Ahh the standard rim they put on new bikes... does the job until you decide to shave weight or want to get serious about mountain biking. Haven't seen people breaking it so no comment regarding durability.
Similar Products Used: shimano,wtb,rigida,no name brands, never had a rim crack around spokes before
Bike Setup: touring,the real test for a bike
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Submitted by
Mutantclover
a Cross Country Rider
from Maine
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2010
Strengths: Builds up straight easily, good weight, cheap, not flashy
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
First wheel I ever built used this rim, the first build got me by but wasn't that true (I hardly knew what I was doing). I rebuilt it a month or two later, it came out very straight and has stayed that way for a little over 3 years and counting. Since then I have built two xc717 wheels and two velocity fusions. I think the XC717s are a little more rigid and are are 10% lighter but I will be getting 317's for my new wheels this year because they are so much cheaper. The Velocity rims weren't as straight at the weld as the Mavics (Mavics were spot on), and I haven't ridden the fusions too much yet, but I would buy either brand again, right now for me it comes down to price and what fits my application.
Bike Setup: XM317 silver with rim brake surface, used for front disc wheel
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Submitted by
epicjurneez
a Weekend Warrior
from sjc, ca
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2009
Strengths: completely true after whistler! jumps, drops and all.
Bottom Line:
got em on ebay from a shady seller with a half functional rear hub. fixed it and have been happy since.
who know's how the seller treated this wheelset. But I've been hard on them.
Not sure why I hit whistler's slopes on these but it was a blast... got a pinch flat there but to my surprise, the wheels stay true! Over 2 years later, I'm still enjoying them. The best parts on a bike are the ones that make you want to ride when you see them and never have to think about when you're riding. 317's are awesome!
Similar Products Used: sun single track, sos, rhynolite xl...
Bike Setup: wheelset has passed on between multiple frames= all-mtn= spesh enduro to IH mkiii, and onto my Bighit = all 20mm ft forks. hubs are wtb.
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Submitted by
audiness
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: December 9, 2009
Strengths: Cheap, fairly light, eyelets
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
These rims have held up for me beautifully. I ride several times a week, from urban freeriding to downhill, but mostly cross country riding. These rims have never let me down. I have put probably 2000 miles on them in the past 2 or 3 years. I am now getting ready to replace my wheels, not because of the rims, but my hubs have worn out (Shimano XT no less). I am 200 lbs and I consider myself a very aggressive rider. I've only had to true my wheels twice during ownership, and I think it was a spoke tension issue, not the rims themselves. I highly recommend.
Submitted by
Bobert
a Weekend Warrior
from Themtharhills VIC. Australia
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2009
Strengths: Nice and Light
Weaknesses: I have had two sets of different tyres beads fold out during cornering, pressures of 45psi and above, instant over the handlebars action!
Bottom Line:
These rims came STD on my Trance X2, a bike which is a light all mountain bike, with 5 inches of travel. So surely you would think the rims supplied as stock would be capable of coping with terrain associated with this type of bike. My experience is that the diameter of the rim is too small as the beads on tyres are not imbedded enough in the rim to stay in during hard cornering. I have had the bead pop out of the rear wheel with a tyre pressure of 45psi and the front wheel at the same pressure, I have tried higher pressures up to 60psi and while this stops the tyre from popping out and off completely it still rolls, jams in your fork or stay just for a second and bang instant lockup of front or back wheel. Nasty.
Flexi, badly made rims, STAY AWAY.
Similar Products Used: Lots, not one for names, 20 years of MTBing
Bike Setup: Giant Trance X2
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Submitted by
srush
a Cross Country Rider
from Newnan,ga,usa
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2009
Strengths: They look nice and I liked them until they failed.
Weaknesses: cheap. weak,in my opinion. If you look closely,they are not welded,only pinned. Is this to save a buck?
Bottom Line:
My experience is that the rim is weak. I am 195 lbs.I don't believe that this is too heavy for a wheel that came stock on a Specialized bike in size XL.The rim failed on my 3rd ride. It was a slight downhill and brakes were lightly applied. The front rim exploded (tacoed).I was taken to the emergency room with a broken collarbone....many bills have followed.If you have had similar experience ....please contact me.tsrush@charter.net
Similar Products Used: other mavic rims and never had a problem in 10 years of riding
Bike Setup: specialized Stumpjumper fsr
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Submitted by
LouisB
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2009
Strengths: Light, Sturdy
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
I picked these up to replace some old Alex rims and converted to disc brakes. The rims are solid, light and have stayed true. I haven't been that abusive but they take it and are still rockin'.
I'm about 230lbs and have taken some small drops without any issues. Any issues about people saying these rims being flimsy with clydesdales probably had a bad build.
Grabbed this set from Jenson for a pretty good price. I think I will be buying more wheelsets from them in the future.
Submitted by
AngryDentist
a Cross Country Rider
from Richardson, Tx, USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2008
Strengths: price
Weaknesses: durability
Bottom Line:
If your a clydesdale, get a custom set up using more beefy setup. This stock set up is not for us. I have ridden this setup for one weekend and went thru both the front and rear rims on xc. The spoke count isn't enough and the lacing needs to be better for us heavier guys. I would recomend getting a FR or DH rim, dt swiss double abut 2mm, 1.8mm spokes, 36h laced 3x to 4x on good quality hope pro 2 or Chris King hubs. This should be rock solid, will cost ya 400 to 700 but will last and most of all be safe, nothing like having your spokes bust off on the rear from a small 2 ft. drop and nearly bust ya up. I would say it's a great setup for light riders definately not for heavy riders, 220 on up should look for a good custom set up.
Similar Products Used: Dt swissXR 1540, Mavic crossland wheelset, WTB
Bike Setup: Giant Anthem 1 (OEM)
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Submitted by
Sven Jacobsen
a Cross Country Rider
from BW, Germany
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2008
Strengths: Really good price, strong, reliable and light enough. What else is important?
Weaknesses: I can´t see anything.
Bottom Line:
I have had so much fun with these rims so far, that I feel somehow a strong affection. High demands and since 6 years no problems at all. Of course I thought a few times about other and more sophisticated rims (and therefore more expensive ones), but I haven´t done yet, because there is no need. Look at the price, look at the weight, compare it with other rims and stay at the good old XM 317´s. Perhaps 5 Chilis have been given too often and too easily, but, damn, I´m happy with ´em.
Submitted by
sparky
a Weekend Warrior
from northern ireland
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2007
Strengths: reliable, reasonably light
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I have pounded these rims non-stop off-road, up and down, jumps, rock gardens, berms, you name it I've ridden it. Ridden anything the bike can take apart from full-on downhill. Passed a few downhill monsters wearing full gear on occasion. These rims have taken anything I've thrown at them for over a year, riding 2-4 times per week. They are still both 100% true despite the usual crashes and falls. I am fairly light, 11.5 stone, maybe that helps, but I've trashed other mavics on the same trails. These are good, reliable, forgettable wheels. What more could you want?
I have a Yeti 575 Enduro, first off let me say I love this bike… but from day one the front wheel (MAVIC XM 317 DISC ARC-YETI HUB) has been flexy. When I get on the brakes the fro Read More »
The 317 comes in a disc-specific option and i use disc brakes. it's a little heavier and has a pinned joint. it's cheaper.
the 517 has a machined sidewall, so if i ever go back to Read More »
