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Submitted by
Mitch
a Cross Country Rider
from Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Space Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel World | | Strengths: | I've had these wheels for about 5/6 years now with no problems at all!!!! These wheels were built by the bike shop i bought them at. They used Shimano XTR hubs, i started riding when i weighed 230lbs. and ran 50psi. i wrapped them in Michelin Comp S Light tires and they are so light!!! | | Weaknesses: | the 517 sticker is coming off :( | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC Carbon Hardtail with full Shimano XTR components | | Bottom Line: | buy them if you want a light, fast, cheap wheel, that lasts!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arnie MtnBkr
a Cross Country Rider
from Evergreen, CO USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | 3 sisters | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Performace | | Strengths: | Very Strong | | Weaknesses: | None so far...wait my 517 sticker is peeling off. (no biggie, couldnt think of anything else) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900, LX V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | For starters I weight about 220lbs. I ride in the front range of Colorado. So most of the rides are a nice long uphill followed by a long downhll. Plenty of rocks, roots and water bars. I have beat the crap of the the wheels with no problems what so ever. Althought I do think riding with a bit of finesse will get more life our of your wheels. I dont think I've really even had to true these rims since I bought them. They're bomber. Highly recommeded if your on a budget and want a very very solid wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgan Hill,CA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | One I am riding | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond | | Strengths: | I have XT Discs with the XM819 tubeless rim. Very light with Michelin Comp S Light standard not tubeless tires and Stan's sealant. Strong rim with the triangular cross section. | | Weaknesses: | Wish they were just a bit wider like the old F519 rims loved those. | | Similar Products Used: | F519,Bontrager Superstock and Rhyno Lites | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575 with Fox Talas and RP3. | | Bottom Line: | Posted here because there is nothing for many custom wheels. The fact I use standard tires 460g with Stan's and no rim strip -50g makes for a super light setup. The Stan's seals so well it rarely loses pressure. The XM819 looks ultra cool and the XT Disc hubs are very reliable and have big flanges so you can use shorter spokes with good stiffness. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Poto | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Light, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Build quality. | | Bike Setup: | Steel hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | Bought these as an upgrade to the heavy "entry-level" wheels that came on my bike. I have ridden and raced for a whole season on these wheels and have been very happy with the quality. The only complaint is that the rear wheel was built very poorly and I had to practically rebuild it after a few rides - not Shimano or Mavic's fault.
Also, I weigh 160 and ride XC (no drops over a couple of feet) so I haven't had the bent rim problems some of the other riders have had.
Highly recommended for XC and racing if you can't afford one of those $800 wheelsets. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Buch
a Racer
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bull Jake Combo | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Strong, stays true. Takes ruddy bumby terrain. 172lbs I've hit 5 foot drops with out truing the wheel | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Cross Link, Cross Rides | | Bike Setup: | XT XTR Airborne Lucky Strike Cross Link in the Front xt/517 in the rear | | Bottom Line: | I haven't had any problems with 517 rims. I've under inflated my tires and hit a sharp rock to flatten one rim but that isn't the rims fault. This a great setup for the money. I think the dudes who are complaining had hamburgers build the wheel or don't pumb up their tires to at least 58lbs. Alwasy check for loose spokes before you hose the rim. Right? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
B M
a Racer
from Falls Church, VA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Strengths: | ? | | Weaknesses: | They are WEAK | | Bike Setup: | Hard-tail Mountain bike | | Bottom Line: |
I ride 150 miles a week to work on the road (no off-roading) and run my tires 50-60 psi. I thought I would "upgrade" to the 517's from Mavic's 2 series.
Within 3 months I had the rear wheel's spokes pulling through the rim on the drive side. I bought a new 517 rim since the dealer blamed me for over-tightening the spokes??
Three months later, same thing happened and I didn't touch the wheel. Cracks are appearing on the rim at most of the spokes on the rear wheel drive side.
Called Mavic and they said I am too big for the wheel and I should of known better (6'0, 200). Right...I should of known the 517's are a piece of crap. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Race Track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Mission Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light-weight, all quality parts (from hubs to nipples to rim strips), did their job for a time. | | Weaknesses: | When they do go out, there's no saving them! My XT/517s gave me a little over 2 years of good riding, but I wish they had more to give. They started to get noisy and wobbly, so I took them to the LBS. I got them back trued and the nipples and spoke contact points lubed. The good times didn't last too long, though. The creaking and the wobble came back--and they're here to stay! | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Mavic 238/STX-RC, Bontrager Superstock (current), Bontrager Maverick (bomb-proof) | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakota XC | | Bottom Line: | Not the lightest or most durable wheels out there, but for the price they give you a few good seasons, and that's good enough for most. I'll probably salvage the hubs, but I'm pretty sure the rims are toast. The local Trek shop has a cool deal on Bontrager Race-Modified wheels for $200, so I think I'll move on to those. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mattg
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Strong Wheel | | Weaknesses: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | 97 Trek Y-11 | | Bottom Line: | A few years ago, the spoke on my rear wheel pulled thru so I had to upgrade the rear wheel. That wheel was replaced with a Mavic 517 with XT from the LBS.
This is a great wheel. It lasted me three years. Riding mainly in the bay area doing lots of single track and downhill stuff. Not extreme downhill though... (ie: Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, SF Bay Area riding).
The 517 has to be replaced because somehow it got a flat spot as well as warped. Not sure what I did, but I'm pretty sure I hit something hard. Up until now, this Mavic 517 never had to be serviced, trued, nada. This is pretty good (IMHO) considering I am 200 LBS and have thoroughly abused the wheel.
With my current 517 unrepairable due to a flat spot, I went on a quest to replace the wheel set. Nothing wrong with the front wheel - but what the heck.
I looked at a lot of the Bontrager and Mavic wheel sets. Mavic has a lot of nice wheels but I'm leary of using their hubs. Heard too many bad things about them. The other issue(s) are some of their hubs must only be serviced by Mavic, and the custom spokes might be hard to come by. If a LBS services them, warranty is voided.
On the Bontrager wheels, I would have liked to get the Valiant with XTR. Had such a difficult time finding a LBS or web vendor that carried it that I gave up. Sorry Bontrager :(
For the hub portion of the wheel, I wanted XTR. Chris King is nice, I have some Chris King components and they work great. In this particular case, I didn't feel like paying up for Chris's Hubs :( So I went XTR. Where I don't have Chris on the bike, I have XTR. I am a big believer in paying up for quality components. They work better, feel better, and last much longer.
To sum it up: Ended up going with a custom build from a web vendor. XTR and a Mavic 517 in the front and just to be safe, a Mavic 519 in the rear. Using wheelsmith double butted spokes.
The web vendor I used sells the Bontrager Valiant, Mavics: 517, 519, 618, among other wheelsets/rims. They all price out about the same. In talking with their techs, they felt the 519 would be a good rim to go with over the 517 (for strength). Since they were all at or around the same price point, I didn't get the feeling they were trying to sell me the higher priced rim - thus, no bias's.
When I called to make the purchase, I was going to get 519 on the front and rear. They recommended doing 517 in the front and 519 rear. Sounded good because the 517 weighs less and, the front wheel takes less stress. I have yet to warp a front wheel :)
I talked to them about the 618's and they felt the 519 would better serve me. 618 sounded interesting because of the Ceramic but I think the 519 is stronger. They also said they sell more 517/519 than 618.
The 519 is slightly heavier than the 517 (60 grams or something). When you are 200LBS, carrying a camelbak with 100 oz of water, plus power bars, plus, .... who cares about 60 grams.
I could have got a complete Mavic 517 wheelset from my LBS for a little cheaper than this custom build wheel set. But, I felt I'd get a better wheelset with exactly the spokes I wanted, hubs, colors, ... rather than the off the shelf set from the LBS.
One other thing: The LBS had the Mavic 517 wheelset with XTR for $360. Found it on numerous web sites for $270 to $290. For fun I haggled. The LBS couldn't/wouldn't match it.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with the 517 and 519 wheels.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kyle pitts
a Racer
from columbia, tn
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | chickasaw trace | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | last forever,
after about a month u true em and they stay true | | Weaknesses: | a tad weighty
have to be trued after first month but newheel does
had to rebuild rear hub after about a year and a half | | Similar Products Used: | ovation disc hubs on 139's | | Bike Setup: | 01 marin rocky ridge, full xt | | Bottom Line: | good wheels, im 175 and i ride hard. do tricks and race. ive used these wheels all the time for everything. very strong. pretty light for the price. good all around wheel | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NFG
a Racer
from Rhode Island
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Big River, Lincoln Woods, Arcadia, Foxboro | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedro's Fest, Providence Cycle | | Strengths: | Strength to weight is very good. The XT hubs get the job done | | Weaknesses: | Not the strongest, and not the lightest. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crossland's (too weak), Sun 0º XC's (these were good, Sun Rhyno Lite's and Sun Mammoths (these are what I use training and practicing trials) | | Bike Setup: | aluminum hardtail with seatpost shock and front suspension, run 1.95 and 2.1 tires (all of these do factor into how long wheels will last) | | Bottom Line: | I weigh 165lbs and ride relatively technical singletrack. 517's are my favorite wheels because they are light enough to race but strong enough to last through regular riding as well. Also they cost very little compared to other wheels. They will save you money both from the original cost and from the fact that they will last longer. There is nothing worse than buying expensive wheels that last less than six months. I recomend the 517's to XC racers and all around riders who weigh less than 180lbs. And I don NOT recommend straight lace spokes, especially on the rear wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ziggy Stardust
a Cross Country Rider
from Outer Space
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Wormhole | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | lightweight, look cool | | Weaknesses: | Needed truing after just a few rides, rims ground down after only one season (from braking in mud) | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 223 with Deore hubs | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are lightweight and the XT hubs are decent and durable. You can usually pick them up for about $200 clams from Supergo or Jenson, which aint a bad deal considering how light they are.
However, you must understand that when you get such a lightweight wheelset for this price (which is cheap), they are almost always machine built wheels. This means you must either true the wheels yourself (if you know how) after a ride or two (or three) and keep up on the trueing a few more times, OR have the LBS do it for you. Dont expect to pay 200 bucks and then simply slap 'em on and forget about them...because it won't take long before brake rub, rim warpage and ultimately wheel failure. (like what happened to some of the unenlightened pinheads below)
Another factor is that if you ride in the northeast (or elsewhere there is a lot of mud), these lightweight rims will grind down on you from the V/cantilever brakes scrubbing grit on the sidewalls which then get get dished and paper thin (I actually blew one out last year). I've heard that the ceramic coated rims are much better for this application, but I haven't actually tried them so I personally cannot attest if ceramic has better durability.
All in all, I think the 517 and XT hubset are a great combo offering lightweight and great price. You simply must accept and understand the following:
1. They are not freeride wheels. I would go with something else (heavier duty) if you are much over 200 lbs.
2. The machine built wheels (which are the inexpensive ones) must be trued a few times after first riding them, (either you do it or have the LBS do it).
3. Due to their light weight, brake grinding in muddy conditions will wear them down...if muds your gig, pay the extra skins and try ceramic instead. (or go with disk brakes like I did)
If you can accept these conditions then you will not be disappointed with the overall value and performance offered my the 517/XT combo.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirkland
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | outside | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Only 6 months and they are out the door | | Bottom Line: | Bought these wheels through price point. After two rides the wheels were out of tru, found all spokes loose on the trail, end of a good ride. Had them trued at a local shop on price points dime. Have worked ok until on the last three rides I have broken 3 spokes. This is un heard of!
Oh well, now I bought some mavic Cross rocs, hopefully my reviews will be a little more positive with these.
The real Bottom Line.
If you weigh 215 and ride hard, spend the dough and get some better rims! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$194.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | light wheelset, xt hubs have low friction | | Weaknesses: | dont buy mail order, all the spokes were loose as hell, profesionally made wheelsets | | Bike Setup: | 02 hardrock comp | | Bottom Line: | they are good after you LBS properly adjusts them. they are light rims, no problems wit the hub seals. went out of true easily due to loose spokes. DONT BUY MAILORDER WHEELSETS!!!! they all suck. if u do have ur LBS adjust them before u ride them | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike wong
a Cross Country Rider
from costa mesa
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | whiting ranch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$189.00 | | Purchased At: | super go | | Strengths: | *the wheel set is smooth it rides nice
*strong
*did i mention it was strong again | | Weaknesses: | *it dosent stay true for very long.
*but hey eventualy u'll have to true it so not a biggie | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 221 | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS 97 FULL XT RACE FACE SEATPOST | | Bottom Line: | This wheel set is a steal for its price at supergo they ride nice and they take a beating get them while they still have them in stock. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J.W
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any good techy trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Cheap and light | | Weaknesses: | Bad wear on the rims and the hubs and freehub needs constant attention | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 217. 220. 221. 238. 138. Rolf Dolomite. Bontrager Mustang. | | Bike Setup: | Klien Mantra Comp. Manitou Mars. Middleburn. XTR. | | Bottom Line: | I got these wheels as a second set to ease the wear on my Rolfs. They were great at first but I had to true them a few times....O.K....no problem. Then after only 3 months the hubs had got contaminated ( poor seals ). Then I noticed my rims starting to wear into a concave shape really quickly. Then my freehub went after 6 months and cost me over £30 to replace. Although they are relatively cheap wheels I still expected more from the rims and hubs than I got. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Racer
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | fairport | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | L.B.S | | Strengths: | Light and reasonably strong. Cheap hubs. Nice looks ( mine are red ) | | Weaknesses: | Sidewalls wear quick. seals on hubs don't keep out the muck. freewheel needs overhauling. | | Similar Products Used: | almost all the Mavic range and hubs from Alivio to XTR. The best are Hope. | | Bike Setup: | Genesis with full XTR but X517 Ceramics on Hope hubs. | | Bottom Line: | The 517 wears a bit quick on the walls when you ride in the wet and mud like I do. The Ceramic version is the one to go for in my opinion, it lasts much longer. My rear 517 only lasted 7 months, the front stretched to 12. You have to keep on top of the XT hubs too. Service them every 3 months at least if you ride in the muck. It doesn't matter what Shimano says the seals let in after a bit. Keep an eye on the freehub. I lost mine after only 6 months, had to get a replacement ( ouch! ). These are nice wheels so long as all your riding is sunny and dry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carbon
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chubb | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Held up strong to a lot of abuse. Light. Cheap | | Weaknesses: | Constantly loose spokes | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Truth. Judy XC with Englund Airs. Panaracer Fire Pro Tires | | Bottom Line: | Got these wheels out of a recommendation from my friends dad who had tried them. Cheap, light and strong.
I've heard a lot about the strength to weight ratio for Mavic Rims and it has definitely held true for me. I really don't like Shimano, but these hubs have surprisingly held up.
When I first got the wheels, the spokes were constantly coming loose and I kept having the LBS tighten them back down. I was really fed up, blaming the LBS when I took it to another one that I truely trust now. They showed me how bad a job the other shop had done and they offered to completely re-build my wheel and lock-tite it down. They said I would then get about a half a season out of it before the wheels would blow out. It has been a year later and I have really abused these wheels. I hit the downhills hard and done quite a few good sized drops with them. They have remained true and strong this entire time, and I'm looking forward to another season with them. You'd have to really not know how to ride to screw these things up once they've been locked down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G.Y
a Racer
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Store | | Strengths: | Nice and light wheelset | | Weaknesses: | weak rim...can't take the pressure. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf dolomite. Bontrager mustang. Mavic crossride. | | Bike Setup: | Gt Zaskar. Sram Esp9. | | Bottom Line: | I bought these as training hoops for on the road. Said to myself...hey if they're strong enough for off road they'll be a sinch the the tarmac. Not so ...within 3 months both rims cracked in a couple of places between the spokes. Still under warranty I took them back and the guys at the store said ...It's a common problem when you ride slicks and pump up the pressure. I told them I got the recommended pressures from the Mavic Site. Seems a common problem. I got a set of 618s instead, a bit heavier but so far they're doing the job. Not impressed with the 517. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.A
a Cross Country Rider
from York
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Grizedale forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Light. Fairly cheap. easy to maintain. | | Weaknesses: | rims not that strong. go out of true a lot. hub seals not good. freehub doesn't last. | | Similar Products Used: | mavic 221. 238 220 217 618 | | Bike Setup: | Kona Explosive. Marzocchi Z2 XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are O.K but I've been a bit disappointed. I thought they'd be a bit better than they were. I have changed them for 618s......a stronger rim. And i'm on LX because I don't think XT is worth the money. My 517s wore through the rims in no time and they were always going out of true. Added to that the hubs got dirt in them real quick and the freehub packed in after a year. But then I suppose you get what you pay for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RJ
a Racer
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight, low rolling resistance. Reasonably durable. Braking is good. No noise from the XT hubs. The price is right. | | Weaknesses: | the rear rim came untrued frequently until I replaced the tapered spokes with straight spokes. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221 | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fischer genesis geometry frame, Rock Shox Duke XC, | | Bottom Line: | I originally purchased these wheelsets to lower the overall weight of my older bike (a GT Ricochet). Initially I had problems with the rear rim coming untrue after rides and I even broke spoke during a race (nothing slows you down like a rim rubbing against your brake pad). I replaced the tapered spokes in the rear with straight spokes from my old Mavic 221 rim and now I dont have any problems. I have never had a single issue with the front rim. I weigh 215 lbs and I think that is just too much for those tapered spokes to support for an aggressive rider like me. I have since built a new bike using a Gary Fisher genesis geometry frame and now, with the Mavic 517 rims with XT hubs, I have an XL bike that weighs just under 23lbs. I think you get a good deal on these rims. The price is low (comparitivly speaking) and they are light and reasonably durable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
manley
a Cross Country Rider
from London U.K
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed-y-brenin | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin | | Strengths: | Light, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Weak rims, weak sides, bad hub seals, bad freewheel | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager mustangs, Mavic Crossrides, Mavic 217 221 220 238 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4, Manitou, Middleburn, Avid Arch etc | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately into my third set of 517 on XT and I still haven't learned. I put semi-slicks on, pump up the pressure and the rim pops and the spokes pop. This isn't unusual the bike shops are now telling me and that's why Mavic have brought out the 618...exactly the same rim but thicker! The hubs are getting bad too. Shimano don't seem to make their hubs as well as they used to. Muck gets in easier now and that's it. The freehubs don't seem to last long at all. I think it is time for a change.......buyer beware. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Hoang
a Downhiller
from Houston, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocky Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Price was affordable. Good cross-country rims but will not hold 2-3' drop-offs. Stay trued pretty well after a hard ride. Braking surface is pretty decent. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels came with Wheelsmith spokes which were awful. Had to constantly replace broken spokes. Seems as I have replaced most of the rear spokes!!! Rear hub is making grinding noise. Will try to repack the bearings soon. Not really light wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Satellite. Not impressed at all. | | Bike Setup: | '01 Stumpy Comp. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are good for secondary wheels. Expect basic wheel issues such as broken spokes and hub noise. For the price, they are worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
M Clarke
a Cross Country Rider
from Merseyside
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | North Wales | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Reasonably price, light. | | Weaknesses: | Weak rims, Poor hubs, lousey freehub, very bad rim wear. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 217/LX,238/Alivio,221/LX,517cd/XTR,Crossride Ceramics,WTB's,Ritchey OCRs. | | Bike Setup: | RL 853,Z2,XTR,USE,Selle SLR,Crossrides,Bontrager. | | Bottom Line: | I am unimpressed with this wheelset. I have found no evidence to support Mavic's claims that Maxtal is 30% stronger than 6106 Alloy. Quite the contrary in fact. These Maxtal rims wear faster, under sustained braking, in poor conditions, than do either the 217s or221s.Nor are the CD version any improvement.And Shimano continue to slide on their consistent & procarious descent into producing sub-standard quality components, a slide begun in 1999, with poor xt hubs & a lousey freehub which lasts a pittifully short time. It's time that Mountain Bikers stood up for themselves & said...." If you are selling this stuff as MOUNTAIN-BIKING EQUIPMENT then it should be up for the job". This wheelset is not. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Berkeley Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 3rd Divide | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | Sharp Bikes | | Strengths: | The Hard Anodizing made the rims last much longer than my previous rims. Took some pretty good hits without bending. Low maintainance: but like all good machines they respond well to attention | | Weaknesses: | None, really | | Similar Products Used: | Bonti Mustangs, Valiants | | Bike Setup: | Bonti Racelite. XT, Atom Bomb. King Headset. 858. LP. | | Bottom Line: | I gotta say that this is a journeyman product for a modest price, considering the next level of wheel is about $400/set. They cleaned up nice, stayed relativly true, and lasted pretty long. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
duh huh
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$179.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Reasonably light, strong for their weight. XT hubs seem to work well. | | Weaknesses: | Rims lose true pretty often, wheels probably not built well from the beginning. Had to true them straight out of the box. Well I have a lot of time and am pretty patient mechanic..... | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek Wams - make the 517s feel light wet noodles! | | Bottom Line: | You get what you pay for? These things are backups now with slicks on em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul T
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Urbane Cycle | | Strengths: | Strong, fairly light, good quality. Rim surface is exceptional in wet weather. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey 440's, Rhino lites. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels needed truing after about 200km. Since then have been fine. Hope to get at least a year out of them.
Best cross country wheel that I have tried for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sevenzero
a Weekend Warrior
from Simi
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$149.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperGo | | Strengths: | Light, tight (For a few rides) Excellent quality rim | | Weaknesses: | The product has no weakness when used for it's intended purpose as a cross country wheelset, the sweatshop that assembles them sucks. | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Rhyno XL's (Own) Other Mavics (Test drives) Crappy Araya stuff (Owned - broke) | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar Pro, SID XC front, Fox Float R rear, X517, Full XT, Monkeylite Riser, CT2 post... | | Bottom Line: | I am no Bike mech! I build, fix and tune them myself though, the first hard ride on these the rear wheel went out of true and was creaking, when I got home I checked the spokes and they where loose, went to my LBS and bought a good park spoke wrench, flipped the bike on it's bars and seat, sat down and started sqeezing spokes to find the loose ones, snugged them all up, my LBS mech said watch the rim near the brake pad, tighten 3 adjacent spokes where it is out of true to pull it the way it needs to go, you can really get into trouble doing this if you are not careful, I got the wheel true and tight though it has a very slight hop which I will not even attempt to try and true out. When I replace these hubs soon with sealed bearing hubs, they will be done by my LBS mech and will be awesome, I had him lace a set of White Ind disk hubs w/ 20MM Front axle to a set of Rhyno XL's and they are super stiff and true as can be.
Bottom Line:
Mavic+XT+Powertool assembly = Not So Good
Mavic+XT+Professional hand wheel builder = Unbeatable
PS. I am 200lbs and have no problems with these rims, they are excellent quality light weight welded and machined rims, especially for the price, they however are not downhill or freeride rims, and they are destined to fail if the spoke tension is loose.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | I improved my trueing abilities by leaps and bounds | | Weaknesses: | I had to true these damn things after every ride | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit, XT all around | | Bottom Line: | The only reason I used these lame ass wheels for an entire year was my own inability to buy something else. The rear now has two flat spots and the side wall caved in three places. If you really want these wheels make sure you ride nothing but the smoothest trails you can find and whatever you do DON'T JUMP. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario Javier
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath Oakville | | Strengths: | Look, lightweight and strong | | Weaknesses: | Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Mustang, Rhyno lite | | Bike Setup: | Joshua X-0, full XT, Raceface | | Bottom Line: | I am a casual rider who owned this rims now for about 2 years or so. I trued them a few times after the first 4 rides, and no longer true them after that. I would say that of all the things I purchased for my bike, I would say that these rims made the difference. The bike seems to be lighter (30+ lbs of total weight) and quicker. If you want to purchase a new set and you weigh less than 200lbs (I am 197lbs) get these rims. If you are over 200+ lbs, then get the D521. Mavic makes an excellent product! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DJ Meyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kenosha Pass | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Local builder | | Strengths: | Strong, takes punishmentlaunching off roots, drops, rocks and tight, fast singletrack. Once broken in, stay trued! | | Weaknesses: | First few hard rides, will go out of true. Check 'em on the rides. Have them trued by a good wrench after that, and you will be happy. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 217 | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar Sport | | Bottom Line: | Great rim at a great price. I weigh in at 200 lbs and used to race downhill. These rims are tough! Just gotta let 'em break in! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Versatile
Good Value
Strong but light for XC and XC racing | | Weaknesses: | Not a downhill or free riding rim.
Needs to be handbuilt carefully. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221
Sun CR18 | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Vertex | | Bottom Line: | Great value and quality for XC rim. Takes the beating of Ontario gnarly single-track, and bad bunny hops; and stays true and together. XT hub stays smooth and friction free. Good alternative for avoiding those fashionable and trick wheelsets that really don't offer anything more than style to those with too much money.
Sure, the rim goes out of true after 1st few hard rides (about 1/16"), but stays true for the next few months of fast single-track riding. I even replaced a hub and spokes to the same rim.
This rim will not stay true if spokes are not evenly tensioned by a master builder. Therefore, don't buy these from some unknown source. Also, don't buy these for downhilling or freeriding, because they were NOT designed for it. For a hardtail, don't use skimpy or fashionable spokes on the back wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dirty
a Cross Country Rider
from deeds
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light, strong, well made XC rim | | Weaknesses: | none really | | Similar Products Used: | tons | | Bike Setup: | Hei hei | | Bottom Line: | It amuses me that Dick Heads buy Mail Order factory laced wheels at dirt cheap prices and then whine because they don't stay true.
There's nothing wrong with these rims - they're great rims.
Get your wheels professionally built or learn to do it yourself, have the builder tweak them after a couple of rides when things bed in, and you'll be a happy rider.
But don't whine because Mail Order wheels don't stay true. If you have to save pennies - buy your stems and handle bars M/O - not wheels.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Xtreme Ryder
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Spokes Loosen up
Doesn't stay true..at all! | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar Comp/Marzocchi Z4 Flylight/Broken Mavic 517 wheelset/XT components | | Bottom Line: | These wheels were GREAT for the first week until the spokes started to loosen up and then the wheel was no longer true.I've had them for less than 2 months,I am an agressive rider who likes Ridiculously huge climbs all to make the same descent...I went on a huge 7 hour ride recently and this damn rim caused me three flats and a big headache because the rim buckled and kept causing pinch flats..the rims worked great when the wheel is actually true...otherwise they suck! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Racer
from Denton, TX
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$190.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint.com | | Strengths: | Light and fast | | Weaknesses: | Won't stay true | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Pisgah | | Bottom Line: | I have had these wheels for 3 months and I have had them trued 3 times. Hell, when I got them they were not straight. I have now almost spent as much money truing them as I paid for them in the first place. I weight 210 pounds. I would buy something else unless you are a light weight. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pedro
a Racer
from Leicester, england
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | cannock chase | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | came with bike-merlin uk | | Strengths: | er, light, round | | Weaknesses: | not strong enough | | Similar Products Used: | 317, rolf sats | | Bike Setup: | full xt on titanium frame | | Bottom Line: | untrue after 1 week & one small fall--I'm a speed merchant. I've had much greatr falls & not buckled the wheel--this was first fall-small & buckd already--wish I'd bought something stronger | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | technical stuff | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Light, reliable hub | | Weaknesses: | I only weigh 130 and I taccoed the rear wheel
doesn't stay true | | Similar Products Used: | stumpjumper wheelset | | Bottom Line: | It broke | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J J
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to chose | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$265.00 | | Purchased At: | Sinagua Cycles, Flagstaff | | Strengths: | stiff and true | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Power beam, Matrix | | Bike Setup: | Shimano xt bb, hubs, derailleurs, shifters, cogs, rings...Avid SD 7 Brakes and levers, Race Face North Shore Cranks, Gore cables, Mavic 517 hoops, all on my pretty purple Trek 8700 Carbon | | Bottom Line: | Since they were built I have only had to have them trued once or twice. Standard thing for new wheels. They stay nice and true. Low amount of flex, that I have noticed, anyway. I try to watch the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
xAmiEL
a
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazers Cycle | | Strengths: | No frills, no fuss, just a basic get what you pay for quality wheel set | | Weaknesses: | Like I said, pretty plain. But why the hell are you looking at your wheels when you ride? | | Similar Products Used: | Old school mavic rims and XT hubs | | Bike Setup: | 2000 R.M. Thin Air, Race Face post, stem, grips and headset, Easton CT2 bar, Avid Mag brakes and levers, XT shifters, cranks, and front derailler, XTR rear derailler, 838 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I almost did not buy this wheel set. I originally purchased a set of Bontranger Race wheelset on sale at my LBS for half price ($300 bucks Canadian). I put them on my bike and even though they looked cool and were light there was something about them that just didn't look right. Call it a sixth sense but I had the feeling they were shyte. I examined the wheels the spokes felt loose and they weren't even true. After about of month of slooowly building up my bike over the winter I decided to return the Bonti's and get the Mavic/XT wheels. It cost me a couple hundred more but I felt better about getting them instead. They feel stiffer and better built, I guess hand built wheels are better. So now I have the Mavic/XT wheel set and couldn't be happier. They may look pretty plain and they may weigh more but they feel strong, and that funny feeling is gone. All post again after a season of riding/racing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron R.
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa City,IA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles | | Strengths: | reasonably light, very stong at my weight, hubs run real smooth, rims are good for lighter riders like myself | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager hubs to covair rims(weren't all that great) came stock on my trek | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000 totally upgraded | | Bottom Line: | These wheels have been exceptional. I was supposed to get mustang rims but Universal got screwed from their supplier so they upgraded me to these rims. I have 14/15g wheelsmith spokes and they are planty strong for my 150 pounds. I've been riding urban assualt for about a week or so now cause of the snow. It was a sort of last resort. I was worried at first but they've held up. I might go for rhyno lites if I feel these are starting to give. Excellent build from the guys at Universal Cycles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | -Light for the everyday trail rider
-Strong
-Stops well with V brakes
-Low rolling resistance
-Don't have to spend $500 for quality wheels | | Weaknesses: | -Rear needs truing every once in a while, probably the case with all rims | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic221 LX | | Bike Setup: | Zaskar. Shimano XT, Z2-Bam, Kore cockpit | | Bottom Line: | A nice upgrade from the 221s, which are decent but heavier and bend more easily. The most noticebale difference is the low rolling resistance and smooth feeling versus the old ones. The rear needs to be trued every once in a while, not a big deal. I would have spent more for a quality wheel set but the LBS suggested that these would do the trick and I haven't been dissapointed. They used some of the highest quality spokes and nipples combined with an excellent mechanic help in making these top performers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big - E You Know
a Cross Country Rider
from Tecumseh, Ont, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | suicide | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Zone | | Strengths: | Nice and light and well built the spokes. The hubs are nice and smooth. | | Weaknesses: | Dont have any because I have them sitting in my room waiting for the front one to come in form CYCLES LAMBERT. | | Similar Products Used: | Sunrims AT18 | | Bike Setup: | A modified BRODIE ALPHA with all XT and DEOR, Manitou Mars. And all the goodies. | | Bottom Line: | They are probably good but I have waited a good 3 months to get the front one in from CYCLES LAMBERT thanks guyes their. But I have borrowed my friends wheel set that is the Mavic x517 with XT hubs and they are great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg D.
a Racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Levis Mounds | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Ultra-durable. I have hit logs and rocks and looked back to see a damaged wheel, NOT. They have NEVER had to be trued, only service the hubs each Fall. Colorado Cyclist builds a mean wheelset. I think I will throw away my spoke wrench.... | | Weaknesses: | Some of the decals started peeling off. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Mavic wheels on my last bike. Not as good as these 517's, but I don't know who built them (came w/ my old bike) | | Bike Setup: | Moots YBB, SID, XTR, Raceface crankset | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievable durability, reasonable price, but consider having Colorado Cyclist built them up for you... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$165.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | stays true; good braking surface; nearly maintenance-free XT hubs | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Weinmann ZAC19 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized HT, RockShox SID XL, XT drivetrain, Kore Elite Stem, Syncros post, Easton Scandium DH bar, Tioga Factory 2.1 DHs | | Bottom Line: | I bought this wheelset at The Colorado Cyclist a couple years back as a hand-built set. They kick ass! Over these years, they have been to Moab three times and have been abused constantly on the trails around Colorado Springs. They have been through numerous crashes, seen big air, and all sorts of riding conditions and have only needed one truing. I think the braking surface will wear thin before the rims give out. Excellent! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakville, ON Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso, Hardwood hills | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Cyclepath Oakville | | Strengths: | Strong wheel, Looks good. | | Weaknesses: | None, other than black crap collecting on the rim surface. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Mustang | | Bike Setup: | Joshua X-0 | | Bottom Line: | I did a review of this product back in March 8 and it is now September. I rode this set all summer long and I did quite a lot of mileage and the trail I have been riding has some rocks and roots and now have some technical sections with 3' logs and some ladders and drop offs. Although I am not what you consider an extreme rider, but I do some jumps over these logs once in a while. I just cleaned the wheel and relubed the bearing last weekend. The bearings were fine, no sign of pitting and the rim is still true within the 1/16" wobble that I have set for tolerance. Overall, I think this wheelset was worth the money I paid for. And by the way, the rim surfaced are not bad when it comes to wear and tear conditions. I could probably get another year or two with this baby. If you could afford it buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ron brown
a Cross Country Rider
from bakersfield ca
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | pannorama bluffs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$149.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo in santa monica | | Strengths: | xt hubs,wheelsmith spokes and mavic | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | wiennman zac 19 | | Bike Setup: | 2000 gt rebound with rockshox judy | | Bottom Line: | this is a killer set of wheels even if they were $200.I worked in a bike shop for about 6 years so when I got the wheels home I trued and tensioned them.I ride on rocky terain most of the time and I wiegh about 260lbs and these wheels have been bomb so far. I highly recommend these wheels,If you go looking for them try supergo they have the best price I have found. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark Reno
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sawpit, Soquel Demo Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Better than stock | | Weaknesses: | I have the X517 Ceramic version of this wheel.
This wheel is supposed to excel in braking in both dry and wet conditions. It sucks at both, my original stock wheels
were better. I am already looking for Bantrager Mustang Ceramic wheels. I have tried the Mustangs and they are Day/Nite better. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON MAVIC CERAMIC WHEELS ! | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Mustang. Matrix Swami, | | Bike Setup: | Trek Full suspension Y Bike | | Bottom Line: | DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON MAVIC X517 CERAMIC WHEELS WHEN BETTER WHEELS EXIST ! BUY THE BONTRAGER MUSTANG CERAMIC.
I swapped wheels with a similar bike that a friend had and
the difference was huge. Far superior braking and control with the Bontrager wheels.
These wheels deserve -5 charcoal chilis (post digested).
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chet
a Cross Country Rider
from Charleston, WV
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Ballard @KSF | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Very light & Very strong, excellent price. | | Weaknesses: | Mine didn't come with rim liner tape to cover spoke holes ($160 whattaya expect) | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crosslinks, Wienmann Zac19 Crapola wheels | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR-4000 | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset, best I've had. Lighter and stronger than Crosslink wheelset I'm currently riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Booster
a Cross Country Rider
from Goleta, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Little Pine Mt. Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very little truing required when the 517's are built by a good bike mechanic. | | Weaknesses: | I would seriously consider getting the 14/15 DT spokes for reduced weigh on those long climbs. | | Bike Setup: | Haro Escape-A0, XT drive-train, LX V-brakes, X517, Haro escape-A0, RockShox SID-XC, XT drive-train, LX V-brakes | | Bottom Line: | I bought my 517, 14 DT spokes, XT hubs over 2.5 years ago from Colorado Cyclist and they are still riding strong. I just came back from pounding down Romero Canyon single track today and I had no worries about my rims. The front has never needed a truing and my rear needed only a little truing after about 1.5 year of regular riding. It helped that I baby my Mavic rims for about 2 months after I received them, by riding on pavement and no sidewalk drop offs - this seemed to help shake out any stress in the spokes. I weigh only about 148 lbs. and like to do drop offs less than about 1.5 foot only, so I am not hammering them either. I am still extremely happy with these rims and I will base my next wheel set on Mavic X517 also. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KM
a Cross Country Rider
from Brandon
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bald Hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Beautifull, Well Built, No High Zoot Drool Factor, Easily Available Parts | | Weaknesses: | No High Zoot Drool Factor | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager ASYM rims: 28 h radial front, 32 3 cross STX rear. 94 LX 36 h w/ Araya Rims. | | Bike Setup: | 98 Fisher Genisis Frame, XT cassette, shifters, brakes, derailers, hubs, LX levers, Mavic X517 red rims, RaceFace seatpost & bar, WTB seat and tires, 99 Z2 atom bomb. | | Bottom Line: | I was looking at a couple of super deals on wheelsets over the internet. I was asking the opinion of a buddy at my shop when he told me about some wheels he was building up. 2000 XT hubs, Mavic X517 rims, DT butted spokes. Even though these wheels where going to be $100 CDN more than the ones on the internet I opted to go with them instead. Why? I know the guy that bult them. I know they were hand built and trued using the highest quality components. I also know that if I ever have a problem with these wheels I can bring them back to the shop and they will be fixed.
I weighed them this morning. 720g for the front, 945g for the rear. Almost the weight of the big component wheels for the price of one of their front wheels.
Zoot factor, the 2000 X517 come in red, and look KickAss with my yellow frame.
I am a very cheap person, and I love to get deals over the web (though I usualy do all my maintenence myself). However your local bike shop cannot be over looked for quality and service that the e-places cannot touch | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CBD
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashville
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | All of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Price, weight, looks, feel. | | Weaknesses: | Braking surface taking a while to break in. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Bontrager corvairs | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000, Manitou SX, LX cranks, v-brakes, XTR cassette etc.. | | Bottom Line: | These are a good upgrade from a lower end stock wheelset. Good price. I weigh 250lbs and these wheels have withstood everything I have trown at them. The main trail I ride is very rock and rooty. The rear had a slight wobble when I bought them took them to my LBS and trued them, they are still true today. Overall I wuld recommend these to anybody. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brad
a Cross Country Rider
from phoenix, az
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | fair price (mail order), durable, little maintenance or worries. | | Weaknesses: | none. weight isn't high for a wheelset this price ($190). | | Similar Products Used: | crossmax, stx-rc/weimann, 517/hugi 240s | | Bike Setup: | moots ybb | | Bottom Line: | i have the '99 xt hubs laced w/db dt spokes (pricepoint). like a good bottom bracket, you don't think about your wheels when they're working since you don't turn them like a crank, pull like a lever or grasp like a handlebar. this wheelset takes quite a beating on the steep, rocky and extended downhills in the tonto national forest. they stay true and the hubs are hassle free. a wheelset is only as good as the builder and a good pair will last many years if you don't have too many accidents or do 6 foot drop-offs like some of these complainers. the highest rating is saved for supreme products like king or hugi 240 hubs, but this one is close. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mario Javier
a Weekend Warrior
from Oakville, On Canada
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso Conservation | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Quality and appearance | | Weaknesses: | Overpriced | | Similar Products Used: | Stock Bontrager Mustang | | Bike Setup: | 97 Joshua X-0 with Judy XC and full XT | | Bottom Line: | I had these wheels since the Fall of 98 and rode it all Summer long. I just cleaned the bike recently and to my amazement the wheels was only a bit out of tune, very unnoticeable unless you put in a truing stand. I weigh about 190lbs and I do not do any cliff or ledge jumping, only the occasional bunny hop off a log that is not more than 3" high. To those who complained about warping, try not to jump the 6' ledges. It does not matter whose wheel you have, if you jump off at this height, you are bound to warp the wheels.
Overall, I give this wheel 5 stars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Muad
a Cross Country Rider
from arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | weak, high maintainance. | | Similar Products Used: | sun rhynolite | | Bike Setup: | custom stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | Awful wheelset, i'm 170 and they came out of true all the time i had to true them after i rode around for 2 hours. One piece of advice: don't count grams, i made the mistake of actually listening to a review in a magazine. Weight does make a big difference in wheels but not that much, you aren't going to win the tour de france so buy durable wheels.
Oh yeah, i cracked the rear rim putting reasonable spoke tension on it.
I know sun does a good job making rims I haven't had to true my xt/rhynolite(1.5) wheel yet.
I give the value low rating and the overall what it's worth. since mavic is overpriced and awful quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Ullenberg
a Racer
from WI
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | John Muir | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Strong and very light weight.
low rotation weight | | Weaknesses: | My rear rim bent once and once only and now I have to replace it because it was too warped, Even though it was bent just the slightest bit. I didn't know they were even bent until I cleaned my bike | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 97 Klein pulse pro, White Industry Cranks, Kooka Chainrings, 2000 Esp entire line up | | Bottom Line: | These were some great wheels, I loved them, I once accidentally had my bike backed up over by our van by my dad
The wheel front wheel did not bend at all, but the van did
break my fork into three. I just thought it is weird that my rear rims is the one that is out of whack, rather disappointing | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Relativly inexpensive..I paid $169 for the set and they have held up. | | Weaknesses: | A wee bit heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Stock crap | | Bottom Line: | Great product for the money. Good upgrade to stock wheel set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Meegan
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Hueneme, CA
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sycamore Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price | | Weaknesses: | Poor Quality/Durability | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221/LX/STOUT | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper M2, Thomson, King, Real, XTR/XT, Marzocchi Z-2 Superfly | | Bottom Line: | Form the first day I purchased this wheelset I noticed around the nipples that the rim looked like it was stressed. When I took them into my buddies shop to have the cassette installed he asked who built them. He told me it was a bad build because they should not have the little star-like creases around the nipples. I contacted Mavic and the wheel builder and they said it was normal. Another bud of mine had the same wheelset and they started to crack around the nipples. Basically I was told they were fine not to worry about it. I'm still not happy! DON'T buy them unless you know who's building them knows what they are doing! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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