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American Classic
MTB Disc 26
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Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from CO
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | from a manager in the factory | | Strengths: | the click sound(awesome hub,strong,nice looking | | Weaknesses: | like some people said, the rim is a little bit thicker, so longer valve on a tube is required, also the thicker rim gave more surface area for the rock to hit and easier to make dents, but this is mountain bike stuff, how could dents be avoid? | | Similar Products Used: | WTB razor DH(awesome choice, but the rear wheelset has through axel, need some special frame), some shimano wheelsets (rhino light?) | | Bike Setup: | some Astro frame(also used on Cake from Gary fisher), RS nameless fork, maxxis holly roller, truvative hozfeller with hozzelfelt mix together | | Bottom Line: | i've been using those wheelset for awhile, about a year and half, i don't know about the weight or anything, cuz i never care about that as long as it's strong and do what i give it to do. amazingly after all kinds of false landing of jumps about 1-1.5 foot high, i'm still pretty sure it's straight, i checked before (not perfectly straight but you know, tiny tiny bit) and once i totally screwed up on a 5 footer with that, it's still good(the front tire is not line up with the handle bar, i landed front first)! i would recommend this to ...hmm i think those who are willing to push a little bit harder, higher, faster but not like downhill or stuff like that, they r great, but of course there are better wheelset, juz i've never tried them before, but these definitely worth buying! ONE LAST THING! if u love the loud clicking noise from the hub, these will definitely give u some, the paws inside the hub still roars after all those riding from the past 1 and half year! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Philippines
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Maarat, Sierra Madre, Montalban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Extreme Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Light weight, stiff, fast roller. | | Weaknesses: | New model has narrower rims, you need tubes with longer valves. Still no bling factor. | | Bike Setup: | Giant XTC hybrid, Rockshox Sid, Juicy 7, Sram X9 group. | | Bottom Line: | This is my second pair, following up my first review on a Giant NRS-G setup. On a hardtail, this wheelset is FAST!!! Spinning is easy and smooth. I don't need to say anymore as the other users have said everything. A third pair?...hmmmm | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lucas H
a
from Missoula, MT USA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Woods Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | E-Bay | | Strengths: | Wicked light, look good, and a nice set of wheel skewers is included. | | Weaknesses: | I use Stans and the rims are a little narrow. When I get air the tire sometimes burps out air on landings. Decals easily scratched | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575. If I told you the rest of the parts you would be sick. | | Bottom Line: | These wheels are incredibly light. My bike weighs 27lbs but with these wheels it feels more like 25lb. I have ridden these wheels very hard on the rocky single track of Southern California, multiple visits to downhill runs at ski areas, and lots of XC. These wheels are still straight. I am 6'2 and probably weigh 210 w/gear. I have never jumped these and don't plan on it. Not because I am worried about breaking them but I tend to hurt myself. Only gave 4 chili's due to the issue with the Stan's and nothing is really perfect. I would recommend this wheelset to anyone. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Avondale,AZ
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Estrella Race course | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Lightweight, Smooth Bearings, Stiff | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Sun Ringle DS2 XC with Pivit hubs | | Bike Setup: | Stock minus wheels | | Bottom Line: | So far a great set of wheels. Smooth,smooth. I use my brakes a lot more on the downhill as these wheels really get moving. I can climb in a larger gear than before. Best upgrade I could have done. I ride on rough trails and no issues yet. Still true and roll like butter. Very happy.
For the price I'm not sure you can beat this set, even at the suggested $750. I have the Sapim spokes but I'm not sure they make a difference except in the weight. They are bladed but I don't see that as much of an issue in XC as the speeds are not usually that high, at least for me.
They will be my full time wheels and hopefully they workout as my race season starts. Couldn't be happier so far.
4 Chili overall is simply because nothing is perfect. I would go 4.8 if they had it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasanton
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Salamon Falls | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$465.00 | | Purchased At: | on line | | Strengths: | Stiffness, build quality. This is a first-rate product. It's as if "quality control" is a virtue and not just a buzz phrase. VERY LITE!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Need long-stem presta tubes (need at leat 40 mm stems or your field pumb won't work!). Spec doesn't allow for less than 35 PSI. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxic 321. | | Bike Setup: | '07 Blur LT. Vanilla, XT, yada, yada, yada. | | Bottom Line: | This is one of my best MTB purchases. They replaced my way-too-heavy Maxic 321s, which are OEM for the Blur LT "R" build. I had thought long and hard about top-shelf Mavic this and DT Swiss that, but at the end of the day, this product has served me well. I weigh 175 lbs w/ my gear, and I ride X-country. My thing is I like to bomb fire roads as fast as my tires will grip. I don't do a lot of drops and jumps, so I don't know if these rims will hold up to that. I live on the West Coast of Cali, so that means 3 miles of climbing, followed by 3-infinity miles of rolling hills/semi-legal single track, and then 2-3 miles of fire road bombing. Most of the trails I ride are well maintained, but I do encounter the occasional rock garden with baby heads. I'd still take my bike to Moab and "be careful", and I wouldn't worry about busting these wheels. With 2.3" of rubber around them, they'll be just fine! Anyhoo, after about 6 months of ownership, they are still in PERFECT TRUE!!! And, yes, as others have mentioned, they roll, and roll, and roll. After I initially installed them, I gave my front well a healthy spin, letting it roll. I went my backyard for about five minutes, returning to a still-spinning wheel--I $hit you not! I like these so much, I'm seriously considering the 29" version for my Mary SS. I'd surely recommend these to anybody who rides fast cross country or anybody who races. I really don't anticipate any problems. Value rating, I'll give 'em 5 Chilis. Overall, they get a 4 because they can't do everything. But those 4 chilis are tasty habanero peppers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Marikina, Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Boso Boso | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | John Wilkie | | Strengths: | Very light, conservative look but one of a kind aero rim design, spins very very very very very very fast to the point I don't have to pedal as much as other riders, excellent for climbing, rigid and precise road and trail feel, smooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooth bearings (wonder what if it's equipped with ceramic bearings and DT Swiss Revolution spokes, the weight will drop down to 1,395 grams) | | Weaknesses: | conservative look (depends on the person, difficult to clean the hubs where the spokes meets, decal can be easily scratched and easily noticeable | | Similar Products Used: | Alex rims | | Bike Setup: | Merida Mission 2000D, Fox Vanilla 130 RLC, X-Fusion RL 02, all XTR group set, Thompson seat post and Stem, Synchros head set, Maxm MX5 handle bar, Jagwire shifter cables, Selle Italia Felante seat, American Classic MTB 26 disc, Alligator wind cutter disc, Panaracer Fire XC pro, | | Bottom Line: | This is one of my best buys in terms of performance, weight and durability. I've owned these for almost 6 months on a 4 to 5 day use including aggressive XC riding. It can take the jumps, bumps, turns, heavy braking and hard acceleration when needed without fear of falling apart. My friends told me to be careful due to the unbelievable weight of only 1,405 grams, lighter than the XTR wheel set, Mavic Crossmax SLR, DT Swiss, etc. You want bang for the buck, this wheel set is it. I still sometimes consider the what ifs of buying a more expensive, popular and full of bling factor wheel sets everytime I see one. My American Classic is a conservative looking but very recognizable even from afar. The performance and very low price is what keeps me from buying the more beautiful full of bling wheel sets. This what gives me my added edge during long climbs given my 195 lb frame. This wheel set will make any bike feel light and nimble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wietse
a Racer
from Tilburg, Netherlands
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Drunense duinen | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Very stiff, light and strong | | Weaknesses: | None found yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano WH-M540, Mavic 717/Onyx hubs, DT SL420 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper Expert '08 | | Bottom Line: | I am amazed at how fast I can ride my favorite trails with these wheels. They just keep on rolling! There's a lot of difference in comparison to my Mavic 717 wheels especially when climbing and accelerating.
They are stiffer than you would expect from a wheelset this light.
Can't say much about durability since I've only used them for two weeks, but they have held up to 200 miles of agressive trail riding without any problems.
After the first ride I had to true both wheels, but I think that's normal for a set of machine-built wheels.
Bottom line: These wheels make me want to go mountainbiking every day so if you can find them for a good price I highly recommend them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
romwell
a Cross Country Rider
from valencia, bukidnon, philippines
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | bukidnon mountain ranges | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | easy to rotate!!! really light, stiff | | Weaknesses: | a little scary coz how can something this light be this stiff!!! | | Similar Products Used: | XTRs w DT spokes and mavics. | | Bike Setup: | Salsa El Santo, 08 Fox F100 RLC, Raceface Next Sl carbon bars & posts, XT. | | Bottom Line: | This makes me pass friends I normally don't! Climbs really good and sprints even better. I love the understated black stealthy look, that is how fast is supposed to look! Stiff to the point where ir makes you wonder if it'll hold up on the dowbhills. I rode it hard on a semi DH trail and it held up, so far. Also used it on an all day road ride with slicks and it rolls really smoooooth! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Quezon City, Philippines
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Maarat, Sierra Madre, Montalban | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Extreme Bike Shop | | Strengths: | light weight, fast spinner | | Weaknesses: | no bling factor | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS-G, Reba Rock Shox, Avid BB 7, XT drive train | | Bottom Line: | It's light and it's fast. Never had a problem with it. Will buy a second pair for my second bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Cross Country Rider
from racine, wisconsin, usa
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | mur | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | very very low rotational weight. wide deep section rim is very stiff yet lightest there is at 350 grams. fantastic hub design. | | Weaknesses: | this isn't a weakness but I'd of liked to see straight-pull spokes. they are lighter, stronger and stiffer with lateral forces. | | Similar Products Used: | m975, 317-straightguage-bottomline DT-S. 07 crossmaxSLR. dt240-14/15-stans347-28/32H. | | Bike Setup: | trance advance | | Bottom Line: | A great wheelset! very upgradeable. if you change to the Sapim cx-ray spokes you will get a 1407 weight. ceramic bearings are also available(1390g). the deep section rim is stiffer then either of stan's olympic or 355 disc.
the ONLY advantage system wheels have over this is that they use straight-pull spokes.
amazing wheelset! if you get the cx-ray spokes and ceramic
bearings I'd (highly)recommend over crossmaxSLR or m975XTR.
The Extralite TNT Disc is still the best there is but costs $1350(starting at).... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Pelletier
a Racer
from Reston VA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Reddish Knob GW Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | IIIIIIIIII Forget! | | Strengths: | VERY lite, stiff, trouble free, | | Weaknesses: | None I have encountered so far | | Similar Products Used: | Mavics crossmax | | Bike Setup: | Treck Fuel, 07' XTR cranks, 990 rear cassett, carbon seat post carbon bars~ bla bla bla~~ my bike is better then yours.... | | Bottom Line: | This wheelset I originally purchased for racing only. This changed after I put them on... I have used them every ride. I WEIGH ONLY 140lbs ~ ride extremely agressive. The wheels have been used in numerous 24hr races and have gone off large drops, rocky rides, yada yada with NO PROBLEMS! (knock on wood) The free hubs I have not serviced in 8 months with many miles put on them. I plan to ride these same rims in the 2007 TransRockies Challenge. SO if your a light agressive rider who is a weight weenie get these rims ~ if your on the heavier side and want a durable racing rim set then these will work great as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Hall
a Racer
from Caledonia Mi
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Peaks Trail, CO | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Light, Light, Light
Looks good, pretty stiff for such a light wheel set, nice bearings (spins really nice and smooth), one really nice thing is that their aren't proprietary parts...no 3 weeks for special spokes, no ordering special truing wrenches, none of that prebuilt wheel stuff. These are normal spokes laced from a normal flanged hub, to a normal rim with normal spoke nipples. Of course, they are all extremely light weight, so not that normal. But replacements can be found at a LBS. | | Weaknesses: | every single light weight wheelset has problems with the cassette eating into the super light weight freewheel, this one does to. annoying? yes. Wheel destroying? No. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic CrossMax (Disc, Sl rim and disc versions) Shimano XTR M-965...those are the high end wheels i've ridden on. to many to count otherwise. | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Big Sur Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Great wheels, light, fast, not to flexy for their weight, recommended for racers or cross country riders looking to make their bikes faster. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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