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Submitted by
American Lesion
a Cross Country Rider
from Venango County, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oil Creek, Allegheny, and Sandy Creek Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Cheap. strong. attractive. | | Weaknesses: | Tad heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Alex, Weinmann, Mavic, Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Heck, I have five MTB's....running the gamut from Shimano XT to SRAM/Sachs Plasma to Sunrace M-60 and from 9 to 7 speed. All have Wellgo WPD or Ritchey Clipless Pedals, IRC, Kenda, Geax, and WTB tires. Only my (Lake) Freerider has (Diatech)disc brakes, the others have linear pull brakes from Shimano and Tektro...or Self-Energizing Cantilevers from Scott/ Pederson and operated by Avid levers, or even a U-brake on one of my resurrections. | | Bottom Line: | These rims are relatively strong and should serve all but the obese and the most clumsy of riders. Anyone claiming to be a "racer" should have the ability to avoid the obstacles that would cause severe damage to wheels built from rims such as these. These rims have been built for a long time--and with good reason. They're strong...sell at a very fair price, look bright and attractive, and when built up with hubs like Altus and UCP spokes, only retail for 35 bucks or so. I weigh 185 pounds and haven't been able to damage these suckers.
Wheels built from these rims are not race-quality by a long shot, but would be fine for training, resurrecting an old ride (as I've done with them),for the occassional rider, the weekender, tourister, bike-trailer, commuter, light or medium duty trail rider, or anything along those lines.
My more serious mountain biking demands take place on Zac 19's or Specialized GX-26's with Formula or LX hubs, respectively. That doesn't mean that I don't have faith in my Araya wheels--I realize their limitations, though and take care of my equipment. Unlike others that thrash their equipment and then post unfair reviews, entry level equipment shouldn't be expected to perform with the likes of higher-level, more exepensive componentry. I also have no desire to ruin my Araya wheelset. I certainly treasure them for bike-trailing and riding dirt roads.
My review reflects the fantastic price of a set of finished wheels ($35)and their faultless performance thus far.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hillary Corwin
a Racer
from Dallas, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything that points down. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Traded friend a bike tune-up for rims | | Strengths: | They start off round...if you're lucky.
I got mine for free. Even when not a gift, they're dirt cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Remember how I said they started off round? They ended up square -- when I threw them away they had more flat spots than a catwalk.
If you want to ride anything even remotely serious with these, do yourself a favor and bring a rubber mallot with you on the trail. You're going to need it.
Very poor strength-to-weight ratio. They're too heavy to be this weak.
You get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Mammoth, Planet X BFR, Atomic Laboratories DHR and Trailpimp, Snowcats, Balance stock. | | Bike Setup: | Gack Trailmod, Manitou Dorado SC, Hadley 20mm front/SS rear hubs, Sun Mammoth rims (Thanks to Ben at Unreal Cycles for an excellent wheelbuild -- highly recommended http://www.unrealcycles.com -- get some real wheels!), FLY'n W 6-piece cruiser bars, Chris King NoThreadSet, Magura HS-33 brakes, | | Bottom Line: | As I stated, I was given my pair in return for a service I would have rendered without pay. He insisted, as I had screwed up the rims that came with my old bike and was unable to replace them at the time due to finances. I was greatful and built them up immediately.
They rolled for about a week, they wobbled for the next week and despite all attempts to keep them alive, the third week they were bent beyond any hope. If I didn't have mechanic's training and had to take them to the shop to get them built/trued/banged on, they would have cost much, much more than getting a good pair of rims.
They're easy to true, I won't argue with that, but bending sidewalls back into place is not so easy. Especially when seams start to split. Quite uncool. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cookedbananas@hotmail.com
a Weekend Warrior
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | a guy | | Strengths: | medium weight, good entry level rim. trues easily. | | Weaknesses: | weak, weak, weak, weak. i am now the proud owner of 4 flat spots on this rim. | | Similar Products Used: | other rims | | Bottom Line: | if you want a good, entry level rim, and dont plan on pounding down a trail like a jackhammer, these are for you. If you're like me and bounce down a trail at top speed, dirt jump, and ride urban too... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob the ripper
a Cross-Country Rider
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
lost Oakleys | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Easy to true
cheap
doesn't get flat spots | | Weaknesses: |
can't take the big hits.
comes out of true lateraly about every two weeks. | | Similar Products Used: |
many oter pieces on department store bikes. | | Bike Setup: |
GT tequesta, manitou SX-e,with a few mods | | Bottom Line: | this was a great rim to learn on. I was able to go for about one and a half months without getting these things trued. but as I got to be a better rider these things turned out to be the limpest pieces of s@#t. today I was riding my favorite downhill trail, launched and nailed a tree at about 25km/h. My front rim now resembles a taco. they were fine while they lasted, but couldn't take the heat. I would recomend these for average sized, sane riders ( I'm 14, about 6'2, 180ilbs, and definatly not sane when the adrenalin kicks in.) I won't be buying another set. (mavic 521's will take their place.)3 chillis for a great entry level product. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from CO.
Date Reviewed: August 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
THET LASTED ME A YEAR AND THAT'S PREETY GOOD!! | | Weaknesses: |
I HAVE FLAT SPOTS A OVER THE PLACE!!(I WHOULD OF GOT NEW RIMS SOONER BUT I DID'NT HAVE ANY MONEY.) | | Similar Products Used: |
OTHER PIECES OF CRAP. | | Bike Setup: |
SCHWINN S-9SIX-nEW MARAZOCCHI SHOCK!!! | | Bottom Line: | GOOD FOR WEEKEND BIKERS, BUT ANYTHING OVER DON'T USE'EM. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaime Negron
a Weekend Warrior
from Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Excellent braking sides | | Weaknesses: |
crap joints | | Bottom Line: | I have use this rims for 3 month and make some jumps on it, and they still in excellent condition and well tune. They are excellent for those, like me, that do a lot of street and beach riding. Also consider that when you buy a bicycle that include this arayas in the configuration, you are not spending so much money on this bicycle so don't expect more than that. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D Ehresman
a weekend warrior
from Ca
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The RM-20 set the standard for rims many moons ago. old but true there bullet proof. Old timers like me still ride them today even through they are over ten years old. Some things do last forever. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren Ehresman
a cross-country rider
from Fresno CA.
Date Reviewed: January 7, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
For all you old timers out there still riding on araya RM-20. These rims might be old but they set the standard by which all others are judged. Bullet Proof. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sy Coman
a cross-country rider
from Silverdale, WA
Date Reviewed: December 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Araya 710 rims came on my Schwinn Moab. They are trouble free, been beat into the ground for 2.5 years with going out of true. But they are heavy and the welding is crap. When I put on my brakes damping style they go whumpf every revolution. Bombproof and indestructable, but heavy and poor workmanship. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a racer
from Nelson BC Canda
Date Reviewed: November 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This rims are really not good. I have these rims on the front and the rear and they just dont last on the front there is a big dent and where the 2 halves are joined toghter is cracking same in the rear but no dent in the rear. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Jacob
a weekend warrior
from Iceland
Date Reviewed: August 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These rims came stock on my Haro. Hmm... after about 6 months of riding, a bent spindle, bent rear axle and a shot headset, these rims have 4 dents in them have these strange stress marks down the centre and needed truing every few days. Yep, you guessed it they are pretty shit. You have to put in to consideration that they are only cheap rims and that you get what you pay for. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Summerhays
a
from slc,ut
Date Reviewed: June 12, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
They are tough as shit. Iride freestyle and dirt and so far I have not so muck as nicked them. The peregrines I got with my my bike bent the first month. Araya Rims are so much tougher than peregrines. I would never consider buying anything but Araya Rims after this experience.
Chris Summerhays | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Foster
a cross-country rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These rims tend to go out of true pretty easily. I find that every 50 km of singletrack they need to be trued. Other than that, I have no complaints. The brake surface is excellent. All that you need to do is clean the rims and you can stop on a dime. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake
a cross-country rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These rims suck! I have 600 mostly street miles on them and replaced the front two weeks ago because the area around the valve stem suddenly became wider than the rest of the rim causing the brakes to pulsate! Last night I noticed that the back one is doing the same! They always caught at the seam a little, but
not like this. The front one I replaced with a Sun 17 and it's smooth as can be. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thehau
a weekend warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The joints aren't exactly level, this tends to rip my brake shoes or is it the other way around with the pads tearing shreds out of the rim. 'Coz they are way scratched.
They are not strong laterally at all. Riding to and from school hitting kerbs and all they have had to be trued about 5 times now, all in 6 months! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evil Yak
a weekend warrior
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hey, these rims are pretty good. Cheap, aluminum, light...
They're even good for running over animals and stuff..
heh heh.
friggin coolI went to Marin a couple of times with these. Only complaint is that they are a little on the weak side. They tend to flex a lot. Braking is good though. So is general hopping and stuff. Just beware.. When making a really sharp leaning turn, you hear the brakes hit the rims... Heh heh.. road rash... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Deadly Tedly
a cross-country rider
from Atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: March 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've got a pair of Araya RM-17 rims that came stock with my Mongoose four years ago, and I'm convinced these things are bombproof. Plenty of crashes and falls, knocked sideways into trees and head-on into stumps, ridden down fast fireroads until the braking surface was so hot I couldn't touch it, and these things have needed truing exactly twice each. The sidewalls are finally starting to look a bit too concave, so it's time to move on, but I definitely got my money's worth here. They are plenty heavy, though, and wheel weight is most important, so they lose a couple of chiles, but if you buy a bike stock with Araya's, you won't need to replace them until you get upgrade-itis and want to lighten up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
psuedocrite
a racer
from
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had these rims for 4 months and I have had to true them many times when I go for a short but hard ride. I just bent my rim because of my last hard ride and must say that these rims are not worth getting at all. Apparently from my LBS, Araya hasn't changed their designs for over 8 years and that they also weight a heck of alot!!NOT WORTH BUYING OR RIDING!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a racer
from Youngstown, OH
Date Reviewed: October 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These rims are great! I have had a countless numbers of pinch flats and beat the hell out of them. I haven't needed to true them yet, the only problem is that the weldings suck. But they are good for the price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juan Pablo Barrera
a weekend warrior
from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
What more do you want??!!!!!
Low cost ($80 pair), low weight, double wall, hard resistance, good braking
surface.....well if you are lucky, you can get one of these ceramic rims, but
for the common people like us, this is an EXCELLENT choice. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sherman
a cross-country rider
from Utah
Date Reviewed: July 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have RM-400 Pro's on my '92 Paramount and I've never had to true them at all. They appear totally bombproof. The wall is kinda concave and I wouldn't say I stop on a dime at all but it may be because my brakes sort of suck. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a cross-country rider
from Niagara Falls
Date Reviewed: June 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I find the Araya 395 team XC rims to be the best rims out on the market. They don't get flat spots to easily and they are double walled. They have a good stopping surface, as well as, there paper thin! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Harding
a weekend warrior
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: April 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Araya rims have te superior quality that any flatlander needs. They provide
perfect friction for braking and have great strength and style. If you havent't had any Araya 48's, then you haven't experienced assurance from your bike. The double walled rim makes it comepletely safe and stable yet still better than anything else.Try 'em. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew Battista
a racer
from Dover, NH
Date Reviewed: March 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These rims are sweet! I've kicked the crap out of them and they are still
true as I bought them. Sure, they don't have a big fancy name and all, but
these rims ar very nice quality. I do think it would be a good idea to
have a good quallity hub. I have STX/RC hubs. They are very good. Don't
get any hub less than a Shimano Alivio hub. Below, and maybe problems. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Cooper
a cross-country rider
from Des Moines, Iowa
Date Reviewed: March 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Araya rims came on my Shwinn Moab. They work perfect for me.
Great braking surface and strength. They are double-walled if that
means anything. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Deane
a cross-country rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Ive ridden Araya TM 820 Rims for 4 months. The rims hold well under pretty
hard rides, with some downhills in the mix. Ive had them trued once, but other
than that, they've worked well. I weigh 230 pounds, so I tend to hammer my rims,
and these are solid. Braking surface is good, as Ive had no problem with
braking with them. They weigh a little more than I wanted, but for the price,
these are solid. | | Overall Rating: |
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