FSA RD-488 wheelsets - tubular


  • Average Rating: 3/5
  • MSRP: $
  • # of Reviews: 6

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Product Description

  • Hidden nipples
  • Extra light, medium flange hubs
  • SpokePrep on spoke threads
  • Wheelsmith AE-14 bladed spokes
  • 50mm deep section carbon tubular rim


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Reviews 1 - 5 (6 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:5
Submitted by osucowboytc a Road Racer from

Date Reviewed: January 31, 2009

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.

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

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

Price Paid:    $950.00

Purchased At:   China

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

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


Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by drevol a Road Racer from

Date Reviewed: May 10, 2008

Strengths:    price


Weaknesses:    poor quality

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>



Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:4
Submitted by BKS a Road Racer from

Date Reviewed: May 4, 2008

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


Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

Price Paid:    $1100.00

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Easton EC90, Hed 3

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


Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Super_Sycho a Triathlete from

Date Reviewed: April 25, 2008

Strengths:    Weight. Durability. Smooth ride

Weaknesses:    Cost

Bottom Line:   
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.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Ride:   roads with no cars

Price Paid:    $1200.00

Purchased At:   Outdoor Venture (LBS

Similar Products Used:   American Classic 350 Ritchey Pro

Bike Setup:   Aegis Record


Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Joe Hathcck a Road Racer from

Date Reviewed: January 17, 2007

Strengths:    Durable, aero, lighter than most clincher wheels

Weaknesses:    Braking, wet braking is non-existant.

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

Expand full review >>

Favorite Ride:   B2B

Price Paid:    $750.00

Purchased At:   Online

Similar Products Used:   rolf, bontragger

Bike Setup:   Tarmac-dura-ace



Reviews 1 - 5 (6 Reviews Total) | Next 15

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

FSA Carbon RD-488 Wheelset

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Okay guys, i'm getting a new R5000 with Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. I'm curious what would be a lighter wheelset better suited to sprinting. I would like to spend as little as poss   Read More »

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