Mavic R-sys

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Gottaridebikes.com

Favorite Ride:
Mavic R-Sys Wheels (2007)

Bike Setup:
Orbea Orca, Campy Super Record 11, Ritchey stem,seatpost and handlebar,Campagnolo Shamal Two Way Fit wheels

Summary:
This is a update of my original review. After more than a year of use I started hearing some weird noises coming from the hub's, ask several mechanics and found out that the first generation of R-Sys have a problem with the compression ring, have to send them to Mavic wait about a month to get them back and then sell them on Ebay, there is no way I will use them again, bought 2009 Campagnolo Shamal Ultra Two Way Fit cna go either clincher or tubebless.

Strengths:
Light and stiff

Weaknesses:
Hub problems, spokes are very fragile, unreliable

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium Sls

Price Paid:  $1250.00 at City Cycle

Bike Setup:
Cinelli 70's steel frame with Campy Super Record (slightly rusted).

Summary:
Two rides, what do I know? They are a smoother ride than my vintage Omos wheels. I find I'm out of the saddle more because they are so responsive. Feels like all the power goes to the ground. I know stiff and smooth seems contradictory, but that's the impression so far. They spin up easily, quickly. So far I love them.

Yes I may still be on the either, I'll keep you posted.

Strengths:
Light, stiff, smooth.

Weaknesses:
None so far.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first pair of clinchers in 20 years.

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Price Paid:  $1250.00 at RocknRoad

Favorite Ride:
Sierras

Bike Setup:
Litespeed Archon. Awesome bike. Light, stiff and the legendary Ti ride.

Summary:
These wheels are stiff and absorb the road vib's very well. Much smoother than the Ksyrium SL's. Little to no flex. Not sure what the other guy's problem is cautioning bigger riders. These are rock solid. I'm 185 sprinter and work great for sprinting and going up hill where I need it the most. I think they are cool looking too.

Strengths:
Stiff, fast rollers, cool looking.

Weaknesses:
Can't think of any.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL's, Zipp 404's, Bontragers, Shimano DA SL 7801.

Price Paid:  $900.00 at From Friend (came of

Favorite Ride:
Sonoma/Mendocino County Coastal Region

Bike Setup:
Specialized S-works Tarmac and Roubaix, and Tarmac Pro. All Dura Ace components and Michelin Pro 2 tires.

Summary:
I must admit that I don't have heavy miles on this set of wheels, but the rides I've done over the past few months have been under challenging conditions, (e.g., rough roads, gravel, climbing, & technical descents). The ride distances I've "tested" these on ranged from a minimum of 80 - 200 miles, so I've spent many hours per ride on this set.

Without a doubt, my R-Sys wheels are THE best set I've ever owned. These have all the best characteristics of a road wheel that I'd like for the conditions I ride under - stiffness/responsiveness, handling, light weight, low maintenance (truing, hubs, etc.), and extreme comfort. Most notably, they seem to absorb more road shock than any other wheelset I've ever owned. And these are quick, quick, quick, on climbs, descents, and flat out sprints.

Admittedly, I haven't owned these for a real long time, so I haven't yet experienced broken spokes or any loud noises. The only minor things I've noticed is the wheel magnet rattles faintly, and I did have to tighten the hubs "out of the box".

Strengths:
Strong and durable, great handling, lightweight, and very responsive. After riding on lengthy bumpy roads, not truing necessary yet.

Weaknesses:
Slight wheel magnet rattling, and might have to tighten hubs before first use.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic MA40, Ksyrium Elites, Ksryium SL SSCs, and Ksyrium ES.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came with bike

Bike Setup:
Cannondale Super Six, SRAM Force groupo, FSA K-Force bars, Fizik Arione Saddle, Alien Carbon Post, Mavic R-Sys wheels.

Summary:
These wheels came with my Cannondale Super Six 2. I was excited about the newest offering from Mavic and had eaten up all the technology and stiffness claims from their website. When I got the bike the rear wheel was out of true but that touched up fairly quick. After riding the wheels for about 200 miles I was liking them but wondering what in the heck made them worth 1400 bucks. Sure they're stiff, they're light, and they climb well, but in no way did they blow me out of the water. I feel that Ksyriums are just as fast a wheel and even a little more comfy. Then came the spokes. The carbon spokes are extremely delicate- I knocked the bike over my mistake in my living room and a few spokes contacted a planter as the bike fell. Upon closer inspection, two spokes had cracked and now needed replacement. At this point I also found a cracked spoke on the opposite side of the wheel that I concluded had cracked at a different time and had been causing a mysterious creaking that I had noticed the day before on a ride. After calling 10+ bike shops in the SF bay area I found a shop that had 3 spokes in stock and were willing to do the repair. There goes $50 bucks.

At this point I am not comfortable riding these wheels. The carbon spokes are frankly much too delicate. They are strong in the direction which they are designed to accept force, but provide force laterally(from the side), and it takes very little to break them.

BOTTOM LINE: They ride well, but be prepared to deal with servicing and repairing them. $1400 is not all they are going to cost you.

IMHO there are much better wheels out there for the money.

I would also suggest you stock up on spokes if you can and keep them handy so when something does break you can simply take the wheel to a shop and not have to wait weeks for mavic to do the repair or get parts to you (they are notoriously slow about sending repair parts, at least in this part of the country).

Strengths:
Light, stiff, climb well, look cool.

Weaknesses:
Expensive, DELICATE, hard to find repair parts (And I live in the SF bay area with dozens of shops very close by.), don't seem to be all that aero, don't spin very freely (even after about 250 miles break in on the bearings).

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race X Lites, Mavic Ksyrium SL's