Use: For pushing your limits on paths and single track, all the cutting edge technology has been concentrated in this new cross-country Tubeless wheel.
Black anodized Maxtal SUP welded rim
Fore drilling technology
Integrated freewheel hub with FTS L system
8 and 9 speed HG compatible freewheel
24 front/rear Zicral spokes, crossed straight pull with integrated aluminum nipples, anti-rotation system
Disc brake compatible with the international standard : 6 holes - 44 mm diameter, front offset : 10,5 mm/Rear : 15,25 mm
Compatible with disc brakes: Hayes, Shimano, Magura, Formula...
Weaknesses: I have used these 2006 model wheels for rugged cross country riding, with fast rockey decents and long tough climbs. The wheels have made creeking sounds but overall they seem to hold up to the abuse. My problem has been with the freewheel wearing out. I have gone through 2 of them or about 1 per season. You will start to notice that your rear sproket has play in it which causes shifting problems. The free wheel will also make a whining sound and more clicking when it is about to go. Mavic hooked up a new one which was installed by the dealer so I'm still riding on it but even with a new free wheel there is some play in the cassette. I like high end mountain bike products but I want them to take the abuse and last without wearing out fast.
Bottom Line:
I hope there new models are more durable. I would buy them again if I new they could take the abuse and not wear out.
This wheelset totally rocks. I have bombed many trails and taken 7 foot drops onto flat trails and have yet to knock these babies out of true. I even knocked out a spoke and didn't notice a difference in the ride until I cleaned my bike. The only thing that would make these better is replacing the hub with a Chris King. Could only give it 4 chilis due to the hub weaknesses.
Bike Setup: Intense 5.5, Fowx Float RLC, SRAM XO components, Avid Juicy 7 brakes.
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Ossendrecht, the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2006
Strengths: Bomb proof wheelset, not too heavy, stay true, additional traction due to lower air pressure, bearings can be replaced inexpensively, nice looks.
Weaknesses: Forget about repairing a UST tire on the trail, make sure you always carry a spare inner tube. After five years of very reliable performance my front wheel doesn't hold air anymore :-(
Bottom Line:
Very nice wheelset, except for the fact that since two months my front wheel doesn't hold air anymore. I replaced the valve, without success. I applied tire repair glue, without success, which means the UST rim itself doesn't hold air.
It's a pitty, but fortunately it's not the rear wheel. IMHO the main advantage of these wheels is that snake bites are history. Since snake bites usually occur at the rear side, I'm not too sad about mounting an inner tube at the front wheel. However, if it would happen to the rear wheel, I would be pissed. I know, surviving five years of serious trashing is not bad at all, but these wheels are rather expensive, so I expect quality here.
Anyone who requires solid performance and who's willing to pay for them, should consider these wheels.
Similar Products Used: all kinds of non-UST wheelsets
Bike Setup: Giant NRS, XT, Crossmax UST, Magura Marta disc brakes, Magura Ronin fork.
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Submitted by
Mork Hunt
a Cross Country Rider
from germany
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2006
Strengths: light, stronger than most XC AM wheels,less spokes, LOOKS
Weaknesses: not strong enough. spokes damiage to easily. durring a race I took a pedal to the front wheel and tossed me and the bike into the air. when I picked myself off the floor i found that my front wheel had broke at the seam and looked like a big fat TACO. oh And i have to mention that MAVICS wonderful (french) customer service wouldnt repair the fulty rim. go figure there FRENCH. also PRICE!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
this is a perrty good AM wheelset but for the price get somthing else. I have done some perty agressive stuff with these wheels. and go figure it take a XC race to jack them up. but overall a perty damn good ride
Submitted by
erling brabaek
a Cross Country Rider
from el paso,tx
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2006
Strengths: Easy to repair/maintain
Weaknesses: Freewheel hub design with only 2 pawls. Spokes easy breaking. Constant adjusting of bearing preload. And oh mavics awfull customer service. (Just not there)
Bottom Line:
This is a wheelset for the under 160 lbs rider. I weigh in at 200 lbs. Ride a lot of rocks but no more than 1 foot jumps. The trains of the southwest are very abusive to the rimset if you ride hard. In the 2 years i had this wheelset i have replaced the following: 3 freewheel hub bodies ($150)One set of new bearings ($25)6 set of pawls ($65) 7 spokes ($35)4 valvestems ($40) 1 rim ($100) The straw that broke the camels back is after 18 months the rim cracked...bought a new one took the wheel apart to rebuild. Found a brand new pawl had sheared one of the ears of and dammaged the hub. Send it ind to mavic through the LBS. Took an arsenal of phonecalls from the LBS and 37 days to get a reply from mavic that they would not cover the repair even it was caused by the pawl. Mavic did not think that they should repair/replace the hub even though the pawl had less than 25 miles on it. Here it is. I have several friends that are lightweight and they ride the xls with just minor maintainance. So its up to you. I think the main problem is the light spoked rim (only 24) is not enough destrib. of the impact. 2`nd only two pawls give too much uneven torque on the freewheel hub. If you own a set of xl`s go wigle the rear cassette diagonaly and see if you have the mavic wobble. Feel free to contact me in regard to this wheelset. Enjoy
Bike Setup: yeti 575,xo triggers and rear shift,custom wheelset,avid juicy carbon.
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Submitted by
Richard
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Strengths: They are light weight. and extreamly strong. Any part for these wheels is easy to replace and get through the local bike shop.
Weaknesses: The only problems i have encountered is after a crash a couple of years ago. I had the front wheel straightened and now it will not hol air (they are UST) not a big deal as i run tubes anyway.
Bottom Line:
These whells are tough, i have over 3000 miles on them and there still going strong. I have replaced the palls and springs (they have over 3000 miles on them) and these were cheap and easy to replace. I broke the flang on the front hub by placing too long of bolts for my rotors (my fault). Mavic repaced the hub, axle and bearings for a small charge. I paid for the hub and mavic gave me axle and bearings free. They even have a crash repalement policy if you total a rim. They were very quick to fix and return my wheel. I would not hesatate to buy a mavic again. They can be a bit pricy but there worth it.
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006
Strengths: Light and Tight
Weaknesses: Hard to get seal
Bottom Line:
Like the wheel so far. Could not get seal at first tried Stan's and bead seat all that.
Finally put soapy water every where, and put a 60 psi air hose on the valve. Saw small bubbles from spoke holes. Valve stem leak to spoke chamber. Tighten valve stem and perfect.
It is very hard to find this leak because without the air hose not enough air leaked throught the valve stem to raise bubbles on all the spokes.
Submitted by
flarider
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampa, FL
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2005
Strengths: Lightweight
Weaknesses: After about six months of riding starting getting weird vibration and noise coasting at high speed downhill. Overhauling the rear hub, I discovered there is only one bearing in the freehub. The inside bearing is just a plastic bushing. Shimano has at least two REAL bearings in its freehub. The plastic bushing has no durability and quickly fails. Replacements cost about $65 and you can only order them through a local bike shop.
Bottom Line:
These may be light wheels, but they should only be used as race day wonders, because they can't handle the miles of daily or even weekend riding.
Submitted by
24 hr dude
a Racer
from Gig Harbor WA USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2005
Strengths: Light, stiff, stay true
Weaknesses: Rear freehub, skewers, UST's burp air at low pressure
Bottom Line:
Pros: Light, stiff, look good, UST Cons: Freehub is poor quality and or design. On number 3 in 3 years. First sign is tremendous squeal/vibration when going down hill fast. Faliure follows soon there after. UST's burp at low pressure.
Had 2 sets of these (came with bikes). Would not buy again due to quality issues. Would work OK for raceday wheels but if you put on serious training miles these quickly fail. Even basic LX has been wayyy more reliable.
Bike Setup: Trek Top Fuel 110 XTR RS SID WC changed stem and bar for easton EC90 and post and saddle for SDGs
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Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005
Strengths: Light, tubeless ready
Weaknesses: Two pawl freehub design, special spokes
Bottom Line:
I've got a set of Mavic's Crossmax XL Disk wheels and within 200 miles the two (!) freehub pawls had worn to the point that they would no longer engage, and shrapnel from the pawls had migrated around and gouged the inner working and locked up the freewheel. I'm on pawl set #2 and they are already showing signs of wear at under another 100 miles of riding. I tried calling Mavic customer service and have left several voicemails without ever recieving a call back. The wheels are great in just about every respect except for the rear freehub design which is totaly inadaquate for trail use.
Similar Products Used: Bontrager Racelites, many custom wheels
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Submitted by
Daniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2005
Strengths: Light weight and looks really nice
Weaknesses: Rear Hub, Free Wheel
Bottom Line:
The rear hub and free wheel aren't durable at all. The rear hub has been rebuilt as well as having a new free wheel put on the set. Very poor durability for such expensive wheels. I would have thought for such a well engineered set of rims the quality would be better.
Bike Setup: Specialized Epic, Shamano XT/XTR, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels
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Submitted by
jaghouse
a Cross Country Rider
from iowa
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2005
Weaknesses: rear hub not reliable.
Bottom Line:
I cant believe these are getting a choice award. My rear hub is toast after one year of riding. I also have a bent spoke and split nipple probably from all the loose rock that was hitting the wheel at Berryman, MO. No way will I ever purchase a Mavic wheelset again.
Submitted by
Matt Hawkins
a Racer
from Earlysville, VA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2005
Strengths: Weight, Durability and all-around quality
Weaknesses: Color?
Bottom Line:
This is the only wheelset to have if you want the best of everything... they make 'em lighter, they make 'em cheaper, but nobody does it all in one package like Mavic... I also ride Ksyriums on the road and both sets are bombproof and faster than speeding bullets.
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Canton Ga
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2005
Strengths: Strong, lite, UST, finish
Weaknesses: Freewheel, lack of a real warranty
Bottom Line:
This review is for the SL Disc, these wheels were stock on the Enduro when I bought it. I was really hesitant about these wheels being able to take the abuse a 220lb guy like I can put on them. Well 8 months have gone by and I have yet to need to true the wheels and they are hop free and as straight as new. I run UST tires and have no problems with leaks.
The big problem I have is at about 500 miles the rear freewheel starting making a ton of noise when I would get about 20 MPH going downhill and coasting. When I took the rear hub apart the axel was loose so I tighten everything back up and re-lubed it all. This worked for another 200 miles until I went to pedal and my cranks and chain just spun. I had my shop call up Mavic for warranty on them and they said this was normal wear and tear and they would not warranty it.
I am now very disappointed as I now have to pay for the new pawls and freewheel for a $850 wheel set that didn’t last 1 year or even 1,000 miles. I would not recommend anyone pay the price they are asking without buying the now optional insurance they sale when you buy these new retail.
Sorry Mavic but I will never buy a wheel set from you.
I am giving it a 1 for Value since the freewheel was not made to last and a 3 for overall rating as I really love the wheels except for the freewheel.
