Xero Lite XR-1

Price Paid:  $189.00 at ebay

Bike Setup:
Specialized Allez setup as a TT bike

Summary:
Yes, these wheels are light and cheap, BUT, unless you are superlight, these things are way too flexy. I got mine about 3 years ago, so perhaps they have improved. Forget sprinting, your rims will rub the brake pads. Were pretty durable, until recently. A minor pothole (my Mavic Cosmos survived far worse) and now the rear rim will not stay true. Honestly, not bad for $200, but probably best suited for very light riders.

Strengths:
Light, cheap

Weaknesses:
Way too flexy... When I was 180, standing would cause both wheels to rub the brakes. Slightly better now that I lost 15 pounds, but still very flexy.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Cosmos

Price Paid:  $219.00 at Online

Favorite Ride:
MS-150

Bike Setup:
Tarmac Comp Dbl, airione Saddle, Xero wheels, vittoria open tubular evo tires, look kea sprint pedals

Summary:
I purchased these wheels in order to improve weight and ride from my stock shimano wheelset that came on my Tarmac. The wheels feeland ride exceptionally well, but after 1,000 miles i have suffered from two broken spokes in the rear wheel, one while on a 100 mile ride and one while riding rollers under light conditons. It seems as though to shave the weight the comprimised the integrity of the spoke strength. At 135 lbs I can easily say I'm not overloading these wheels!

Strengths:
Aero and light, smooth ride

Weaknesses:
Spokes easily break

Price Paid:  $235.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Butte Loop

Bike Setup:
Scott CR1 w/ Sram Force, FSA K-Force Compact Crank, SLR Saddle, Alien Post, Newton Bars, Continental Attack/Force Tires and 11-23 Cassette

Summary:
I purchased these wheels out of a desire to try something new. I had been riding on Ksyrium elites for the last year or so and had put about 6000 miles on them. The Ksyriums had always seemed a bit too rough riding for myself and I couldn't justify them based on their strength (185lb rider), because the rear wheel never seemed to stay true. Twice I had the rear wheel almost lock up after hitting a very large pothole.
Along comes the XR-1, 180g lighter, smoother riding and as of yet, still perfectly true. As of this review I have about 500 miles on them and couldn't be more pleased. Despite having a deeper profile than the Ksyriums, they are much more stable in crosswinds (I think it is the absence of bladed spokes), though admittedly they don't feel anymore "aero."
All in all, I can't see any reason why these wheels would perform poorly for anyone. One would assume with wheels manufactured for this price, there would be a higher rate of defects. If that is the case I must have gotten exceptionaly lucky. These wheels have performed great.
My only complaint is that they were not the advertised 1520g but rather closer to 1590g w/out rim tape.
Just as a side note, I ride exclusively in northern california, on everything from aggregate roads and patched together messes, to glass covered city streets and even the occasionaly nice road. So between my weight, conditions and aggressive riding style my equipment takes plenty of abuse.

Strengths:
Very even Spoke tension. Durable and Unbelievably light for the price. Ride quality as well.

Weaknesses:
None so far, other than the anxiety before recieving them of purchasing such inexpensive wheels.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium Elite (2007 Edition)

Price Paid:  $225.00 at Greenfish

Favorite Ride:
San Rafael - Pt Reyes Station

Bike Setup:
Scott CR1 Pro; Syntace C2 Aerobar; Syntace F99 stem; Thompsom Elite zero offset seat post; otherwise stock Ultegra 10 sp

Summary:
INCREDIBLY STRONG - used on a Scott CR1 Pro w/Syntace C2 aeros. Today while going about 22 mph on the flats, while keeping an eye on the cyclist in front who had just dropped the hammer, I hit a rock and went airborne for maybe 20 - 30 feet. The aero bars were bent up at about 80 degrees, bars knocked up a couple of degrees and off center about 5 degrees, right brake lever jammed up about 2 inches but the wheel was absolutely TRUE!!! It was astounding to see that it was not bent much less still true!

Strengths:
Strong, light & inexpensive. Silver ones look great! Accelerates faster than my Mavic Elites which cost much more.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium Elite

Price Paid:  $210.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Monitor Pass (near Tahoe)

Bike Setup:
Klein Quantum -- mostly Shimano 105 equipped. I'm 170 lbs.

Summary:
I've been riding these about 100 miles per week. You should usually tune a wheel up after 500 miles or so, but they haven't needed it yet. They are much lighter than the Rolfs I replaced, but actual riding improvement is subtle.
For those that say the wheel is fragile, not true with mine! Been over pot holes, rocks, etc. and they haven't even gone out of true! They did change these at some point; maybe that's the difference. All in all, a great deal for the money and great overall!

I hear this is used for racing in the far east, but I'm a hill climbing recreational rider, so I can't speak for that. I would imagine they'd be good budget road race or crit wheels.

Strengths:
Light (1500 plus change), fast, aero rims, sturdy, smooth bearings, price.

Weaknesses:
Aero rims distribute wheel weight towards the rim -- that means climbing and acceleration are not as good as a similar weighted non-aero wheel.

Similar Products Used:
Rolf Vectors, Bongrager lites, several conventional wheels.