Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Kalamazoo, MI Date Reviewed: April 4, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Weight, however much heavier then advertised. Price.
Weaknesses:
Rear rim failed after less then 1000 miles of riding.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic x517's
Bike Setup:
santa cruz superlight, xtr, thomson, race face, sid, fox.
Bottom Line:
The only good thing about this wheel is the price. It frees up money for a good set of hubs. Beyond that, this wheelset is pathetic. I only weight 150lbs, and by no means am I an agressive rider, the rear rim has failed after less them a seasons worth of use. Driveside spoke holes have large cracks around them, to the point where the spoke is almost moving in and out of the rim freely. One would expect when buying a rim of this weight, there would be some inherent durability, but thats clearly not the case. This same issue has been cited several times in reviews below.
Rather then complain about it anymore, I've learned my lesson and will never purchased, use, recommend, or even speak of Bontrager in a positive way ever again. Going from my Mavic rims to these was the worst choice I've ever made for my bike. Never again will Bontrager be used on anything I own.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any one besides the one to work
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Light.
Weaknesses:
The width of the splay in the sidewalls of this rim near the valve stem is scary! I've effectivly double the width of my rim at that spot.
Bottom Line:
Not good. I don't EVER jump, huck, or downhill. Just xc. The rear rim is spreading out so wide at the valve stem area that I'm worried about the tire bead popping off. Not impressed with these rims.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mossy
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz Date Reviewed: March 18, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Weight, price, quality, less abusive riders can even use for front disc wheels
Weaknesses:
XC only!
Similar Products Used:
Mustangs, Mavic,
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept Race w/ Avid mechanicals front, V-brake rear
Bottom Line:
These came stock on a pal's SC Superlight, laced to a Real front disc hub. The rear hub sucked, so I was able to snag this wheel when by pal got a new wheelset.
For me, an aggressive 165-lb XC rider, its held up very well, even on a disc wheel. Heavier riders probably shouldnt use this on a rear wheel (Mustangs rule) but up front it should be fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DrHog
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
National
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Excellent strength to weight Great braking surface Maintain their trueness
Weaknesses:
None discovered
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 517s, WTB Powerbeams
Bike Setup:
Valiants front and rear with Chris King hubs, DT spokes
Bottom Line:
I've had about 8 different bikes over the years, with the last 4 built from scratch. I've always believed in investing a large share of my budget in the wheelset. I love the feel of a lightweight set of hoops, but at 200#, I can't afford to go "stupid light." I tried my first set of Valiants about 4 years ago, and I haven't used anything else since then. These things accelerate beautifully, provide a great surface for the V-brakes, and stay true (even under daily jackhammer use). Highly recommended for racing, daily riding, technical riding, and epic journeys. If "hucking" is your thing, however, go with something beefier.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric Larson
a Cross Country Rider
from Dahlonega,GA Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Lightweight. Strong. Glossy black color holds up well to elements and cleaning.
Weaknesses:
None thus far.
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Maverick rims, Rolf Dolomite and Propels, CODA crap and other low end "stuff."
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Jekyll
Bottom Line:
I have found these rims to be awsome for XC and general riding use. I rairly have to true them, and when I do the tolerance is minimal (normal routine maintinace). I have smacked them on curbs and stairs, and no hop has resulted (full suspension helps this though).
I smacked into a heavy chain that was locked across a trail head after dusk while hauling as. the sight wasn't pretty, and I was left with a cracked fork and a busted helmet. The rim had a nice bend and small dent in the area while came in contact with the rim. With the help of a good wheelsmith my rim is like new with a negligable hop (small enough that the only way to really notice it is on a trueing stand). The dent is still there, but I run disk, so I wasn't overly concerned. I have yet to see any stress fractures. Goes to tell you how far a good bike mechanic/wheelsmith can be beneficial to a rider. In my opinion, these are the best rims I have ever ridden. One must remember that it doesn't matter how good the quality is, if it is placed/built by the wrong hands, it will most likely end up performing like crap, and will be suseptable to failure...Such as stress fractures around the eyes and frequent needing of trueing).
I find humor in those who complain when an XC prodeuct fails due to downhill racing, hucking, and taking on massive drop-offs. I would think that I would look like an idiot if I stated that my downhill wheeset with 2.5" treads slowed me down during my XC race and called the wheels "crap."
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shaun
a
from moss beach cali Date Reviewed: March 12, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
light, strong, reasonably priced, no special tools required. look good enough
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
wiemmann junk, mavic, bontrager red & blue, sun rhino light.
Bike Setup:
santa cruz race light, blah blah blah.
Bottom Line:
i ride cross country and try to miss grarly hucks, 18' drops, boulder fields, and children. they have held up really well, and have required a minimum of trueing. i have them on a single speed too and they have worked equally as well. i weigh 210 and have nailed a few things when it was the best option, racked up quite a few miles, run them in mud... no problems, a stellar product.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
eduardo
a Cross Country Rider
from marin, california Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Pine Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
IT's TWUE, IT's TWUE. These rims are very light and stay completely true.
Weaknesses:
zippo
Similar Products Used:
mavic 221s. I always had to adjust the brakes as they always went slightly out of true.
Bike Setup:
Superlight R
Bottom Line:
I am a 185 lb. XC rider 60% fire roads, 35% single track, 5% street. I do some moderate rock gardens, jumps and bunny hops every other ride or so. These rims just keep staying true. Is this because of they were handbuilt by Santa Cruz or the rims? .. I don't know but the combo makes for a fast bike. If you can get these for $50 a pair, that is amazing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jim
a
from utah Date Reviewed: November 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Bike Setup:
ac hub 14/15 spokes, alloy nips 3x lacing both sides, ti hardtail. 1.9 bontrager slick or 2.1 Enduroraptor
Bottom Line:
I have a front, symmetrical valiant on the reaar of my bike. I weigh 185. The rim has stayed true, even bombing down the washboard at Slickrock, which I ride two to three times per year. I've popped a couple of nips, which caused me to have to re-true the wheel, but other than that, it has stayed very true
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sindron
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Outside Store (hub included)
Strengths:
I never had a problem yet. I don't take jumps or go dh with them.
Weaknesses:
None if you use what their made for XC not DH
Bike Setup:
XT, XTR, Marzocchi atome 80.
Bottom Line:
HELLO!! I just read some of the reviews and the only people who have problems are the ones who use them for Downhill!!?? And jump? XC does not mean Downhill... It mean Cross Country. If you want Dh rims go buy heavy Mavic 321.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Don't remember
Strengths:
Lightweight Has stayed true.
Weaknesses:
I did bend the sidewall going over a narrow drainage ditch. I pinch-flatted in the process. I was able to bend the sidewall back in place.
Similar Products Used:
WTB Laserbeam Mavic 217
Bike Setup:
Marz x-fly 32 hole mated to TNT titanium hub. 14/15 double butted spokes with alloy nips
Bottom Line:
A good light rim. It won't last forever and it not for freeriding. Sidewall does wear down after a lot a v-brake use. It might be better suited for a disc front hub. I have never had to true it--even after I bent the sidewall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rico
a Cross Country Rider
from Angwin, CA 94508 Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Palisades
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Strong rim has stayed true through some nasty hits including a couple pinch flats. Ceramic surface has been really great for braking power.
Weaknesses:
Ceramic coating gets gunked up with brake rubber and loses its phenomenal stopping power. Also ASYM Ceramic rear weighed SIGNIFICANTLY more than claimed. Mine weighed 431 grams when it was advertised as 385 grams. I emailed Bontrager and they said I must have gotten a rim that was at the end of the extrusion and had thicker walls. 50 grams more!! Give me a break! Then I heard that someone else had a similar experience to me. I guess all the ASYMs are at the end of the extrustion.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 217 Ceramic (braking surface doesn't work as good), other Mavics (which I've always enjoyed)
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
After 2100 miles in 14 months of riding, I have to say that I like this rim and would get it again. Despite the fact that it was heavier than advertised, I have enjoyed how durable it has been. The ceramic has withstood even a pinch flat that dinged in the rim a bit. At the beginning the ceramic coating just stripped through my brake pads in about a month or two. But after some rubber gunk built up, the pads stopped wearing out so fast. It's stayed quite true. Lately, too much rubber gunk was building up and braking power was fading but I just took some 150 grit sandpaper and water and scrubbed that stuff off. Seems to work great again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
xcracer
a Racer
from minnesota Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
qbp
Strengths:
they stay true forever they are incredibly light!
Weaknesses:
nothing
Similar Products Used:
mavic x517
Bike Setup:
cannondale, xt, avid
Bottom Line:
they rule
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron Hunter
a
from Santa Cruz, CA Date Reviewed: August 6, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Weaknesses:
Poor materials engineering
Similar Products Used:
Mustang, Mavic 517
Bike Setup:
Superlight/XTR
Bottom Line:
The rear rim failed after one year of medium-light use. The material around each drive side spoke started to tear in a rectangular pattern indicating a fatigue failure of the rim material. The front rim is okay after two years. I have Mustangs on my other bike which have held up longer. The bottom line is that a bicycle component should fail through use much earlier than fatigue by design. This rim either poorly designed, or the material quality is poor. A friend had the Bontrager Race rims and had exactly the same issue in about the same amount of time. In neither case did Bontrager warranty the rim.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcus Van Kommer
a Weekend Warrior
from Yakima Washington, USA Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001
Favorite Trail:
It's all about who you ride with
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
local bike shop
Strengths:
Haven't had problems with the eyelets pulling out like 517's. Only trued them once. Fairly flexible ceramic side wall.
Weaknesses:
Not a thraser rim, but not ment to be.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 220, 517, sun chinook, Bonti mustang
Bike Setup:
Bonti racelight, DT hugi, King, suntour, syncros, and stuff
Bottom Line:
Bontrager makes the nicest most reliable XC rims there are.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bart
a Cross Country Rider
from Everywhere Date Reviewed: May 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Any single track
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Light. Strong Ceramic Sidwall
Weaknesses:
Can chip ceramic sidwall.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Fisher ProCaliber Santa Cruz Superlite
Bottom Line:
I own the Bontrager Racelite Wheelset which uses these rims. All I can say is that I have used these for over 2years and have ridden very hard on them (x2 weeks in Moab riding Porcupine Rim) and I have not yet trued them once. A lot of this has to do with the build quality. For all of you that say that this is good for light riders only, I weight 200lbs and cosistently ride rocky technical trails.
I will buy these again
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miggy
a
from Poway, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 8, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Strengths:
Light, stay true, cool asymetrical design
Weaknesses:
Recommended for light riders, shorter product lifespan
Similar Products Used:
Sun rims, Araya, Specialized rims
Bike Setup:
1999 Santa Cruz Superlight - XT, SID, Bontrager Valiant Rims, Panracer XC Pro Fire, Avid 2.0 Brakes
Bottom Line:
Stay away from the Rock Gardens on these rims. These are quality XC Rims. They're light and stayed very true in the two years I rode them. If you can pick your lines well, are a light rider, or race a XC Dualie I would recommend these rims. They'll last you a solid 1.5 years to 2 years at a minimum 3 rides per week. I wouldn't recommend them if you're on a hardtail. If your'e not prepared to shell out your hard earned duckettes every 2 years or if you just like to point your bike downhill with no regard for componetry then look elswhere. This is a solid light Dualie cross-county rim.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Mountain View CA Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Henry Coe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
oem
Strengths:
Stayed strong and true, which is probably more a testament to the builder (Santa Cruz Bicycles) than to the rims.
Weaknesses:
Only lasted for a bit over a year
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 221
Bike Setup:
Stock Santa Cruz Superlight
Bottom Line:
My rear rim only lasted 1800 miles, while the Mavic 221's on my previous bike, under similar overall riding conditions, were still good after over 4000 miles. One of our riding group also got over 4000 miles from his Mavic 517's, while another riding buddy's Mustangs wore through as quickly as my Valiants. It appears on the surface as if the aluminum used to make the Bontrager rims just isn't as abrasion resistant as that used to make the Mavics. As the hubs and spokes are like new, I think I'll make the best of it and lace up some ceramic Valiants.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Karkus
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: April 30, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$40.00
Strengths:
Light (advertised at 375g, mine weighed 385g) I built my first wheel ever with this rim and had no problems getting it true Tall braking surface
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 217, Altrax,
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar with AD-10, Z-2 Bomber, Hugi hubs
Bottom Line:
It's a shame to see people like Mike (the downhiller below) give it a bad review because they used it for somthing it wasn't intended for. Get a clue! This is one of the lightest rims you can buy and is meant for light riders like me or racers, and for those purposes it's a great rim. (I don't go around giving bad reviews to downhill rims because they're too heavy for XC riding.) Anyway, I got this rim because it's light, because it got better reviews than the Mavic 517, and because I got a deal on it ($40). I built a 28 spoke front wheel with it and had no problems getting it true. So far it's held up fine.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO, USA Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Rough Terrain will do
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Sports Garage w/ My 2000 SC Bullit
Strengths:
Lightweight, good for cross country
Weaknesses:
Can't handle jumping, or riding stairs
Similar Products Used:
Nothing, I only use DH rims now, heavy but beefy
Bike Setup:
2000 SC Bullit w/ Jr.T and XT components
Bottom Line:
I really don't like these rims, and I think that if you're smart, you'll get a stronger rim. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
serge
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz, cali Date Reviewed: October 26, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
ebay of all places
Strengths:
Black, light, relatively strong, it a Bontrager product
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
mavic 217's, rhyno lites, old bontrager bcx's
Bike Setup:
M2 hardtail, Z2 bomber, xt/xtr, avid brakeset
Bottom Line:
I built up a 24 hole rim with NukeProof hub & 14g spokes. Too wimpy for my rear wheel, but great for the front. Has held up well, even for my clydesdale bashing around. I use this rim for my serious offroading, keep the old mavic/lx for just knockin around.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Red Dot
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Speedgoat Bicycles
Strengths:
Strong, light, stay true
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Sun rims
Bike Setup:
Cannondale hardtail, XTR/Race Face drivetrain, SRAM shifters, Easton carbon goodies
Bottom Line:
I had these rims laced to XTR hubs at Speedgoat with DT 14/15 black spokes and alloy nipples 20 months ago. Had them trued only once by my LBS at the beginning of this year. Never had a rim stay that true before with all the rocks and roots we ride here on the East Coast. The sidewall on the rear ASYM rim is quite worn now but I guess that's to be expected after 2 seasons of hard XC riding.
I'd definitely recommend these and in fact will probably replace them with the same thing (possibly with the ceramic coating to improve longevity) in a few months. 5 Chilis for value, 4 overall only for sidewall wear.
By the way, Beth and Chris at Speedgoat are great! Give 'em a call if you're interested in a fairly priced set of quality built wheels.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wayne Focker
a Cross Country Rider
from Sanfran Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
I lena back/ Sweet Connie
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Your local bike shopee
Strengths:
Its very Strong and light
Weaknesses:
Bullet Proof- made whey to strong. doesn't flex enough when a ducks head enters the relm of the spokers. Feathers stick to rim easyly but wipes off clean with damp cloth
Similar Products Used:
Are you kidding me Mavic, Richey
Bike Setup:
A king up front Xtred through out
Bottom Line:
I gota fair price on this set. I have to say you can not go wrong if you come across a set and you have a burning wad of cash in your pocket buy them you will be smilling on all you favorite trails and down hill runs. Swhing!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA Date Reviewed: September 20, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
www.pricepoint.com
Strengths:
light, strong for the weight, black
Weaknesses:
what?
Similar Products Used:
'99 Bontrager Race rims (Mustangs), '88 Weinmanns, '96 Sun somethings
Great rims for XC use. I waver between 190 and 200 lbs, and these rims have held up very well. Oh sure, I ran my bike into a pit and took the front rim a couple millimeters out of true, but I expected that. They've got a good braking surface and they're light. The outside of the wheel is the most effective place to shave weight, and I sure did it with these babies. When they're trash, I'll buy another pair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Marcel Frenk
a Cross Country Rider
from Nijmegen Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Grand Raid Cristalp
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Fietssport Vincent
Strengths:
It concerns the Bontrager Race Lite rims, bought from the replacements stock of the Dutch distributor. Ceramic brake surface, cool black looks, strong
Weaknesses:
It concerns the Bontrager Race Lite rims, bought from the replacements stock of the Dutch distributor. Very expensive in the Netherlands, a lot heavyer than specified.
Similar Products Used:
None on this bike, with these hubs and spokes.
Bike Setup:
Specialized FSR-XC S-works framekit, Rond-Magura Firmtech frontshock, Tune cranks and bottom bracket, Deda Newton stem, Tune Karacho carbon-steerer, Tune Speedneedle saddle. The wheels are built with Tune hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes.
Bottom Line:
For my new bike a wanted a pair of very light wheels, and some product research gave me an idea of how to build a pair of wheels that was very light (I am glad that the wheels turned out to be very strong (or resiliënt) indeed. They served me very well, I only trued them once after a few extremely hard rides in the Swiss Alps (including the Grand Raid Cristalp). Still then, less than one mm correction was necessary to get them back to perfect. The hubs are quite small in diameter, and the spokes are actually very supple, so the wheels are not extremely stiff, but I guess that supplenes of the spokes takes most of a blow`s energy, preventing the rim to get dinged or tacoed. I am a bit disappointed though that I did not achieve my targeted lightness. The wheelset weighs 1412 grams w/o skewers (still very lihgt though). After receiving the rims (regular dealer stocked components Mr. Bontrager? Ha!) after two months they turned out be considerably heavyer than specified. Since my brother wanted a same pair of wheels as I, I had two pairs of rims to compare. The front rims were 428 and 431 gram, rear rims were 442 and 443 respectively. More than 100 gram per pair more than specified, in Japan managers who are responsable for a more than 12% deveation in quality are expected to commit harakiri! According to Bontrager, the deveation was caused by the fact that the rims were probably from the middle part of an extrusion. Plausible, but in my opinion the deveation is larger than tolerable for a product that is branded as the best and the lightest. From me, these rims receive no more than three flamin`chillies, had they been as light as they should have been it would have been 4 chillies for value, and 5 overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from eden prairie MN USA Date Reviewed: August 15, 2000
Favorite Trail:
singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
light stays truer longer cheap
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
mavic 517
Bike Setup:
cannondale hard tail,full XT
Bottom Line:
buy this product ive ridden and raced on it and have trued it only once. i reccomend it to all riders looking for the lightest wheel possible that does not compromise strength. five flamin chillies all the way. The rim is black and way cool when built on black spokes and hubs. buy it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Elkhart In Date Reviewed: August 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
I'm Still Looking - Fort Custer is close though...
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light - 372g before build Strong - I havn't need it to touch it after it settled in. Cheap - Got it for $4 more than a Mustang
Weaknesses:
I have not found any yet.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 217, Bontrager Mustang, A slew of oem rims
Bike Setup:
Jamis Dakar with all the toys. Wheels are Nuke Proof CF/Ti/Mustang Rear and Valiant Front
Bottom Line:
Great rims. I built up my ultimate wheelset and have not had one complaint out of these wheels yet. They are light, stay true, stay round.
I'm not terribly abusive on wheels, I ride XC, but I am a near clyde (or just a clyde) at 200+ pounds, and they've held up VERY well. I'd reccomend them for XC riding, and racing in a heartbeat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shaun
a Cross Country Rider
from san francisco Date Reviewed: July 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
the one im rolling on
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
light, strong, reasonably priced, big enough braking surface.
Weaknesses:
inside diameter of rim not de-burred
Similar Products Used:
bontrager red, blue, clyde, & sun rhyno
Bike Setup:
wheels- chris kings, wheelsmith spokes, 32 hole 3 cross
Bottom Line:
fine wheels, great job by universal cycles, bontrager & king, i am 200 lbs+ and they have stayed true as can be through some bonehead mistakes. but universal or bontrager (trek?) should have deburred the damn things. flat o rama for 2 months till i figured out the problem. nasty burrs everywhere, polking through the rim tape. maybe i should have known better, and i will next time. if someone builds them for you, you may have to pull the rim tape off, deburr the rim and replace the tape.
happy trails
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kellen
a Cross Country Rider
from Ramona Ca Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
To Many
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Strong, well made, one of the lightest
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Team Replica, Valient rims w/XTR hubs, Sram 9.0sl der. and shifters
Bottom Line:
These rims rule. I ride these over everything, i jump them and ride them hard over rocks roots and all sorts of stuff, I would recomend these rims to anyone looking to upgrade. Theyre a good price for the quality you get. I also heard that with XTR hubs the wheelset is 40grams lighter than crossmax.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern California Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Salmon Falls
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
I like the asymetrical spoke holes... they seem to make a strong wheel... until the spokes pull out of the rim anyway. Brake track is very smooth and the joint cleanly finished.
Weaknesses:
My rim developed several large cracks around the spoke holes on the drive side in the rear. The spoke eyelets and about an inch of metal around them, pulled out of the rim near 4-5 spokes. There is a serious strength issue here because this rim is rarely ridden hard. I'm an old guy... I don't jump at all and I only weigh about 155.
Similar Products Used:
Sun CR17a, Bontrager ASYM Mustang. I have never had any kind of problem with either of these. My Mustang is about 2 years old but I have more miles on the Valiant.
Bike Setup:
'96 Cannondale hardtail. Valiant rim is 32-spoke, laced to a Phil Wood cassette hub cross three with DT 14-15-14s on the drive side and radial on the off side.
Bottom Line:
Until now, this rim has been arrow-straight and trouble-free but about two weeks ago I noticed a strange shimmy in the backend of my bike. I actually thought I cracked my frame but after inspecting every inch of the frame, I found it was sound. Then I noticed a fairly severe wobble in my back rim. This is unusual for me because I'm very easy on wheels and rarely if ever knock a wheel out of true. When I checked the wheel I found that the metal around 4-5 of the spokes on the drive side had cracked... not right at the eyelet but in a sort of halfmoon arc around them. These rims have a fair amount of miles on them, about 3500, but 98% those are commuting miles on the road. I have some old Mavic G-40s that have developed some very tiny cracks right at the spoke eyelets but I've never seen cracks like these. They're big. Scary big. The spokes have simply broken right out of the rim. My LBS who built the wheel for me (and who have built two other wheels for me) contacted Bontrager about it but we're still waiting to hear back from them. It's been two days.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
!Rooster
a Cross Country Rider
from NY Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
lightwieght design
Weaknesses:
Limited to xc use or light freeriding. when they died, damn they looked bad!!!
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 217,221,517,Sun Rhynolite,zeroDegreeXC
This wheel is similar to the 517 in its application and wieght.
Bike Setup:
SantaCruz Bullit set up for DH
Bottom Line:
The Valiants came stock on my SantaCruzBullit. When I rode my Bullit on local xc trails I found them to be light and responsive. My fears came to reality when I rode them on a skimountain DH style. put it this way...they lasted 10 runs. Its an awkward wheelset for a SC Bullit. Great for xc though. Use them for what they are meant for. They are meant for xc and light light freeriding. If you jump at all or enjoy rockgardens at 30mph, or weigh over 165 then this is a terrible rim choice for you. If you saw what my rear rim looked like after some DH runs at MountainCreek NewJersey you would never buy this rim most likely. I was running 40psi had 3.5inch tires on and the rim had a HUGE bulge coming from 2 sides. Everywhere there was a spoke there was warping on the braking surface!front too. They did hold up for 6 more runs though! poor spec on SC's part but now Im on the Rhyno lite by Sun. Id use the Valiant on my xc race bike though, but not before a 517. BTW I race xc and am truly schooled. I started DH recently and its like big boy mountainbiking. A whole other world! its like an XC trail with exaggerated features!! on a 6inch FS bike its wicked floating through rockgardens at highway speed!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fred
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC, UT, USA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2000
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
This is a review of the Ceramic valiants. Light, durable (thanks to ceramic preventing brake surface wear), reduced brake fade, ASYM rear reduced spoke tension imbalance
Weaknesses:
None experienced yet.
Similar Products Used:
217, rm17, 221, campy
Bike Setup:
wheels are 32hole 3x front and rear w/ 15/16/15 DT db spokes
Bottom Line:
The main reason I got the rims was that hopefully the ceramic would increase the longevity of the rim by reducing brake surface wear. This has proved to be true. The Valiant Ceramics are lasting much longer than my mavic 217 (non-ceramic) rims. I would wear through a set of 217s 2/3-3/4 through a season. The valiants are still going strong. The ASYM rear is nice, it builds a more ballanced rear wheel (or front disc brake wheel). No real dislikes. Less expensive than Mavic ceramics for a lighter rim. If I don't bend this rim these wheels are going to last a loooong time. Using ceramics, in general, brake pads last longer (i've heard the Ritchey reds last forever) and the brakes don't fade as badly on long descents.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GREG EGGERT
a Weekend Warrior
from CLEVELAND, OHIO, U.S.A. Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000
Favorite Trail:
THE NEXT ONE
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
LIGHT, WELL MADE, NOT TO MENTION PRETTY COOL.
Weaknesses:
NONE. I EXPECT NONE
Similar Products Used:
OEM RIMS
Bike Setup:
TREK 6500 FRAME W/FULL XT SET-UP. JUDY-100 FORK
Bottom Line:
BOTTOM LINE ? WELL, LACE THESE THINGS UP W/WHEELSMITH 14/15 BLACK SPOKES TO XTR HUBS. WITH CAREFULL SHOPPING YOU WILL NOT SPEND OVER $300.00. PUT GOOD, EVEN, HIGH TENSION ON THEM AND WHAT YOU'LL GET IS A SET OF WHEELS THAT ARE STRONG, LIGHT, AND CHEAP.(PICK THREE KEITH !) OH YEAH CHRIS KINGS ARE GREAT, BUT IN THE WOODS THAT BUZZING ATTRACTS TOO MUCH ATTENTION. EAST COAST RULES!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy T
a Racer
from morr, NJ Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:
chimney rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Incredibly cool looking, strong as heck, fantastic breaking under wet conditions (snow esp.). Light!
Weaknesses:
absolutly none
Similar Products Used:
mavic X517
Bike Setup:
IBIS with pretty stuff= thise laced w/DT revo spokes to CK hubs for one thing.
Bottom Line:
First off I weigh 145 (5'11") and I ride very hard on very rocky trails. I have never trued my valients. With my mavic x517 i was truing every 2-3 rides on average (sometimes after every ride). These not only stay true but they look incredbile. The ceramic rim with ceramic pads made it feel like there was no snow when I went for a ride in 3-5 inches of snow yesterday, I was absolutly astounded. I could not recommend these more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kuhl
a Racer
from Mechanicsburg PA Date Reviewed: December 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
lambsgap
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Ultra light (lightest rim on the market) very strong for there weight improves your climbing with lighter weigh fairly cheep compared to others
Weaknesses:
none i've found
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 517 (worste rim i ever owned) rolf propels
Bike Setup:
trek 9.9 full xtr marzochi superfly valiant rims laced to xtr hubs with revolution spokes
Bottom Line:
i've been riding these rims real hard for six months with out one problem. they only developed a little wobble but i was able to fix that real easy. I think there the best rims out there right now.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
C_Dale Man
a Weekend Warrior
from l.a. Date Reviewed: December 18, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
super light,
Weaknesses:
you better enjoy cross country, cause these rims can't handle anything else
Bike Setup:
super v
Bottom Line:
These are great if all you do is ride/race cross country. Anything else more technical than that, and you're out of it $55. This rim is not strong, as others claim, and well, let's admit it, at under 400g, theres no way in hell a rim can be strong. If you get valiants, be sure you enjoy biking on rolling hills. 3 chilles, cause they ARE nice wheels, just not what bontrager makes them out to be.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
G.I.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Diamond Bar, Ca. Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999
Favorite Trail:
El Prieto / Arroyo Seco
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Good looking and the assymetrical type rear wheel.
Weaknesses:
Paint peels off with regular cleaning solvents like car wash.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 222 and 223
Bike Setup:
KHS alite 4000, Rock Shox Judy SL and XT components.
Bottom Line:
The wheel is ok but when it comes time to clean the bike after a good cross country muddy trip be very careful. The paint peels off and Bontrager don't even try to honr them.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Racer
from Carlisle, PA Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999
Favorite Trail:
24 Hours of Canaan
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light, strong, excellent braking surface
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Sun CR17, Sun XC 0 degree light, Mavic 217, lots of other Mavics
Bike Setup:
Custom Sniper 853 hardtail, XTR, Raceface, Atom Bomb, USE post, Real front hub radially laced to Valiant rim, XTR rear hub radial non drive/3 cross on drive side to Mustang ASYM
Bottom Line:
I have beat this wheelset mercilessly during the race season, including 5 laps at 24 hours of Canaan, and I haven't yet needed to true them. I have never had such a bombproof wheelset. The braking surface is the most consistent I've experienced. ASYM rear rim is Mustang, not Valiant, but ASYM builds up into a stronger, more responsive wheel. Totally impressed. Nice job Keith.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross-Country Rider
from Green Bay WI Date Reviewed: September 1, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Rock Lake in the CAMBA system
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
nice and light
Weaknesses:
they came with the rear already bent, never really laced up right, front is easy to bend too
Similar Products Used:
mavic crossland, 238s
Bike Setup:
on white industries hubs, wheelsmith db spokes, alloy nipples, 1x front, 3x rear
Bottom Line:
they ride nice, but have some serious strength issues to work out.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Laughing Boy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Royal Oak, MI Date Reviewed: August 24, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Holdridge Lake
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Light, Strong
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Mavic Crossland wheelset, Mavic 217 laced to XT hubs
Bike Setup:
Lightspeed Ocoee, '99 SID XC. laced to DT/Hugi Hubs
Bottom Line:
I love these rims. They're superlight, changed my whole riding style. Riding faster. Haven't trued them since I built them (single cross front 30 hole, triple cross rear 32 hole). The lacing I used and # of holes probably contributed a lot to my wheels not needing truing, but compared to my X-lands ( mavic hubs with 517s which went pretty badly out of true and damaged rims after one ride at Pontiac Lake) these are super. Easy to true, build, and they use conventional spokes and designs. A mechanic's dream.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Cross-Country Rider
from pa Date Reviewed: July 6, 1999
These are very light but tough rims. Mine are laced to a 30 front, 32 rear. I'd be interested to see how they held up under a setup with less spokes. The high spot on the rim is not noticable in the ride but is definately there when they were built and trued. Great rim, 6 chillis for performance, 4 for build and looks. 5 chilli average.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Eugene
a Weekend Warrior
from Calif Date Reviewed: June 25, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Strong build, lightweight and look very good.
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 517, Spinergy, Spin Composite
Bike Setup:
Schwinn S-Carbon
Bottom Line:
Awesome rims. They shaved 1.6 lbs. from the Mavic 221/Shimano STX-RC set that came with my bike. Matched them up with Specialized Dirt Control/Master Team tires and DT spokes for light rotational weight. Rode on these things a few times now and remains true. Don't know if the ASYM is doing anything for me, but it looks good!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
KleinGuy
a Racer
from Michigan Date Reviewed: June 18, 1999
Favorite Trail:
North Country
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Lightweight, very strong
Weaknesses:
sorry,there are none
Similar Products Used:
517's
Bike Setup:
Klein Adroit
Bottom Line:
Built up with XTR hubs and DT Revolution spokes produce a lighter and stronger wheelset than the Crossmax wheelset. I've been riding and racing them for 14 months. I am 195 lbs. and the wheels have not had to be trued since built. The 517's eyelets ripped out after a year of riding.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nanc
a Weekend Warrior
from VA Date Reviewed: May 3, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Michaux
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Lightweight, strength
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Mavic
Bike Setup:
Klein Pulse pro
Bottom Line:
I had the Ceramic Valiants built up with C.King hubs. Radial front, 3x rear. I'm a lighter rider (150 lbs bike+rider) but have been beating these wheels on some seriously rocky trails with a hardtail, and have only had to true the rear wheel once and minimally then. I had some concern they'd need trueing more often than my old heavier wheels, but am extremely happy they haven't. And need I mention lightweight? Excellent upgrade for my bike. Worth every penny.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Bulian
a Cross-Country Rider
from Albuquerque, NM Date Reviewed: May 1, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Any trail in Moab, trails in the Albuquerque area
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Super light, Super strong, and Super trick!
Weaknesses:
Weaknesses? Weaknesses you say? Ya right!!
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 220's laced to Shimano xt hubs
Bike Setup:
Specialized M2, Judy XC
Bottom Line:
Haven't had these wheels for too long but can say I have ridden them 7 times already in the 2 weeks and they are still true as day one. Also can notice the weight difference, much lighter and results in faster climbing and firing downhill due to the low rotational weight of the rim. Also like the trickness of the black rims, the natural silver look has gotten old! I laced these up to a pair of Nukeproof Bombshells, 32 radial front, and 32 3-cross rear. So far I love these wheels, but will have to get back to you in a month or two to see how the long term results are.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Palmquick
a Racer
from Miami Fl. Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
HardRock, Ocala
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Extremely Light
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 217's Mavic 517's
Bike Setup:
Trek 9900 Rox Shok SID
Bottom Line:
I have owned mine for over 14 months and have had absolutely no problems. I did notice that their weights do vary substancialy (375-391) due to how much aluminum was removed from the brakeing surface. For my first wheel I radial laced the front one with 28 spokes and a Chris King Hub and 1.8X1.3 spokes that were provided by Dave Thomas (an excellant wheel builder from Arizona) the outcome was a wheel that weighed 50 grams less than a Cross Max. After more than a year of racing and constant hard training I have not yet had to turn a single spoke and it remains perfectly true. It for the money is the best rim for cross country use, it's ony rival is the Mavic 517 which is slightly heavier and costs more. Deffinately a five Chillie product.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tucker
a Racer
from Madison, WI Date Reviewed: April 20, 1999
Favorite Trail:
To mant to list!
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Strong, stay true a long time, weight, good looks
Weaknesses:
What? I haven't found any!
Similar Products Used:
Mavic 517
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude Comp with Sid xc fork
Bottom Line:
Bontrager has done a great job on these rims I built then up with XTR hubs and DT spokes. They are very light. But there strength is unmatched! These are the sweetest rims! When I built them the dish was perfect and you true them once and they stay true for a long time! You really should give these rims a try you will not be disappointed!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Minnesota Date Reviewed: April 19, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Lutsen Mtn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Light weight, strenght, price.
Weaknesses:
what weaknesses?
Similar Products Used:
217's, 517's, 220's, Mustangs.
Bike Setup:
valiant rear, Ti dye spokes, nukeproof bombshell hubs.
Bottom Line:
Wow, the weight on these rims is not that big of deal, so its 20 grams lighter tan 517's. That is less than the mud on the tire people. I love these rims because they are strong as hell, I do lots o trials stuff, rarely need truing, and cost less than mavic rims.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Webb Phillips
a racer
from Palo Alto Date Reviewed: March 6, 1999
Bottom Line:
I got these handbuilt with Chris King hubs and DT spokes from Speedgoat Bicycles (www.speedgoat.com), 32 three cross rear, 28 radial front. When I got these wheels in the mail I thought there had been a mistake; the box felt empty. These are some spooky light wheels. Their lightness made me afraid to ride them at first, lest they shatter instantly. I tend to be hard on wheels, let alone a 620 / 820 gram wheelset. I did nothing but play on staircases for the first week I had them, so I knocked the rear wheel a bit out of true. So these aren't trails wheels, I should've known better. Very sad. But the front seems to be able to take big hits better than far heavier wheels I have owned in the past. And the lighter weight is very noticeable; my old wheels were Bontrager Mustang / XT. Going up hills I can accelerate faster, and I can jump about two inches higher in the front, four in the back. Four more inches of clearance means I can clear small logs at very low speeds, such as while going up hills, which is a great help. The lighter weight does decrease stability. Because there is less angular momentum, I have to work harder to maintain balance while moving slow. All in all, these are great rims for XC, but don't waste them going up steps. Even if you do charge up steps, don't worry too much, the rear is only a bit untrue, and will be easily fixable.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a racer
from Champaign, IL Date Reviewed: December 2, 1998
Bottom Line:
I got these rims because of a screw up by the place I was ordering them from. I was going to get a set of Mustang rims with XTR hubs, but the shop upgraded me to the lighter, extremely strong Valiants and NukeProok Superfly hubs. I've gotta say that I LOVE these rims. They are super light, and still very strong. I rode them at the Intercollegiate Nationals race in Reno and they performed flawlessly. Ever since, I haven't needed a spoke wrench once. I have been doing some very trials riding lately, and have really been beating on them, but they take eveerything I give them with ease. I HIGHLY recommend these masterpieces manufactured by the always impressive Bontrager.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a racer
from Atlanta, Georgia Date Reviewed: November 4, 1998
Bottom Line:
WOW, these rims are super light. In fact in the New Bontrager Race Wheelset they are actually 100g lighter then Mavic Crossmax. They are super. I have been riding them now for about 4 months and they handle like a charm. My only complaint is that they do not seem wide enough at times to help stabalize the wheel. But overall they are well worth it.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a cross-country rider
from bloomfield, MI Date Reviewed: September 23, 1998
Bottom Line:
WOW these things are light. I have them laced to DT/Hugi Hubs and they're lighter than the hallowed crossmaxes! Strong too they haven't needed a spoke wrench yet. I hope I won't break these like the last pair of 217's! I ran those for 2 years. Let's hope these last 18 months longer. I love that asym dish. It was so easy to build! I think I'll buy another pair of rims just for the heck of it! let's see hmmmm 3.5 lbs, anyone?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh
a cross-country rider
from Spokane, Wa Date Reviewed: September 4, 1998
Bottom Line:
For the past 2 months I have been riding on Bontrager Valiants laced to a King hubset and DT db spokes. This is a lightweight wonder come true. Not only is this the lightest weight set of wheels that I have ever built up but the strength of these babies is unreal. The asym in the back does even out the spoke tension a bit and has stayed in true far better than any other rim that I have run. If you are a XC rider, not over 190lbs., give them a whirl.
Overall Rating:
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