Crossride by Mavic

[bunky]

OK- a few days ago I had a wheelset question. Thanks to all who responded! But I have a few followup questions about Mavic's crossride wheelset. At $189, free shipping and stunning reviews, it seems way too good to be true.

1) Quality: Users on MTBR give these very good reviews. Anybody locally have these? Whatcha think? Are the going to hold up in the shed. How would you compare them to XT hub 717 combo?

2) Mavic's "MP3" Warranty: Did you register? If so, how does this work if you buy through JensonUSA or other online retailer? When do you pay the 8%. Have you had to use the warranty--if so did they hassle you or was it a good experience?

[redneckp3ngu1n]

Well though i dont have any personal experiance with these rims when i was in canada i met someone with deetrax with the mp3 program. He said he got them from a local bike shop and payed the 8% to the guy at the regester and he was set. He ended up tacoing his front rim and mavic swapped his old rim out for a brand new one in a short period of time with no questions asked. MP3 is more than just a warrenty its a replacement garentee. This means they will fix you crossmax even if you did something stupid like a big drop into a rockgarden with a flat tire without giving you problems for three years. If ive learned one thing is that its not to trust mtbrs reviews. It is probably a great wheelset and you should definatly look into it. Im not sure if you too concerned about weight but the azonic outlaw wheelset looks pretty good for 250 aswell though it is heavyer and probably stronger.

[CountZero]

24 spokes only. That gives me pause.

On low-spoke-count disc wheels, there's a phenomenon some call "spoke wind", where, under heavy braking, hub and rim lose axial alignment. That is, you nail the brakes and the hub decelerates faster than the rim, winding the spokes. Eventually the rim springs back as the spokes unwind.

Other people may have good luck with 24-spoke wheels, but I sure didn't. The wheels I owned (24 or 28, can't remember, they came with the bike) were so flexy and windy that thay took away my confidence.

Bunky, figure out your one-year average expenses for wheels, then commit to spending twice that on one good set of wheels that will last you several years.

Go DT Hugi 240 or Chris King in the rear, then keep riding one of your many remaining XT front wheels.

[redneckp3ngu1n]

wow that is a low spoke count. My 32 spoke wheels seem flexy enough. I wouldnt reccomend a wheel without atleast 30 spokes.

[TrailVictim]

DIRTRAG has a pretty good review of the CrossRide in the current issue #123. It was written by Harlan Price.

[Brizn]

wow that is a low spoke count. My 32 spoke wheels seem flexy enough. I wouldnt reccomend a wheel without atleast 30 spokes.Unless it's the Cane Creek's with straight pull spokes..

[punga]

Unless it's the Cane Creek's with straight pull spokes..

The Zonos are plenty stiff and they're 28 count front and rear. I think the straight pull spokes combined with the high flanges allow for higher spoke tension than other designs.

Good riding with you today Brian... we'll get out there again, maybe the Shed next time.

punga!

[CRAIG2]

I had the Cross Ride's on my GT hardtail. I still have the front one on; when I decided to go SS, I had Pete build me a custom SS wheel. That's the only reason I'm not riding the full set now. Other than the stickers peeling off, I have no complaints. Caveat: I'm about 150 lbs, and ride XC only.

[bunky]

DIRTRAG has a pretty good review of the CrossRide in the current issue #123. It was written by Harlan Price.


Saw that article-- that's why I was asking. Even the article says tghe whels are a bit flimsy/ wobbly.

[skiandmtb]

This thread has me considering buying these. I want to spend around $200, they're straight pull, have sealed bearings, and I need the replace my Deore/X221 rear wheel because I'm tired of replacing spokes. I ride Rosaryville, Schaeffer and Patapsco primarily, rarely Fountainhead. I have aspirations for the Slatyfork and Snowshoe XC trails, but haven't taken the opportunity yet. Is there a better $200 wheelset that fits the bill?

LJ

[tomn]

A buddy of mine had the Mavic Crossride's with the radial laced spokes on the front, low spoke count front and rear, and they didn't hold up too well. He ended up replacing them with a new wheelset using Chris King hubs, very nice (but big $$). I never had the factory Mavic wheels but I have used a few different brands of budgetish wheels and I kept having trouble keeping my wheels in true (especially the rear). I ended up buying a custom-built wheelset with 36-hole XT 756 hubs and Mavic F519 rims. Definitely a bit heavier than most lightweight XC wheels but not as beefy as true FR wheels. It has turned out to be a great compromise for me. $160 + shipping over a year ago and still in great shape. FYI: I'm a 200 lb aggressive rider, mostly XC but I do jump some stuff and do some smallish drops (< 4 ft.) so I needed a little sturdier wheels.

[bunky]

I've decided to not go with the Mavic Cross Rides. I weight about 180 (good grief!!!) and like to pound around in the shed and EF a lot. I have been told that the 24 spoke setup just can't handle that kind of abuse. Even with the MP3 program--which is a great concept-- I would eventually destroy these and have considerable down time waiting on warranty replacement.

Instead, I have opted to go with Hope Pro 2 hubs laced to Mavic F519 rims (assuming I can get a set on the cheap). Worst case scenario, I'll lace the rear hub to a new F519 or 819 and recycle my front rim (X717-relatively straight) and use that for the new front hub. I'll be using Wheelsmith 14 guage straight spokes.

If I had the money, I would have gone for a DT Swiss Hugi 240S. But that was a bit high for me at almost $300 for one rear hub. :eek:

Special thanks to all who responded!

[tomn]

Jeez -- the Hope Pro 2 hubs look sweet! But over $250 just for the F&R hubs, ouch. I just priced a wheelset using those with F519's and it came out to a little more than $400 (w/ wheelsmith straight spokes, alloy nipples). You can get 32 or 36 hole, lotsa colors (very cocky look to have bold colors on your hubs) and of course the front hub can convert to 20mm thru-axle.

Nice choice! Good luck with the new wheels.

[bunky]

Jeez -- the Hope Pro 2 hubs look sweet! But over $250 just for the F&R hubs, ouch.

All true. I admit this is a costly move. But, I was dissuaded against blowing good money after bad on $89 bic-lighter style wheelsets, since they have added up to a lot of money over about three years. So, I decided to go with what has been described as good quality--but trying to avoid complete sticker shock with the King or DT-Hugi hubs. We'll see if the "middle road" (if you can call it that) was they way to go. BTW--I got the front and rear hubs from Jenson for $230 with free shipping.


Nice choice! Good luck with the new wheels.

Thanks--I'll let ya know what happens--the Shed and EF can be cruel mistresses.