Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL wheelsets - clincher Reviews

Price Paid:  $0.00 at given

Favorite Ride:
Shiner Bash

Bike Setup:
Manhattan Project, 10-speed Chorus gruppo, Zipp crankset and bottom bracket, Vittoria Open Corsa 700X25 (rear) and Diamante Pro 700X23 (front), Thomson seatpost, Flite TransAm saddle, Deda shallow drop classic.

Summary:
Bombproof wheels. 'Nuff said. I find that the Zicral spokes are not as bad as having a high-profile wheelset, no trouble with crosswinds. Potholes, etc. - these wheels shrug them off and keep on truckin'. Some people in my riding group have the same wheelset and said they are too harsh or too stiff.

Strengths:
Light, never go out of true, meant for great tires, no need for rim tape, very strong.

Weaknesses:
Adjustable bearings in the rear, Zicral spokes need a Mavic-made spoke key, and Mavic hubs.

Similar Products Used:
Ritchey Pro wheels, Coda wheels, Velocity Aerohead wheels, Easton Vista wheels.

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Bike Dept.

Favorite Ride:
Turnagain Pass

Bike Setup:
Parlee Z4, Durace 7900 Frt and 7800 long cage rear Deraileur, Durace 7800 brake /shifters, FSA cranks/Rotor Rings, Speedplay Ti pedals, Brooks Special Black Saddle-the most comfortable saddle in the world. Thompson Masterpiece black seat post. 3T Team Stem and Bars. Blackburn carbon fiber bottle cages. OK, do I qualify as a bike snob?

Summary:
Have been through multiple light weight weight wheel sets over the past 30 years and unless you weigh less than 160lbs. you can't beat these wheels. They will handle any weight division, from fly weight to sumo. They have stayed true after multiple misjudged jumps and potholes on nasty Alaskan roads. On top of that, tack on some tubeless tires without having to add tape, and you have wheels that will go for seasons without a flat. How many races have been lost due to a flat?

Strengths:
Never had to true. Never dented on severe hits. Tubeless without tape.

Weaknesses:
The aerodynamic spokes are affected by cross winds. For truth in advertizing, I have never used high profile rims. Due to high wind along Turnagain Arm,(30 to 55mph), standard rims are scary enough. Downhill descents in high winds seem to affect all wheels I've been on, but these hold the line at at higher speeds.

Similar Products Used:
American Classic, nothing spins longer,but made for lightweights. Durace 7800s, they spin almost as long, but are 9 speed. Rolf, which I traded for the Ksyriums.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
Wheels, handlebar, cranks (with pedals), chain, shifters (2), really?

Summary:
These are lightweight bombproof wheels. I have used them for 5 years and had no issues except for the bearings finally needing to be replaced after more than 25,000 miles.

Strengths:
Strong, light, fast, and dependable.

Weaknesses:
Zircal spokes are wide and can blow you all over the road in a crosswind.

Similar Products Used:
Easton EA90 SLX, Velomax Orion II, Mavic GL330, Mavic MA40, Campy Omega

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Probikekit i think

Favorite Ride:
AAP

Bike Setup:
Setup on PBK Carbon bike with Ultegra running gear

Summary:
Bought these wheels three years ago, hardly used them (for racing only). They've done less than 500km and the Pawl inside the freewheel broke jamming the freehub (turns the bike into a fixie). Just got it fixed for AUD$60 but when i look at the size and design of the pawl, it is bad engineering design (no radiused edge and very small)

Strengths:
Reasonably light, solid and true. Nice to ride on

Weaknesses:
Inherent weakness in design of freehub pawl and spring mechanism

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL circa 2003

Price Paid:  $400.00 at CL

Favorite Ride:
galbraith

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200

Summary:
Bomber wheelset, I've had these wheels for several years and have had no problems. They are pretty light, durable, and just keep one going...

Strengths:
Strong, light, Stiff for weight.

Weaknesses:
Special spoke wrench required, but you rarely need it!

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager race lite, Mavic open pro, Shimano.