Description Orion II takes the best of the Ascent II attributes and combines them with a few more spokes to give increased lateral stiffness for the bigger, stronger rider. Sharing the same rims as Ascent II, the...
Summary: As light as I want to go and I love 'em. I want wheels I can depend on in a 50 mph descent and I don't want to fuss with them.
Strengths: These are lighter AND stiffer AND have softer road feel that my previous wheels, and I'm not getting paid to say that. I'm a 190 pound, roadkill-hopping mountain biker and have not touched these wheels in over 3,500 miles.
Weaknesses: None, especially since I bought them on sale
Similar Products Used: Hand built wheelsets with Mavic Open Pro rims, Ultegra & DA hubs, Mavic Cosmos.
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Bike Setup: Giant TCR, Sram red w/ DA crank, conti supersonics when racing
Summary: I was looking for a semi-aero wheelset to replace the Shimano R550's that came on my bike. I got these and must say I am super happy with them!! I am 210 (in season) and have put about 2000 miles on them so far. They are great all-around wheels and I use them all the time (commuting, training and racing). They spin up soooo much better than the 550's and are way lighter.
Strengths: spin up, have not had to true them at all!!!!
Weaknesses: Like to have them meet the listed weight, 100 grams is a lot to be off!!!
Similar Products Used: Shimano R550's
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Bike Setup: Blue RC4, Dura Ace, Easton carbon bars/seat post, etc.
Summary: These wheels came stock on a Blue RC4 that I picked up last summer. I was always under the assumption that Mavic wheels were the best, primarily due to their succesful marketing I guess. I have been nothing but happy with these wheels. They are light, stay true overtime, and spin like their under power, long after I stop pedaling. At six feet and 148 lbs I,m a little light in the arse, but I regular coast past, or have to brake behind, big guys in the group, using Mavic wheels that cost two or three hundred more than the Orion IIs. Another plus, these wheels are whisper quiet... what is the deal with noisy spokes on Mavic wheelsets anyway?
Strengths: Light enough, without feeling flexy.
Spin forever and ever.
Great bang for the buck.
Stay true.
Nice and quiet.
Weaknesses: The graphics/looks aren't as cool and bling as Mavic, but I,ll take the performance over the bling every time.
Similar Products Used: Campi, Mavic, Shimano
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Bike Setup: FSA timetrial with Tirreno carbon frame
Summary: Checking with the Easton Wheel Division:
1) The wheel weight is measured without
QR or RIM TAPE,
2)The weight tolerance is +/- 5%
3)1586g with rim tape is a good weight as far as Easton production is concerned
4) It is disappointing that Easton Sports thinks it is okay to state a fictitious weight for marketing purposes,
5) If someone has an Orion II set which
weighs 1403 grams (about 1430 with rim tape) please chime in,
6) My feeling is that the wheel builders just stopped trimming the spoke threads after the advertised weight was released.
Strengths: Smooth and fast
far superior to any other wheel
I have ridden
Weaknesses: weight stated in advertising is 109 grams off
Similar Products Used: Easton velomax, forte Titan
Shimano WH
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Summary: Set of Easton Orion II's came with new Kestrel Evoke purchased about 1 year ago. Wheels were great (stayed true without adjustment) for almost a year and approximately 5,000 miles. A couple of weeks ago I returned from a local group ride during which I had hit a pothole (nothing major, but enough for me to remember it specifically) while leaned over going round a corner. After the pothole I noticed that it had knocked my rear wheel out of true (front was fine) and when I got home and started to true the wheel I noticed that the rim had hairline cracks around almost half of the spoke nipples, with one major 2" crack. I can only guess that the combination of the pot-hole, the lateral load caused by the cornering angle, and the extreme dishing required by today's 10 speed hubs was too much for the rim, and I guess I was lucky the wheel didn't collapse. I have put many more miles (and abuse) on other rims during my racing days, so I was rather surprised that this happened and am posting this as a word of warning. I am not an abusive rider, nor a big one (150lbs). I returned the wheel to Easton and they replaced it (rather rebuilt it with the same hub) with no questions asked, which was nice(although it did take them about 4 weeks).
Strengths: wheels are reasonably right and were strong enough to stay true for 5,000 miles
Weaknesses: draw your own conclusions -- I believe there may be questions as to rim strength under some circumstances, but am also open the possibility that this was a unique circumstance
Similar Products Used: shimano, mavic, neuvation
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