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Submitted by
jeff wu
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder,co,usa
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Hall Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun and Ski Sports | | Strengths: | One of a kind frame. Responsive, light, agile, durable. I've ridden it hard and put it away wet, but she's still a great ride even to this day. | | Weaknesses: | Thrashed the original Judy XC fork. The guy at the bike shop had to rebuild it from various kits because it's nearly impossible to find a 1 inch front suspension fork. marzocchi maybe? | | Similar Products Used: | GT carbon hardtail, Bontrager Privateer, Performance hardtail, Jamis hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | XTR drivetrain, Judy XC (rebuilt), Fizik saddle, Panaracer tires, XT wheels, Zoom stem, and bar ends (can't see why folks ride without them) | | Bottom Line: | The frame is a 96, but I purchased it in 98 before Bontrager was bought by Trek. It was between this and a Klein Attitude. Aluminum seemed sexier at the time, but I just loved the way the Bontrager felt. Where I live, few people ride steel, or even hardtails, much less something as old as this. You get more than a handful of comments when you show up with a rig like this. The serial number has only 3 numbers. Apparently, there weren't that many made. The fork issue is problematic, but I plan on riding this bike until she breaks. That will be a sad day. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from hickory,NC,usa
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | ordered frame only | | Strengths: | i built this up to a 21.5lb bike and it climbs like a cat with its tail on fire. plus it's just so sexy | | Weaknesses: | big name company bought keith out and now i have a bike warranteed for life that isn't made anymore | | Similar Products Used: | i own (and have owned) about everything there is. now i have a full suspension beast i usually ride but sometimes its nice just to play on this thing, to remember how to ride | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi fork, XT/XTR setup, raceface cranks, thompson post and a special blessing from el diablo | | Bottom Line: | this bike has it's own bed at my house, everyone should own one. on second thought i'm glad mine's one of a kind, 'cause i know i won't meet you riding the same flippin bike as me every time i get out. if you can find a used one and you like to race or ride trails (no hucking) this bike rules. its the best handling bike i've had (of 12) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Berkeley Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Singletingle | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharp Bicycles | | Strengths: | A fine balance of flex and strength. A rabbit out of turns and an crisp climber. | | Weaknesses: | Limited fork selection | | Similar Products Used: | nothing even close | | Bike Setup: | XT, Marz Z2, Mavic, 858, LP 3ø, Chris King | | Bottom Line: | This bike has more ability to handle riding than I have ability to ride. No matter how much I learn, the bike is able to take me there. I've gone through a full set of components, put on new ones, and she's ready to go.
I can't imagine a better investment in a ride than this one; crisp, quick, clean, supple, and elegant. Sure, there may be a light XC dually for me in the next few years but nothing will give me the go I have when I step down on this pedal. This bike is a real keeper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Marin singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Pre-Trek 1992 frame still going strong. Fast, light, stiff, bombproof. | | Weaknesses: | 1 inch headset (thank goodness for Marzochi). That's it. | | Bike Setup: | XTR drivetrain, Sweet Wings Cranks, Avid Arch Supreme brakes, King/Valiant wheels, WTB saddle/tires, Syncros stem/Bonti Ti bar & ends, new U.S.E. XCR suspension seat post (gives new life to hardtails), a little Weigle spray to combat rust. | | Bottom Line: | Irreplaceable. Sure, today there are Ellsworth, Intense and Turner to drool over for full suspension rigs. But you can't beat the combo of history, engineering, and quality in what might be the best hardtail ever made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from blackburn, lancashire, England
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Howgill Fells | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Well built, good corrosion resistance, with 1degree reduced rake crown the steering is the best I have ever tried. | | Weaknesses: | Thin tube walls dent easily if you are not careful | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Explosif, Kona Kilauea. | | Bike Setup: | Pace, hope disks, chris King, ESP 9.0, hope/mavic wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Probably one of the finest hardtails in existence.
Frame will last practically forever if you look after it.
Very expensive, but if it lasts five years, then it will have kicked practically every other frame's arse for value, whilst giving you one of the sweetest rides around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom McConnell
a Weekend Warrior
from Arizona
Date Reviewed: December 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Secret Trail - Flagstaff, Az. | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
low rotational weight - front wheel cornering feel - smooth bearings -way more durability than expected | | Weaknesses: |
Rear wheel feels a bit mushy in hard lean angle corners due to difflection | | Similar Products Used: |
crossmax | | Bike Setup: |
96 Turner w/ Fox alps 5 & Atom Bomb | | Bottom Line: | would buy them again and reccomend them to customers | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fritz
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Extremely Light Weight
Fast and Strong | | Weaknesses: |
Expensive if they did not come on your bike | | Similar Products Used: |
Nothing comparable | | Bike Setup: |
Pro Caliber
SID SL | | Bottom Line: | Very light weight and fast. When coupled with lightweight tubes and semi-slick tires this set-up flys. I have not had to true them at all after 750+ miles and being 205lbs. The rear hub did loosen after about 150 miles. Otherwise these rims are excellent overall. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Wnuk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winona, MN
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cherry Hill | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light, strong, make a cool buzzzing noise. | | Weaknesses: |
Not cheap, both hubs loosened up after a couple of hundred miles. | | Similar Products Used: |
Stock wheels,Crosslands (good wheels also.). | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 8000, Sid XC, mostly XTR, etc. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels were noticeably lighter and seemed to be deflected off rocks easier. Other than the hub bearings loosening up once, they have been flawless. I got mine for $400.00 used, but they had new, supposedly crack-proof rims installed along with new nipples. So far they have not needed truing even after 2 hard races. Two thumbs up!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Collins
a Cross-Country Rider
from Barneveld, NY
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Plattkill's XC | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
The lightest
By far the fastest
Servicability
strong ceramic coating
Great strength to weight ratio
Ring drive is great for slow technical riding | | Weaknesses: |
just the slightest bit flexy, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages | | Similar Products Used: |
mavic
rolf
just about everything | | Bike Setup: |
1999 gary fisher supercaliber MANITOU SX-TI(yes they do fit) | | Bottom Line: | These have dramatically improved my riding, they are soooo fast and smooth. The perfect XC riding/racing setup is these wheels with a set of ultra light tubes, a Bontrager Super-X 2.1 fr and a Bontrager Super-X 2.0 rear, both at like 30psi(I honestly haven't gotten a flat at this pressure yet) A really cool feature is the ring drive in the rear hub, it makes engagement instant, which means better chances of cleaning a technical section cause you can stall it and trackstand for a second and you start moving as soon as you pedal. I got these wheels, trued and tensioned them perfectly and they haven't come a half mm out of true after a whole season of riding. These wheels are expensive but try to buy a bike spec'd with them like i did. Even if you buy them aftermarket they are by far the best upgrade you can put on an XC bike | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Z
a Racer
from Logan UT
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
the one i rode today | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light light light
Purdy
I never thought I needed ceramic, but it rocks | | Weaknesses: |
$$ | | Similar Products Used: |
sworks wheelset | | Bike Setup: |
22 lb Ellsworth Truth hardtail destroyer | | Bottom Line: | These wheels kick ass. I raced a full season on them and never had to true them, after my initial tensioning. Anyone who thinks they can buy a wheelset, take it out of the box and stick it on there bike and never true it is nuts. I mean, its not a Spin. Make sure you have someone competant go over them and they will rule. I rode them hard over nasty rocky utah trails all summer, sometimes with wimpy 1.9 and 1.6 semi slicks on a FS bike. I can't believe how true they've stayed. WAY better than my SWorks wheelset which has been perpetually out of true.Its interesting that from feb until august there were no posts of cracking rims, but now there are. Seems there is a bit of a fatigue life problem. Well I guess thats what you get from a 390 g rear rim. I think I'll detension mine a tiny bit now.The ceramic has sweet modulation, and no more buffing the brake pads off the rim surface like regular rims. I did have to relace the front wheel to fit inside my UL70.Minus 1/2 star for the rebuild, rounds up to 5 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Norm Whittaker
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgeland, SC
Date Reviewed: October 10, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of Hunting Island | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light.
Good lookin'!
Strong (so far) | | Weaknesses: |
Defective rear hub. It took two months to replace (fully warranteed though). | | Similar Products Used: |
XT/Mavic
Other Shimano combos | | Bike Setup: |
Specialized A1 Comp
Manitou M4 | | Bottom Line: | Speedy & light.
I'm a clydesdale and they hold up under pressure. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross-Country Rider
from a place
Date Reviewed: September 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
all of them | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light and have King hubs | | Weaknesses: |
Flexy and the rim cracked | | Similar Products Used: |
Crossland | | Bike Setup: |
Fisher with a Manitou | | Bottom Line: | They are too flexy for someone that weighs over 170. I cracker the rear rim after less than three months of use. The reason that it cracked was the extremly high spoke tension and I know I am not the first or only one that this happened too. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a Cross-Country Rider
from wethersfield , CT
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
light weight
bombproof | | Weaknesses: |
$$$
front wheel detension | | Similar Products Used: |
various xt/xtr w/mavic | | Bike Setup: |
klein hardtail
manitou sx | | Bottom Line: | great set of wheels!!! absolutly bombproof. I did have a problem initially with my front detensioning and some frt flex in my fork. I might rebuild it w a 2 cross. BUY THEM | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from Missouri
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Very noticeable difference while climbing, zzzzzzzzzzz noise for unsuspecting hikers | | Weaknesses: |
Cost | | Bike Setup: |
M2 Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding my Race Lites for three months without any problems. KB himself advised me to get a stronger wheelset via e-mail due to my Clydesdale status (210 lbs.), but I received his note days after my purchase. No worries, these wheels are super fast, and show no signs of abuse after 250+ miles of rocky singletrack. These wheels have been by far the most noticeable upgrade ever to my bike, every hill reminds me of this. The fact that KB takes the time to respond to potential customers personally blew me away. King hubs, Valiant ceramics, DT Revolutions- what more can I say, the best of the best! Five flaming piles of Clydesdale Dung! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Racer
from alma, michigan
Date Reviewed: September 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
tsali | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
they stay true until they break and feel fast. THEY ARE LIGHT | | Weaknesses: |
the low spoke count and radial lace catch more sticks than my wife's rolf wheels. Also the rims are distorting around the spoke holes. the side walls are no longer flat. Pretty annoying for the price. also I pulled a spoke out of the rim bed. it was on the drive side but not a pulling spoke. Trek fixed it but the two week old rim is becoming wavy-- again! | | Similar Products Used: |
cross max, various shop built wheels. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Caad4 with fatty sl. xtr yada yada yada | | Bottom Line: | good wheel set for a weeks worth of riding in Michigan. I'd hate to see what rough rocky trail do to these rims. I weigh 135 lbs. but ride hard. I also manage a bike shop here in Mich. so i get to see a lot of product. this is a good product with some issues in the rim. Sorry Keith -- i still love my race lite -- but these wheels only get 1/2 a flaming turd | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Singletrackmind
a Racer
from FL
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Light, Stay true | | Weaknesses: |
$$$, weak rims | | Bike Setup: |
GF procaliber, full XTR, SID | | Bottom Line: | Ive put about 900 miles on them and they have been great and stayed true. However after a recent wash I noticed 4, 1/2 inch long cracks by eyelets. I hope this is an isolated case and that they will be warrantied but Im gonna be without a wheel for awhile. I race but im fairly smooth and do not think that these should have cracked in this manner. Would be a five but the cracked rim sucks so its only gettin a two. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carl
a Weekend Warrior
from clifton, nj
Date Reviewed: August 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
mt. snow | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
light, strong rims (never out of true), front has never been trued in about 1000 hard miles! | | Weaknesses: |
rear hub loosened twice on me! | | Similar Products Used: |
sun rhyno DH, mavic 517, sun cr18 | | Bike Setup: |
Merlin Fat Ti | | Bottom Line: | Great rims, but my rear hub has come loose 2x, thank God my LBS (the Bikery in Montclair, NJ) is on my side, and will solve the problem. I'll still give four chilis because I weigh 200lbs. and ride real hard. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross-Country Rider
from Santa Clarita
Date Reviewed: August 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Mt. Pinos-McGill Trail | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light Weight, Strong, Reliable | | Weaknesses: |
Costly | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic | | Bike Setup: |
Ellsworth Truth- Air Englund Judy XC | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are the best. They cost a little bit but they are well worth it. Don't waste your money on anything less because these will last forever. I have abused these for eight months now and they are still as true as the day I bought them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Momar Khadafi
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tripoli, Libya
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light
Light
Stronger than it looks | | Weaknesses: |
$$$$ | | Similar Products Used: |
517, Sun, 217, Bont Mustang, Valiant, XT, XTR, Ringle | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Adroit Race | | Bottom Line: | Could not believe the weight. The rear wheel weighed less than most fron ones I've seen. Lateral stiffness is unbelieveable for the spoke count. Believe me, if there's flex, I'll notice on that Klein. The Ceramic does squeal like a ... well, anyways, toe the front pads OUT, squeal is gone. Rattled a stick in the rear wheel the other day, though the wheel was doomed, but no damage. Credit elastic spokes and maybe a bit of luck. This wheelset is a good example of what you get when you take the best you can find in the industry (King hubs, DT revolutions, Bonti Cermet Valiants) and put them together with careful design. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BipedZed
a Racer
from Denver,CO
Date Reviewed: July 1, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light, strong, Chris King hubset | | Weaknesses: |
Ceramic rims overkill for dry Colorado trails. Hard to be stealthy with RingDrive. | | Similar Products Used: |
Various 32h 3 cross wheels | | Bike Setup: |
Klein hardtail, Manitou SX Carbon | | Bottom Line: | These are great wheels. I was really skeptical how long these would last, but they are super strong. Had to relace the front with the elbows inside the flange to get it to fit with the Manitou SX Carbon fork. Strength difference has been unnoticed. The most important and noticeable upgrade you can make to your bike. Plus Bontrager is honest with weight specs. Weight specs were within a few grams on the shop scale, Mavic Crossmax wheels were almost 100grams heavier than spec. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edward B.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Northern Virginia
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Cacapon Trails | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Light as a feather
Fast as can be | | Weaknesses: |
weaknesses? | | Similar Products Used: |
none at all | | Bike Setup: |
Ibis Alibi
Marzocchi Z2
RaceFace/XTR getup | | Bottom Line: | I'll never own another pair of wheels...I hope. These are awesome, awesome, awesome!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shawn
a Cross-Country Rider
from south carolina
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
light weight
durability | | Weaknesses: |
high price but worth it | | Similar Products Used: |
King/517ceramic
crossmax | | Bike Setup: |
schwinn homegrown factory
full xtr, sid sl, King Ti headset
Maxxis Wormdrive tires | | Bottom Line: | These wheels plus super light slicks and ultra light tubes WILL make you faster. The acceleration is awesome and cool sound from the rear too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gern Blanston
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: June 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Bartlett Wash | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light weight
Acceleration
Stiffness
Wizzy King rear zipper noise | | Weaknesses: |
Price
A little creaking on steep climbs | | Similar Products Used: |
White Ti with 217 Ceramics
XTR with 517 | | Bike Setup: |
Merlin Mountain
Atom Bomb | | Bottom Line: | Went with the boys to Moab last week. Pounded down Porcupine Rim. At first I was a little concerned abot the pounding the wheels were taking and whether they would blow apart and leave me in a bloody heap. However I was surprised how tough these wheels are. After the pounding the rear was perfect and the front slightly out of true. The rest of our 5 days in Mecca was paradise and the wheels held up as a $1000 (CDN) pair of wheels should. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Gersib
a Racer
from Boulder, Colorado
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The Jefferson Trail | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Very light
Excellent component quality
Good strength | | Weaknesses: |
Price
24h front wheel is tough to true
Cheezy stickers | | Similar Products Used: |
XT/Mustang
XTR/517 Ceramic
King/517
Bontrager Race | | Bike Setup: |
1 set on a '99 Klein Attitude with a Manitou.
1 set on a Bontrager RaceLite with a Bomber. | | Bottom Line: | I'm impressed by these wheels on several levels. The little details are very well worked out. I found the build quality on my sets to be good on one, and very, very good on the second. With some time in the truing stand, both sets of wheels were perfectly true and round. Both were good in this respect out of the box, though. I've raced and ridden a couple of times in Moab with these wheels, which is an excellent test due to the quantity of rocks. The wheels held up well to the abuse. One of my teammates runs a '98 SX-Ti, and I had to re-lace his front wheel so it'd fit, but it wasn't a big deal. That's more of a Manitou problem than a Bontrager problem anyway. It's exclusive to that fork design. Probably won't be a factor next year. Anyway, I like these wheels. You could do worse, expecially if you don't know how to build wheels. I've built XTR/517s that are close to the weight of the RLs, but they aren't quite as light. I'd agree with the guy that talked about doing the front wheel in 28 spokes. It'd make it quite a bit easier to find a rim in a pinch. That, and the fact that I think the rim stickers are not as good as they should be, are the only real knocks I have against this well thought out product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank Diesveld
a Racer
from Leerdam, Holland
Date Reviewed: May 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light and superstrong | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Similar Products Used: |
crossmax
Rolff propel | | Bike Setup: |
Fisher yoshua f1
klein adroit | | Bottom Line: | I rode a MTB marathon in Riva de Garda with these wheels. They were just incredible
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kerry chrapliwy
a Racer
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: May 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Pinkney, Ann Arbor MI | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
wow, are they light | | Weaknesses: |
I didn't buy the ceramic pads, but I did toe in still a lot of noise | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic for the past 3 years | | Bike Setup: |
SID SL, Trek 8900, Race ready | | Bottom Line: | I like the sound of the rear hub, it has sort of a fishing reel sound, could not believe how light they were and how easy they seemed to lift off of planet earth. I used them this weekend in a race in Waco, I'm about 205 and the downhills were berm heaven, you had to ride the sides. A little bumpy but no problems. What persudaed me was servicability--the rolf and crossmax go by for weeks, the repair is only a shop away. Coupled with the new bontrager tires, the Super-X they give | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Voduc
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
strong, very light
easy to service King hubs
decent price for what you get | | Weaknesses: |
annoying hub sound
24 spoke front wheel isn't ideal
28 spokes would only weigh 20 grams more and it would be easier to find replacement rims (if necessary) | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic Crossmax on a friend's bike | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Mountain Altitude | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset- awesome hubs, lighter and less expensive than Mavic C-max.
Most of the parts (except the front rim) are easily serviced/replaced.
These wheels offer a noticeable advantage in weight and I haven't had any problems
with stiffness. QRs work well too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross-Country Rider
from Farmington, CT
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Case Mountain | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
LIGHT! Faster acceleration, didn't think a set of wheels would make that much difference. IT DOES. Seem pretty durable, so far. Love that Chris King hub whine. | | Weaknesses: |
seem to going through brake pads. Yes, I do have the one made for ceramic rims. Could be because conditions are still sort of muddy. | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic 217 w/XT hubs | | Bike Setup: |
Amp B4 - Judy SL - Risse rear shock - XT components - w/the Race Lites, bike weights 22.9 pounds | | Bottom Line: | GREAT WHEEL SET IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Toby Reclusado
a Racer
from covina CA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
serratoga gap hwy 9 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Simplicity, and weight or lack there of. King rules | | Weaknesses: |
price, a little much | | Similar Products Used: |
xt hubs + bontrager mustangs | | Bike Setup: |
bontrager privateer comp with z 2 abomb | | Bottom Line: | Kieth helped invent the Rockshox, no wonder the wheels don't fit in Manitous, | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross-Country Rider
from Pasadena
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Light, Strong, King Hubs | | Weaknesses: |
Price | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Mantra Race, Manitou SX fork | | Bottom Line: | These wheels Rock - But they don't fit the Manitou SX Carbon. At the bike store I work at, we re-laced the front spokes so they come off the inside of the hub - after doing this, no problem with fitting in the fork. I emailed Kieth Bontrager and ran this buy him and he reported back (That in itself is very cool!) that this should pose no problem to the integrity of the wheel. Hiope this helps someone out there. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross-Country Rider
from south carolina
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
BIG CREEK!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Super light and strong rear hub noise | | Weaknesses: |
MAnitou compatibility
rear hub noise | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic Crossmax | | Bike Setup: |
Litespeed Ocoee
Full XTR Manitou FS Ti | | Bottom Line: | After more terrible dealings with Mavic than I
ever care to remember, Worst customer service in the biz, And thats coming from a 4 year shop employee. I tried the Race Lites. Super sweet!!!
Second ride I flatted the rear tire with no patches or tube (I know, I know, I'm an idiot!!) Rode the trail 6 miles out on a flat tire and did not even knock the wheel out of true. 'Nuff said
I give it 5 flaming phallus looking things Change
your stars fellas, you're scaring people | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from san diego
Date Reviewed: April 12, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
super light, super strong, and they accelerate like mad. cool all black stealth look. | | Weaknesses: |
Price, if you had to buy them separately. | | Bike Setup: |
fisher procaliber with sid SL's. | | Bottom Line: | love them. I weigh 200+ and have had no problems yet and dont expect any either. a big factor in buying the bike i did this year was that it came with these wheels. Also if you break a spoke you dont have to send them back to the manufacturer like you do with crossmaxes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from St. Paul, Minnesota
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
goat path baby!!! | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
super duper light!!!
never seen or tried lighter mtb. wheels! | | Weaknesses: |
none!! | | Similar Products Used: |
mavic crossmax | | Bike Setup: |
gary fisher procaliber
(custom made)(e-mail for specs 21 lbs!!!!). Procaliber along with manitou sx carbon | | Bottom Line: | these wheels rule!
it is true about it not fitting in the sx carbon
but all u have to do is switch the spokes around and then it will not hit the beefy fork legs.
otherwise these wheels are worth it!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Loren
a Racer
from Hershey
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Rob Garwood is fat and slow | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
very light
unique King hub mechanism
bike geeks are impressed | | Weaknesses: |
shouldn't bike geeks get a cooler-looking wheel for $800? They're just black with some stickers.
the Manitou rumor is true - my dad tried to use a set with the Manitou Carbon fork and the front won't fit without a re-lace to the inside of the hub flange. Both Bontrager and King have advised that its no big deal, just a slight decrease in strength | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavics with Hugi's | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F-1000 with Headshok | | Bottom Line: | I've just taken them out for their first few rides. Very light. And, suprisingly, they seem strong. I weigh 190 and have managed to accidently hop them onto some large rocks already. So far, no truing necccessary. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Waterdown trailsystem | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Lightest wheels on the planet and best of all their bombproof(literly) | | Weaknesses: |
Nothing, I can think of yet. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cane Creek Cronos, 517/Chris king. | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Attitude Race Xtr/Xt Manitou SX-ti | | Bottom Line: | The best in the world..... Thats the bottom line and its never going to change. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg
a Racer
from Buffalo Grove, IL
Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
strong, light, bombproof | | Weaknesses: |
none | | Bottom Line: | I posted an earlier review, but I've put these wheels through the true test. Just spent a week in AZ riding and racing in Cactus Cup. I literally beat the crap out of these wheels for a week straight and they are still true to a T. No loosening of the Chris King hubs at all. They are the single best upgrade you could possibly make. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a racer
from minnesota
Date Reviewed: March 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
wow!
these wheels kick ass! i just got them 2 weeks ago (feb 28th) and they are
incredible!
i like
them
because they
es muy
divertido
y
muy
bueno
a
montar en mi bicicleta.
forgive the spanish,
these wheels over all just rock!
i e-mailed bontrager and asked for the weight:
here is what they said:
front: 620 gm.
rear:820 gm.
skewers: 100 gm/pair
thanks
bubye now ya know,
matt | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a cross-country rider
from Pasadena, Ca
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've put close to 500 miles on these wheels since early December. In my experience, investing in a quality set of wheels is the best upgrade you could get for your bike. Less rotational weight = a faster more efficient ride. That said, these wheels are steller. Strong, light, and with Chris Kings hubs...bombproof. The wheels stay remarkably true. I did not experience any break in loosenes the rear hub as indicated in the Chris King owners manuel (Check their web site if you don't have a manuel, you can down load it). The ceramic rims have been great...stop on a dime...and surprisingly, have been pretty forgiving on the brake pads. I've been running them w/ WTB dual compound pads (not even specified for ceramic rims) and these pads have lasted longer than shimano's did on my old non- ceramic rims! I have found the front wheel to have no trouble fitting Manitou forks, at least the 99 models... There is no problem at all! Perhaps those concerns posted below are for earlier year Manitou forks? If you can afford it, The Race Lites are a top notch wheel set and you will immediately notice the difference with every pedal stroke. Five flamers
Out. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg
a
from racer
Date Reviewed: February 22, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This wheelset is incredible!! The smoothness is great. And the accelleration is unbelievable. When you stand to climb and accellerate, it's as if the wheels are giving you an extra push. There's no power lost what so ever with the low rolling weight. Thanks Keith, you've outdone yourself again!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a racer
from Libertyville,IL
Date Reviewed: February 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been riding the Race Lite wheelset for a couple of months now. They are exceptionally light and seem plenty strong. The Chris King hubs are fabulous. The buzz of the ring drive is convenient for me as it provides an audible warning for two way traffic coming anound blind corners. The ceramic rims do stop much better in wet conditions. Some warning comments are in order though. I run an XT 8 speed cassette which required a spacer. It is possible that the spoke guard will provide the necessary space but I'll admit I hate using those things. The other item relates to the previous review. He's right that the hub flanges are too wide for many Manitou forks. It is not difficult too relace the wheels with the spokes on the inside of the flange. Structurally this will make the wheel a little less stiff but it results in less stress on the spoke bend. I'll give 'em 4 chilies because the list price is about $100 too high. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a racer
from Montebelluna, Italy
Date Reviewed: February 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Caution! These wheels will not work with Manituou shocks! I haven't ridden on the wheels yet because all I use are Manitou shocks...I'm debating whether to return the wheels or buy a new shock. I'm very disappointed that Bontrager Co. doesn't advice people that the front wheels won't work with Manitou (and other?) shocks. They do seem to fit OK with Rock Shox or Marzocchi shocks. The Race Lite wheels are beautiful, very light and with the King hubs should be quite outstanding. I'll update later with any information I have, should I ride on the wheels... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a cross-country rider
from West Chester, PA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got my 97 left over Race Lite about 3 weeks ago. Let me tell you, this bike is incredible. Now I must admit, I am upgrading from a 91 RockHopper that had seen its day long ago, but I have ridden other bikes and I am sold on Bontrager. I have never been on a hardtail that glided so well over bumps, didn't jump all over the place, and kept traction. It also carves right through the single track. It has a great component package and it's lite as hell. Steel is still king (unless you have the money for ti of course). KB, you've built one serious bike! THANKS! | | Overall Rating: |
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