"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - how do ksyrium sl wheels hold up in races

how do teh flat blade spoke wheels hold up in races as far as trueness durability in crashes etc vs traditional race wheels. which is the best choice.

I used them last year for races, club rides, solo rides, centuries, etc. Put 6000 miles on them. Crashed once! Plus I weigh 190-200. Had them trued after a couple of hundred miles (very minor tweak) and have not trued them since. These wheels are bulletproof, IMHO!

Before someone jumps in with the standard, "Why would you buy those when you can get custom, handbuilt wheels from Troy/Mike for the same or less money" response to all wheel inquiries.

I will tell you that there is a reason why you see so many Ksyrium SL's. It is not the marketing, ultimately if the product was lousy people would have figured it out by now. It is not just the bling, although they sure do look nice. It is the fact that they are stiff, strong, reliable, durable, serviceable and reasonably aero. You can't go wrong with them.

You do pay a premium for these wheels but there are no surprises about what you are getting. A wheel that is suitable for training and racing, both road and crit, without compromise.

I love mine, never crashed on them ( knock on wood) and they are fairy new to me.But so far my few months on them have been nothing but a really nice experience ( except I really feel the cross winds, but it's all good :))
I cant wait to race with them, I feel so much stronger and confident, that was the best change i ever could of made for my bike.

Mavic has a crash replacement program. You pay a certain percentage up front when you buy the wheels, and if you crash them in the next two years Mavic will replace them (you would have to pay shipping to and from). I think you can only do this through a bike shop though.

Mavic has a crash replacement program. You pay a certain percentage up front when you buy the wheels, and if you crash them in the next two years Mavic will replace them (you would have to pay shipping to and from). I think you can only do this through a bike shop though.

X% of retail. have to get it when you buy the wheels.

i use to have SL's (recently sold them for something more aero). rode approximately 3k miles on them with no problems. had them trued once when i hit a huge pot hole at 20mph. i wouldn't really say they are aero, nor are they the stiffest wheelset out there (and i weigh 150, rear wheel still slightly rubbed rear brakepad when i climbed out of the saddle). but for their purpose they are great wheels. relatively light, look nice, can be used for both training and racing without worries. if you get them used they are also an excellent deal. sure you could buy custom wheels that are just as stiff and aero, but for the same price used you can get all that plus a wheel that really stands out. and these wheelsets hold up so well, used SLs are oftentimes in just as good condition as new.

Aside from being heavier, what are the disadvantages of the lower level Ksyriums like the Elites and Equipes. At what point are they "junky"?

X% of retail. have to get it when you buy the wheels.
Correct. I believe it's 8%, but don't quote me on that. Also, I don't know if the program applies if the wheels come stock on your bike. I'm assuming it would, but you never know.
A friend of mine bought into this program. Sure enough he trashed his rear wheel a couple months after buying his Kysriums. Mavic replaced the rear wheel, no question asked. Shipping was all he paid. Not bad.

Aside from being heavier, what are the disadvantages of the lower level Ksyriums like the Elites and Equipes. At what point are they "junky"?

Wouldn't bother with the Elites.

And I would get the '07 Equipes only at this point. They now have a front specific rim similar to the ES and the Isopulse lacing as of this year.

Wouldn't bother with the Elites.

And I would get the '07 Equipes only at this point. They now have a front specific rim similar to the ES and the Isopulse lacing as of this year.

Any reason why you wouldn't bother with the Elites? I found a cheap NOS set that I was thinking of using as back up race/training wheels and as the primary race wheels for my 'cross bike.

Wouldn't bother because the Cosmos are pretty much the same for a lot less money.

I think you are just paying a premium for the Ksyrium sticker.

Kysrium SL's and ES's (I have both) are more bulletproof than Superman's chest. Please move on to more vexing issues.

Frankly you should be embarrassed for admitting you race on anything less than Zipps or Lightweights. Remember where you are: OCP Central. Jeesh.

My SL's have been fantastic, they've held up trough ~20k miles of training and racing. At 15k, I had the rear hub rebuilt, and the rear wheel trued. Haven't broke a spoke yet, I think I've crashed at least twice on these wheels (never really kept track of which wheels I crashed on :rolleyes: ) I now race on my Reynolds sew-ups, but still use the SL's daily. I've kind of been hoping that they'll wear out, so I have an excuse for some new blingage;)

Aside from being heavier, what are the disadvantages of the lower level Ksyriums like the Elites and Equipes. At what point are they "junky"?


will let you know in april, once i break out my good bike, and start riding on elites when i train, and save me SLs for races and when I'm feeling frisky.

nor are they the stiffest wheelset out there (and i weigh 150, rear wheel still slightly rubbed rear brakepad when i climbed out of the saddle). but for their purpose they are great wheels. .

I find it hard to believe that it was the wheel causing that... these wheels are STIFF .

will let you know in april, once i break out my good bike, and start riding on elites when i train, and save me SLs for races and when I'm feeling frisky.

I'm pretty sure the Elites have the same rim and hubs as the SL, the SL used AL spokes and shaves the rim inbetween the spokes to save a little more weight.

Kysrium SL's and ES's (I have both) are more bulletproof than Superman's chest.

I only have the SLs, but my opinion is the same. They are a stud of a wheelset.