Shimano WH-R540 Wheelset wheelsets - clincher

3.51/5

(47 Reviews)

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Submitted by Jason a Commuter

Date Reviewed: September 25, 2011

Strengths:    Solid construction. Look aerodynamic

Weaknesses:    Lack of rear spokes (just 20) has always made me a little nervous when I'm 175lb. Nothing to justify that yet though...

Bottom Line:

I've been running these wheels on my road bike for 8 years now without a problem. I've had a few pinchflats (through carelessness on my part) but have yet to repair a spoke or true the wheels - they've been rock solid.

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Purchased At: Freedom Machine

Bike Setup: Avanti Kona (2003), 9-speed 105 gruppo

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Submitted by triokie a Triathlete

Date Reviewed: March 13, 2010

Strengths:    The entire Wheel, Hubs, Bearing, spokes are very stong and the wheel is Very Fast and aerodynamic.

Weaknesses:    None except the cheap Shimano labels have peeled off.

Bottom Line:

I bought a Giant TCR Aero 2 in 2004 and the wheels came stock on the bike. Since then I have ridden over 25,000 miles on rough Oklahoma roads and have never had a problem with the wheels, spokes or hubs. These wheels are really fast in windy conditions and we have lots of wind here in Oklahoma). In stong 40-50mph cross winds the wind goes right through the wheels and catches almost no wind, much less than normal spoked wheels. I wieght 175 pounds and have hit many pot holes and have snake bit the inner tubes but the wheels have held up, they are very stong.

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Favorite Ride:   Norman Conquest

Purchased At:   Riverside Bicycles T

Bike Setup:   Giant TCR Aero 2 Triathlon/Road Bike, 50/34 Compact Crank,12-27 rear Dura Ace Cog set. Ultegra Chain, 105 brakes and shifters.

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Submitted by tkracing55 a Recreational Rider

Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009

Strengths:    Look

Weaknesses:    Flex

Bottom Line:

Can't say I'm really the most experience rider to comment on these rims, but I'm finding heaps of flex with these rims, so much that my speedo sensor is hitting the beacon on my fork when I start sprinting really hard. I bought the bike for $650 rims where on it already, so really for a first time bike I'm not complaining too much. I have ridden on better rims and when you sprint you can feel that the power isn't being absorb so much. These rims would be better for someone commuting not for training or racing.

Oh and I haven't broken a spoke yet. (Fingers Cross)

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Favorite Ride:   Kuranda Range

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   Bicycle Recycle

Similar Products Used:   Mavic Ksyrium SL Mavic on OPPY Legend

Bike Setup:   Ciombola 7005? 2005/2006? 58cm, Conti Tyres

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Submitted by Laccci a Recreational Rider

Date Reviewed: July 21, 2009

Strengths:    Good rotation, aerodynamics, no problems with the front wheel :). A cheaper solution for amateurs.

Weaknesses:    Rear wheel - spokes. Useless.
Getting new spokes in time (especially if you break more than one) is extremely hard (in Budapest at least).
I don't feel them really stiff.

Bottom Line:

Now I have Really Bd Experiences with this wheel set, but I try to be objective.

My parameters: 175cm, 67kg (not the biggest guy ever seen), amateur cyclist.

I bought them a year ago together with my bike - both were used, but not much.
After a few hundred kms one rear spoke felt itself more comfortable in two pieces: I moved the bike sideways while I was standing on the ground over my bike. After this, I used the wheels with care.
Despite avoiding most of the potholes, today (21.08.09) I broke 4(!!) rear spokes at the same time. It wasn't a pothole or else that made it but only an almost zero-speed turn and the following acceleration. It happened after about 1500-2000 km.

In a nutshell: The front wheel is great for me but if you want to keep it replace the rear one somehow!

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Favorite Ride:   anywhere with beautiful landscape

Purchased At:   Budapest

Similar Products Used:   -
(Vuelta Airline 4 for cycling in the city)

Bike Setup:   Steel Bianchi with (older) Dura Ace set.

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Submitted by blundy@northsideind.ca a Triathlete

Date Reviewed: October 31, 2008

Strengths:    Aerodynamics, durability - these have been maintenance free and bomb proof for me. I ended up dumping my mavic carbones as I just couldn't justify the cost since I would ride these in training, and switch to the mavics in races - I found no noticable advantage to riding the 1500.00 carbon wheelset - other than maybe a slight comfort advantage...and I'm a gear-head/brand hound, I like the best on my bike, but I just couldn't argue the economics.

Weaknesses:    Weight, not really well suited to road racing if riding in groups where there's drafting.

Bottom Line:

I bet most people don't know these have a lower drag coefficient than a set of Zip 404's. OK, I can hear all of you saying "yeh right" look it up, an engineer at UBC did a study on wheelset aerodynamics. I've run these for almost 5 years, have never broken a spoke and I've beat the living snot out of them, I'm 175lbs. They are heavy, but the aero advantage makes up for that on all but a very hilly course.