Spinergy Xyclone 29 Wheels: This lightweight and incredibly fast wheelset can handle the most extreme conditions while delivering superior performance. Advanced PBO Fiber spokes. Ideal for cross-country,endure and all-mountain.
Submitted by
joshuagore
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2012
Strengths: Weight, Durability, Hubs, and Looks
Weaknesses: Spokes availability.
Bottom Line:
I bought these wheels because I wanted to take a chance on something different. I have always admired products that find other ways to skin the cat besides that of traditional methods.
Performance: These wheels are the same weight as advertised 1850g, and accelerate well, but are not as laterally stiff as high tension offerings from Easton, Mavic or Tricon. I believe they offer a great value for someone interested in durability over race pace.
Durability: I am clydesdale and ride these wheels fairly hard, and this has not been without incident. The wheelset has taken 2 der to the spokes at speed and although not the wheels fault the spokes have incurred damage. This damage was ridden on for 3 months of hard riding and the wheel still never came out true. The spokes consist of what looks like aramid fibers bonded to a threaded tip, and a mushroom head at the tail covered with a plastic sheath which looks to be heat shrink and provides light protection against sticks, and stones, but not against anything that would destroy a traditional spoke. I mention this because as I said earlier they did take a serious beating in the form of two der hits which caused the exterior sheath to tear and several damaged spokes. I rode on 8 damaged and frayed spokes for 3 months of hard riding including a trip to moab and several 2 foot drops. The easiest solution to ensuring your Xyclones are not damaged is to make sure your limit screws did not vibrate out of your der on the way to your destination(happened twice), and your rear der cable isn't too short as to force the der into the spokes on a big hit.
Conclusion: I have ridden these wheels as thought they were all mountain wheels despite that not being there designation, and have been ahppy with them. The hubs have disassembled twice and seals have kept things clean without any problems. The more recent hubs are made by hadley. Overall these are the best bang for the buck in 29er wheels, and I highly recommend them.
Submitted by
suvacrew
a Racer
from Raumati Beach, Wellington, NZ
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2010
Strengths: Ruggedness despite the sheath on the PBO spokes. Comfortable, seem to take that little extra out of the hits. Way light compared to others at 2X the price.
Weaknesses: 21mm Rim width is little narrow, can't run 2.35s at lower PSI, I had a bead burp off on a race and I rode a ways on the rim with no major damage. XC use only
Bottom Line:
I've had Spins on roadies before, Rev Xs that have exploded and left me on the pavement with an ambulance ride to a positive history with a series of Spox R1s and Rs that have served me well. Apart from my Rev X experience, the experiences have all been very positive.
These Xyclones beat the other wheels I've experimented with on my 29er. The Bontragers failed to stay true on the second ride and the front failed to the point of no repair...just junk, The Am Classics I retain as a back-up,they lacked the snap that the Spins give and don't take the edge off of the terrain when you're dashing on a hardtail.
Spinergy's customer service has been very responsive over the years and getting spare parts has been very easy. It helps if the loca bike mechanic is familiar with the build set-up.
Bike Setup: Moto Fyi TI 29er HT, Kona Hei Hei Deluxe FS 2011
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kaizen
a Cross Country Rider
from Belmont, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2009
Strengths: Stiff, Light, Strong. Never seems to need truing. Fast hubs. Great Looks.
Weaknesses: Skewers are heavy, but functional
Bottom Line:
These wheels are bombproof. They are the best combination of light and strong wheels I have found in this price range. Actually, they are better than wheels I have run that are twice their price. And they have major bling potential with the various spoke color options: black, red, yellow, white, blue -- sweet!
Bike Setup: fisher paragon setup for x-country touring
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
leverick
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2009
Strengths: Strong, Strong, Strong. Hubs are great as well.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
These are great wheels for the price with nice performing hubs. I'm a clyde at 200 lbs and have put some fairly serious hits on these wheels and they are true as day one.
Submitted by
Docklobster
a Weekend Warrior
from Murrieta, CA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008
Strengths: I went through spinergy's upgrade program and switched over from my 26" setup and old spox wheelset to the new 29er set.
I have put about 50 rides on this set so far and have had zero issues. This wheelset has performed great!! Stays true, durable and is a great price for a light wheelset. If you are looking for a good performing wheelset give these a try.
Weaknesses: Skewers - I changed mine after the first ride they just didn't hold well for me. A tubeless option would be nice.
Bottom Line:
The right wheelset for me at the right price - checkout the upgrade program if you have some older spinergy's laying around.
Submitted by
Docklobster
a Weekend Warrior
from Murrieta, CA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2008
Strengths: What a great light weight wheelset, especially for the price!!
I have put a good 50 rides on these so far and they have performed great, stayed true, and bearings are in great shape. I have also recently gone to a 203mm rotor on the front and have had no issues with the wheelset holding up to the larger rotor.
Weaknesses: Skewers - I replaced them after the first ride, they just didn't hold well enough for me. A tubeless option would be nice!
Bottom Line:
Anyone looking for a durable lightweight wheelset at an affordable price for a 29er should try these out.
This wheelset is crazy light. Actual weigh came in at 1680 grams, great acceleration and isolates vibration. On jumps it feels like my hardtail is a softtail and they are tougher than they look. What's amazing are the PBO spokes, an LBS dealer showed me a demo spoke and you can tie a knot on itself like a shoelace, crazy! They corner well and the hubs so far are solid. Wish the front hub was Maxle convertible, doh! Spinergy skewers are awful performance and cosmetic wise. A several times the skewer as slipped off the dropout.
Submitted by
SamoJeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica, CA
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2008
Strengths: 10 years of Spinergies. Stay true the longest
Weaknesses: Give you local mechanic one of the two spoke wrenches you get. He prolly wont have one. Spinery, send them to the mechanics of major shops!
Bottom Line:
Well, ten rides on 'em . In the Santa Monica mountains singletrack. If you aren't familiar with it, not the most forgiving terrain. dry, dusty rocky,loose, steep - up AND down! Killed my DT Swiss rims every 3-4 rides. My bike shop guy trued my rims three times in 60 days! (i'm 200lbs)
Do the Xyclone 29ers perform? Unbelievably! They feel lighter. ( I am not a weight junkie, so i have no idea if they are lighter.) But best of all, they feel like an extra level of suspenion over the rough stuff. And,
best of all, I haven't once knock them out of true!
They are not cheap, but @ 60 bucks a month in truing the other rims, they feel cheaper every day!
They look pretty killer, too! I got the black spokes.
I've been thinking about a set of these for a 29er. I read the reviews, but wanted to see if there's anyone who has anything else or pics to add...Especially pics of the white spok Read More »
I am looking to upgrade the wheelset of my ''pretty much'' custom GT Peace 9r Multi, and all light 29er wheelsets out there seem to have some defects/problems. The Spinergy Xyclone Read More »
I have a pair of 2010 Spinergy xyclones that I love but they have a 9mm front hub. I am looking for anyone out there that knows where I can buy a 20mm conversion kit for them. I Read More »
