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Submitted by
criticalw88
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, CA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Nearest Sidewalk | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Craigslist | | Strengths: | Lightweight | | Weaknesses: | Too fragile for urban obstacles | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | San Andreas Mtn Cycle | | Bottom Line: | These came mounted on my San Andreas. For 3+ years they required runout correction and spoke tightening. Maybe a lot of this is due to my 280# riding weight. They seemed tricky when conducting inner tube replacement. One has to be mindful of pinching to assure success. All was fine until they became split due to an encounter with a pot hole one night. I will probably replace them with some Mavic 729's in order to put this problem to bed. I have zero concern for weight. I would have solid granite wheels (Flintstone's style) if I could. Needless to say, I have no interest in replacing them with the same. Maybe they are good for light weight people who dont encounter hard objects. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
osman
a Weekend Warrior
from Turkey
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Looks great especially with black nipples, spokes and XT hub. | | Weaknesses: | Eyelets pop-out | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Magura Julie 6 bolt brake rotor, XT hub, DT spokes and nipples, Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres | | Bottom Line: | After more than 2 years of everyday use, climbing and descending approximately 800 meters of altitude per week and a distance of 80-100 km in every condition (rain, snow, hot summer) some of the eyelets facing the spokes coming from the cassette side of the rear tyre pops-out and have started to make a grincing sound especially when I climb steep ascents. I have dismounted the tyre, put tooth lock washers under the nipples and mounted the tyre again. No problem since then.
These rims fits perfectly well with Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres, I can pull-out the tyre even without any tool and when installed, fits perfectly. Their diameter match exactly. I have purchased another tyre for spare. There is no problem with the front tyre. I have put more than 8500 km's on these. If I can find new ones, may think of buying a spare again.
Hint: if you can build the tyre by-yourselves, start putting spokes of the cassette side with washers under the nipples first, true them and install the remaining spokes later. By doing this you will not need to adjust the cassette side nipples that much, whose are more stressed than those of the other side. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jack
a Cross Country Rider
from Woodland Hills, ca
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Just awesome. Never needs to be trued, worry free rim. I have no problem getting my tires on. They are a good weight for cross country riding and they are priced nicely. You really cant go wrong. | | Weaknesses: | Product is great, just be sure to get a nice hub on it to truly appreciate the weight savings. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey OCR, Alex Rims | | Bike Setup: | XC racing | | Bottom Line: | Can not go wrong if you ride Cross Country. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pama
a Weekend Warrior
from Quito /Ecuador
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | strong!!, and light | | Weaknesses: | the worst experience in my life to change tires or tubes,,, imposible. | | Similar Products Used: | xm819, ditch witch and some crappy ones | | Bike Setup: | kona caldera | | Bottom Line: | Im 235 poubds and the rims have hold amazing but everytime I have a flat means 10 minutes per wheel and 2 broken tool levers, this means you probably will damage your tubes and this means another 10 minutes more per wheel and new levers
preformance= 5/5
precticity= 0/5
maybe mavic? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Krzysztof Dynka
a Cross Country Rider
from Krakow, Poland
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Skyline, Afan Forest, Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Reasonably priced, very light, very well made in terms of finish, reasonably rigid even in quite abusive conditions | | Weaknesses: | Very narrow even as disc brake specific rims - snake bites are quite likely if tyres not inflated properly or even if lightweight tubes and tyres used | | Similar Products Used: | Alexrims DM18, Mavic X139, Mavic X517 | | Bike Setup: | Author Vision frame, full XT 2005 disc groupset, Manitou Minute, Easton EA50 set, IRC Serac XC tyres | | Bottom Line: | I can't really complain about the wheels built with these rims (XT centerlock 36 hole hubs, DT Champion spokes), apart from the snake bites like punctures mentioned in the weaknesses, the rim seems to be very narrow and sharp, I had many problems with the punctures at the beginning, but having put on thicker tyres and tubes everything seems to be sorted out.
I weigh 73 kilos, I'm into quite aggressive XC, Enduro and trail riding and so far I've had no buckles, dents on the rims, however I wouldn't recommend them to heavier riders for sure, at least not for the type of riding I do.
My rims are in anodized red - the colour, the look and the anodized finish is absolutely superb, but it's all badly spoiled by the crappy and peeling off stickers.
If you want to build (cheaply) lightweight and nice looking wheels for not too heavy conditions, then give them a go.
I'll buy something else next time but only because of my riding preferences. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike robinson
a Downhiller
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Two Sheiks | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came on my Dawg Delux | | Strengths: | Very light, quite tough for the weight | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any yet except maybe a few broken spokes | | Similar Products Used: | only heavier wheels, alex esd 25 and mavic ex 729 | | Bike Setup: | Dawg Delux, lx/xt, race face type x bb and cranks, 2007 fox vanilla rlc (which I love much more than the float), fox rp3, chromag bars, race face headset, hfx nine brakes, wtb saddle, ds1 rims. | | Bottom Line: | I am an ex xc racer who is now an avid free rider. I own a Stinky Primo and I bought my dawg to try the all mountain thing and I have been impressed with the wheels. I did not expect these light wheels to last long with my style of riding but I have been pleasantly surprised. I ride up to 6 foot drops with trannies on these wheels, rock gardens and downhills, and the only problem I have had is a few broken spokes on the rear wheel. Sure, I have had to true the wheels a few times but what do you expect when riding an xc wheel on the edge of freeride. Sounds like a lot of people have had problems with these rims, I would suggest learning to ride smoothly. If you are just going to hack your way through a trail like you are on FR/DH bike of course you are going to have problems. I constanly tell people how good these wheels have been to me and my riding buddies know how hard I ride and have also been impressed by how long they have lasted. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Andresen
a Cross Country Rider
from Apple Valley
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Lebanon Hills | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came on Bike | | Strengths: | Looks Good | | Weaknesses: | Not durable | | Similar Products Used: | Bonte Mustangs(awesome) | | Bike Setup: | LX/XT mix, full suspension, Manitou Radium Rear Shock | | Bottom Line: | Upon landing too much on my front wheel, I took a spill on a simple, small, well-made jump at my local MTB trail. The act of wiping out somehow bent the rear Sun rim into an unrepairable undulating shape. It must have been the sideways stress from the bike and I hitting the ground. This was only my fourth time out on my new bike. This seems too fragile for a MTB rim. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Gegier
a Cross Country Rider
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Low price, light weight | | Weaknesses: | Durability | | Bike Setup: | Klein Palomino frame, mostly XT components, RaceFace crank, Avid disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | I bought these for their light weight and low price. Built up the rear around XT hub and had Jenson build the front on an XT (since they'd do it for the cost of hub and rim). First ride I hit a rut bombing down a fitness trail and tacoed the front rim. I was disappointed but figured many xc rims couldn't take that abuse. I replaced it with a 0degree XC and haven't had any trouble. After a few weeks the rear developed a bad flat spot and ever since then the spokes have come loose after several rides. I finally gave up and replaced the rear with a Sun SubIV. Hope it lasts.
I'm a former bike mechanic and meticulous with maintenance. I've also built up at least a dozen wheels and never had a similar problem before. These might be good racing rims, but I think they're too fragile for everyday use. I'd trade a few grams in weight to get a heavier-duty, more reliable rim. I ride strictly cross country with at most 2 foot drops. At 170lbs, I don't think I'm especially hard on wheels. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Carl
a Downhiller
from Thorne Bay, Alaska
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | On A Dawg-Delux | | Strengths: | This procuct sucks Kona should of not put these rims on this bike | | Weaknesses: | the rims bend way to much im working on them every single ngiht trying to get them straight and theres a major hop in the rim....not to the side it hops verticaly | | Bottom Line: | These rims suck should not be put on a hardcore xc/race bike. if you ever buy these rims and your going to ride hard on them...get a new set asap becase these will be shot in 5 months | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ross
a Cross Country Rider
from Chch, NZ
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light, seem plenty strong enough. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Bike Setup: | '05 kona kula deluxe, panaracer fire xc 1.8
| | Bottom Line: | I weigh 75kg, and ride fairly hard - these rims are still running true after a few thousand kms. Perhaps not the rim for you if you're into big drop offs, but as the name suggests, its a light weight xc rim, not a bombproof dh rim!
They do seem to be on the large side, making removing/installing tires a little harder than with other rims, but its really not that bad - at least not with the tioga and panaracer tires i've tried on them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tzouhalem | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | None noted | | Weaknesses: | Are not durable. The rear wheel sprung after having it out for the 5th ride since new (had 27 kms on it in total) along a relatively easy trail. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic, WTB | | Bike Setup: | Kona Dawg Primo with Panaracer tires but otherwise still stock. | | Bottom Line: | Went out for a normal evening ride, it's typically a 15 Km loop around Mt. Tzouhalem in Duncan... just heading out of Field of Dreams when the rear wheel sprung when I dismounted the bike awkwardly.
For a new set of wheels on a bike with very little mileage this was an enormous disappointment. I have ridden a number of other bikes with no trouble whatsoever, I ride my XC hardtail along this route regularly (Mavic 223s) without any problems and then this... not really pleased that this happened. I don't abuse my equipment at all and I don't ride like I'm out to kill myself or my bike.
Considering my one and only experience with the Sun DS1-XC has not been a good one thus far, I can't recommend these rims to anyone. My LBS is going to see what they can do for my wheel, but I think that it's going to mean getting a new rim in the end. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El Jura
a
from Mars
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Rims seem to track and brake better than my old OEM Mavics with the same tire combination. Cheap online. | | Weaknesses: | Next to impossible to get tires on and off. Stickers are cheap and come off right away...not a big deal, but doesn't inspire much confidence either. | | Similar Products Used: | Old Mavic 223s, tried 317s but liked these better. | | Bike Setup: | Blah blah Marzocchi blah blah XT blah Raceface blah blah blah... | | Bottom Line: | These are a burlier and cheaper rim than Mavic 317s, but all the problems I've had changing tires have me thinking they're not worth it. I've tried 3 different tires on these rims; Panaracer Fire 2.1s, and WTB Moto 2.24 and 2.14s. I had to cut the big WTBs off the rim and so far I've trashed 2 tubes and broken a tire lever. I keep pinch-flatting tubes trying to get tires on. Never going to try to race on these...one flat would probably mean a DNF. My old Mavics were the exact same dimensions on paper, and I didn't even have to use levers with them. What gives? Did Sun forget to convert inches to metric when they sent these to Taiwan to get made? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m2k
a Cross Country Rider
from Philly
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissahickon, Am. Standard | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | lightweight, looks | | Weaknesses: | durability | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic F-219 Disc | | Bike Setup: | Giant VT | | Bottom Line: | These rims came on the bike I bought used - had about a summer of wear on them. This summer, I blew two spokes in the back rim and last week, when I went over the bars, the front rim crumpled under my weight beyond repair, which is why I bought the Mavic. I'm 5'11" 185lbs. - ride a lot of rock gardens but no insane drops.
I don't know. These are definitely light rims, and the guy I bought the bike off tried to shave weight wherever possible, but I don't think it's worth it with these. Racing? Maybe I'd get them. Not racing and not a weight queen? Get something more durable.
PS - removing tires was a little tough, but once you get used to using levers it's not THAT bad! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Donavan
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterey
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Light, solid, cheap | | Weaknesses: | ? | | Similar Products Used: | Rhyno Lites, CR-17, Mavic 317 | | Bike Setup: | On my commuter hardtail with a Marz Marathon & Hayes HFX 6' | | Bottom Line: | Most Excellent. Got the set with XT hubs for ~$200. Last season I road these 9 mi twice a day, 5-6 days a week. 95% crosstown pavement with some occasional XC in Fort Ord when I had time before/after work. Havnt really abused them, just had them trued after the first week and every few months after that. I love them and going to get another set for my Works XLS for this season. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
robotkiller
a
from valdosta, ga
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Very light, strong. | | Weaknesses: | Tires are insanely hard to remove | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Laserbeam | | Bike Setup: | heckler | | Bottom Line: | I ride XC...nothing extreme -- 2' drop at the most. I weight 180 pounds. In the 3 years I've had this rim, I have never had it go out of true; I have never had a problem.
The build is on SRAM 9.0 with straight gauge spokes.
They are light and in my experience strong -- absolutely no problems.
I can't believe the one reviewer gave this rim a low rating because it wouldn't hold up to a 200 pounder doing downhill?! Uhh....no sh*t, buddy -- it says XC in the name of the rim.
I personally find the rim kind of cheap and generic looking -- but it works and is cheap
Oh yeah -- it is impossible to change tires on this rim -- I have to resort to levers put the tire on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Cross Country Rider
from colonial heights va
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | any that are open | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$89.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson usa | | Strengths: | weight,strength,looks, dependability,durability | | Weaknesses: | hard to change a tire, presta | | Similar Products Used: | wtb,stock stuff, | | Bike Setup: | mongoosexr850 with MANY mods. | | Bottom Line: | this is for the ds-2.they have done all iask them to do without any trouble.spokes were loose when they came but not too bad and i guess fedex rattled them some.i use the stans notubes and that has made the tire patching problem a thing of the past.the only tire lever i could get to work was a "quikstik" and they are hard to find but well worth it if you do.id never used it till i got these rims.i would not recomend these for huge jumps but i ride the crap out of these rims with lots of small jumps and have had no problems. a good crosscountry type rim that is light for better speed and stamina yet does not fold under my fat butt.if you get these rims and use them as they are made to be used they will not let you down.it baffles me why some people insist on using crosscountry or racing stuff for free riding or jumping off buildings and stuff and then give it a bad review cuz it failed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ron
a Racer
from Everett, Wa
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Jensen USA | | Strengths: | Weight, Cost | | Weaknesses: | Tire installation (depending on tire brand) | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock Pro, Bontranger AC Jones Tires, XT hubs, Rims were laced at a local bike shop | | Bottom Line: | Tough rim for X-country use. I have hammered this rim on my training bike (broken spokes) and both rims are still spinning true. Some tires are a little difficult to mount these rims (you will need a tire tool). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Gooderum
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | no can tell | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Honest Bike Shop | | Strengths: | These are light weight rims that can hold up to some preety good abuse. I build all my own wheels and use a tensionometer and pnematic spock tensioner, modeled after the one used in QBP's wheel building facility. After building these wheels I have yet to turn a spoke wrench. I agree whoever said that going from Mavic 221's to these is a big improvement. | | Weaknesses: | These are XC rim's, like it says in the name, and shouldn't be expected to hold up to downhill/drop-in use. So remember to buy according to YOUR riding style. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic; FYI ALL Sun rims seem to hold onto tires really tight. So rembemer to have a good set of levers with you if you use these or 0 degrees or Rhino lites, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS. with a 190lb rider. | | Bottom Line: | Out performs Mavic's offering in both weight and build, they're welded, and when built with some expertise and used for what they are inteded for, namely XC riding then they shold hold up fine. I wouldn't surprised of a couple of rims got past Sun's QC with a bad weld, a rim shouldn't fail at the weld, it might bend. I would hope that Sun or your dealer would warranty them if they failed at the weld like someone said. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Greenville, SC
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$34.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | These rims look sharp and built up well. With about 6 hours of aggressive use they have held up well. I made sure that I had even tension in the spokes (I used a tensiometer) in order to maximize the reliability/strength of the wheelset. | | Weaknesses: | Mounting/dismounting tires! Holy smokes. I've changed countless tires over my 5+ years of serious cycling and the combination of the Panaracer Fire XC (kevlar) and Sun DS1 rim is the most difficult tire/rim combo to change I've ever experienced. I broke a thick lever and bent another one. I'm concerned about riding these wheels out in the boonies of western NC because of the difficulty of repairing a flat. Hopefully the tires will stretch and will be easier to take on/off the rim. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 317/XTR, Mavic 317/King, Sun XC Lite/XTR. | | Bike Setup: | Intense Tracer with XTR, Thompson seatpost, Titec Ti stem/handlebars, Shimano 959 pedals, Avid mechanical disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | The rims look good and build up well but mounting/dismounting certain brands of tires may be more physically demanding than actually riding! I won't buy these rims again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Holland
a Weekend Warrior
from West Orange, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | hunter mtn | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bay ridge bikes | | Strengths: | Look great and are light | | Weaknesses: | not very strong, I'm 200 lbs and have done a few downhill trails and wheels have not held up, broken spokes and gone out of true | | Similar Products Used: | none, they came with bike | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Tomac 98 special (standard setup) | | Bottom Line: | I'm looking at stronger rims, like the DH bonbshell. I may also look at getting some panracer fire dh pro tyres as have had several flats with these sun rims and sun tyres | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Leon Branchaud
a Weekend Warrior
from North Smithfield RI USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | weak rim, no weldings | | Similar Products Used: | nothing this bad | | Bike Setup: | Sombshell sputnik, rockshox physlo SL, all that good crap | | Bottom Line: | Alright, i bought these one weak, sent them back the next. These thigns suck. I would rather take the wheel s from my old DYNO BMX bike and throw them on. After a small 7 stair staircase gap the rim's "welding" (which it doesnt even have) came undone and f*cked up my wheel COMPLETELY. Plus, the customer service at Sun sucks balls..lousy rim from a good company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m d
a Weekend Warrior
from philly
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything dry | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | weight | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | XT with DB spokes | | Bottom Line: | no problems with the rim so far. Didn't have any problems getting a panaracer on, maybe cause it is Kevlar like someone below suggested. Seems like a great rim for a XC set up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Aiken, SC
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Horn Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Review for the DSC2-XC. Purchased as a package deal with Deore disc hubs and 14g spokes. These are stout rims. I ride XC, weigh around 240 at 6'4", and I usually tweak rims and snap spokes, but these things stay true. | | Weaknesses: | A major pain in the rump when it comes times to change rubber or fix a flat! It takes a minimum of two tire changing tools and lots of patience to get the wheel off the rim! Getting it back on is nearly as difficult! It is almost as thought the rim is a couple millimeters too large!
Nashbar is selling these at a tremendous price, but remember to factor in the necessary wheel truings and nipple replacements the first couple of rides. I had spokes nearly falling off after the first two rides, but after they are trued by a real mechanic/wheel builder, these are awesome! | | Bottom Line: | Outstanding wheels for the heavier XC rider looking to save some money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Strong, low weight | | Weaknesses: | Tire change difficult | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic, Bontrager | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale 700SX, Magura Louise FR | | Bottom Line: | I mounted these rims on an XT rear and a Cannondale Lefty hub. The rims have been used for XC with no problems with flats or staying true. I'm over 200 lbs so you know their limits are being pushed.
One person mentioned a problem with a wheel set purchased at Nashbar, I had the same problem. Apparently they don't use "spoke prep" when building their wheels, this will allow the nipples to loosen. The first ride I made on a set of Nashbar wheels resulted in 8 spokes losening to a point that the rim was damaged.
The most important thing with any wheel is correct spoke tension. Improper spoke tension can warp or even cause a rim to fail.
I also suggest using Kevlar beaded tires they're much easier to remove.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce
a Cross Country Rider
from XC heaven
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | the Charles Fork Lake trail system | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Lightweight | | Weaknesses: | Thought it was just me, but after reading other reviews about difficulty removing tires, wow! I'm using Geax 2.0 Grid Kevlar bead, and in our rec.room, just spent 30 minutes removing the tire...noticed it was a tight fit upon installation, was using my thinnest levers, and still punctured the tube. What a nightmare this would be on the trail. Just ordered Stan's tubeless kit, to minimize need to remove tire in the field. | | Similar Products Used: | Have always used Mavic in the past, and never experienced this problem. These are my 1st ds rims. | | Bike Setup: | Almost, just have to resolve a cable stop problem, and a chainline issue, and she'll be good to go. | | Bottom Line: | Aside from major sidewall damage, am hoping the Stan's kit will alleviate the problem of removing the tire from this rim in the field. Purchased these rims, to avoid the extra expense of UST rims/tires, although really wanted to go tubeless from the beginning, so am optimistic about Stan's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john
a
from temple
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Bottom Line: | I never tried this rim, but have other Sun rims and they are awesome. The only reason that I am posting is that as I read these reviews I noticed that someone had consumed enough reefer to think that Mavic 221s would be better. I'm still laughing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Matsumuro
a Weekend Warrior
from Walpole, Ma USA
Date Reviewed: September 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The one I'm on | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Plus | | Strengths: | Strong, tight rim | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | First disk rim | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn rocket 88, Marzocchi MXR, LX/XTR, Magura Louise Disks | | Bottom Line: | A Wheel is only as good as the person who built it. Also, with anything manufactured en masse, there are likely some that are below average, but that doesn't mean that all of them are like that.
I had these rims built with black XT disk hubs, black 14 guage spokes, & black nipples. I have ridden theses wheels every weekend for the past 6 months and haven't had to true them once. Every couple of months, I overhaul my bikes, checking everything including truing the wheels. These wheels have remained true from the day I bought them. Having a properly trued and tensioned wheel is important to the life and longevity of any wheel.
These rims are for XC riding, ergo the XC in the name. They aren't designed for freeriding or DH. Get the proper rims and you will be happier. Take the time to learn to true and tension a wheel properly, you will be much happier. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester NY
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | cheap....thats it so far | | Weaknesses: | wheels came with all spoke loose, even missing a nipple. Have punctured two tubes in two rides trying to get these things to work | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy these wheels unless you like changing tubes every few miles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Tulsa, OK
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Turkey Network | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | Price, Clean Looks, Pretty stiff for an XC Rim | | Weaknesses: | Tire mounting is WAY too hard | | Similar Products Used: | Bonty Rims, Mavic 517s, Rhyno Lite XLs | | Bike Setup: | Giant AC Air | | Bottom Line: | These rims make mounting and removing tires really difficult. The first day I had them I broke a lever. You need a minimum of 2 levers just to mount or remove the tire. Trailside tire repairs are now a real pain. Use to take me about a minute to remove and replace a tube, now it takes me 5-10 minutes. Ill be switching to Mavic 317s as soon as I can put the cash together.
These may be decent rims but the hassle is simply not worth it.
- JB | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fluffy
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light
| | Weaknesses: | Needs trueing after every race... | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crossmax, Rigida, Alesa, Rhynolite | | Bike Setup: | C'dale F2000 SX | | Bottom Line: | Very weak rim, goes out of true after every race or hard XC ride. The front one is ok though. I will replace the rear one with a F219 Disc.
Only buy if you don't ride hard, are a light rider (I am 135 lbs) or have your own trueing stand. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dr. Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from St. George, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Gooseberry Mesa | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Trued and tensioned nicely. Look good. Light. | | Weaknesses: | Rear turned into a noodle after approx. 2 years. Hard but not impossible to change tires without tools. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB Laserdisc and Laserdisc DH. Sun Rhyno Lytes also make a good disc rim, despite not being disc specific (if the look is important to you). | | Bike Setup: | Turner RFX, King disc hubs, 14/15 ga. spokes with alloy nipples, approx 130 kg. per spoke on short side. | | Bottom Line: | I'm not a big hit rider, but definitely a "medium hit," if there is such a thing. No visible rim damage or pinch flats ever, but my rear wheel went out of true after about 2 years, and wouldn't hold its true after that. When I finally gave up and cut the rim out, it was possible to flex it back and forth with my bare hands. The rim looks normal otherwise. In all, the rim worked well while it lasted. I've replaced it with the Laserdisc DH rims which are a better choice for a freeride bike. I still think the rims would be a good choice for a disc hardtail or short travel XC dualie. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe Elliott
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kanata Lakes | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$43.00 | | Purchased At: | www.spokewrench.com | | Strengths: | Weight, looks and quality | | Weaknesses: | Slim rim, large lip... difficult to change wire-bead tires. Kevlar is no prob. | | Similar Products Used: | None (Only ever ridden standard rims Botranger...) | | Bike Setup: | '01 Fisher Sugar 3, XT, Hope C2 | | Bottom Line: | Not bad at all! There are a lot of reports of people destroying these rims... well they're not DH rims, they're for XC! Very light! My wheels where built by a friend with Sapim Black Spokes, and black XT disc hubs... Real sweet.
Tracking is great... you point and shoot with these rims.. there is no flex on leans... What else can I say? I personally like them... they match my riding style perfectly!
Joe | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tino
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchvegas, NH
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | ummmm they held together for a little while | | Weaknesses: | i destroyed these wheels within a year.....they're worthless | | Similar Products Used: | rhyno lites | | Bike Setup: | 2000 c'dale f2000sx | | Bottom Line: | buy 'em and break 'em | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Cross Country Rider
from Houghton, MI
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Brian's Trial | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Cross Country Sports, Calumet | | Strengths: | Strong, Light, Price | | Weaknesses: | Pain in the butt to get the tire on and off | | Similar Products Used: | Coda crap | | Bike Setup: | C-Dale F2000SL | | Bottom Line: | After toasting two CODA rims I went with the Sun DS-1. It has held up nicely for the month I have been riding it, and I abuse my rims at 200 lbs. I recomend this rim for anyone looking for a strong light rim, especailly if you have a C-Dale and are still riding the CODA crap rims. Remember, a wheel is only as strong as the mechanic who builds them, so make sure you trust your mechanic. If you build them yourself, even and correct spoke tension is more important than perfect trueness when it comes to wheel strength. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ezra
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA.com | | Strengths: | As far as I know now, the looks because of the absent braking surface and rounded design. | | Weaknesses: | A mofo to remove and replace tire. I broke two levers, smashed one thumb to the point of internal bleeding, pinched one tube (didn't not find out until I began to inflate tire) now it is to late to buy new levers and tube, shop is closed cannot remove tube before tommorrow. I will have to wait until tommorrow after work, maybe I can ride after I take another hour to remove and replace tire and reinstall tube. Hopefully I won't pinch it again. | | Similar Products Used: | Coda Expert | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale 700SX XT tranny, and these wheels | | Bottom Line: | Have patience, use thorn proof tubes or slime tubes because you don't want to be stuck out on the trail messing with a stubborn rim trying to change a flat tube. I'm not a violent person but I really felt like kicking a whole in something after I realized I busted a perfectly brand new tube, and now I have to go thru the whole process again, before I can even ride. I would hate to have to take it to the shop, just to replace a tube. The Codas only took me 10 minutes to r&r tube and tire. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dougal Hiscock
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | These rims are nice and light and look cool | | Weaknesses: | They have no centre recess. This makes getting tires on and off without tools impossible. I also use kevlar tires and electrical insulation tape for a rim strip.
Using Velox tape and/or wire bead tires would make life difficult. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 230, Mavic 223 | | Bike Setup: | 00 Specialized FSR Bighit, Xvert DC, 5 inches of travel each end and Hayes hydraulics.
Specialized STOUT disc hubs and DT Competition spokes (all black). | | Bottom Line: | SUN rims seem to be extremely soft in temper and bend very easily.
My back rim folded a sidewall and flatspotted on a nice recreational ride. The impact was so small I don't even remember it, just found a loose spoke at the end of the day, the loose spoke was because the rim had flat spotted.
My front rim repeated the proceedure two months later. The impact was a fair one in this case and I did expect damage.
Each rim has dented in exactly the same place, where the joining plug ends underneath the end of the sticker. One sidewall has folded in and the section of the rim has bulged.
I consider the real review of every product is "given the same choices would you buy this product again?"
For me the answer is no, I would not buy SUN DS1-XC rims (or any other SUNs) again.
The lack of a centre recess makes tire removal without tools impossible but still allows tires to shift with low pressure. If you get a puncture on the trail without tools you're screwed, with any other rim you can still get the tube out, tie a knot and ride home.
I'm going to replace these with Mavic 221's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Berg
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, WI
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Quary Park in Madison | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Budget Bicycle Center | | Strengths: | The rotational itertia of the wheel has the greatest effect gram per gram than any other area on the bike, and this rim is 395 grams which is one of the lightest on the market. I'm willing to bet that the wheel, disc included has a rotational interia of some of those high ZOOT wheel sets.
Another strength is it is BLACK! | | Weaknesses: | Bead diameter makes it a bit tricky to get da tires on der eh? I broke two tire levers trying to get these mothers on, I'm not looking forward to changing a flat or my tire. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first disc wheel. | | Bike Setup: | 97 X-Caliber 853(Custom Krylon Black, XT 8 speed stuff, XT disc, Z2 X-fly, with 2.25 tires.
The wheel it self is built on a Paul Disc hub(black) (light And smooth as the day I got it, see my review), 14 gage spokes, Black niples. Code named the NINJA wheel, watch out! | | Bottom Line: | Don't get a flat and the Rim will treat you nice. It looks sweet with all black if you are into the asethic thing with your bike. I built this baby up and the wheel tracks like a mother due to the Paul hub's high flanges. Hey and it is light yah Hooser...so go buy it. Oh yeah Mavic sucks, there quaity is great, but warranty is a different issue when you are dealing with a bunch of Frenches from across the pond. Oh yeah a worthless rant "Strange Brew" is the best, Rick Moranis' best film to date Ya HOOSER! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Racer
from State College PA
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Scotia | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$37.00 | | Purchased At: | oddsandendos.com | | Strengths: | light
strong
no brake track = looks better | | Weaknesses: | bead is slightly oversized, like other Sun rims I've used. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A (first disk rim) | | Bike Setup: | Real disk hub, Wheelsmith DB14 spokes, alloy nips, 2001 Clara brake | | Bottom Line: | When I decided to run a front disk, I started researching disk rims. The Mavic 317 and 223, which are similar designs using different alloys, seemed to have a reputation for bending easily. The only other choice at the time was the DS-1 (I really wanted a rim with no brake track). I also like the reinforced spoke bed, because disk wheels need to be laced pretty tight.
I used black DB spokes, black nipples, and a black hub, and the totally black wheel looks great, it's pretty light, and hasn't done anything bad yet. For the money, I continue to be impressed with Sun products. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Preston
a Weekend Warrior
from north bay ontario canada
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | graveyarddownhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Cheapskates eh? | | Strengths: | Strong as Rhino lite but 6 onces lighter | | Weaknesses: | hard to get tire on/off first time | | Similar Products Used: | Rhino lite | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit
Z-1 Bomber
2.35 mojo front/2.25 mojo rear
| | Bottom Line: | 6 months of bashing off boulders and holding true, strong enough for a big Clydsdale like me to bomb around on! Thats the bottom line but I need 30 more words so I'll tell you they look pretty cool, much more narrow than Rhino lites and other tough rim brake rims, so bigger size tires like I run, really bulge out from them but have caused no problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross-Country Rider
from Acworth, GA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Tsali | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
lightweight
strong
looks cool | | Weaknesses: |
hard to put the tire on because the diamater is noticably bigger than mavic rims | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic 317 disc rims
Mavic 238 | | Bike Setup: |
Hugi hubs
DT 14g spokes and alloy nipples 3 cross
Hayes Discs
Ellsworth Truth w/Fox Vanilla R
RS Judy SL w/Englund Air Cartridges | | Bottom Line: | These rims kick ass. The only slight downside is how hard it is to get the tires on and off. after you do it a couple of times, the bead stretches and it isn't that hard any more. just use tire levers and you will be fine.My (true) Story:
About 2 months ago, I was riding on a trail I had never been on before. I came around a turn at about 25 mph only to find a jump about 3 feet tall at the end of the turn. The trail started to get steep after the jump. I didn't have time to stop and flew off the jump. I don't think I have ever been that high before on my mountain bike (I also race BMX and ride motocross). When I landed, I had a weird feeling; sort of like tacoing a wheel. Needless to say I busted, HARD. I had a big gash right below my left eye and I couldn't move my hands. When I finally went to get my bike and check it out, the first thing I checked was the front wheel. It couldn't have been straighter. The rest of the bike was also fine, including the Race Face carbon bars.
It ended up that I broke both my hands from the impact on the handlebars. I just got the splints off a week and a half ago and I've already been on a couple of rides - with a straight wheel.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tristan
a Weekend Warrior
from New York City, NY
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
relatively light | | Weaknesses: |
strength | | Similar Products Used: |
Mavic 317, 223 disc, | | Bike Setup: |
Zoke Z-1 Bam (4 kit)
Huigi Hubs
Hayes Disc brakes
Wild Hare frame | | Bottom Line: | Front rim blew out. I had heard these were strong wheels, the previous guy called them bombproof. I got to say, I am extremely disappointed in them.I was on my like 10th ride with them, they were brand new. I was under maybe 20-30 mph's of speed and tried to jump a little 3 foot + tall ravine by about 4 feet in width when BAM, on landing the rim snapped. The trail switches hard left after the ravine, and I admit I came down more on the front than I meant to...but still. For a brand new rim by Sun, these things sure suck. I'm going up to Cross max's or back to 317's. I have no confidence in these rims!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cowboy bob
a Weekend Warrior
from littleton CO
Date Reviewed: July 16, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
light stong great looks | | Weaknesses: |
none yet | | Similar Products Used: |
demoed other disc only rims | | Bike Setup: |
delta hl on a hope ti glide | | Bottom Line: | Great rim, a bit flexy, but that just may be me. They are a bit loud when a rock hits them. But basically bomb proof. They are a strong. good looking and light. I AM THE FIRST REVIEW HE HE HE I really need five more words so BUY these rims. ohhhhh | | Overall Rating: |
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