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Home | Product Reviews | Wheelset | American Classic MTB Disc 29 | ||||
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Submitted by
DLH
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific NW
Date Reviewed: 3/4/2008 6:31:17 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Strengths: | Solid, light, round. |
| Weaknesses: | None |
| Similar Products Tried: | XT 465 hubs laced to WTB rims. |
| Bike Setup: | Kula 2-9, XT group, Thomson, King, Juicy Ultimates, Race Face Next, Maxxis Ignitors. |
| Bottom Line: | These are very, very good wheels. Felt the difference in rolling resistance, acceleration, and climbing ability immediately. And it keeps getting better. Seem strong as well -- although they don't seem happy landing any significant amount of air -- but I don't think 29er wheels like air in general, which is just dandy with me. If you are looking for a fine XC wheelset that seems to have all the advantages of wheels twice their price -- give these a try. I think you will be happy you did. |
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: 9/18/2007 9:12:42 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 3 months |
| Price Paid: | $500 |
| Purchased At: | downshiftcycles |
| Strengths: | They are light and actually feel fast, which seems to be more significant in a 29er than a 26er. I have dropped and launched on them with no problems. I'm 185#. With the correct tubes, they hold the tires on. |
| Weaknesses: | These are more personal preferences: I don't like the engagement of the freehub ratchet - but then I've had a King hub for about 10 yrs., so I'm prob'ly spoiled. It's solid, but it feels delayed. I didn't like that the cog set fit pretty sloppy on the splines. AC said that it's normal. I have had no problem since I installed them. We will see how they look when I take it back off. Didn't like the QR's - both wheels moved around in the dropouts. The one bad thing is that you cannot service the wheel yourself if you smash it up like I did (the wheel had been perfect through many high-stress impacts, but I ran off the trail and plowed a big log - totally my fault - any wheel would have folded). You have to send it back to AC, and for $170 they build it up again. They would not send me a rim to allow me to do it myself. I would have needed a funky nipple driver anyway to avoid dropping them inside the rim (some people might hold them with another spoke to install them). |
| Similar Products Tried: | 26" Mavic x517/King (not really similar, huh) |
| Bike Setup: | Full rigid MCR9. Tubes. Maxxis Ignitors. |
| Bottom Line: | The price and quality of the AC's are all in line. They seem like they can take a beating, too. I think WTB makes a wheel that uses a similar hub. If someone could convince me that the WTB rim is as good as the AC (which I doubt it is), I would prob'ly go with WTB. |
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Submitted by
John Brow
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: 9/4/2007 6:25:33 PM |
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| Duration Product Used: | 1 Year |
| Price Paid: | $500 |
| Purchased At: | Bike29/Universal |
| Strengths: | Light and stiff, bomproof for me so far |
| Weaknesses: | Expensive (but cheap for the weight). |
| Similar Products Tried: | WTB Dual Duty rims on XT hubs |
| Bike Setup: | Originally mounted on a SIR9, now transferred to a RIP9 |
| Bottom Line: | I've read a lot of smack talk about the AC wheels but they have been great for me. Very, very light and fun to ride. In the year I've had them I've destroyed two bottom brackets and thrashed a frame but the ACs have just kept on rolling like the day I bought them. I've ridden them through sand, snow, mud, rain, roots, rocks, hub-deep puddles, you name it. Lots of bunnyhopping and 1-2' drops, no problem. I almost tacoed the front a week ago by doing something stupid... I saw it flex several inches, but it sprang back perfectly true. Phew. Bearings have been completely problem free. Ditto pawl. I liked them so much I bought a second set to build up another bike. |
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Submitted by
Yves Gagon
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: 7/11/2007 10:49:53 AM |
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| Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: | $500 |
| Purchased At: | lbs |
| Strengths: | Stiff and fast |
| Weaknesses: | None as of now |
| Similar Products Tried: | Bontrager Race disc 29 |
| Bike Setup: | GF Paragon, xt AC wheels SM8/specialized rubber. |
| Bottom Line: | Right from the start, I noticed the weight difference. I could climb one gear harder on steep and slow single track. The Stan tubeless set-up was easy and so far without trouble. I am 195 lbs and the wheel fell a lot stiffer then the Bontrager. I will update this as I use and abuse them. Stan suggest using 26" strips for these wheels. AC has deep dish, narrow rim, so the inner diameter is smaller. These are great value. If you have any ? email @ellygagnon@telus.net |
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