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Submitted by
shanedawg
a Downhiller
from san jose, ca, USA
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Slough's bike shoppe, San jose | | Strengths: | light weight for the strength, good looks, eyelets. Not to expensive. | | Weaknesses: | hmmm | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager, sun ryhno lite | | Bike Setup: | Had these rims on a few diff bikes. Some all mountain rides and also been running it on the back of my freeride/urban/dirt jump bike for the past 3 years. Running dt 14/15 with alloy nips on the trail bike and 14/15 with brass nips on the dh bike. combo of white industries and CK hubs. | | Bottom Line: | This rim has been truly outstanding. I have three wheels with these rims. My trail bike has them and they may be stronger than I need for that bike. I took it to porcupine rim and then rims laughed at the rocky terrain.
I have also been running it as a REAR rim on my freeride/DH/urban bike for the past 3 years, with the last 18months on a Turner RFX. I took the bike to whistler, northshore Vancouver, and recently to the rockiest terrain you can find, Northstar in Tahoe. I had to baby it at northstar but everywhere else I went big, even hitting 8ft drops on it. In the last year I broke two spokes and sheared off a spoke nipple, each time re-tensioning and re-truing the wheel and the rim is still going strong. At northstar I put some dings in the side wall of the rim and I started running 2.5 tires full time now so I think it's time for a new, wider rim. I am looking at either the XM321 or the ex729 since I like mavic so much after owning these rims.
Oh yeah, don't forget the wheelbuilder is as key to the strength of your wheel as the parts you buy. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Marysville
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Upper Bidwell | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorodo Cyclist | | Strengths: | Very Strong for the weight. I have had very good luck with Mavic Rims. I feel they make one of the finest rims. The 519 is wide enough to use a nice size tire. | | Weaknesses: | None for me. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun,Alex,Salsa and many others. Mavic 517 and117 | | Bike Setup: | S/C Heckler Marzocchi Z1FRSL 130mm, Sram x7/x9 shifters, Avid Mech. Brakes,LX Front Der.,LX Cranks w/Bashring, XT hubs w/ Mavic 519. | | Bottom Line: | Iam a agressive trail/light freerider. I put alot of miles on my bike and like things that last. The rim has a good to strength weight ratio. Survived numerous 4ft flat landings. Alot of high speed downhills with numerous rock gardens.
I run 2.2(trail) or 2.35(downhill) tires and the rim is wide enough for both. This rim is a great choice for heavy duty trail riding.
I have had to true them a couple of times. Just very minor. The second best wheelset I have ever owned. The best set of wheels I ever owned were also Mavic.
I plan on replacing them with the new 719 very soon. AWESOME RIM FOR TRAIL RIDING/LIGHT DUTY FREE RIDE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Chau
a Cross Country Rider
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Camberwell Cycles (closed down) | | Strengths: | Light, Strong, good for v-brakes, Decent Price | | Weaknesses: | none that i can find | | Similar Products Used: | Alex DM20, | | Bike Setup: | Was a Mongoose DX6.7, Deore LX front, Sachs Neos Rear, Stx hubs, v-brakes, crankset...was an old bike,
Now Rockmachine Rockgrinder, Deore setup, Hayes Discs. | | Bottom Line: | These Rims had gone through alot and they are still holding shape, no warping, no flatspots, nothing that would be detrimental to the well being of the whole wheel. Considering i have had these for a very long time and considering that i have been using them on a hub that has worn cones and considering that i bent my last rim almost 40 degrees...These rims rock! But then again i only ride XC and nothing crazy unless i feel like being a nutter... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Orono ME USA
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | not telling but rocks and roots delux | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | came with bike after one season of use before I had them | | Strengths: | I was reading the reviews of this product and was suprised that everyone was so happy. Good for a front wheel. | | Weaknesses: | Not durable in the rear for me. I rode on them for a few seasons on bog land cross country trails and I messed up my rear wheel. I have broken about 6 spokes and the hub went to heck. one of the cones ended up with divots in it. I replace the axle and cones and it was still not very good. The rim also got a few flat spots in it | | Similar Products Used: | First disc brake wheel. | | Bike Setup: | GIANT AC air lite | | Bottom Line: | I hate hubs that are not sealed bearings. The shimano cones and bearings die in the rear wheel. I have no problem with this setup in the front but not in the rear. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Howery
a Downhiller
from Prescott, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Private Reserve | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong enough for trail riding and light freeriding, not very heavy. | | Weaknesses: | None observed. | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 317s, 238s, mavic 321s, sun mammoths, sun rhynolites, vuelta FR... | | Bike Setup: | Foes FXR. | | Bottom Line: | Great rims for "all mountain" riding. Build them up in early spring this year, rode them all year long, they've held up great. These rims are pretty versatile. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Racer Xman
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, OZ
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Oxford Falls/Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Strength, lifetime, unbreakable | | Weaknesses: | None - although the breaking surface is a little worn after 4 years... they are a little heavy, but choose 2 of light, strong, or cheap :) | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of tacos... who can remember the part numbers | | Bike Setup: | RacerX, XT build, F519 rims | | Bottom Line: | I've lost some weight riding on these rims... max was 270 pounds (now 220...) 6"4 and I like to get a lot of airtime. These rims are still straight after 4 years of constant riding... I just replaced the rear wheel as the hub was fubared (but I did notice that the rim's breaking surface was rather thin... oops). But it was still straight. I've crashed them a bunch of times (including some crashes that resulted in ER visits, and I know my orthopaedic on a first name basis :) ).
But the wheels are still straight.
They are heavy (the racer X is an excellent frame, and they don't help get it to the weight it could be). But they are still straight.
And... they have _never_ _ever_ been maintained. Never Taco'd. Never needed straightening.
I've been on bikes for 15 years. I've needed to reaplace rims, and had them trued before. These are seriously strong.
And straight.
What more could you want. 0 riding days lost in 4 years... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rich lowery
a Weekend Warrior
from omaha, ne
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Platte River | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Strong enough for clydesdale XC, all mountain. | | Weaknesses: | Not impervious, only as good as the builder. | | Similar Products Used: | Ryno lites, Bontrager Mustangs, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll, Black Super Air, 2.3 Vertical Pro's, Hope Hubs 519 rims. | | Bottom Line: | I found these to be sturdier than Rhyno Lites (I found the rynhos to be susceptible to flat spots where the valve stem penetrates the rim) and anyway these feel a lot lighter. Because these are narrower rims they do create a different contact patch with the same tire. The wider rims put more rubber on the ground (more resistance). These seem to have provide better cornering with less rolling resistance (faster is better) using the same tires. With a good hi volume tire this rim rocks. My weight varies 200-220 depending on the amount of free time I have. I am not abusive, but I am historically hard on parts. These are good solid rims for solid riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Godalming UK
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anything vertical | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | merlincycles.co.uk | | Strengths: | These look real nice being black with black spokes, solid as made with LX hubs. nice weight for something so strong. | | Weaknesses: | Got to have good rim tape as spoke holes in the second U pinch the tube. | | Similar Products Used: | what ever came on my mule | | Bike Setup: | 01 GT with 03 phsylo SL rockshox, full lx comps, trulative XR chainset | | Bottom Line: | these are a great buy, got mine hand built and have done 2000miles on them and have yet to get then tured again.
I weigh 260lbs, have hit a few kerbs and rocks and know i have bottomed out the rim but no damage yet.
Can't find a real problem apart from getting a pinched tube in the secondary holes now and then. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabe Padilla
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Very strong, fairly light, can be used for either disc or rim brake applications | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy for weight weenie applications. Not the coolest looking rim out there. It looks fairly generic. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Rhyno Lite, Mavic x317 Disc. Neither are really comparable. | | Bike Setup: | I ran these on my C'dale Jekyll 3000, Intense Tracer, and now I have a pair waiting to be built up for my single speed. | | Bottom Line: | These are great rims. My C'dale Jekyll came with these super light x317 rims that felt amazing...that is, until they were completely destroyed from riding in the American river canyon around Auburn, Ca. The rocky terrain did not agree with them. On the recommendation of an acquaintance I gave up the 60g per wheel and went with the F519. This is an extremely strong rim for cross country use. I built up two sets of these with 14g unbutted spokes and have never had to true them. I swear by these rims. When I saw them onsale at PricePoint for $30 each I grabbed a pair for my single speed.
A lot of people say to use Rhyno Lites if you're hard on wheels but they weigh in at 565g! These are only 460g and are plenty strong enough for XC riding. However, do not even bother trying to use these for hardcore freeriding or downhilling. That would just be stupid, they aren't strong enough for that. These are for people who are hard on XC rims and want a little added strength. Also, make sure you get a hand built wheel, you won't be sorry. A lot of times when people think they have weak rims or spokes it actually turns out that they just got a bad wheel build. Spend the extra $$$, it is always worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from PA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good strength to weight ratio, along with a nice width that makes for a great trail wheel setup. Though I've only been on these rims 3 months I've put them through the gauntlet and they've come out shining. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavics: 517, F219, D321, 317. | | Bike Setup: | 03 Bullit with 2 setups. I use the 519s on the lighter, trail bike/light FR setup with the Z1 up front and a Vert/Survival on the rims. | | Bottom Line: | Great rim for hard trail riding and light FR. Maybe a bit overkill for pure XC and too light for hard FR but great for anything in between.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Werner
a Racer
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Stayed true | | Weaknesses: | Braking surface pits and is rough with flakes of metal that comes off.
Sidewall buldged on rear in one spot with normal city commuting | | Bike Setup: | Cheap commuter - heavy in the rear with gear. | | Bottom Line: | I am replacing these because the sidewall buldged, and the breaking surface seems to be peeling/flaking.
They are still true, however. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob P
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Desert Classic/National | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$64.00 | | Strengths: | I weigh 215 lbs. and ride on some tough terrain and hit the downhills hard and these rims never go out of true. If you are a heavier rider and have problems with your wheels going out of true, this is your problem solver, also i have them built with DT 14/15 gauge spokes. | | Bottom Line: | The best rims for the heavier rider who does not mind the little extra weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob T
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any<3ft. wide and or rocky ,rooted and rutted | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Trailhead Bikes | | Strengths: | Mavic makes the best rims.These are stout yet fairly light .They build up perfectly straight and tensioned provided you or your builder knows what he's doing! | | Weaknesses: | Mavic didn't make a heavy duty XC rim when I bought these.They made only the 219 and that was too heavy for my use. | | Similar Products Used: | 317(narrow,dents easy),519,217,117,MA40,Open,Sun and Bontrager Mustangs(nice rims at a nice price) | | Bike Setup: | Turner,CK Iso hubs,DT spokes,No Tubes(Great Stuff)...I recently got a Park tensionometer.These are great if you want to build strong,perfect wheels. | | Bottom Line: | These rims are beefy!I use Stan's system and run about 28- 35 lbs. pressure and 2.3s.I ride in rocky and wooded technical terrain as much as possible.I manage to completely compress the tires and get rim contact with obstacles on a pretty regular basis.Beside a few dings and scratches this rims have held up fine.I haven't had to true them yet.I do a lot of technical,long distance endurance rides.I demand high reliability out of my equipment.Where I ride there is no opportunities for shortcuts back or getting a buddy to pick you up.If we break down,we could be in for a 20 mile walk.These rims are a little heavier,(60 whole grams!!)but more durable than any XC rim I've used to date.I think the most important thing with wheels is that they are built by a competent wheelbuilder who enjoys doing it,not some highschool yahoo who's just there to earn enough money for his next date.I can build strong wheels using inexpensive components.Just because you get all the top end stuff won't necessarily guarantee you a great set of wheels that last. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | street | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | buck's bikes | | Strengths: | lightweight for what you get. very strong. good finish. very nice brake track. welded rims are much stronger than pinned rims. never have to true them. | | Weaknesses: | a little on the pricey side. | | Similar Products Used: | rhyno lites, 221, 217, x517, sun ds-1 | | Bike Setup: | currently an Evil Imperial, Vanilla 125RLC, 519 out front on XT, Doublewide out back on XT. XT disc brakes. profile cranks. haro mag pedals. | | Bottom Line: | the rims are sweet. only ever busted one -split it in two pieces. i can't complain about breaking one rim, in the same crash i did $11,000 in damage to my face. i use disc brakes with these rims. anyone using v-brakes should love this rim over a rhynolite (the mavic won't have brake shudder from the rim seam.) as far as people having stress fractures... those little white spots you see on your silver rim around the eyelets are from the eyelets being installed in the rim. get the rim in black and you never see those. if your rim really is being 'fractured' get a new wheel builder and ask if he/she uses a tensiometer when building. too high of tension can pull the eyelet throught the rim. i'm the service manager at Buck's Bikes in Austin. every wheel I build is measured with a tensiometer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a Cross Country Rider
from C-Springs
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Jones D-Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Cheap & Strong (for a XC wheel) | | Weaknesses: | Touch heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Other Mavics, araya, sun | | Bike Setup: | Schwin S-10 w/xt drivetrain. manitou black fork | | Bottom Line: | My 519s came laced (36h 3x) to Shimano XT hubs (std). After a year and a half of use, the front wheel has been trued once, and the back wheel is about half-way to needing truing. I ride technical XC and some (Very) light free-riding (maybe 4 feet to flat). I'm pretty impressed with the wheels consider how cheap they were (99$ for the machine built wheel). I almost bought these when I upgraded to discs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
trail toad
a Cross Country Rider
from A 2
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | vulture's knob | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | jenson | | Strengths: | they hold up. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | too many | | Bike Setup: | the toad is a truth with sturdy componets. | | Bottom Line: | I ride trail. The tougher the better as I've said in many reviews the rooty long rocky washed out log filled climbs are my favorite, the down hills the same. I like jumps, ladder bridges, and water crossings. I don't like wide smooth paths (that I can ride my mom's three speed on). I leave those to roady and weekenders. These rims I ordered for there design,not to wide, not to heavy. I run discs so they might need trued but the tire still spins without rubbing. I've read some bad reviews and some good ones. I've either been lucky or they have worked the kinks out. My 517 lasted 3 races, and racing is easy on rim compaired to real trail rides. 223 a year of trail and too many times to the truing stand. These have been great wheels. I've landed flat, sideways, and even on a curb. The toad varys weight from 26lb to 29plus with air to coil setups these are just fine for a trail weight. Go to stan's notubes for a great setup and don't cry the gram game to trail riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R.
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island N.Y.
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ones with dirt, trees and rocks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$36.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson.com | | Strengths: | STRONG really strong, very stiff rims no lateral flex at all, No true thus far did I metion they were strong for such a narrow rim. | | Weaknesses: | For you weight weenie's out there look somewhere else. For people who are looking to do something fun like Moutaincross or aggresive style XC riding this is your rim. Still they are on the heavey side compared to XC rim. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Laser Beams, Mavic X223, Sun Ringle XC lite's | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC with plenty of goodies | | Bottom Line: | These rims are strong for a narrow rim. My X223's flexed and needed to be trued monthly, but not these. They are totally worth the mild extra weight penalty. These are not for XC racing but for XC riding they are perfect. Rock sold performance at a good price if you buy them at Jenson.com. I got them for a steal and they are much better for the trails around here. Root filled with plenty of downed trees rocks and stumps to get over. I'm pretty tough on wheels and I have yet to make these flex, flat spot them or even bend them. I have hit a couple of logs and stumps pretty hard and nothing so far. Still you can feel the extra weight going uphill the most I have found myself using a lower gear to climb on some steep hills. Going downhill is were the extra beef of these rims are at there best no whel shudder or vibrations. Basicly if your looking for a good set of rims to do some light freeriding or aggresive trail riding these are great, but for racing stick with a light weight rims like X317 but for something extra get yourself some F219 you can't go wrong. The extra width of these rims make you tires grip even better than before, and for someone who likes to make there bike carve this is a great rim for that as well PEACE! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Saliba
a Downhiller
from Milton, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | My backyard | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | U.K. | | Strengths: | Very light, strong, only had them trued once, CHEAP | | Weaknesses: | can't put more than a 2.4 tire on them, a little narrow for freeriding. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517 | | Bike Setup: | Norco 2001 wolverine with rock shox 2001 jett | | Bottom Line: | These rims are a good rim for dirt jumping and urban assult but are not the greatest for the shore or freeriding. They are light, dependable, strong and cheap. So far I have been riding with these rims for about 4 months every day riding them real hard and have only been trued once because the spokes were too lose. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Windsor, Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle World | | Strengths: | Solid rim, never been trued, awesome braking surface, just the right amount of flex. | | Weaknesses: | A little narrow for freeriding. I personally prefer a wider rim for freeriding. I don't think you could fit any more than a 2.38" tire in it | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Single tracks, Mavic 221, Intense MAG 30's | | Bike Setup: | Norco Team XC, and Norco Fluid 2002 (The 2003 models suck) | | Bottom Line: | First to the guys who had the stress cracks, don't over tighten the spokes and that doesn't happen. Mavics are not meant to be run with high tension spokes. I have had my 519's for a year, and never even had to have them trued. They are used for aggressive cross country. I have dropped them about 5 feet, and bounced them off all kinds of stuff. They still ride great. They are a little narrow but they hold up. If you've had problems breaking cross country rims I would definitely recommend this rim. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton CA.
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any East Bay Park. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | It's wider than a 221 or 517 rim giving a better footprint for the tire.
Stays true better than other XC rims.
Good XC rim for clydsdales.
Is only 10 grams heavier than a Mavic 221 rim. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, but I use them as a heavy duty XC rim, not for freeriding. | | Similar Products Used: | Other Mavic and Araya rims. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 FSRxc frame with, Manitou SXR fork, F519 rims and DT hubs and Easton Carbon Riser Bar. | | Bottom Line: | I don't use my F519s for freeriding.
I do use them as a heavy duty clydsdale XC rim.
As a heavy duty XC rim they work very well and are only 10 grams heavier, than the 221s, that used to be on my bike.
They stay truer than any other rim I've used, even when I've been doing some light jumping on them ( about 2ft ).
I've only had to true them once,just a little bit, after the breakin period, after that, they haven't budged a millimeter.
I bought the rims as a wheel-set with the DT hubs and DT spokes for $276, so they were a good value.
I would recommend these, as a heavy duty XC rim, but they seem like they would be too light, too be a true freeriding rim.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
E
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rock-it, Telonics, Trabuco | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | None. | | Weaknesses: | Well... lemme see. I weigh only 140 #s, and BOTH the front and rear wheels are in the dumpster with cracks all over the place like kitchen ants. | | Similar Products Used: | Walmart rims (trashed three), X517s (still ok after 5 years... amazing!), F519s, D321s (will give update soon) | | Bike Setup: | 02 Giant AC, Marzocchi MCR, Hayes 8", Chris King disctec hubs, lots of stuff. | | Bottom Line: | This is absurd, a waste of dollars, and a waste of my time. I've had these rims for about three months and the end result: I noticed that the wheels started to become oval shaped as if the wheel was built by the Flintstones. I checked the rims and found that they were cracked by the nipple inserts. This was done by a 140 # piece of meat on a bike, which should not cause the rims to fail like that. So I call Mavic to see what's cooking with those rims. They gave me a bunch of runaround as if I am a part of a sheep herd. baaaaa. Their excuse: well, uh.... its like, um, putting these rims on a 4wd truck - whatever. It seems as if they are having a problem with these rims cracking when used for FREERIDING purposes, we are not alone. To Mavic - PLEASE FIX THE PROBLEM BY BEEFING UP THE RIMS or DON'T SELL THOSE TIN CANS FOR **FREERIDE** PURPOSES. Absolutely worthless rims! If zero chilis existed, I'd give these rims zero chilis overall; 2 chils for value. 'Nuff said. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ruben
a Weekend Warrior
from ca
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | build | | Weaknesses: | weight of rider | | Bottom Line: | had for a year,yesterday was riding steps, jumped a 6 step set of steps a few times. on way home heard some tire rubbing. noticed stress cracks on about 10 spokes where they contact the rim on rear wheel
i guess i'll get some D321's
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blue
a Downhiller
from Agoura, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Suicide, G-spot, Gateway | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Strong, light, eyeleted double-wall rims. | | Weaknesses: | Too thin to run wide tires without feeling like they'll roll right off the rim. | | Similar Products Used: | D321, BFR's, Mavic 2** | | Bike Setup: | Wheeler 5000 czx | | Bottom Line: | Okay, lots of peaople go these are strong and I wiegh x pounds. Thats alright. I wiegh about 200 and have done some sick stuff on them, like 8 foot drops etc. and seen my 150 pound friend do a stupid (overshot landing) 12 foot to flat. Not enough for you? One day, we had recently got downhill bikes and my friend got manualing down to a T, so when he suggested I tow him up to fifty and let him maunal down the street. Eagerly I jumped in the car and backed right over the rear wheel. Not many people wiegh a ton and a half, so I figured it would be a good word for Mavic to hear that it was perfectly true, just a bent deraillur hanger and a scratched QR skewer. How's that for a testimony? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a
from Lakewood, Ca.
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Initially, good strength and weight | | Weaknesses: | ***Stress fractures at spoke eyelets*** | | Bike Setup: | KHS FXT | | Bottom Line: | I had this rim hand built as a rear wheel by Jeff a Cambria Bikes in Redondo Beach, Ca. The wheel was on my hardtail Schwinn for 4 months then put onto a full susp KHS FXT. I weigh 185 and ride all sorts of various trails, none w/ any drops of more than a foot high. I looked down today and noticed that at EVERY spoke eyelet, the rim was discolored to a lighter color slightly. After closer inspection, I notcied that these were slight buldges / stress fractures on the rim. You could actually feel the slight "bump" on the sides of the spoke eyelets. I noticed only one other posting w/ this problem ( 5/15/02.) He had the same problem. I thought this was supposed to be a "Freeride" rim??? PLEASE INSPECT YOUR RIMS / WHEELS. If anyone has had this problem too, please post or email me. It maybe the rim, maybe the production batch, or maybe the builder. I have to find another rim before this fails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RedZaskar
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Very durable, wider rims less chance of flats, excellent weight to strength ratio, seems to cost less than Mavic 517s | | Weaknesses: | Well ... it's heavier than a Mavic 517 (but I can live with it) | | Similar Products Used: | Misc | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar Race w' xt hubs, DT straight gauge spokes | | Bottom Line: | Have never needed to true my 519 wheelset since I started riding them 2 years ago. I ride rocky trails regularly, do some light urban freeriding (dropping off ledges, rolling down stairs etcc). Crashed badly several times, bent a rear derailleur hangar, even tried riding with a almost flat tire. But these babies stay true. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Sale, Vic Australia
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Flemington Cycles | | Strengths: | These are so strong. Light weight. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Alex td17 | | Bike Setup: | raceline comp, fox float forks, hugi hubs | | Bottom Line: | These are fantastic, they are super strong, I snapped my RST gilas at the stantion tubes, they were utter rubbish. I am 220 pounds plus and they still run straight after much abuse. These have been through some very tough stuff.The rims are the best get them and you will be happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Albany
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | road touring | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | universal | | Strengths: | Strong, Bulletproof, light enough without sacrificing strength | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Living X | | Bike Setup: | Mustang, set up for road touring | | Bottom Line: | UPDATE
And affirmation that Mavic F519 rims are an exceptional rim
I posted a note here in June, 02 with a problem of not being able to get high psi into my touring tires (avocet tri cross 26 x 1.9's) with these rims. I have since figured out the problem. Wasn't the rims...I believe I just had the tires unseated. I am relatively new to these rims/and this size of tires, having recently switched to this mountain bike setup from my now defunct touring bike. I use my bike for long distance bike packing touring. After solving the aforesaid tire/rim problem I have put 2200 miles on these rims on all types of surfaces (I do ride off road while touring)and these rims have performed exceptionally well with no problems. Universal did a good job of building the wheels...although I would tension the spokes a little less if I was building.... I would recommend these rims and wheels to anyone. MAVIC....keep up the good work...Thanks | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john su
a Cross Country Rider
from los angeles
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | sullivan canyon, etc. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | boston | | Strengths: | lightweight for a freeride/tough xc rim | | Weaknesses: | couldn't handle a bad crash.... | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 517, 221, sun rhynolites | | Bike Setup: | 99 spec stump xt/xtr, mrp x-link, thomson post, raceface stem, eggbeaters | | Bottom Line: | thought this was the answer to my search for a strong xc rim for my rough and tumble xc riding style (180lbs). but after a bad crash (slid sideways into a ditch -- was able to pull to a side before hitting head!), the f519 was pretty tacoed.
pretty recent build, hand built no less. oh well. i'm debating getting another one itseemed like decent quality and weight. just a fluke bad crash. but since i tend to get a lot of those, i might just take the weight hit and slap some rhynolites on my rear xt hub...\ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MJ Kimber
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Louise
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | in area, Canyon Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Atomic Bike Shop -I love Steve | | Strengths: | stronger than Rhino lite, lighter than Rhino lite, Bob built me a couple of beautiful wheels with straight gauge black spokes on xt hubs and they are stiff, strong and worry free | | Weaknesses: | could be a little wider, would like to find a similar rim in disc specific | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 221, 219, sun something or other | | Bike Setup: | heavily modified element race, rokko 2.35" rubber | | Bottom Line: | I've seen too many rhino lites in the trash to put up with their extra weight on my wheels.
These are lighter and stronger and with the build quality Bob invested in them they have survived lots of abuse without issue -no truing, no dings, no problem.
I've also found these wheels to be stiffer than past hoops, giving me some extra confidence on steep drop-ins and dodgy lines.
If you ride smoothly and stick your landings, these wheels will last a very long time. If not, they'll probably only last a pretty long time, 'cause they're pretty strong eh.
Light enough for XC, tough enough for FR, wish I could find this weight/strenght/size rim in tubeless disc specific (for the same price of course) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Colchester
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Strong, light, good looks, can take relitively high spoke tention | | Weaknesses: | A little narrow (not really a weakness but I have found I want something a little wider to spread out my tires a little more) | | Similar Products Used: | Stock sh*t, Mavic 221, Ryno light | | Bike Setup: | 97' Specialized Stumpjumper (full freeride setup) | | Bottom Line: | Ausome rim, definatly the best rim for any and every person running tires under 2.4 don't hesitate they are unquestionably the best narrow rim out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john su
a Cross Country Rider
from boston
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | wompatuck | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | international bikes/lbs | | Strengths: | strong, fairly light | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 517, 211, rhynolites | | Bike Setup: | 99 spec fsr xc w/mrp, xt/xtr | | Bottom Line: | stock xt/221 rear needed help. rim were no longer truable .. stripped spokes, worn freewheel. shop said hub was still good, just replace freewheel ($20, done). for a rim, i was thinking of going with rhynolites, since i have a set on my hardtail/beater that i've only needed truing like once.
the shop guy recommended these f519s. said they're higher quality than the rhyno's and a tad lighter too.... better for my cross country riding. so far so good...one true after the initial hand building. don't have a scale but the xt/519 feels lighter than the lx/rhyno's. xt hubs are still on the heavy side, but this should last me the life of the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Janz
a Cross Country Rider
from Albany, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | road bike touring | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$39.00 | | Purchased At: | universal | | Strengths: | Looks like a strong rim | | Weaknesses: | I can't get 80psi in my avovet 26 x 1.9 cross tires with the rims | | Similar Products Used: | sun CR17A | | Bike Setup: | Mustang w/white hubs& xt drive train | | Bottom Line: | See product weaknesses. I mainly use my bike for road touring (paved to rough dirt)...w/panniers. I run avocet cross 26 x 1.9 tires and am looking for a set of rims that will allow me to run these tires at 80psi.. Anybody have any suggestions on rims that would work or how I would go about determining which rims would work?......Otherwise these wheels are beauts...very well built by Universal. The F519's look like good rims for people running at lower pressures. I've always had good luck w/Mavic products in the past. I give 3 chilis for overall due to my current prob. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robin Daurge
a Cross Country Rider
from Exeter
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | trek home from uni! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Weaknesses: | MAJOR STRESS FRACTURES ON FRONTS!! | | Bottom Line: | 3rd posting cos I now own three sets of 519's built onto quality hubs min LX up to hope bulbs fr n rear, all my fronts have stress fractures!!!! They've been built by various wheel builders(some the best around), they look pants an you'd think the spokes are going to pull through!! These are my all time fave rims, but if a spoke does pull through I'll lose it. Please don't have another 517 on our hands mavic!!! Don't pump tyres past 50?! psi an use 2 and above inch tyres and I think you'll be ok, but gonna have to knock the rating down, afta giving them a 5 n a 4 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Daniels
a Cross Country Rider
from Alameda
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Strong (when built properly). Reasonably light for high strength. What else does one need? | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Rhyno-lites, Mavic 517, Mavic 217 | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Truth 'Zoke Z1CR, Fox Float R, the above mentioned rims are attached to XTR hubs with 4/5 double butted DTs. | | Bottom Line: | I have been riding these rims for two years without truing them. I am a 6' 4" 210 lb. Clydesdale. I am not a timid rider when it comes to drops. Nuff sed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Waterdown | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath Oakville | | Strengths: | nice wide rim for better stability, great price alot cheaper than the sun rhino lites. | | Weaknesses: | not quite big enough to run a full blown DH tire | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 223, bontrager maverick | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit, RS Psylo SL, formula hubs, etc etc | | Bottom Line: | These rims are great I replaced my 223's with these and I have had no regrets. I weigh 186 lbs and ride rocky trails. I routinely drop 5 feet with no problems, i have only had to true my rear wheel twice (minor). If you are heavier or ride big stuff get the 36 holes. Make sure you pick a good builder, talk to people who have had wheels built by them Joe at Cyclepath is amazing! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasant Prairie, WI
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | John Muir | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Universial Cycles | | Strengths: | Great Looks, Indestructably strong. | | Weaknesses: | I'll get back to you.... Mavics are the best in my book. | | Similar Products Used: | My son's ride 221's and Bonty Mustangs. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M2 with SID Dual air fork, all XT drivetrain (XTR Chainrings) Avid brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Got these custom built from Universal Cycles with XT hubs and WS 14 gauge spokes. I am a clysdale rider, these wheels are very strong, but still light enough to go fast. The extra width on the rim gives the tires a little more room to spread out also, this seems to firm up the side wall a bit as compared to the 221 narrow rims. I have only had to true these wheels after the break in period, I ride mostly X-country and road rides with slicks. No crazy free-ride stuff. I would highly recommend these rims to anyone looking for a strong yet fast set of wheels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
duce
a Weekend Warrior
from gold coast australia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | urban terrorism | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | very strong rim look cool an reasonably light | | Weaknesses: | bit costly | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager mustangs,221,weimann519,
| | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher joshua xo .exvert dc,stratos rear hayes hubs an brakes stx-rc levers an gears stylo cranks | | Bottom Line: | Awesome rim very strong good for urban riding an light down hilling.
i have bent a rim but a rider crashed into me an landed on my rear wheel full wieght an bike about 120kgs or 260lbs for you yanks an i could still ride home on it so i was angry but impressed at same time sure there are stronger wheels out there but these are fine for me.
These are a good rim but if you are a real killer of parts go to something stronger the mavics really only suit weekend warrior | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from Bellingham,WA,US
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Prison Love on galbraith mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | stock on my stinky deelux | | Strengths: | Ummm, front rim stays true alright, light | | Weaknesses: | Since the back one gets most of the abuse, MINE DOES'NT STAY ROUND, get SUN MAMOTH | | Similar Products Used: | mamoth | | Bike Setup: | almost stock 2001 KONA stinky dee lux | | Bottom Line: | GET A STRONGER RIM IF YOUR GONNA BE RIDING SOMEWHAT HARD, It just can't handle the stair pounding mine gets around street riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Haywood Jablowme
a Cross Country Rider
from boston
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very tough rim. | | Weaknesses: | I suppose that if you enjoy the peace and serenity of walking out of the woods with you newly taco'd rim, you will not like these rims. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221, WTB, Specialized, Sun... | | Bike Setup: | Wheels, handle bars, brakes, tires, fork...... | | Bottom Line: | Had a Mavic 221 in back, and after about 10 rides it was all done. Went to my LBS and the tech there recommended the 519 to me & said that they are indestructible. So far, I have to say that he was right! They are a little bit on the heavy side, but who really gives a sh#@? At least I know that this rim will stay true on most any big hit. If you find yourself pissing through rims, shake off the stigma of "heavy=bad" and buy the 519. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thylacine
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any I havent ridden yet | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Truest and roundest out of the box / Maxtal AL harder than any other AL that other companies uses / Overall extrusion quality craps all over any other rim | | Weaknesses: | Here in Australia, Mavic are stupid expensive, but then again, without a decent set of hoops, what have you got? Not even a bike. | | Similar Products Used: | So may rims I have a hard time remembering - Wolber, Sun, Araya, Mavic, Alex - you name it. | | Bike Setup: | Like this has anything to do with rim quality, but generally I'm a 215lb, 6ft 4in XC/Trailridin' fool, on the appropriate bike. | | Bottom Line: | To all you people complaining about Mavics breaking, Mavics cracking at the spokeholes or whatever, I have one thing to say to you. GET A DECENT WHEELBUILDER!!!!!!! Maxtal Aluminium is harder than the crap other companies like Sun use to make their rims out of, so if your wheelbuilder doesnt have any talent and doesnt know what they're doing, the Mavics will screw up on you. I've used almost every brand known to man during my 13 year mtb 'career', and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that Mavics are the best. They're the truest and roundest out of the box, and after some initial settling, stay true. I couldnt be bothered wasting my time and money on any other brand, and my new 519's are no exception, so for all you no talents out there, heres 5 smouldering ones for the people at Mavic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jacob
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mount Tamalpais (Marin County, CA) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Scene, Brentwood, CA | | Strengths: | Super-strong, it's a heavy duty wheel. | | Bike Setup: | Trek mountain bike, front shocks | | Bottom Line: | I am a bicycle commuter, going around West Los Angeles usually with 20-30 pounds on my back. You may have seen me going up Coldwater Canyon often the last couple of years. I go off curbs, etc. and this wheel holds up well. Have not had to true it or have it repaired. Good investment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Downhiller
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | winter park DH | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Very strong | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Bike Setup: | Spaecialized FSR, full XT, disc brakes, Psylo fork, XT disc hubs(included in price FandR). | | Bottom Line: | Great for strength in DH, I havent had them for too long, so I havent had any problems, but they are very light, and strong. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Kunz
a Cross Country Rider
from Monrovia, MD
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | Stays true even through lots of abuse. | | Weaknesses: | Bad alloy! In less than 3 months, the inner rim split between 2 spokes across the valve hole. THIS IS THE 3RD MAVIC RIM THAT'S DONE THIS TO ME. Needless to say, you won't find me with another Mavic rim! | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F1000sl, modified to lefty fork, and XTR drive train. | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy Mavic Rims. As I said above, I've had 3 split! If you read the Mavic reviews, you'll see that I'm not alone... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike Werry
a Cross Country Rider
from fort saskatchewan, alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort saskatchewan bombing trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | River Valley cycle | | Strengths: | every thing is about the strnegth in this rim. I've been biking for a while now, and the one thing i love, is the durablitly of the rim, and how it always keeps true, even after landing sideways on a 6 foot drop off. | | Weaknesses: | Well, the only weekness i have, is the hub i put on it. Its crap, but thats my fault. | | Bike Setup: | Kona, Explosive. | | Bottom Line: | i was so impressed about this rim. the first thing is that i got it for such a great price. I only have it on my rear rim, and i love it. i've been doing picnic tables, 5 foot drop offs, just crazy stuff, that would waste my old rim in a second flat. This new rim has brought up my confidence and lets me try stuff. stuff I would be way too scared of before, because i worry that i may not get home if I did it. Now, i can go any where, and not worrying about bringing my spoke key tools. Way to go mavic. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robin Daurge
a Cross Country Rider
from Exeter
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | woodbury | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | This is a second posting after doing some serious milage on them (about 1000) I'm starting to get stress fractures around the eyelets!! Arrgh! The thing is I was well impressed by them so I bought one set up onto a hope bulb hub making it a v.expensive wheel, so I'm hoping my 1month old rear does get the same problems. I've changed tyres from my fire xc's 1.8 to 2ins doublefighters because I don't think they like 65 psi being put into them and they prefer larger volume round profile tyres as the problem hasn't got much worse, but the front looks a bit pants now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Inlaws Farm | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good solid company,and good reputation. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Other Mavic,and Sun. | | Bike Setup: | Spooky Pit Boss.Race Face NextLP,BB. XT/Xtr drivetrain. kore seat post,riser bars,stem. King hubs,head set. | | Bottom Line: | I have been knocking the snot out of these things for 6 months of trail and urban assault riding. They have held up for me, and i would reccomend them to anybody who asked me. Had one prob though, that was all my fault. Did a long ride the first week i had them, went to bunny hop a small curb, was so tired i didnt clear the curb, and came smack down on the corner of the curb with the rear tire, put a nice dent in the sidewall, LBS was nice enough to cover the rim. Good rim, good price, happy bike rider!!!!! Giving 4 chilis for overall because i have not put enough time on them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allister
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Name One | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | Light for a agressive use rim. Stops well with rim brakes (Avid Arch Rival 50 Best deal in brakes)
Has stayed true thru some really rough downhills, and I was moving thru these sections. It would've killed any cheap set of wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Rear spokes needed re tensioning after my 1st super rough ride, although the rear wheel stayed true as an arrow. Wheel was chirping like a bird. 5 minutes in the truing stand and they were good as new. I think this was due more to the wheel not being pre-stressed enough. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Rhino Lite TCC | | Bike Setup: | SC SuperLight Super X, Psylo/Z.1, These rims on 9.0 SL hubs, Fox RC. Been a year and I'm still smiling. | | Bottom Line: | I actually bought complete wheelset: Sram 9.0 SL Disc hubs, 14g D/B Spokes, Alloy Nipples, F519 Rims. Good deal at $220.00. We'll see if the SRAM's hold up as long as my Shimano/White Industries have. If so I have found my new hubset. For what I paid value rating 5 piles. Because rear needed re-tensioning so soon 4 piles overall, but that's just under 5 piles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Riley
a Weekend Warrior
from Hull, England
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Freetown Sports (LBS) | | Strengths: | Lively feel
Strong Compared to others tried
UB Braking surface | | Weaknesses: | None to date, but has not been hugely thrashed ever) | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Rock Comp OCR (see comments below), Mavic X138 | | Bike Setup: | Marin Alpine Trail with random collection of upgrades, F519 rear only | | Bottom Line: | I weigh about 185lb, ride mainly urban assault/cross country yet snapped spokes in my OCR rear on three occasions in 7 months, as well as having to true the rim several other times. Anyway, pissed off at this, I decided to go for a whole new wheel (used 'Novatec' disc hubs (Planet-X rip-off but good performance) and after consulting with my LBS as to whether I should go for D521s, I decided to save 1/2lb by getting F519s. Although I'm apparantly harsh on wheels (mainly because I can't resist stairs and weigh too much), I have so far not needed to have this rim re-true once. Also, they somehow feel livlier than my Ritchey did, both in terms of landing (though this could be the strength of the spokes as much as anything) and in transmitting power - the OCR always felt to be giving something when I stomped on the pedals. A final note - the grooved braking surface is great - I reckon about 10% more power in dry and 20% more in wet conditions than I had before. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robin Daurge
a Cross Country Rider
from exeter,england
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | woodbury | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Dave Hinde | | Strengths: | Sooo many of them, strong.light,look cool. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey comp rock and ocr rims (pants). d521's v.goood, many touring rims. | | Bike Setup: | db alu hardtail full xt | | Bottom Line: | I got these built by the top wheel builder in the country and these are the best rims I've ever had, I've never had to true them and they stand up some serious use and abuse, I am quite light though, I wouldn't actually say their for hardcore freeriders, but xc riders look no futher, these are the dogs! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny
a Downhiller
from Ashlan, Oregon
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | chainsaw | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Really strong, but yet almost light | | Weaknesses: | too thin. Peeled a 2.4 tire off twice. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun rhino lites | | Bike Setup: | Kona stinky primo(special eddition for 01), white bros ud-180 hayes,bombshell ect... | | Bottom Line: | This product is great if you are a cross country rider or free rider. Aslong as you only use a 2.25 tire or under. I have bashed em and they still are true. Super beef!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Twentymile Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Local wheel builder | | Strengths: | Strong! Crashed last week hard enough to break a helmet, and tear my tire off the rim but the rim was still straight as an arrow. Anyone having trouble keeping this rim true got a weak build job. | | Weaknesses: | Cost maybe......you get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Mustangs (good rims) Mavic 221s (okay) | | Bike Setup: | Fully modified 98 Specialized FSR Elite, Marzocchi Z1 CR, BETD swing link, needle bearings, xtr everything except Race Face cranks & rings, Chris King headset & front hub, Thomson post, Titec stem, Easton Scandium dh bar, Time carbon pedals | | Bottom Line: | This is a rim for riders over 160 lbs that ride rocky, ledgy trails, get air, and don't have disc brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geo
a Weekend Warrior
from ny
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | this rim is burly and can take some abuse,i have ridden it down many mountains at highspeeds and im still riding it three months later....i did have to true it a couple times but thats expected.
| | Weaknesses: | none really,what more can you ask for.i dont know what peoples problem is with this wheel....i have slammed it into many rocks and done many wheelie drops and this thing is still running strong despite the ugly dents and messed up paint. | | Bottom Line: | its a durable rim for the wieght and it begs to be beaten | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Moab Portal Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Stronger than the stock wheels on my DBR XR-4 | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than Mavic claims, Pinch Flats | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic XC, Ritchey WCS | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Diamondback XR-4, Grimeca Front Disc, Avid 1.9 Rear V-Brake, XT Hubs, DT Spokes, Panaracer Fire XC Pro 2.1 tires | | Bottom Line: | I'm a 220lb XC rider who loves both climbing and descending, I ride about 25 miles a week on technical trails (Apex, White Ranch, Sourdough, Walker Ranch, etc.) I've been "okay" with these wheels so far, they've stayed pretty true, although spokes seem to be loosening more than I'd like.
I've been getting rear pinch flats about every other ride though, so I'm not really happy about that (45psi in the rear). I notice on very long downhills, the rear rim gets too hot to touch. This is probably contributing to the flats. I suspect the thick sidewalls don't dissipate heat quickly enough for d/h use with V-Brakes. Oh well, I like my front disk and I'll probably be switching to a rear disk soon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Read
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancaster, UK
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sunny P | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cheap (ish), err,... lighter than a D521 | | Weaknesses: | Too weak for heavy duty trials - even my Bonty ASYM was better than this!! | | Similar Products Used: | D521, Bontrager Asym (all built by myself) | | Bike Setup: | Heavy Tools Frame, Rigid forks, Hope disc, Tioga Dh 2.3" | | Bottom Line: | If you are heavy (even if you are smooth, like me) don't buy for jumping/trials. Get a D521, and try and get 36h if you can too - it makes a small but noticable difference.
the black does look really cool though..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Eisen
a Cross Country Rider
from London,Ontario.,Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cains Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The Mavic F519 seemed to be alot stiffer than the standard mavic x country rims.Beefier rim,hard aluminum,look really good. | | Weaknesses: | This rim became untrue after about three rides,i did some drops,and some hard riding on these rims.The shop where i bought them told me that was normal for them to become untrue for the first few rides , just until they settle in. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Rocky mountain Oxygen Race,king hubs,easton monkey lite riser bars,xt and xtr. | | Bottom Line: | This rim seems to be alright.I don't know if i regret not putting on sun ryno lites instead.I way about 190lbs and ride almost everyday.I feel confident on this rim because it feels so stiff.But i'm not sure how durable it is yet.Sun has pretty much dominated this market and i think its about time mavic came out with a rim like f519.This rim so far seems to be doing the job,but thats about it.I do recomend them to people that do mild drops and nothing to extreme.Its definetly stronger than the 517's.I paid about $40 US for them when they usually sell for about $50-60.The only problem i have with them is how quickly they became untrue.Alot of my buddies use the rhino lite and have had no prob's at all with them,but i guess it depends who builds them as well.Overall i'd have to give this rim 4 flamin chilis for now.I'll post another review after i've riddin them for a longer period of time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
C Murphy
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | secret squirrel/ Annadel | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | More ridgid than M-517, wider profile, reinforced nipple beds, double wall braking surface. Medium/light weight. fair price. | | Weaknesses: | lighter weight= less strength | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517, various Bontrager wheels, suntour. | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS 1000 ds, Shimano XT disc brake, Rock Shox Judy DS, XT/XTR group. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels hold up much better than the 517s for a guy who weighs 200 lbs. I bent my old rims in under a year and chewed through most of the braking surface in only two sets of pads. The 519s have double walled braking surface, are about 1/8" wider than the 517 = more stability. Now I feel like I have real control when I power down on a hill climb or descent. The 517s gave me the sensation that I was running on low pressure or a flat, because they flexed so much under my weight. I had to true them after every few weeks of riding, but these stay tight and true.
I do notice that the material (hardened aluminum - ?)on the 519s seems softer than some of the other wheel sets I've used. I had a pinch flat going pretty fast down a fire road and ran over a few rocks and drainage ruts before stopping. The edge of the rim folded in on itsself where the braking surface is. I think this can be bent out, and the wheel actually stayed true - but it's just a pain to have to deal with. The braking surface is holding up a lot better than the 517s however. I have worn through one set of pads so far and I am still braking on the machined groove-milled surface that came on the wheel.
Overall, I would recommend these wheels to all but the super hardcore rider. Keep your tires highly inflated and they will last forever. Have a flat and the softer (lighter) material will not hold up in the few high speed seconds before stopping. If I were buying all over again, I think I would check out another manufacturer - one with a stronger, and perhaps heavier wheel. This is one area where you don't want to cut corners. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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