Submitted by
zgjp82
a Cross Country Rider
from The Mitten
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2011
Strengths: Light, Strong, Fast, and it looks good
Weaknesses: None found
Bottom Line:
This is an amazing rim for the price that I paid. In the world of cross country it is heavy but to most others it is a light wheel. I would not recommend this wheel for anything other than aggressive cross country. Also as always you should be sure it is set up correctly and to your weight; when I received this rim it was way way off on tension and dish. I feel that this is where most people are going wrong with this wheel and why they are having bad experiences. I am a heavy rider at 220lbs so I require a rim that can take the beating and this rim is the one for me. I have it mated to XT hubs and some DT swiss spokes.
Submitted by
ericz
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington, KY
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2010
Strengths: They look cool, and have excellent bead retention on my Hutchinson Spiders.
Weaknesses: Why are they so weak? I'd think a rim this wide and heavy would not require so many visits to the truing stand.
Bottom Line:
I am severely disappointed in these rims. Mounted to Deore hubs by 3 crossed DT 14ga spokes I expected them to handle more abuse. I've bent my fair share of wheels, but the SOS is the only wheel I've ever owned that successfully formed a "full taco".
I don't think the weight penalty is worth the implied durability.
Similar Products Used: Many different Mavic, WTB, etc.
Bike Setup: Ibex Ignition, RS Revelation team, other crap....
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Uly
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2010
Strengths: Looks cool. Will fit 2.5 tires.
Weaknesses: I need to true them every so often. Spokes will snap if I ride them hard (from impact of landing).
Bottom Line:
Ok wheel to start out with that comes stock on the bike. Once you have gained confidence in your bike, get to know it a little better and start riding it harder you might think about getting something stronger.
Submitted by
P.E.Rudy
a Cross Country Rider
from Kutztown, PA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2010
Strengths: After more than 6 months still haven't needed to true them. Disc Jockey hubs spin forever and a day.
Weaknesses: Dudes here who have bashed them! Also, some tires don't want to seat easily - Nevegals don't, but High Rollers are easy to seat - go figure.
Bottom Line:
Sounds like this particular rim is stuck in between categories. It certainly sounds like the FR/DH guys hate it and the XC guys certainly don't like it's mass.
I ride All Mountain type stuff with lots of PA rocks and log overs and really technical stuff both going uphill and down. I'm not in a hurry to get to the top, but I do want to do it clean and a flexy rim won't help. These rims don't flex for me when I'm riding the front wheel over a log. I don't hit any gaps, but I do put the bike in the air plenty, just closer to the ground. Lots of times I hit rear wheel first and on top of babyheads. Usually nothing more than a couple of feet high and the rear stays true. In fact, I've had this wheelset since Aug.'09 and I haven't had to true them yet.
The Disc Jockey hubs are great compared to the XT's. When I flip the bike to put in air my daughter spins the tires and they just keep going like the energizer bunny. The front hub is whisper quiet. I love the sound of the rear hub. I compare it to the sound of a bee that buzzes past your ear. Once you hear it, it makes you get out of the way fast or else you'll get stung:) The acceleration is also way better than the XT's and I haven't had to service the freehub because of gunk yet either. My XT's needed a service like every month or so from just the littlest amount of grime.
If I get tired of the heft I'll go tubless with Stan's. So far, these SOS rims and DJ hubs are getting the job done.
Bike Setup: '07 Santa Cruz Heckler w/DHX 5.0 Air, Manitou Minute 130mm coil, XT d'train, Avid mech. stoppers
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
southy4
a Cross Country Rider
from Oz
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2010
Strengths: There so week that are easy to straighten.
Weaknesses: They are just week
Bottom Line:
Theses wheels have been on my for about 2 years since new. I can't count how many times I've had them to the shop to be trued and have spokes replaced, both front and back. I only a XC trail rider. I don't race, freeride or downhill and I weight 90kg, not light but not overly heavy. I ride about once a week doing between 40-60km rides. The only good thing is I have managed to get 2 years use out of them but thats only because I sometime just put up with them being wobbly and kept getting the shop to fix them. They have finally told me its time for new rims as these are unable to be trued. I would not recommend these rims but if they come on your bike like mine did ride them till they die then upgrade as I'm about to do. As for the LX hubs they come with, they are still fine.
As I was shopping for my STP, I researched reviews for each item on the bike, and this rim was the only part that got seriously panned on here. I bought the bike anyhow in anticipation of my rim bending, and sure enough it happened, only faster than I thought. Do NOT buy this rim, that would be my advice.
Strengths: strengths... hmm well this rim is crap. came stock on my haro x7 and on the very first ride it tacoed
Weaknesses: this product is indeed weak
Bottom Line:
only buy this if.... ok honestly dont buy these rims. on the very first ride and very first small 8 ft gap jump the front wheel tacoed. if u buy these U ARE DUMB
Strengths: holds 2.35 tires, not overkill weight like most others,
Weaknesses: None yet for the rims
Bottom Line:
great rim with nice balance of strength and width, can't say how they would behave for downhill/freeride applications as they aren't overbuilt like other wheelsets. Great all purpose set for me, feels like a great trailbike (middle of XC and downhill) wheelset.
Weaknesses: very weak. they have come out of true multiple times. my rear wheel has a flat spot and a bent spoke and my front wheel is out of true. I have taken them into the shop twice. I have only put a handfull of rides on them
Bottom Line:
I would strongle reccomend that you do not buy these rims.
I've had experience with a few rims now (DT Swiss E450, Sun Single Track, Mavic) but this rim sucks, really, it does. Just go over a curb or a stone that has an edge or a small drop: you've got a rim thats bent like hell and a snake bite. Seriously, i've had to true them like 3 times and had about 4 flats with them, only doing cross country! Oh yeah, I only weigh 60kg... These rims are not expensive, i know that, they came stock, but i mean most rims on $200 bikes will hold up better than these. Don't buy them. Unless you're trying to break the record for destroying a rim in the shortest time.
Weaknesses: the rim is crap!! for XC maybe not but for anything else... front wheel broke and i ended beating up my shoulder... no rides for at least a month...
Bottom Line:
the rims came out of true after almost every ride or bigger jump, since day one. they are probably good xc rims, but for me, weighting around 100 kilos, they are not the solution for freeride/dh... plus, my friend was sitting on front wheel in the van during the last lift..
Similar Products Used: sun mammoth, sun rhyno, kinlin mx8
Bike Setup: stance 140mm fork,fox van r rear shock...
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Bozeman, MT, USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2007
Strengths: Great rim for the price.
Weaknesses: Isn't designed for DH or free ride.
Bottom Line:
This is a great stock rim. I am very pleased about how long mine have stayed true. I don't really know why the other guy had such a hard time with his. May bee the wheel set was assembled wrong or something. Sometimes if the spoke tension is not even throughout the rim can be weakened. If he was trying to true the rim and didn't know what he was doing that could be the reason for failure. I'm not trying to bash on the dude, just offering some possible explanation.
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2007
Strengths: Good for a cheap rim.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
The are still true after many urban rides and nights at the track and I'm not too kind on wheels. I did however replace the wheelset because the stock FORMULA HUBSare junk! No engagement. But the rim was great for all mountain type use and that's what it's listed for. Not Urban, Freeride, Or Downhill. If you use it for it's intended use it should hold up fine!
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