Cobalt blue Aluminium 6061-6t wheels with included front/rear split qr included. Disc brake compatible with sealed cartridge bearings. Stylish top of the line wheels for an awesome price.
Strengths: Tough for the weight, look nice, easy to set up tubeless, and are fairly light.
Weaknesses: Original rear hub
Bottom Line:
I have had these wheels for the past year and have used them for aggressive XC and trail rides. Crank bros replaced the rear hub body and I have had zero issues since. I have burped a few tires off on rocky descends, but otherwise they have preformed really well. I would recommend these wheels to anyone looking for a nice set of trail/XC wheels.
Similar Products Used: Mavic, sunn, bontrager, dt swiss, and azonic
Bike Setup: Trek fuel 9.8
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Submitted by
steveo
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2012
Strengths: look snazzy. light.
Weaknesses: after less than one year, I hopped off a small embankement (1 ft) to find the front wheel was completely farked.
the guy at the bike shop (Velofix - they are awesome) said that he has heaps of problems / complaints / returns and basically they are an overengineered unreliable part. I would have to agree!
Bottom Line:
good to look at, unreliable and overpriced and soon no-one will want them. If Paris Hilton were a bike wheel this would be it.
Similar Products Used: wheels of 26 27 and 700c varieties
Bike Setup: custom build, hardtail carbon frame with RockShox Reba 29 on the front.
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Submitted by
mbell
a Cross Country Rider
from Poway, Ca
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2011
Strengths: Style and function all in one.
Weaknesses: I have a hard time regulating myself on my XC bike... I have a tendency to forget that I'm not on my DH bike, and the wheels are the first thing to pay for it. I had a hard time keeping them true. I'm in the 200lb range and an aggressive rider, so I really can't blame the wheels.
Similar Products Used: Shimano XT, XTR, DT Swiss XR1450
Bike Setup: Merida 96 3000D, 2011
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Submitted by
donfilmore25
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississippi
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2011
Strengths: Light, Stiff, easy to service/maintain, UST tires mount and seal easily
Weaknesses: Lots of seal drag on the hub bearings. Some cassettes rub against the rear hub flange (My 9 speed XT does); I contacted CB and asked about this and they are aware of this, they also told me to use the shim rings included to mitigate this issue; however, for a $950 retail set of wheels this is just not acceptable. My wheels came with the old hub design, CB was very prompt in sending me a new re-designed replacement hub body.
Bottom Line:
This wheels have been good to me and overall have performed the task intended. In hind sight, I regret changing my Crossmax's for these set. They have potential to be great wheels, but have some issues to be addressed first.
Submitted by
Veysterman
a Racer
from United Kingdom
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2011
Strengths: Look the dogs nutts! Super Stiff, Responsive and light!
Weaknesses: None what so ever!
Bottom Line:
I was also concerned about the bad reviews, but heard that the freehub had been re-designed, I am told that the hubs are now made by Formula. I've hammered them in loads of races and training rides without any problems, I can only assume that this is because I have the new version Cobalt XC's. I highly recommend them.
Weaknesses: none yet...no not even with the free hub!
Bottom Line:
I dig these wheels! I have had no problems at all, stay true (but if/when you need to these wheels are easy), track unreal with no flex...just point and go! Heard about earlier problems with the free hub but mine and my buddies (he's had his for over a year) have had not one problem. BTW, they look awesome!!
Similar Products Used: Crossmax slr, American Classic
Bike Setup: Titus Racer X, XTR, Fox
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Submitted by
endocrash
a Cross Country Rider
from Alameda, CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2011
Strengths: Pretty, cool design, good pickup
Weaknesses: Form over function - early problems with the free hub assembly (which they redesigned in 2009 - though my buddy has a new pair of cobalts and it failed anyways), dents way too easily, Crank Brothers slow in agreeing to fix stuff (according to my LBS who has to deal with them)
Bottom Line:
Looks pretty, but stick with something tried and true... at least for now. These wheels are still new to market and maybe will get better in time
Submitted by
acidicboy
a Cross Country Rider
from all around
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2010
Strengths: lightweight, accelerates like a demon
Weaknesses: I'll give you one guess
Bottom Line:
thought the hub problem was just a small percentage of cobalt owners when I bought it. then the hub had to be fixed twice in the past 5 months. the shop was kind enough to service and replace the cassette body for free, but I don't want to be in a situation where I'm in a trail again and the cobalts fail again.
Similar Products Used: mavic crossmax sl, mavic crossmax st
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Submitted by
ltb
a Cross Country Rider
from annandale QLD Australia
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2010
Strengths: looks weight
Weaknesses: freehub, soft alloy rims
Bottom Line:
Sorry guys believe all the negatives, the freehub is useless and badly executed also the rims ding Very easily. they do stay truish though under some fair trail riding, but hey theres no point in it being round if you cannot pedal it because the ratchet pawl has blown again. 8 months of ownership, 4 re builds (yes with the right grease) and one new freehub body, but still still they go bang and the hub slips every 5 k's. Importer says "for race only" funny how no one else says that.
Similar Products Used: XT, XTR, Stans, mavic crossmax, syncros etc
Bike Setup: mojo sl, sram xx cobalts (until I can afford some Easton Haven carbons with 2 year insurance!!)
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Submitted by
timb2117
a Cross Country Rider
from annandale QLD Australia
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2010
Strengths: Looks light weight.
Weaknesses: rear freehub, soft alloy rim
Bottom Line:
Sorry but please believe the negative reviews! I love the look, design and intention. I hate the execution, and the importers line that "they are race wheels only" is rubbish, 4 hub rebuilds, and one new freewheel hub in only 6 months occasional riding, then a pretty poor importer (crank bros company support is ace just somewhere in between it them and me it vaporises)
Similar Products Used: mostly everything from bontrager, crossmax, Xt, XTR, Stans etc
Bike Setup: Ibis mojo Sl, sram XX etc
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Submitted by
Island boy
a Cross Country Rider
from Baguio, Philippines
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2010
Strengths: Super light, Flex free (although at 130 lbs. there really is no flex), BLING!!
Weaknesses: Rear hub, which has now been addressed by Crank Bros. Kudos to that!
Bottom Line:
Spin-on-the-fly! This wheelset is by far the most responsive that I've tried. Distributor promptly exchanged pawl for new engineered one at purchase (I didn't know it had a previous design problem). Been riding it over 3 months now and would recommend this to anyone. Don't mind the price tag, this thing works. period.
Similar Products Used: Mavic crosstrail, Crossmax SLR
Bike Setup: Orbea Occam, Shimano SLX groupset, Magura Durin SL, Crank Bros. Cobalt 11 post and bars
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Submitted by
jim
a Cross Country Rider
from vermont
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2010
Strengths: stiff, lightweight, good looks, serviceability,
Weaknesses: free-hub problem - now remedied!!
Bottom Line:
great performing wheels, very stiff and nimble - just think about turning and they go, even with 2.3 tires mounted! real versatile in being able to convert from 9mm to 15mm qr. good seal w/tubeless tires, and w/o any sealant! manufacturer promptly took care of freehub warranty issue with grace, a distinctly improved engineered part, and to my satisfaction. would buy again and recommend.
Similar Products Used: easton havoc, mavic crossmax ust,
Bike Setup: ibis mojo sl, time pedals, crank bros 4r seatpost, kenda nevegal 2.3's, fox float RLC, fox RP23, sram elixir cr brakes,
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Submitted by
OOverboard
a Cross Country Rider
from water valley Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2010
Strengths: Looks, weight
Weaknesses: Durability
Bottom Line:
I did not review the reviews - I have had a rear hub failure, the same as others, with a split pawl carrier.
I waited until about March 2010 for mine and still rec'd items that were not upgraded. The Bros made note to be I would be getting an upgraded item. I hope so as many of my rides are solo and a long way from roads. They diod finish Leadville 100 - I would have been real dissapointed had this happened then (it happened second ride after I was back - lucky me I guess!)
Customer service as almost immediate, kudos there.
As noted, hopefully the upgrade is a permanent fix. There should be a recall as this mode of failure seems quite prevalent.
