Easton EA90 SLX

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Big Shark

Favorite Ride:
Country Hills

Bike Setup:
Cervelo R3 / SRAM

Summary:
Very nice wheels, stiff, light, hardy. The LBS replaced the bearing oil with a lighter weight and they roll faster than before (based on repeatable comparisons).

Strengths:
All-around good wheels.

Weaknesses:
Heavy lube in the hubs?

Similar Products Used:
Mavic SC SSL (also nice wheels)

Price Paid:  $350.00 at Ebay

Bike Setup:
Custom UHMG carbon fiber lugged frame. Ultegra SL groupo with FSA team issue carbon crank. Focus Design stem and handlebar (lbs house brand). Selle San Marco Apside saddle. Integraded CF seatube (cut to precision). Look Keo Sprint Red pedals. Focus Design headset.

Summary:
First thing out of the box, I noticed how exceptionally light this wheelset was! The hubs were smooth rolling and the rim has remained tru even after 1,200km on them and hammering hard on sprints and climbs. They look beautiful and spin up quick on the rides. I have only two criticisms about this wheelset:

1) As a relatively light rider (at 130 lbs) I expected this wheelset to be very stiff (especially after mating them to an ultra high modulous custom carbon frame). however, I have noticed that I hard climbs as I get out of the saddle, there is some flex in the wheel. Albeit, there is absolutely nothing to worry about and I have never lost faith in the strength of my wheelset, it was an odd sensation.

2) The decals look a little cheap compared to others on the market that may have anodized lettering on the rim (I think the new 2009 versions are anodized). However, this is purely cosmetic. The decals have remained stuck on the rim since day 1 and haven't peeled off, so there's nothing to worry about there.

Otherwise, I found this wheelset to be a great bargain (at 350$), extremely light weight for alloys, and superb craftsmanship. I am confident they'll last for a few years to come.

Strengths:
- Extremely lightweight for clincher alloys
- Spin up quick
- Haven't had a problem with rim coming out of tru
- Strong spokes
- Fast/smooth rolling hubs (2009 versions are ceramic I believe)
- Handbuilt
- Easton quality

Weaknesses:
- Maybe a little "flexy" for larger riders
- Decals look a little cheap

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL, Reynolds Attack, Fulcrum racing 1

Price Paid:  $7000.00

Favorite Ride:
Long STEEP climbs

Bike Setup:
BMC SLC01 (Astana Team bike)
Campagnolo 2008 Groupset

Summary:
I baught these wheels with my new bike and Im very pleased with them! The hubs are very smooth and they go uphill like a dream. One problem though, I've been riding them for almost exactly 1 year now and I've broken spokes on the rear wheel 8times, 2times on the front wheel!! Im a slight built guy, 61kg and 172cm tall and the local roads arn't bad either!! Ive had the rear wheel rebuilt with DT SWISS spokes and broke another one two weeks after the rebuild. This is very frustrating and I've baught myself a set of Campag Shamal Ultra Titaniums now. Hopefully this is now the end of braking spokes

Strengths:
Super Smooth hubs, climbs very well and looks realy good

Weaknesses:
Spokes!! Or maybe I just got a bad batch!

Similar Products Used:
Easton Vista

Price Paid:  $850.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Pilot Mtn

Bike Setup:
08 Cervelo R3 Dura Ace

Summary:
I bought the 2009 Easton EA90 SLX to be my all-around wheel for my Cervelo R3. I had a pair of Mavic Ksyrium SLs on there, so I was interested to see how the new, lighter Easton's stacked up.

First of all, they look better with the improved graphics, red anodize spoke nipples and new hub design. Mounting the tires was easy, and the rims came with tape already in place.

Here is the trick, however: If you get the '09 EA90 SLX and you run Shimano, you better have a Dura Ace cassette - the new R4SL hub only accepts 08/09 Dura Ace cassettes. If you try Ultegra, you'll get a wobble as the cassette won't mount flush to the hub...it has to do with spline height on the freehub body.

Once mounted, these things roll great. Quiet hubs, smooth ceramic bearings. I only weigh 150 lbs, and was out-coasting guys weighing 20 lbs more on a windless downhill. On the climbs, the wheel is stiff enough for me, but gives just a bit more than the old Mavics. Bombing back down the mtn, I had no issues, apart from some rear-end vibration that turned out to be an overly-loosened bearing. These wheels have external adjustability for bearing compression and I left my rear wheel just a bit too loose. The braking track is narrow, so make sure you line your pads up well.

The only drawback (listed below as well) is the fact that these wheels are not very aero, but that's not what I was looking for when I bought them.

Strengths:
-Light weight
-Ceramic bearings
-Good looks

Weaknesses:
-Not very aero
-Narrow brake track

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL

Price Paid:  $480.00 at Performance Bike

Bike Setup:
Look 585 w/ full Dura Ace

Summary:
Am thrilled at the great value these babies have turned out to be. As a 105 lb woman I don't put them through the ringer true, but they have been trouble free and make me climb like a little billy goat! I feel safe on fast descents and OK in crosswinds. I would recommend these to any smaller person wanting a quality, value training wheelset that won't weigh them down.

Strengths:
Ceramic bearings, feather light

Weaknesses:
Stickers...WAY too many...

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium