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Submitted by
Cliff
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Internet | | Strengths: | This review is for the Bonti RaceLite Tubeless. They're: Light, spin up quick and easy, roll forever, braking surfaces hold up good, stay true for intermediate level XC riding. | | Weaknesses: | Front hub flange cracked and broke | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, DT Swiss, LX, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Dakar XC pro, front end is SID XC with XTR rim brakes, Cane Creek S6, XTR shift brake pods. I've always run these rims with tubes rather than going with the tubless. Tires have been the larger Mutanoraptors and Fire XC Pros. | | Bottom Line: | Great wheels until the front hub decided to self destruct. Scarey - Last time I rode this bike, I cranked along a fairly smooth, straight desert trail in the speed gears (11/44)thinking the weak link was the rider and if I crashed, the disaster would be my fault. Rode the bike home and parked it.
Yesterday, a week later, I rolled this bike out for a ride and the front wheel was hanging up. The front hub flange on one side had cracked and a section broken loose. Really weird failure - heating and cooling in the garage (115 degrees during the day in there)- I guess (?) finished cracking a failed area on the flange. Three spokes were "out". No reason that I can think of other than radial lacing, low spoke count, and the metal becoming brittle/fatiguing over the years on a lightweight hub. I weigh 170 lbs and don't do drops or hucks. Haven't felt the SID bottoming out. Haven't ridden Fantasy Island (some sections are rough) in the last 6 months. This front wheel has always been straight and had good spoke tension. A few years ago, it hammered through rough Blue Diamond trails quite a few times. BTW I'm a "senior" rider and split my riding between 3 or 4 bikes. Close inspection doesn't show any suspicious little dings or dents where it might have taken some kind of hit. The 3 spokes in the broken section look good. Also, although others, probably stronger riders than I am, have had trouble with the rear hubs/hoops, mine have been good using tubes other than the expected grooving from the cassette. I've never had any problems with hubs over many years and XC miles but have always used 3 cross lacing with XT/XTR level hubs and hand built by a good shop.
BE CAREFUL WITH THESE OLDER FRONT HUBS!!! I'm quiting lightweight, low count, hubs with radial lacing for intermediate level XC. Maybe worth it for the performance if racing or riding at the next level. I'm taking a spare (new) front RaceLite off the wall and down to the bikeshop to see if they recommend lacing it 2 or 3 cross with some Wheelsmith db spokes for better durability. I've never had any luck trying to get any info out of Bontrager themselves including emailing them.
Two chilis for Overall Rating because the back wheel has held up. One chili for value because I'll never ride fast on these wheels again since I don't trust them. They're going on the old, venerable hardtail and the XTR/Mavics are going on the Dakar. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from New York
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Very Light, Surprisingly Strong. | | Weaknesses: | No fancy stickers that come off. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimanoo XT WH-M765, a few others. | | Bike Setup: | Trek Carbon Fuel 100, full XTR, with superlight Maxis 310 tires. | | Bottom Line: | This is a review of the Bontrager Race X lite wheelset that came stock on my fully XTR equipped top of the line Trek Fuel 100.
I'm a big guy, weigh close to 270lbs, and was very weary of riding these light weight wheels, let alone a very light bike with my heavy six foot frame.
These wheels and the bike have held up for years, never needing to be trued (much to my surprise), and roll as smoothly as the first day I got em, to this day.
I ride mostly street, but on the few occasions that I went off-road, even with my skinny MTB Maxxis 310 tires, these wheels have held up to some serious rock pounding and jumps.
The front wheel is radialy laced, and I was sure I would taco is my first ride. NOPE!
The rear is radial laced none-drive side, and an "offset" cross 2 pattern on the drive side.
This wheelset is for rim brakes, but now I'm looking to get a similar disc wheelset from Bontrager for my All-Mountain bike.
Cheaper and made in the US, unlike some of the competition from foo-foo France, and cheap Asia.
5 Stars !!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry Leslie
a Weekend Warrior
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Ries Cycles | | Weaknesses: | Rim cracked with no after sales service | | Similar Products Used: | Rolf Vector great | | Bottom Line: | Inferior Bontrager Products
I bought a Trek Madone in Oct 2006 (a birthday present from me to me) prior to this I rode a Giant Cadex with Campag Veloce for 100 000 km then I bought a Trek 5200 OCLV with Ultegra and Rolf Vector wheels and road this for about 60 000 km then, I thought I would “upgrade” to a Trek Madone with Dura Ace and Bontrager RaceXLite (like in the Tour de France) well what rubbish the Bontager is, at 11 months (5000 km) the titanium seat rail broke, it was replaced 2.5 months later by The Just Fun Group after a battle. Then I noticed cracks on my back rim, I contacted the South African agents again only to find out that there is a 12 month warranty and they need proof of purchase, well I cant find my proof of purchase and it is over 12 months and will cost me about R1000 for the rim and rebuild. It seems as if these components are only made to last the 4000 km for the Tour de France.
I then went on to the Road Bike Review.Com Web site only to find out that the Bontrager rims cracking is a common problem (over 30 letters to the fact) well this just confirms Bontragers “Quality”. I feel that Bontrager should recall all these rims before they seriously injure or kill someone. I notice that one cannot contact Bontrager direct and have to work via the local agents, I feel Bontrager use these agents as a buffer to take the heat for their inferior products!!!
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Submitted by
David Campos
a Racer
from Grandville Michigan
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Grand Teton Natl Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | new on EBAY | | Strengths: | I have both lites and xlites. I absolutely love my xlites. Fast, dependable and smooth and have stayed true over a combined 5,000 miles on both xlite and lites. Great warranty support from Bontrager! | | Weaknesses: | None. My xlites are flangeless though there is a flange on the drive side on the rear. My original rear xlite flange broke though they were not wrecked, but must have had a weakness when manufactured. Thanks to George at Breakaway Bikes in Rockford MI and to Bontrager, it was replaced with a newer wheel altogether, no hastle. | | Similar Products Used: | Older stock on older treks | | Bike Setup: | 5200 Trek, 2200 Trek, Mongoose Mountain bike, Trek fuel ex 7 and tons more | | Bottom Line: | I would recomend bontrager xlites for anyone wanting a fast race rim with a great manufacturer who stands behind thier product. Lots of trouble free miles | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rene Hoepelman
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Beach
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Hugi hubs are quiet. 1430grams total with skewers. Weight weenies dream. Strong. Rims are not blingy no glow in the dark reflective tape on the spoke or rims. no yellow hubs with cheap stickers that peel off. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager asam with xtr hubs, High end Mavics | | Bike Setup: | xcountry | | Bottom Line: | This is by far my favorite wheelset. Hard to beleive they come on a factory bike. I have the race X lites. The "X" lites are the higher end counterpart to the race lites without the x. The difference is the race X lites are made with treks zr9000 aluminum which is lighter and according to trek/bontrager stronger.
The spokes are offset on the rear rim to the left side to counter balance the right side cassette and derallieur. Typical bontrager design. Which works great.
I dont believe there is a lighter wheelset out there. If there is, it cant be much more then a few grams lighter. I am 185lbs and these hold up for me just fine. I dont see any flexing on cornering. Even on tight downhill swicthbacks. I have not had them too long but so far no problem with keeping them trued.
These can be used with tubes or tubless. I dont care for tubless setups so I use tubes. I have the non ceramic version (less headaches)which shaves off a few more grams.
I never heard of Hugi DT Swiss hubs before researching these rims but the hubs work great and they are very quiet.
I like the black rims/spoke with red and white lettering nice touch without over doing it. You'll have the lightest wheelset on the trails and no one will even notice. These rims will probably be passed up by most. They are certainly worth a look into if your shopping around specially the weight weenies.
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Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Atascadero
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$430.00 | | Purchased At: | velosports | | Strengths: | light, durable, beautiful chris king rear hub whine | | Weaknesses: | front is a little flexy in sharp turns | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager maverick | | Bike Setup: | 98 klien pulse comp | | Bottom Line: | ive had these for 5 years now and i just put the first ding in them this month.i only weigh 155 but until i pinch flatted dinged the rim i had never even had to true them, and i crash alot. chrish king hubs alone are woth more than i paid for the whole wheelset. i need a new rim now, but luckily i know someone that works at a bike shop so i can get the rim easily, cause otherwise they are not easy to get a hold of.
UBER | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Petr
a Racer
from DC Area
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | local trails in DC | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Came stock on Fuel 98 | | Strengths: | light, quick on sprints | | Weaknesses: | to have them perfectly true, you would have to do the job occasionaly. I did not do that, and they stayed reasonably true. The weight on Bontrager's WEB site is not correct. They all weigh more. I have couple of them. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic X517/ XT and XTR hubs | | Bike Setup: | Modified fuel 98 with Fox, XTR, XT componets. | | Bottom Line: | They are heavier thank bontrager states on their WEB (these are the race lights). EVen the Bontrager RAce X-lites are much heavier than bontrager states. I guess they weigh them without the plastic tubeless strip...but even that would not make the weigh difference. So if you go for gramms beware...
Otherwise I am very happy with them. Did 1.5 years of rough riding and some racing on these. Do not true them, only occasionally to avoid rubbing the brake pads and they hold well. I feel they are light and with the combination of Fuel 98 carbon frame make nice quick, very responsive setup. They are reasonably durable. Now I have noticed I have couple small dings on the rim and on of the rims started leaking.
Price it good.
So unless you have much more money to spend on very light wheels and durable (Mavics) this is very good choice- Around $300 for new set of light, solid wheels. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area CA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Sea Otter Classic @ Fort Ord | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Light weight, Chris King hubs, ceramic rim coating, good looks | | Weaknesses: | Low spoke count makes for a slight flex in front wheel | | Similar Products Used: | Chris King Disco tech | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | I recall lusting after these wheels as they hung behind the counter of my LBS in 1998. The $700 dollar price tag prevented me from purchasing that day.
Two years ago I stumbled across a pair in the MTBR classifed ads and now I have a them.
They are very light. The Chris King hubs alone are worth what I paid for the wheelset. These are my first ceramic rims and they are everything I expected them to be. Out here in California, I don't understand why I see all the disc brakes. For XC riding, a properly adjusted high end V-brake will stop an average size rider very quickly and with little effort.
In the time I've had the wheels I have made some modifications. In 2002 I had new hoops put on. I had the rear laced 3 cross with DT revolution spokes and the front laced 2 cross with the same spokes. With this set up the weight gain is minimal and the wheels are much stiffer.
The original front radial laced wheel was surprisingly durable if not a bit flexy. I believe radial lacing anywhere on a rear wheel is just silly.
If you keep in mind that these wheels are for XC racing, I think they are fantastic. Additionaly anything with Chris King etched on it will probably provide good service for years after anything from France or Japan. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Riemersma
a Racer
from Sheboygan, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | seattle trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike 'n Ski | | Strengths: | good for racing, ive raced them in pro 1/2 races they hold up good.. decent sprinting power, fairly stiff | | Weaknesses: | bit heavy, could look cooler, hubs are questionable | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager Race X lite | | Bike Setup: | lemond steel, ultegra componets | | Bottom Line: | nice wheels | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jennifer Ryman
a Cross Country Rider
from New York, NY USA
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | included with bike | | Strengths: | light but so am I (125 lbs.). | | Weaknesses: | Rim cracked around spoke nipples in several places. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic - never had any troubles. | | Bike Setup: | GT Titanium frame with xtr setup | | Bottom Line: | Do not purchase ANY products from Bontrager. They do not stand behind their products. My rear 9 speed Bontrager Racelite rim has cracked in about 10 places around the spoke nipples. It is set up with a Chris King hub and a 1.7 Richie Z-max cross country tire. This wheel has not been abused. I rarely mountain bike and have only done some light touring with it (seat post panniers only weighed 20 lbs). I'm 125 lbs. It is obviously a design/material defect that Bontrager doesn't want to hear about because it is out of warranty. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Racer
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | stock on bike | | Strengths: | Very light, great rolling Hugi Hubs then can be built with new rims in the future, ceramic breaking surface has been durable and matched with Avids stops on a dime. Hold up well with low pressure. | | Weaknesses: | They have to be trued every so often but not by a huge amount. I thought Bontrager could have chosen thicker spoke gauge and brass nipples for strentgh without a huge weight penalty-then they wouldn't have to be trued so often. Mounting UST tires-I prefer Stan's anyway. | | Similar Products Used: | Have used various LBS built wheels throught the years-typical set is usually a Mavic 517 rim mounted to King or XTR hubs. | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 100 full xtr and these wheels. | | Bottom Line: | I was dissapointed with the reviews here wondering if mine would self destruct, well not yet. Weekends of epic riding through tree roots, rocks, fast switchback descents trips out west to Moab and Colorado with these wheels and all I have had to do was true them every so often. I can run 30psi and not dent the rims. These are race wheels and I have used them for everything. I do not notice the flex, tacoing, ceramic flaking mentioned here. They mount and work well with Stan's system. My only critisism is the thin ass spokes used could have been substituted with Sapim Xrays or a heavier gauge wheelsmith for a wheelset in this price range. They maybe why some people notice flex. This would add minimal weight and increase strength significantly. I'm no lightweight either at 175lbs. The only reason I will part with these will be to go with dics-until then I can't complain. I've never owned anything but LBS built wheels but these have been good so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from yokosuka naval base Japan
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tennan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Uno Bikes | | Strengths: | Lightweight/Chris King Hubs Nuf said | | Weaknesses: | Bend a rim, and try and get a freakin replacement | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Crossmax | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Joshua F-1 w/x-fly 100 and all XT/XTR components | | Bottom Line: | never again, cost me 200 bucks to fix it here in Japan, and took 4 months to get the parts. it came stock on the bike I loved the hubs but hate the hoops sold them as quick as I could don't get them unless Bontrager is sponsoring you casue the repair/replacement costs are insane | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Orem, UT
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | amasa back, moab | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in SLC | | Strengths: | Light weight, super fast enagagement in the Chris King rear hub, never out of true. Nice looking. | | Weaknesses: | some flexiness,the ceramic coating flaked off in two very small spots on my first pair but was replaced for free. I have had my second pair for two years and there has been no flaking | | Similar Products Used: | Just the low end stuff that has come on the bikes I bought. | | Bike Setup: | K2 5500 carbon frame with Noleen coil shock with remote nitrogen charged resevoir, XT everything with V brakes, SID XC, Monkey lite riser bar, Thomson stem and post, frog pedals, Specialized s works enduro tire | | Bottom Line: | I was surprised to find out what a difference it made in pedaling ease to have light weight wheels and tires. I weigh 165 lbs and I can go fast but I try to ride smooth to protect my poor old back. No big drops for sure. And I love these wheels. I was a bit worried taking them to Moab but I've been there several times and these wheels seem very tough.They have never been out of true. Never. I did break a spoke once(skinny little butted spokes) and the rebuild by my LBS in Orem was super expensive. I'm glad I got them but if these ever blow up I think I might consider doing the higher-spoke-count mavic 517 with ceramic coating and Chris King hubs and double butted spokes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mac
a Racer
from Southern Ill
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight | | Weaknesses: | Everything else. I have been using Mavic wheels for a number of years but decided to try something else. What a mistake. After a month of light use the ceramic coating is coming off the sides, everytime I ride them I have to true them. They were out of round and the dish was off 3/8" right out of the box. Totally unacceptable. These are aweful wheels. For what they cost I would expect a lot more. | | Similar Products Used: | Crossmax, Crossland, CrossRoc | | Bottom Line: | Dont buy, dont even consider. I give them 1 chili because I have too. Look elsewhere. I know I will. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Racer
from Williamsburg, VA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Weight, which leads to faster, easier acceleration. | | Weaknesses: | Strength, but remember these were never meant for freeriding | | Similar Products Used: | Other Bontrager wheels and many buddies on many rims. | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 100 - Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great , lightweight rimset except I knocked the rear wheel out of true after a couple of weeks. I am 165 lbs, ride hard and like to catch air whenever I can; hence the bent rim on one of my less graceful landings - oops. The wheels are about as strong as I expected them to be when you consider they are XC racing wheels. Once I figure out what they can and can't take life will be golden. The tubeless tires are great if the track warrants lowering the pressure down for some extra traction, but you are "The Man" if you can change one of these things in the middle of a race. I'd recommend them to anyone serious about racing. 4 flames for value since they are about more than I can afford without winning the lottery or having a sponsor and 5 for overall because these things spin up faster than my wife when she found out what they cost if I had to replace one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Ahkares
a Racer
from Hoffman Estates, Il
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Morraine | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Local shop | | Strengths: | Stays true even after heavy abuse. Good braking surface. | | Weaknesses: | Laterally flexy. May be to flexy for heavier riders(I weigh 140 lbs). | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic | | Bike Setup: | Fuel 100 | | Bottom Line: | I was nervous about pushing these wheels at first because of their low weight. Then I hit a tree at high speed. I toasted the bushings in my fork but barely knocked the wheel out of true. I thought these would be race only wheels but they held up pretty well so far.
I have not put tubeless tires on them yet, so I don't know how they will hold air.
I would recommend these wheels to anyone weighing under 160 lbs looking for a light weight wheelset for xc riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
joe
a Racer
from dallas
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, fast | | Weaknesses: | I wish they used king hubs | | Similar Products Used: | various | | Bike Setup: | 2000 supercalibur (stock) | | Bottom Line: | I have had this wheelset for over two years and they have worked perfectly for me. I am 185 lbs and I have never had a problem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rooster
a Racer
from boulder, co
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | not telling | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | come stock on gary fisher | | Strengths: | front wheel still good. chris king hubs | | Weaknesses: | rear wheel now cracked, never stayed true | | Similar Products Used: | mavic, cheaper stuff | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher supercaliber, stock except for rockshox xc shock, xt splined cranks | | Bottom Line: | Expensive, bontrager doesn't return e-mails, perpetuating typical bike industry crap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant Landsbach
a Racer
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Earth Travese in Oregon | | Strengths: | Super Light
Decent hubs
Stong
Convertable tube/tubeless
Best wheel on the market for weight without compromising strength. | | Weaknesses: | Tires very hard to get on and seated properly without the use of high air pressure. I guess it's a true racing wheel. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic's. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Litespeed Tanasi XTR etc. | | Bottom Line: | Okay, when I first got these they came tubeless and worked fine. I decided to swap over to tubes. This is when I realized how tight tires are on these things. Even when I got them on, I couldn't get them to seat at all. They wobbled all over the place. I tried different tires, same deal. Took them to my bike shop and they were a little confused. Finally, e-mailed Bontrager and their customer support was great. They told me to tell the shop to air them up to max or over to get them to seat, and they gave me a few more tips. They were willing to warranty them if that didn't work. We did it although it was a little tense since they would litterally pop into place. Now, since the tires a little more broken in they aren't as difficult to get on and off but I will say that if I get a flat on the trail, I'm probably riding home with a wobbly unseated tire since I can't duplicate that much pressue on the trail. Anyway, they're a racing wheel. I'd still reccommend them to anyone for racing. For rec, go with a King or whatever. And honestly, the hugi hubs are pretty good but I admit I wish I would have bought 2000's and got the Kings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry
a Racer
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | light & pretty | | Weaknesses: | Skewers suck | | Similar Products Used: | mavic, ritchie, 517, 217 | | Bottom Line: | Forget being able to get tires off and on in a race, broke several sets of levers. Won't buy them again without an improvement. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Racer
from Rapid City, SD
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | bonecollector | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$590.00 | | Purchased At: | ACME Bicycles | | Strengths: | Super light weight strong as an ox and smooth | | Weaknesses: | Absolutey none | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic 221 | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain frame with race face cranks carbon bar and XTR/LX componets | | Bottom Line: | Forget how much they cost they are worth their weight in gold. I destroyed my other wheel set to the point where they were unrideable in under 6 months. I have been riding the Race Lites now for 6 months and I haven't needed to have them trued yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony P
a Cross Country Rider
from Sparta, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Allamuchy | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Like the ceramic rims | | Weaknesses: | Tubeless tires didn't hold air. Bike shop where I bought them tried to fix them and only the front tire ended up holding air.I have ridden them for a full year with tubes. Rear hub inoperable after about 4 months. Sent wheel back to the manufacturer and they sent me a new one ASAP. Only problem is that the rear wheel makes a loud creaking noise anytime you pedal hard, especially going up hill. | | Similar Products Used: | Just purchased MAVIC 517s with ceramic rims and XTR hubs | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Gary Fisher Sugar 1. Stock. Have upgraded a few components over the year. | | Bottom Line: | Wouldn't recommend these tires to anyone. For the money paid their should be no problems with them, especially over such a short period of time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian "He-Man" Buell
a Racer
from Keller, Tx.
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$375.00 | | Purchased At: | Grapevine Bike Center | | Strengths: | Extremely Fast, SOO very light, look cool with spinning graphics while passing slower wheel setted competitors, super strong... Finally had to REALLY true it, not just a 1/4 turn a spoke after about a year | | Weaknesses: | none.. except don't try to jump on top of the top flight of 6 stairs... at low pressure you'll pinch flat and... oops put a big dip in your rim hehe | | Similar Products Used: | basinc sets, Mavic rims- 222, 517, and whatever else.. Mavic-blew apart the 222 on a sandy turn and ripped off 7 inches of the braking surface fromt he tire exploding from losing the clinch on the rim. | | Bike Setup: | Cutsom Fisher Sugar 1 | | Bottom Line: | Alright.. until about... 3 weeks ago these wheels.. ROCKED.. And they still do.. I like to do a bit of "free riding" no not Northshore stuff, but playin' around hoppin' up jumping down stairs, bleachers, whatever. but until 3 weeks ago I barely touched my rim for truing needs. soo super strong and super light, but when you try to jump up on teh 6th flight of stair fromt he bottom... make sure you can do it before going about 20 mph at low pressure and hit your wheel on the edge of the stair hehe.. that caused me to walk the 1/2 mile home from teh local park and I got about a 1/4" or less of a dip in teh rim, backed off all spokes and tightened them.. no workie SO! I ordered new rims front and rear.. the old front rim is still awesome, no probs.. but now I'm running a 2002 Race Lite Tubeless equivalent set witht eh new tubeless rim.. I built them up so hopefully my build will be as strong as Bontragers. So far nothin' bad and about the tubeless.. haven't tried it yet need tires first, but will inform you when i do. Bottom Line___ these wheels ROCK!!!!! Oh.. and don't try to find these wheels at my price-$375.. i work at a shop and get them at costand then some | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Johannessen
a Racer
from Norway
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Raske sykler | | Strengths: | Light, fairly stiff | | Weaknesses: | Hugi rear hub | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager mustang rims with hugi disc hub. | | Bike Setup: | Fisher sugar 1 | | Bottom Line: | Great wheelset, the ceramic rims are holdig up, and the wheels are still true.
BUT as many other has mentioned here there is a catch.... My Hugi rear hub broke after only 4 months. They suck !!
On my previous bike the hugi disc hub had the same problem
(they lasted 8 months though).
During winter when temperatures are freezing, the hub also
tends to "disengage" and I've been walking back home more than once.
The hugi hubs are a really sad affair. Why did Bontrager stop using King hubs? Was it Trek that came up with this brilliant idea ?
I guess I'll have to buy a King rear hub. They are really expensive, and I would like to send the bill to DTSWISS/HUGI.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sam Merrill | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$599.00 | | Purchased At: | Pasadena Cyclery | | Strengths: | Very fast rolling, immediate engagement, great for technical climbs, light and strong | | Weaknesses: | ceramic chipped off back rim | | Similar Products Used: | XTR with the Valiant non-ceramic rims | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8900,Sid SL, Sram 9.0, XTR V's, RaceFace Cranks, BB, Headset, carbon handlebars, Thompson seatpost | | Bottom Line: | They are the fastest and lightest wheelset made. I will send my rear wheel back to see what they do about the ceramic chipping off. I will replace the rim if needed, maybe with the Mavic ceramics. I can really feel the difference in speed when switching my wheelsets from my XTR's. These wheels work great on a hardtail that likes to climb and do technical singletrack. I have Bont.AC tires on now and they work well together.The owner of my LBS has the same wheelset and he has never changed. I would buy them again if they have improved the ceramic coating, otherwise I would build a set using the King hubs and Mavic rims | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sug
a Racer
from Gary Fischer, WI
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | dirt | | Duration Product Used:< |
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$ 769.00
