FSA RD-488

Price Paid:  $950.00 at China

Favorite Ride:
Anything where my front wheel is at a higher altitude than my back wheel.

Bike Setup:
58cm Kuota Kebel, '08 10s Campy Chorus, FSA os-99 stem, FSA Energy Trad. bar, SSM Aspide Saddle, Exustar Carbon pedals, FSA RD-488 Wheels

Summary:
I have only had the wheels for a short time, but I have been out on just about every ride I normally do with them. On the flats, they are really fast. On the hills, while they are heavier than some other carbon wheels, they but any aluminum wheel I have used to shame. As far as reliability, I will take the pro cyclo-cross riders word for their durability. I don't think I will ever put them through anything close to what they do. Braking isn't near as bad as most of the reviews seem to indicate either. Just use the blocks provided.

Strengths:
Fast, reasonably lightweight for the price, inexpensive, look great (Especially the '09 version with red highlights)

Weaknesses:
Not really a fair comparison, but they are considerably heavier and have lower rims than Zipp wheels.

Similar Products Used:
FSA RD-600, Mavic Cosmic Elite, Mavic Elite, Campy (Can't remember which)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've got them very cheap and I said ok, lets try. The wheels are stiff and fast but very low quality. I've had 3 sets with different problems. Each time the FSA replaced the set without any problem so the support is good.

1.problem: the rear hub had a 1mm play on the non-sprocket size. Production failure - they replaced the wheelset.

2.problem: when the new wheelset arrived, they provided new carbon brakepads. Dissaster. Breaking at dry conditions was poor and the brakepad started to produce terribble noise after a few seconds of braking. When I was using them on the race in rain, the brakepad destroyed the braking surface. They replaced the wheels again.

3rd try: I started to use Corima brakepads and they work much better. However, forget to use them in rain because breaking is zero! (its almost acceleratig when you sqeeze the brakes LOL). The frontwheel hub is so inaccurate machined, that if you sqeeze the quickrelease a little to much, the bearing gets pressed against the hub and stops rolling. Then you have to kick the side of the axis withm a hammer to get the bearing back in position. ugly.
Also had some problems with spokes, they break easely.

After that I sold them.
If you're looking for a carbon tubular, dont buy cheap stuff, go for something proven like zipp, bora, mavic...or at least get something which is not at the lowest price range.

Strengths:
price

Weaknesses:
poor quality

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
Kuota Kalibur with drop bars, SRAM Force drivetrain

Summary:
I have been riding and racing these for several months now and have been completely pleased. They aren't as light or as deep as Zipp 404s or Easton EC90s but they are far cheaper than both. They are also very easy to upgrade to ceramic bearings. After 500 miles and 2 stages races on very rough roads mine are still completely true. The only faults I have found is that wet braking is very poor and one of the stickers on each rim came off. I have heard these are popular for cyclocross so they must be durable.

Strengths:
-Economical yet competitive on weight and features
-Come with skewers, carbon-specific brake pads, and a spoke tool
-Hub design makes it easy to upgrade bearings
-Appear to be quite durable
-Stickers/graphics are subtle so they go with pretty much any paint scheme/bike

Weaknesses:
-A little heavy compared to more expensive carbon tubulars
-Shallower rim depth (50mm) than a 404 or EC90
-Can only be trued with tire removed
-Poor wet braking

Similar Products Used:
Easton EC90, Hed 3

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Outdoor Venture (LBS

Favorite Ride:
roads with no cars

Bike Setup:
Aegis Record

Summary:
On my first ride, riding my usual intensity, my average speed increase by 1/2 mph. The road was rolling. They are light, smooth, and durable. The braking is comparable to metal rims. I have not tried them on wet roads. At this point, I highly recommend them.

Strengths:
Weight. Durability. Smooth ride

Weaknesses:
Cost

Similar Products Used:
American Classic 350 Ritchey Pro

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Online

Favorite Ride:
B2B

Bike Setup:
Tarmac-dura-ace

Summary:
Bought and used for racing. Wheels have performed good. They stayed true even on some very rough courses. Braking could be better.

Strengths:
Durable, aero, lighter than most clincher wheels

Weaknesses:
Braking, wet braking is non-existant.

Similar Products Used:
rolf, bontragger