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Submitted by
jhomer
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | moose mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | jensens | | Weaknesses: | The rear wheel has developed a crack at the valvve stem hole on the inside of the rim. It is impossible to hold any air now and I must use a tube. Have been running this wheel for over two years and lots of miles. A friend has the same wheels and purchased at the same time and has the exact same crack. The crack appeared this year in my wheel and last year in my friends.
| | Bottom Line: | Has anybody else experienced this specific cracking problem?
Wheel was sold by jensens I presume built by Mavic. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay canavan
a Cross Country Rider
from ireland
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | easily pleased | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | looks are amazing, quite light, ceramic rim | | Weaknesses: | price , punctures, weak valve especially rear | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | specialized sworks M5,full xtr,thomson stem+post, chris king head set (worth the money alone) | | Bottom Line: | changed to michelin mountain xtreme tyres seems to have solved puncture probs but a very wide tyre and expensive, they need to be maintained a lottttttttttttttttttt. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Dillingham
a Cross Country Rider
from Olathe Ks
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | miner park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | light weight durable | | Weaknesses: | expensive to buy and repair | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | hard rock frame xt crank set, shift pods, xtr derailer, avid sd 7 brakes, mavic cross max wheels, hutchinson tubeless tires, rock hopper handle bars. | | Bottom Line: | great handling light weight and durable. I got a smokin deal on these wheels and love them. I have rebuilt the rear wheel and it cost $250.00 due to a high speed collision with another rider he split the cost of the rebuild but other than that no problems neve trued or anything. I recomend these wheels for xc riders looking to cut some weight.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Dillingham
a Cross Country Rider
from Olathe Ks
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | miner park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | light weight durable | | Weaknesses: | expensive to buy and repair | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | hard rock frame xt crank set, shift pods, xtr derailer, avid sd 7 brakes, mavic cross max wheels, hutchinson tubeless tires, rock hopper handle bars. | | Bottom Line: | great handling light weight and durable. I got a smokin deal on these wheels and love them. I have rebuilt the rear wheel and it cost $250.00 due to a high speed collision with another rider he split the cost of the rebuild but other than that no problems neve trued or anything. I recomend these wheels for xc riders looking to cut some weight.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Carroll
a Racer
from Fortuna, CA 95540
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Leaky rims, brittle spokes, absolutely crappy hubs | | Bike Setup: | Epic | | Bottom Line: | Another sucker here.
Wheels suck and Mavic's customer service swallows.
".....but have you been servicing them after every ride?".
If only I could reach through that phone and ........... you know what I mean.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Junction, CO
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Ribbon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$620.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | This review for Crossmax XL
Readily available
UST technology (the only good thing about these wheels)
Ceramic coating on braking surface
Look pretty when new
Lots of cool acronyms such as SUP, FTS-L hub, ISM technology (who knows what any of it means)
Up to 3 months of trouble-free use
| | Weaknesses: | Readily available
Engagement pawls on rear hub are very weak and will fail (appalling pawls)
Freehub body developed lots of slop
Correct acronym for rear hub is POS
Worthless customer service (you are on your own)
Way overpriced
| | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | Yeti | | Bottom Line: | Do not waste your money on these wheels, especially the rear wheel. The pawls will fail and the freehub body will get loose. This is not a maintenance issue. I did everything I could to maintain these hubs, including replacing the pawls three times. They are French fried junk. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
josh impossible
a Racer
from Detroit MI
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | mavic sux | | Strengths: | very stiff, very nice looking | | Weaknesses: | the hub on this wheelset is total crap. crap crap crap. i work at a shop and so far this year we have sent 4 of these wheels back to mavic. doesnt matter the size of the rider, the hubs on these go loose. one of them came back unfixed with nearly a hundred dollars worth of labor. every crossmax sl we have sold to REAL riders has to go back to mavic EVERY year. one of my customers has waited 6 weeks now to get his $800 wheel back, and i just talked to mavic and they havent even touched it yet. it isnt even unboxed. i warn all high end riders, BEWARE!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | dt swiss makes a great wheel that in my experience is lighter, just as stiff, uses spokes that arent ridiculously expensive or hard to find, and the service center at dt swiss seems to consist of more than one monkey with a wrench like at mavic. also, a chris king hub is really spectacular. | | Bottom Line: | if you are looking for a high end race wheelset, these are great when they work. the problem is that they dont. buy yourself a set of chris king or dt swiss wheels, and you will never be sorry
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Racer
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Gregg's | | Strengths: | Fast, smooth, durable and they look cool. They been raced hard on a hardtail and full suspension bike. | | Weaknesses: | None that I have seen. Tubeless could definalty be lighter. The tires and the rims add up to increased rotating mass. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 517 ceramic rims with XTR hubs and the original CrossMax. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Sugar 1 full XTR and Norco Team Ti Hardtial full XTR. | | Bottom Line: | Strong fast racing wheels. I have turned into a Tubless fan because of the fact that I can bomb down a rocky decsent and not worry about pinch flatting. I've had one flat and fixed it with a bit of work. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Nice looking | | Weaknesses: | Break easily | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, CrossMax, XTR | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up to my previous review (see below). After toasting my rear wheel my LBS fixed the wheel for $80.00. Luckily, I've known the shop owner for years so he gave me a deal. Anyway, I decided to give these wheels a second chance and they have been good so far. For the past year they have stayed true. Even through some tough rides. They still are too flexy for a wheel so expensive. As long as you don't pull any spokes out they are a decent wheel. I have really started to like the tubeless thing. I've had only one flat in the past year. I run lower tire pressure and the tires hook up well. Changing a flat on the trail is simple with these wheels as long as you carry spare tubes. I'm still not sure if I would recommend these wheels. They are just too expensive for a wheel that can break so easily. If you know someone at a shop that will fix these for a decent price, maybe. Otherwise, no. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Svenne Vangoethemd
a Cross Country Rider
from Mol,Belgium
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | houffalize | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$638.00 | | Purchased At: | VanEyck | | Strengths: | Lightweight,Quality,ceramic rims,less spokes and the looks!! | | Weaknesses: | Didn't find any yet...unless the price | | Bike Setup: | Cross country bike w. xmax xl tubeless,rs sid team w remote,full xt | | Bottom Line: | This is a revieuw about the Crossmax XL UST wheelset for V-brakes(with ceramic rims)model 2004
I had standard wheels and this wheelset was my first upgrade and i can recomend it for anyone,if you've the money!It isn't lowbudget,but hey,quality has it's price.
They run ultra smooth,they're fast(i mean,power makes directly speed)they don't need a lot of maintenance and in combination with good V-brakes they stop really good.It's just a pitty that it isn't exclusive anymore... | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Timmy Halliday
a Racer
from Rindge, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Pedalsnpacks | | Strengths: | Weight | | Weaknesses: | Everything...poor design, spokes pulling out, spokes bending, poor lateral stiffness | | Similar Products Used: | mavix x-517 laced to shimano lx hubs with stan's no tubes | | Bike Setup: | gucci | | Bottom Line: | i'm glad to see i'm not the only person who thinks these wheels suck and are a waste of money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from NH, USA
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | most excellent so far in every aspect but here's the thing:
these are Crossmax "SL" -- and look at the reviews -- there are FIVE different "Crossmax" wheels reviewed here -- and not one of them "SL" - so I don't know if this is the correct product. | | Weaknesses: | can't find one yet but also haven't mounted tubeless which are supposed to be difficult? - so far only tube & tires (WTB's Velociraptor & now Nokian studded (296.) Don't use rimstrip with tube (as I did at first)- and pump the tires way up to 70+ pounds to make bead seat before letting air out to proper pressures. | | Similar Products Used: | just the old Mavic metal rim brake which finally wore through so bought these | | Bike Setup: | Ibis Bow Ti with Shimano XTR 950 and Avid mechanical disc brake on front | | Bottom Line: | I have the SL disc wheel on front and SL ceramic rim wheel on rear.
So far no problems. Might try tubeless in the spring if I can find f & r UST tires as agressive as WTB's Velocipraptors as I love low low pressure for these non-stop roots, boulders and slippery-ass-trees that cover our non-stop technical singletrack out here in New England.
Don't know what these others are talking about with spokes pulling out if it even applies to SL as I said there's no "SL" review here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoffrey Montague
a Racer
from St. George, Utah U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR | | Strengths: | Weight! | | Weaknesses: | Terrible Lateral Flex. Braking Surface is not consistent. Pieces of Metal Floating around in the rim. Doesn't hold a seal longer than a day. | | Similar Products Used: | Hope Titanium | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F3000 SL | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy these wheels. Euro-Trash is an Understatement. I don't like the fact that if you break a rim you are outta luck. Mavic should be better about standing behind their products. If you purchase an $800 wheelset you expect $800 of performance. I spent $250 and still feel ripped off. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Oris
a Cross Country Rider
from Atascadero
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Weaknesses: | Spokes pull out of wheel. Short life time. | | Bottom Line: | This is a followup to my 8/31/03 review. Mavic responded back to my local bike shop. They said the wheel is past the one year warranty (15 months old) and they will not replace it. They would not offer a free rim to let my bike shop fix it. Mavic would fix the wheel for $175. I refused their offer and had them ship it back because I plan to put this money towards a new wheel set.
I am very disappointed with Mavic. This is terrible customer service on a product they know has a defect which should be recalled. I hope no one riding on these wheels gets hurt when the spokes decide to pull out.
If you are thinking about purchasing these wheels I would strongly advise against these wheels due to the problems I and others have experienced.
If you already own a set, check your spoke attachments before or after every ride. If you see cracking appearing around one or more spokes, don't ride on the wheel anymore for your own safety. If they are less than a year old, Mavic might help you out. If it is more than a year old, it is time to switch to a wheel that you can trust will not leave you stranded or even worse, might get you hurt you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | White Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Nice looking | | Weaknesses: | Not as light as Mavic would have you believe, flexy, not very strong. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Racelite | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, XTR, Crossmax | | Bottom Line: | Don't believe the hype Kiddies! I'm happy to say I didn't pay retail price for these wheels. First of all they are too damn flexy. Probably do to the low spoke count but you would think Mavic would have made the rim stronger to counter this. They didn't. And they are not as light as Mavic claims. For a wheel so expensinve I'd expect superlight and stiff wheels. Worst of all though, I pulled out 3 spokes going uphill. Yes uphill. I'm 5'10" and 160lbs, so I really don't believe I have such power to rip out spokes but I did. 1 spoke ripped completely out and the other 2 partially ripped out. Needless to say the wheel is toast. To top it off I've been waiting for over a month for Mavic to send replacement parts (new spokes and rim) and still I don't have a rear wheel. The rim finally came a couple of days ago but no spokes. Are you kidding me? Mavic apparently doesn't care for it's customers. I'm sure glad I'm not racing now or I'd be having a fit (actually I am still having a fit, wouldn't you?). Happily my LBS leant me a replacement wheel until my wheel is fixed.
The bottom line is the tubeless revolution is over for me. I've tried a couple different brands of tubeless wheels and niether pair lived up to the hype. Time for some Chris King hub and 517's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Orvis
a Cross Country Rider
from Atascadero, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any trail you find yourself on! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Sunstorm, Atascadero CA | | Strengths: | Very light-weight, stay true, tubeless so you can run less air pressure. | | Weaknesses: | Rear wheel rim cracking at the spoke attachment and spokes pulling out of the rim. Less selection with tubeless tires, but the selection is growing fast so it is getting to be a non-issue. | | Bike Setup: | '02 Specialized S-Works FSRxc with Mavic Crossmax UST | | Bottom Line: | The Mavic wheels were on my bike when I purchased it. Until recently the wheels have been very good and endured 15 months and 1650 miles of cross country riding over all sorts of terrain. I have only had to slightly true-up the wheels a couple of times in 15 months. The wheel are light and the ceramic on the rim braking area has held up well. I ran tubeless for the first 3 months but didn't like the tubeless tire selection so I have run tubes for the last year. Also, when you have a flat out on the trail, you usually need to put in a tube anyway to get you home. I have been very pleased with the wheels until now. I probably would not have spent the money to buy these rims had they not come with the bike. These are more of a racing wheel than a wheel you would buy to endure normal cross country trail riding. Saturday I popped three spokes out of the rim on the back wheel during a short climb over a rocky area that required a lot of torque. A week ago I had to true-up the back wheel which should have been an indication to me that something was wrong because the wheel was farther out than ever before. I also noticed a few very small cracks in the rim where two of the spokes are attached. I thought I could get a couple of Labor Day rides completed before taking the wheels back to the bike shop where I purchased my bike so they could check it out and contact Mavic. The front wheel does not seem to be exhibiting any of the rim cracking nor do the spokes appear to be pulling out. The bike shop is contacting Mavic this week, we will see how they respond. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg martin
a Cross Country Rider
from mtn home ar
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | wolfley in arkansas | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | arkansas fitness @ cycling | | Strengths: | the crossmax has no strengths | | Weaknesses: | i rode these wheels for a year and the spokes pulled out of the rims they replaced the first one.but they won't replace the secound one they said that my chain came of and made the spokes pull out of the rim . what a crock mavic has a serious problem with this wheel set and they are not willing to fix it . do not buy these wheels | | Similar Products Used: | this was my first tubless set | | Bike Setup: | ellsworth truth xt xtr | | Bottom Line: | do not buy these wheels do not buy these wheels do noy buy these wheels do not buy these wheels do not buy these wheels do not buy these wheels | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Spaeth
a Cross Country Rider
from White Salmon, WA USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Very Cool looking, light, responsive. | | Weaknesses: | They break. | | Bike Setup: | Trek STP 400, Carbon Fiber soft tail | | Bottom Line: | I have broken two of these rims in the last 2 yrs. The last set of rims I had lasted for 7 yrs before the sidewalls wore through. I am a large rider at 220lbs. but I am not hard on gear. On both wheels the spokes pulled right through the rim. Mavic would not warranty the rim although for $175 I can get a factory rebuilt wheel. I don't want another one. Even if it was free. I am tired of walking with these cool looking wheels. Maybe if you are 130lbs and ride on flat smooth dirt this would be a good wheel, or if you can afford to change out expensive wheel sets every year. I am going to re join the real world and try to find a wheel that is not as "cool" but I can actually ride on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos Infanta
a Racer
from Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Santa Tereza | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | WindCenter, Caracas. | | Strengths: | Light, fast, beautiful design. | | Weaknesses: | FLATS!!!!, I Tried to repair my tires a couple of times the big holes without any problem like a motorcycle, but the small holes it`s a headache. I Tried to repair them with a internal spray people fix their car tires to probe. The tires are too expensive. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Sworks M5 Specialized 2002. | | Bottom Line: | I like these wheels since they appear in market, but I need to learn how to solve the flats problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jose Henriques
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisbon, Portugal
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Sintra Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Strengths: | Look, rigidity, weight, UST | | Weaknesses: | Front wheel sealed cartridges do not have abosolutely any grease | | Similar Products Used: | Rigida ZAC19, Mavic Crossride | | Bike Setup: | Scott Comp Racing, All XT, Psylo XC, Mavic Crossmax, Continental Explorer Pro UST, Ritchey WCS Stem/handle | | Bottom Line: | After 1mo of fairly intense use, front wheel cartridge are rusty and unsable, because they are not properly greased. This demonstrates low quality control over the assembly line, on a product that is considered high-end and has really excellent componements.
In compenstation, the back wheel is well greased, so it is perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$699.00 | | Strengths: | Uhhh... you can run mushy low tire preasures? | | Weaknesses: | Heavier, leaks air, rim dents easy ruining tubeless system seal, expensive and pain in the arse to maintain... | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race Lite, Spinergy Xyclone, Cane Creek WAM | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F3000, full XTR, Headshok Fatty SL | | Bottom Line: | Well, promises and hype are the name of the game with the UST system I've learned over the last season.
Ok, no pinch flats, but easy to dent the rim. VERY expensive to replace this rim. OUt on the trail I dented the rim while riding 40psi (way above the minimum 30!). With the new addition to the shape of the rim, there was no chance of reseating the tire. Even without the dent, reseating out on the trail is impossible. Now I've got a heavy, expensive tubed wheel.
Does anybody really like the squirmy ride of really low (30-40psi) preasure? Cornering stinks and out of saddle climbing they are soft and mushy feeling.
I've also had many mysterious flats and slow leaks with the UST wheels. For no apparent reason they loose air all of a sudden.
I like the idea of tubeless. The UST system is not finished. Too many flaws that don't justify spending that much money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Racer
from Denver
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | chimey gulch to apex | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Adventure Cycles | | Strengths: | Wheels roll great, huge difference from a traditional tubed tire. Adjustable bearings. Makes almost any bike look cooler | | Weaknesses: | if there is a major problem with the wheel it must be sent back to france (3 day Fed EX is 66.00). No wheel set should cost this much. | | Similar Products Used: | I've only used traditional tubed wheel sets in the past | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC SE1 Full xtr, Sella Italia sadle, XMO MOZO O2 Fork, Answer Hyper Light Bars, Tomson Stem 130mm, Middlebur cranks, Cane Creek head set | | Bottom Line: | The wheels are great, as long as Mavics direction are followed you shouldnt have a problem. Do not over infate tire it will blow off and cause damage to the wheel and tire, and possible to you. If tire is leaking down at a rate that is unexceptable, fill the tire up and squrit the wheel and tire down with a soapy solution to see where it is leaking from. Especially check the spoke nipples since there shouldn't be any air leaking from them, if there is air leaking that mean there is a crack in the rim and it should be sent back to the factory. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the last one | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Store | | Strengths: | Light weight, somewhat rigid | | Weaknesses: | I weigh 210lbs. I can not ride low pressure especially on an embankment as the tire pulls away from the rim allowing dirt into the bead and become FLAT. You can not inflate tubleless tires with a small hand pump!! Bring CO2 inflators! The tire requires large volume of air to reinflate, not possible with a hand pump especially if the tire loosens up off the rim. Dont expect to remove the tire quickly from the wheel as it is a BEAR to remove and replace. Patching the tire works well but putting the tire back onto the wheel is a real chore. I would like to see repair kits such as those for auto tires enabling one to patch a tubeless tire without removing it from the rim, damn it takes effort!! Expolding nipples (see below). | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Ringle, Mavic 517s, | | Bike Setup: | M4 FSR XC | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad wheel set overall. However I am waiting to hear back from Mavic as 2 spoke nipples broke free from the rear rim!! This recently happened after I noticed that the wheel was not true. I inspected my front wheel and it is apparent that this is starting to happen as well. The nipple exploded outward thus tearing the rim, the wheel is now useless. The wheel has been returned to Mavic for replacement. My front wheel is going back as well. I hope this is just an isolated incident and hope that Mavic warrants the wheelset. The wheelset performed well otherwise. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rafael
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, California, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Company | | Strengths: | Weight | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to figure cause of flatting problem | | Similar Products Used: | None, first set of tubeless | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight, XTR, Mavic Cross Max for Discs with Hutchinson Pythons | | Bottom Line: | Front tire flatted on a technical descent, bad crash. Still unable to determine cause of leak. Tire not holding any pressure > 2 days, goes completely flat. Back tire working great. New design is way to go but flatting problem is causing me to lose confidence. Bike shop is currently trying to figure it problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Walton
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, strong, and no flats! Braking on ceramic rims is awesome. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fat Chance Yo Eddy (r.i.p. Fat) | | Bottom Line: | Well for the last 13 months I have had ZERO flats. I know that not everyone has had the same luck, but this is the longest streak of luck I have ever had (well not luck exactly, just killer wheels). And I have bottomed the tire on the rim a few times.
These wheels are so light. And so tough. I am 180 pounds, and I have ridden these hard for 1 year. Only had to true the rear wheel one time.
Just Awesome, fines piece of cycling equipment I have EVER owned! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Robinson
a Cross Country Rider
from Missouri
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Turkey Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Growing tyre selection, greater traction and comfort due to low air pressure. | | Weaknesses: | Small tyre selection in comparison to standard wheels | | Similar Products Used: | wheels | | Bike Setup: | Frame, handlebar, seat, pedals, wheels, and a bunch of other plasic, rubber and metal parts. | | Bottom Line: | The tyres can be a challenge to mount up until you learn the secret. I had the advantage of going to a clinic in which they showed the easiest way to deal with the tyres. I'll try to explain it as best possible.
On: The first side will go on fairly easily. Once you have one side on the rim, start on the second side opposite the valve. Work the bead on in both directions so that the last part to go on is where the valve is. Once you can no longer push it on easily, wrap your hand around the rim and tyre and grip tightly so it won't move. With your other hand, work your way around the tyre, shaking it to ensure that the bead is in the center of the tyre. Once you get all the way around, the last part of the bead will go on very easily.
Off: Put the tyre on the ground, holding it upright. Squeeze the tyre with both hand at the top, pinching it between you hands to pull the bead off. Using the ground as an opposing force, pull the tyre over the rim and toward the ground. The bead will unseat and come off the rim. Continue in this way around the tyre until it comes off easily.
It is much easier to do than it is to explain, but I hope this helps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Most of 'em | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$799.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado | | Strengths: | Strength, good looks and traction | | Weaknesses: | Tires are a bi*ch to mount and bead up. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail Litespeed with SID Race front. | | Bottom Line: | Found that you must use soapy water to mount the tires. And if you clean the wheel's and tire's bead areas they will not leak air, any more so than tube type tires.
I'm glad that I found this review area because I was paranoid about running air pressure much below the max recommended (60psi) but now I'm going to try 35 psi on my next ride... I want the traction.
I ride pretty hard and weigh 185 pounds and these wheels stay true! I love 'em.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan Kahlenberg
a Racer
from Shippensburg, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lollipop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Guy's BIkes | | Strengths: | No flats(that I have experienced). Lightweight, ceramic sidewalls, strong bladed spokes. | | Weaknesses: | Price, and air tends to leak a little faster than on tube/tire system. | | Similar Products Used: | none, was the only tubeless available at the time. | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset, I was surprised that it was so good for being so new. All I need now is a new set of tires with a better tread pattern and I'll be ready for next season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JC Desforges
a Racer
from St_jerome
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | MOC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | OGC | | Strengths: | Awesome regidity, power transfer & lightness. Very weel made as I ride the crap outta them every ride & they require almost no truing whatsoever.... | | Weaknesses: | Q|Rs ... I lost a lever on the front !!! Other than that ... Latest technology always come to a steep price .... those proved the concept right !!
| | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crosslink, XTR 517 cd Ceramic with radially laced 14\15 spokes | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Heckler Full XTR Race Face | | Bottom Line: | Sorry for those guys who experienced problems with the tire coming off the rim or leak .....
I did experienced the same & I found that, even if he tires does suck in many conditions, they still do a OK job on most terrains if you run a low enough pressure. But you need to keep in mind you degree of agresiveness & not go to a point where they come off the rim (...that's where you kiss the dirt !!)
This new tech. really asks for experimentation with different pressure settings to get the fine line between too much ( no traction) & too low ( tire comes off in an aggressise curve )
I've found the best pressure setting for me ... & I love them !!!!
Can't wait to get decent treads for our wet conditions here in Quebec !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
roger villmow
a Racer
from milwaukee
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | pisgah nc | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | colorado cyclist | | Weaknesses: | unseats at the worst possible time in the worst possible section of down single track for a truly scary experience.
I would not use these tire again until them improve them because I have lost some of my aggessiveness because of worry of a wipeout due to tire failure. | | Bike Setup: | litespeed tsali, xtr everything | | Bottom Line: | The rear tire leaked until I had to stop during a race and fill it up losing several places. I now want to trade them back in a real set of tires that won't unseat or leak during intense rides. I weight about 195 and ride aggressively. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Simons
a Racer
from Springfield Mo USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up review to the one I posted earlier. The wheels are still great! I have scratched them up a little bit but they are still true. I HAVE NEVER TRUED THEM! They are as straight as can be. Did I mention that I am 200 pounds and very agressive on the trail? I don't know about the comments made by Jonny B about the tires being crappy, he must have his head in a bag. I have patched mine before and the patches held up fine. I have about 15 races under these tires and they aren't even close to being worn out. I have never had a flat in competition, and that includes a 12 hour race that I did solo. When I get my new race bike for next year, I am for sure getting another set. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny B
a Racer
from Marin, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$741.00 | | Purchased At: | Universal Cycles.com | | Strengths: | Light, Stiff, Fast, However | | Weaknesses: | The Tires, Hutchinson France blew it on this tire (Python Tubeless) This tire sucks! I flated 4 times in one weekend and the worse thing of all is that there isn't a solution to repair the punchered hole!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | 517 SUP, race lites | | Bike Setup: | GT XCR LE, XTR all the way around, Z1 CR bombers.....and now Speed Dream Wheelset with Chris King Hubs!!! The fastest! | | Bottom Line: | Don't get me wrong, Mavic made a great wheelset however Hutchinson made a crappy tire! This tire will puncher and if you do, there is not a repair kit. And NO, the standard glue patch kit won't work, the glue is designed for tube rubber and not the tire rubber and NO dropping a tube in the tire will not work, the tube will pinch on the first hard turn. What a bummer this tubless technology turned out to be.
I went back to tubes and aggresive tires..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sun Mountain Lodge, WA (Winthrop, WA) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Texas Racing Works | | Strengths: | Climb like mountain goats, light, floaty through the rocky singletrack | | Weaknesses: | No disc brake setup yet, spokes make it hard to install a speedometer magnet. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Crossmax's w/ varying tires | | Bike Setup: | '99 Unicoi w/ Manitou Carbon SX, these wheels, full XTR | | Bottom Line: | This is an update from a note I published a month ago.
I brought these wheels with me to the Crystal Mountain NORBA race held August 4th - 6th, and I was really glad that I had them. Granted, I didn't do all that well, but it wasn't the wheels' fault whatsoever. In fact, I'm convinced that they truly assisted me in climbing and descending. I set the rear pressure at 28 psi, and the front a little higher, and was able to remain seated through ALL of the climbs, a victory in itself. The climbs went literally straight up the mountain, and there were people bailing on me left and right. This race was SO HARD! I'm just grateful that I had these wheels and tires, because with just about anything else, I'm convinced that I would have either slipped out on the scree while climbing, forcing a push, or would have flatted on another tire while descending. As it was, I was successful at the climbs, absolutely LOVED the singletrack at the top, and lost a lot of ground on the fast, steep, technical descents, more due to my lack of practice, than anything else. Again, these wheels kick tail, and the tires are pretty good, as well. Tubeless is DEFINITELY the way to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Sypes Canyon, Bozeman, MT | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Incredible climbing capabilities, light weight, stiff & true | | Weaknesses: | Where to put a magnet? Currently has a limited tire selection, though I hear that's changing | | Similar Products Used: | Old Crossmax (94 expert races since '98, plus weekends & travel to all NORBA nats. One semi-bent spoke and one or two trueings. Incredible value for the money!!! | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Unicoi w/ '98 mani SX carbon, '98 XTR, Power-tap rear (HEAVEE!), crossmax front
| | Bottom Line: | I have one comment for Steve Larsen, who continually has double-flatted himself out of contention in just about every race this year; DITCH MAXXIS AND BUY A CROSSMAX TUBELESS WHEELSET! DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR OLYMPIC DREAMS DASHED, YOU NIMROD?! Seriously, these wheels and tubeless tires could be the answer to a lot of riders' questions for a lightweight, durable wheelset that will reward your investment with the ability to climb just about anything, and descend just about anything, as well, while not losing time to dismounts, hike-a-bikes, or flat repairs. Sure, they lose air over time. Sure, they aren't foolproof. BUT, they grip terrain like denture adhesive, they provide you with alternative lines and extra cushion when descending, they allow you to hold a line on an off-camber slope climbing or descending, and, well, they are just the most incredible product for your mountain bike to come down the pike in YEARS. Now that IRC, Bontrager, and Rolf and Specialized are getting on board, you may be able to acquire these a little more cheaply, but by & large, these things are worth every dime. I tested them today on what was probably the toughest trail system in North Texas (yeah, yeah, that's not saying much, I know...), and I felt like I was descending like an M-1; translation- fearless. I was climbing stuff that I had NEVER cleared before, and all this at around 32psi front and rear. I'm saving my bones and buying a set as soon as I can afford them. Did I mention how versatile they are? Different conditions equal different psi, and different tread patterns. Those should be out soon. Buy the originals and save your season, you Steve Larsens of the world. You won't be sorry!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary
a Cross Country Rider
from illinois
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | great feel, light enough, traction...traction...traction | | Weaknesses: | price and limited tire choices | | Similar Products Used: | spinergy spokes | | Bike Setup: | trek stp400 ,xtr,easton,ibis, | | Bottom Line: | i was sold on spinergy so much i have 3 sets... i had a set of cross max tubed and didn't care for them all that much but these tubeless will replace any thing else i own....the low air presure can't be beat !! riding at 29 lbs in all conditions has been a blast....buy them !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Simons
a Racer
from Springfield mo
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -Light Weight -Looks Great -Super plush ride
-tons-o-traction
| | Weaknesses: | -cost | | Similar Products Used: | an array of various 32 spoke wheels | | Bike Setup: | 2000 s-works FSR-XC, sid Fork, xtr, Sram 9.0
| | Bottom Line: | These are fantastic wheels. I am using them with the Huchinson Python tubless tires. They make riding more comfortable because of the low air pressure. They are super stiff considering how few spokes there are, in fact they make 32 spoke wheels with light spokes seem wimpy. They are super strong, I have never trued them. I am Spoiled with traction.
I just raced on them yesterday in Crawford State Park KS. I didn,t expect all the rocks that they have there; it was a super bumpy course. To make it harder, it had rained the day before, so the rocks where all slick with wet moss. Everybody was using pretty high air pressure to ward off the rocks, and they where bouncing off the trail. Not me; I used 35 psi and took all kinds of lines that other racers couldn't. I won the sport 19-24 race by 9 minutes. Previosly I had never won by more than 1 minute. I am very impressed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay
a Cross Country Rider
from RI
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Light weight, excellent build quailty, new techknowledgy | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | 98 Euro Specialized stumpjumper 98 sid
| | Bottom Line: | I work at a bike shop and we had a clinic on this product. These wheels are amazing. 29 psi is not low pressure for these wheels either. We were running them at about 10-15 with no problem. These wheels are also fairly easy to service. I dont suggest it but we took one of these wheels apart in 3-4 min and had it back together and tensioned in 7. Amazing product and i highly recommend it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gene O'Donnell
a Cross Country Rider
from Mass
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Leominster State | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up to my review of several months ago. Everything I said back then remains the same. These wheels realy do make a difference! Right now we are in the middle of winter here and I am riding on a set a mavic ceramics with studs on the tires and I really notice the change. This is the best upgrade you can make. Buy em. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fiveman
a Cross Country Rider
from Arizona
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fat man's loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Fairly light, strong and no more pinch flats. | | Weaknesses: | None so far... | | Bike Setup: | Seven "Teres", WBsc72ul, King hs., XT/XTR shi-(monopoly) stuff with Azonic cranks and RF ti. bb. Seven stem, Lp bars, Odi lockjaw grips, CT2 post and Flite saddle round it out. | | Bottom Line: | These tires grip very well. The lower pressure is attained without wories of pinchn'one off. If you can afford 'em, buy 'em. Five flaming carcases!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Racer
from france
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | woody & hilly | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | What do you mean "I can't get up that slope" | | Weaknesses: | eh?
| | Similar Products Used: | Nothing like these | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M4 FSR/manitou ti/xtr/thompson/cook bros/king | | Bottom Line: | This is the revolution baby! You can run 25-30 psi of pressure, no pinch flats, you can climb nearly anything, any surface, soft, muddy, wet roots, and all on a semi slick tyre. Very comfortable, corner like a dream, and you can cane those rough descents with no worries of snake attacks. If your going to spend some money on your bike these will really transform your ride. Seem to be strong and have stayed true so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
EPO
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ma
Date Reviewed: November 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Leominster State Forrest/Milford/Burbank | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Appear to be well built, allows you to run LOW pressure without any worries of pinch flats. Light. | | Weaknesses: |
Spokes are too thick/wide to permit attachment of computer magnet | | Similar Products Used: |
mavic cross max, mavic ceramic w/xtr hubs | | Bike Setup: |
Merlin XLM, zoke super fly, XTR, grip shift, Hutchinson python tubeless. | | Bottom Line: | Had these for about two weeks with daily riding in mud, slickrock, single track and rocky downhill fire roads. Still straight as an arrow. I think they will be just fine for daily use. Seem to be better built/beefier than old crossmax especially in the size and strength of the spokes. Best feature is that you can run low pressure (29 psi @ 195 lbs) which will allow you to climb some hills and get through some singletrack you may have had trouble with before. Probably not as light as the old crossmax but light enough and stronger. So far, very impressive. Thanks to the Neil and the guys at Bicycle Alley for the setup. | | Overall Rating: |
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