Submitted by
michael9218
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2010
Strengths: Super light and durable
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Dave (Speed Dream Wheels) built these wheels for me in 2003 and they weigh in at 600g front and 800g rear. The acceleration is just insane. I've loved these wheels for the last 9 years. I finally wore out the rear braking surface and the rim is cracking. No I go on a quest to find a suitable replacement.
Bike Setup: Ellsworth Truth 8 spd XTR SID Chris King hubs...24lb bike.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Kalamazoo, MI
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2004
Strengths: Weight, however much heavier then advertised. Price.
Weaknesses: Rear rim failed after less then 1000 miles of riding.
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.
Bike Setup: santa cruz superlight, xtr, thomson, race face, sid, fox.
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004
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.
Submitted by
Mossy
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2003
Strengths: Weight, price, quality, less abusive riders can even use for front disc wheels
Weaknesses: XC only!
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.
Bike Setup: Klein Adept Race w/ Avid mechanicals front, V-brake rear
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Submitted by
DrHog
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Strengths: Excellent strength to weight Great braking surface Maintain their trueness
Weaknesses: None discovered
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.
Bike Setup: Valiants front and rear with Chris King hubs, DT spokes
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Submitted by
Eric Larson
a Cross Country Rider
from Dahlonega,GA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2002
Strengths: Lightweight. Strong. Glossy black color holds up well to elements and cleaning.
Weaknesses: None thus far.
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."
Strengths: light, strong, reasonably priced, no special tools required. look good enough
Weaknesses: none
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.
Similar Products Used: wiemmann junk, mavic, bontrager red & blue, sun rhino light.
Bike Setup: santa cruz race light, blah blah blah.
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Submitted by
eduardo
a Cross Country Rider
from marin, california
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Strengths: IT's TWUE, IT's TWUE. These rims are very light and stay completely true.
Weaknesses: zippo
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.
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
Bike Setup: ac hub 14/15 spokes, alloy nips 3x lacing both sides, ti hardtail. 1.9 bontrager slick or 2.1 Enduroraptor
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Submitted by
Sindron
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2001
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
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.
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001
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.
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.
Bike Setup: Marz x-fly 32 hole mated to TNT titanium hub. 14/15 double butted spokes with alloy nips
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Submitted by
Rico
a Cross Country Rider
from Angwin, CA 94508
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2001
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.
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.
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.
Hi.
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