Price Paid:
$1200.00
at Melbourne Favorite Ride:
The beach Bike Setup:
I have 4 bikes with Dura-Ace.
Hoorah!! :-) Summary:
This review is for the C50A model with Pillar Aero spokes (the newer ones apparently have Sapim CX-Rays) and the non-ceramic hubs.
As far as I could ascertain, the Gigantex rims on these wheels are the same as those used on the Sonics which tested very "aeroly" on The Great Wheel Test. The name of the Sonics on that test is wrong: the Sonic Super isn't 50mm-deep, but the Hyper is.
I don't mind heavy wheels, but these wheels are REALLY heavy: 2080g without skewers or rim-tape! This will put off a lot of people. I bought these wheels for aerodymics, not light weight, but I'd expect a modern set of carbon wheels to be at least under 2kg! However, if the extra beef equals stiffness and durability, then I'm not too concerned. I'm 85kg, so I wanted stiff and tough wheels. I crahsed them pretty heavily at a race a few weeks ago, and they weren't damaged at all.
I do like the stiffness of these wheels, which, along with the reasonable price, is the main reason I bought them. I also have some Flash-Point FP60s, which are way too flexi for what I like, so the Tokens have been an improvement. The Tokens are still not as stiff any of my old alu wheels, but maybe that's too much to ask at my weight from carbon rims with 20 and 24 spokes. I like the look of the new Dura-Ace 50mm clinchers, so I might check them out at a later date.
The hubs roll fine, but the rear could be a little smoother. These are American Classic-type hubs with the 'micro' front and the large-flanged rear, which have their detractors, so I'm not sure what to expect from them in the long run as far as durability goes. I'm getting occasional creaking from the rear wheel, but I don't know if it's the hub or something else. Adjusting the pre-load "just right" on the rear is a little tricky: too tight and the bearings seem to be restricted, and too loose gives a bit of hub wobble.
These wheels weren't round when I bought them! The front was slightly egg-shaped, with two dips approximately 1.5mm deep! Luckily, the guy at the shop easily got them round in a few minutes. The rear had one similar dip which I got out myself. They've stayed very true since.
If anyone's thinking of buying these and taking the stickers off, forget it; the logos are painted on.
To be honest, I've never noticed any 'real world' speed improvement with any aero rims I've ridden, so these wheels didn't blow me away. All I have is the 'science' and aero tests which tell me I'm saving a few watts of drag. :-)
My rating of '4' might seem a little high, considering I've just listed a whole host of problems, but I think these problems aren't too big a deal, and I still like what I got for the price.... just. :-) Overall, I'd recommend these wheels if you want affordable aero wheels, and you mind the weight. Maybe the newer model with the different spokes are a bit lighter.
Strengths:
Stiff enough. Roll smooth enough. Seem to be tough and robust. Can be bought for a decent price, but, in my opinion, these aren't worth any more than $1200 AUD, although they're much better value than many other wheelsets out there. They should be aero. :-) Weaknesses:
Very heavy (see above). The rear hub 'cones' need a bit of adjusting. The Token decals look a little d1cky and can't be taken off. Similar Products Used:
Flash-Point FP60.
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