd hand) in 2000. Not ridden that much. Lasted fine until lately when rear developed a flat spot and rim starting rubbing on brake pad. On closer inspection saw that the spoke was pulling through cracked rim. Rebuild will cost £200! Whats the point if this an potentially happen again (judging by the other reviews this is not an isolated incident)?
Was happy with them prior to this catastrophic failure so gonna give three chillis. Never can out of true. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Irvine
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Read May22, 2000 review. I retired them for a while when I bought my Fuel with tubeless wheelset. | | Weaknesses: | I made a quick wheel change Sunday AM before a training ride (Whiting/Old Camp/Luge). I ripped a spoke nipple through the ferule and rim (rear) on the Luge. The wheel is ruined, not sure it is worth a rebuild as a tubed wheel.
The ceramic surface chipped, but not to loss of function. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Propel Tubeless, these had a compeltely different set of problems. | | Bike Setup: | An original Trek Fuel 100 with standard XTR and some carbon upgrades | | Bottom Line: | Oh well, I got about 3 hard years of use form the wheels, and loved every minute I rode them. Anybody know if Mavic will rebuild as tubeless? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, Wa
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Swap | | Strengths: | Light, looks good | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Zed Team hardtail, manitou mars cl fork | | Bottom Line: | I read some other reviews about how these were weak but I rode the hell out of them in Moab and all I've noticed is a slight rub of the back wheel against my brake pads ( nothing a wheel true can't fix) i weigh 165 and they are still working fine, i am very satisfied. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Best
a Racer
from Lake Ann, MI
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | North Country Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | Super light. | | Weaknesses: | They have quite a bit of flex, due to the low number of spokes. | | Similar Products Used: | XTR-517's/Mavic Crosslinks | | Bike Setup: | K2 Zed Team, XTR everything, Crossmax wheels, Manitour Mars CL fork | | Bottom Line: | I love these wheels. I can tell that the roll better than any other wheel I've ever ridden. I got mine used after they had been raced on for a year, but they still work just like new. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GAVIN
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Grand Prix Cycles | | Strengths: | Very light weight,great looks,smooth bearings,ceramic coating provides good braking power....
| | Weaknesses: | Kinda expensive(I got mine at 35% off retail),but if ya want da best, be prepared to pay $$$...Aluminium spokes and ultra light weight rims are too flexible during cornering,rims gets out of true easily,ceramic surface causes lots of brake squeal using standard Avid pads(may try other pads)... | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic X221's on Formula hubs,Shimano WH-M535. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Giant ATX Team hardtail with lots of goodies, 9.8kg | | Bottom Line: | Its a good wheelset for light off road duties. Not recommended for downhilling,heavy XC or stunts. Heavy riders should be mindful that its a lightweight racing wheelset, therefore have to compromise on strength and durability. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a
from colorado
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | They are really really light | | Weaknesses: | I have broken two of them. I broke my second one after one ride! I have also heard that the hubs sieze. | | Similar Products Used: | campy o.r. | | Bike Setup: | yo eddy fat chance | | Bottom Line: | I am actually embarrassed that I spent so much money on such a crappy set of wheels. For $600 less I could have a wheelset that is a hell of a lot stronger and not too much heavier. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a Cross Country Rider
from boston
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light! | | Weaknesses: | Extremely weak rims. Eyelest pull through rims. Hubs freeze. Customer service blows. This wheelset sucks for the money! | | Similar Products Used: | SUP, Cane Creek, Sun Rhyno | | Bike Setup: | Merlin XLM | | Bottom Line: | These wheels suck, that is the bottom line. For the money I would expect that these rims would be strong and come with impeccable customer service. Oh was I wrong. I will never buy another mavic product again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Elton
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Quantocks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | they are light, and look good! | | Weaknesses: | they are not made properly! see below | | Similar Products Used: | mavics, sun, xt, etc.... | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed tellico, xtr, syncros, pace etc.... a nice bike! | | Bottom Line: | well, today, after a quick ride out on some local trails, got home, wash the bovine excrement from my bike and generally got it ready for race in a few weeks time, only to find 3 spoke pulling out on the rear rim, quite bad cracking around the eyelets!!! i've never jumped, dropped or tacoed these wheels in any way what so ever, probably only covered 150 mile with them.... this should just not happen period, i've never had this before, read my review of mavic 230's!!! at this price it really is disgusting, also the front hub doesn't sound too hot either!!!!
This is mavics flagship wheel, and i feel cheated!!! i don't have a garantee, because they are 'second hand' but the previous owner never used the bike, and the rims where as new when i got them.... so, i'm not as gutted as i would have been if i'd spent 250 uk pounds on the back wheel alone!
The bootom line is,these wheels look great, are light, but unless your minted and can afford a couple of sets, don't waste your money, get some components, and get some wheels made up, they won't have to be sent to france to be fixed at a cost that will make you puke!!!!
do yourself a favour, give them a miss, pimpy, but pants! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wasted Bean, the
a Cross Country Rider
from Downingtown, PA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Jim Thorpe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$599.00 | | Purchased At: | Downingtown Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Really great wheels until they break. | | Weaknesses: | The eyelet design and Mavic's customer support. | | Similar Products Used: | You name it, Deore, XT, XTR, Spinergy (I've been around a long time) | | Bike Setup: | 95 Litespeed Obed with an old Indy fork, and a Sram drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are super light, super fast, but most unfortunately, Mavic's customer relations and support stinks. When an eyelet fell out of the inside of the rim and it cracked,(I don't know how this happened, I've never seen anything like it before), I had to go through a dealer to get in touch with Mavic's support. After all of that effort was spent, they said it was one month out of warranty, and they would not do a thing. I only weigh 160lbs, and this wheel was never jumped, slammed, or crashed, but Mavic didn't want to hear it.
All I can say is, it's your money, but I'm looking to buy American next time. At least in this country, I can usually get in touch with customer support myself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bukit Kiara | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bike Pro Centre | | Strengths: | Strong and Light. Ceramic coated rims perform well in the wet, making rim brakes adequate for most cross-country applications. Claimed weight is 650g fr and 850g rr. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive. Non-standard parts (26 and 28 hole rim, straight pull spokes) can be difficult to replace. | | Bike Setup: | XTR cogs and derailleurs, XC Pro and Deore thumbshifters, Syncros crankarms with Shimano rings, Dura Ace chain, Time ATAC, Syncros post, Flite Alpes, Seven frame with BTCs | | Bottom Line: | This was the first "system" wheelset, utilising nonstandard parts and specifications: 26 spoke front wheel, 28 spoke rear, straight pull spokes with radial lacing on the front wheel and non-drive side on the rear wheel, and cross-3 on the rear drive side. The rim is ceramic coated. Front hub runs on 2 sealed cartridge bearings, rear hub has 4 cartridge bearings. Freehub has 2 pawls that engage in 11.25 degrees (or 32 detents per revolution). Complete disassembly requires just 2 5mm allen wrenches.
The wheel is strong and light. They've withstood severe cross-country abuse and have held up well for such a light wheelset. My front wheel taco'ed on my first off-road ride with the wheels when I hit a tree head-on. The replacement rim has lasted 5 years, and is still true without any maintenance. The rear wheel lasted until last year without maintenance, when I struck the square edge of a kerb with low pressure in the tyres. The resultant dent caused a spoke to come loose, but the wheel was still true. Then the bearings went south.
I have since rebuilt the rear wheel with 2 new bearings for the hub body. The freehub bearings cannot be replaced without special tools. The straight pull spoke design makes the wheel difficult to build because the spokes tend to spin in the hub rather than tightening up when the nipple is screwed. I used a vice grip lined with old inner tube to clamp the spoke in place until sufficient tension is created in the spokes to hold it in place in the hub. The hub design also requires you to disassemble the axle to insert the non-drive spokes.
The replacement rim was very true, requiring little adjustment to build up to a very straight wheel.
Overall the wheels have lasted well. The ceramic coating is excellent in the wet. The hard rim surface also resists wear much better than the silver rims that I've used, which generally require replacement after about 2 years.
If I were to buy a wheelset today would instead use a non-system wheelset (eg CK hubs, DT revolutions and ceramic coated rims) purely because parts would be more readily available and the wheel would be easier to rebuild. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Kalter
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwalk, CT
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Private | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Dealer | | Strengths: | Strong, light, ceramic coating, good customer service, easy hub adjustment | | Weaknesses: | ceramic chips, slowwww customer service, hub loosens occasionally | | Similar Products Used: | Many | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Supercaliber OCLV with gripshift and lx, xt, xtr mix with original Quadra 21R. | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset. I have never had to true them. Ceramic coating really helps braking until hard riding chips it off and the brakes grab on the chips.
After 3 years of hard riding my rear hub self destructed. Mavic rebuilt my wheel with a new rim, spokes, and most of the hub parts for $74. Luckily I had a backup wheel because they took their time.
I recommend anything from Mavic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Kalter
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwalk, CT
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Private | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Dealer | | Strengths: | Strong, light, ceramic coating, good customer service, easy hub adjustment | | Weaknesses: | ceramic chips, slowwww customer service, hub loosens occasionally | | Similar Products Used: | Many | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Supercaliber OCLV with gripshift and lx, xt, xtr mix with original Quadra 21R. | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset. I have never had to true them. Ceramic coating really helps braking until hard riding chips it off and the brakes grab on the chips.
After 3 years of hard riding my rear hub self destructed. Mavic rebuilt my wheel with a new rim, spokes, and most of the hub parts for $74. Luckily I had a backup wheel because they took their time.
I recommend anything from Mavic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steven trottier
a Racer
from lewisville n.c usa
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | hobby park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | paceline | | Strengths: | vry lite and the tubeless is awesome i have a hardtail and it almost makes it feel like a softtail w/ out the weight.!!!! | | Weaknesses: | skewers are a little heavy but the rim itself is very lite | | Similar Products Used: | cross roc and cross ride | | Bike Setup: | supercaliber full xtr sid king thompson monkey lite 21 pounds! | | Bottom Line: | i really love my tubeless rims. they r so lite and look so sweet! i should have gotten them b4 i did beacause thy improved my riding soo much cause you can ride them at soo low pressure that you don't really feel the ground. no slippin when you fly into the tight turns you don't have to slow down and that can really catch you up in races! i realy love them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob rupprecht
a Racer
from aiken,sc,usa
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbc | | Strengths: | smooooth,cool looks some what wider and gives tire a wider foot print | | Weaknesses: | rear wheel split around spoke nipples on very smooth trail | | Similar Products Used: | too many to list xtr/217 hugi/valiant white/sun | | Bike Setup: | litespeed ocoee,z1 bomber,esp9.0&xtr,racefacecanks&stem monkey lite bar, thompson post | | Bottom Line: | well.... i thought this was a great set of wheels, but after a very easy ride the rear started to crack around the eyelets. this set should not have done this! i have ridden for over 10 years and never had a wheel fail as this did. i haven't contacted mavic as of yet, so i'll have to wait and see. this set might be for sale | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rei nic
a Weekend Warrior
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tai Hang | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$385.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle World | | Strengths: | Looks. Build quality. So light. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crossride | | Bike Setup: | Porsche | | Bottom Line: | I was very lucky to get one of the last pairs of the non-UST Crossmax in HK. I've set them up with Conti Twister Pro's, 12-34 XTR cassette and ceramic pads on XTR V-brakes. In terms or ride, I wasn't expecting much of a difference between these and my Crossmax but I was really surprised! The Crossmax are much more responsive on hills and my bike surges forward. The ceramic rims and pads reduce stopping distances by 50% when compared to the non-ceramic Crossride. There is slightly more flex in the Crossmax so I've increased pad clearance by 2mm. These are best wheels I've ever had. They seriously cool on my bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Weekend Warrior
from Glendale, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | whitting ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bikes | | Strengths: | Overall great set of wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Front brake squeal :( | | Bike Setup: | Santa cruz " Heckler" full xtr Bomber front! | | Bottom Line: | Basically, just wondering if anyone else is having front brake squeal. I've tried everything from koolstop ceramic pads to different types of toe positions. I've had xt v-brakes to xtr and still have brake squeal :(. If anyone out there has any tips or advise to get this problem solved please e-mail me. I would appreciate it.
Thanks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Lang
a Cross Country Rider
from Asia
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | see preceeding post | | Weaknesses: | see preceeding post | | Bottom Line: | Well, sadly found one 'weakness' in this non-zicral, non ust xmax wheelset which I had never experienced with any of my other wheelsets (again, see my preceeding post for the list). Setup my wheels in the inadvisable way of Torrelli extra light presta tubes (no threaded valve) on the schrader version xmax wheelset mentioned above, and rode them through water just to see how much water the wheels would collect (with the other wheelsets with the same setup I got almost none). Sadly, I found that a LOT of water collects (believe it or not) not between the tube and the wheel, but between the rim and the original rim tape. And believe me it was a LOT. Like I said, this set up isn't axactly ideal and using schrader (ugh) tubes or threaded presta's (such as the Maxxis for example would enable me to cover the 'gap' remaining from the schrader valve hole. But it was surprising to me that water would collect there. Still like them though. ;-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Lang
a Cross Country Rider
from Asia
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Price (for the old non-zicral spoke non ust version). Weight. Strength (for xc). Damn smooth hubs. And yes, looks. | | Weaknesses: | Too early to tell. | | Similar Products Used: | CrossMax zicral spoke version non-ust disk and non disk. CrossMax ust version, Crosslinks non disk, Rolf Dolomites, 321's, 521's, Deemax's. | | Bottom Line: | Purchased these for US$300 from my lbs to replace my Crosslinks on one of my hardtails. Initially was worried about it's performance as it was my first non-zicral spoke version of the CrossMax. Darned happy I got it. Works identical to the zicral version and MUCH cheaper.
I'm 178pounds and the terrain in my area is irregular rocky technical trails. They so far seem to be as stiff and tough as the newer xmax's so I'm smiling.
If you can get them cheap, go for it.
PS. Thanks to Dan Q for the tips from the tech section. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Miguel G.-Doncel
a Cross Country Rider
from Hoyo de Manzanares, Spain
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | El Mirador and Silla del Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | Overalll finish and performance.
Weight
| | Weaknesses: | Price. The black finish used in the product initially looks great, but after time, you realize that it would have been smart if the guys at Mavic had leave the natural silver tone.
The spoke protector on the cogs' side is too small if you decide to use large cassettes.
| | Similar Products Used: | WTB paradigm paired to Araya RM-700-Pro rims | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC ('98); Moots Stem, General Kinetics raised handlebar, Moots seatpost, wtb saddle, Shimano XT brakes and shifting, Cook Bothers E-2 Crankset, RaceFace Bottom bracket, Onza pedals, Chris King headset, RockSox SID fork | | Bottom Line: | The wheels are expensive, that's true. But you get the whole set alerady built and trued.
The ceramic sides on the rims forces the use of specific pads. Braking is the best one you can get in the world of cantilever, U or -V brakes.
My XMax have stayed true since I got them, and after more than 6000 km.
The bearings are easily serviceable (in spite they are sealed, I always like to service them once every 6 months, like I do the same with all bearings including the CK headset, which I only service once a year) and have not gave me any problems to date.
I can say that my wheels are abused, mainly due to the terrain and conditions of the area where I ride (I am not a heavy rider: 155 lb): very rocky, irregular, and mostly dry, making the terrain quite hard and loose, therefore quite technical. Dute to this, there are bits produced by stones mostly on the edges of rims and on spokes. This is ok: is a minor detail and always happens, but if color had been silver, the scratches and bits would be a lot more difficult to detect and the wheels would always look brand new. But I repeat that this is a minor aspect.
The product is excellent but when the price is more affordable it will deserve the 5 chilis.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ortega
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$690.00 | | Purchased At: | now defunct shop | | Strengths: | light, stiff, looks, reliable, | | Weaknesses: | I paid almost $700 for them back in '98 but you can get them pretty cheap (relative, of course) now. You have to buy special brake pads due to the ceramic side walls. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, Hugi (absolute crap--the rear hub broke twice), Suntour XC pro, Nuke Proof | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | The best wheels I've owned. I've raced on them a bunch of times; done long rides. I've seen them as cheap as $449 and you can probably get them cheaper. They're more than worth it at that price. These are not bomber wheels, though. If you have visions of Richie Schley or Steve Peat, forget it; you'll destroy them. For their intended purpose--cross country racing and riding--there's nothing better out there. They're still pricey but really worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 899.00
