[TandemGeek]

I'm toying around with picking up a second set of 'go-fast' wheels for a new tandem and I've narrowed it down to two different brands: Rolf Prima & Topolino. While the models I'm looking at are geared towards tandems (Prima Vigor Tandem & AX 3.0, respectively) I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone using any of these wheels relative to their satisfaction with the product and customer support. In this regard, single-bike users may also have some pertinent feedback.

So, here are the specific questions:

1. Whose got 'em, what's your bike's total ride-away weight, which ones do you have, are they your 'daily drivers' or are they only used for 'special occasions' and how many miles have you put on them.

2. Any problems or have they delivered flawless performance?

3. For those who have had problems, what were they and how was it resolved?

4. If you had to get a new set of wheels would you buy them again. If not, what would you get and why?

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[joe@vwvortex]

I'm toying around with picking up a second set of 'go-fast' wheels for a new tandem and I've narrowed it down to two different brands: Rolf Prima & Topolino. While the models I'm looking at are geared towards tandems (Prima Vigor Tandem & AX 3.0, respectively) I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone using any of these wheels relative to their satisfaction with the product and customer support. In this regard, single-bike users may also have some pertinent feedback.

So, here are the specific questions:

1. Whose got 'em, what's your bike's total ride-away weight, which ones do you have, are they your 'daily drivers' or are they only used for 'special occasions' and how many miles have you put on them.

2. Any problems or have they delivered flawless performance?

3. For those who have had problems, what were they and how was it resolved?

4. If you had to get a new set of wheels would you buy them again. If not, what would you get and why?


We have the 05 model of the Rolf Prima Vigor tandem wheels on our 32lb CoMo - combined rider weight is the 350lb range.

I've have had several problems with the wheels since we've owned them. First i've had a couple of the spokes front and rear come loose for no apparent reason. My initial front rim had a dip in the braking surface causing vibration under braking. I've also had issues with the rear wheel bearing adjustment loosening and creating a wobble in the rear wheel.

Each time CoMo has been great in fixing the problem - of course it meant sending the wheels back to them. They replaced the front rim and retensioned the spokes all the way around and I've not had a problem since. I do carry one of thier spoke wrenches/nut drivers though just in case.

The same with the rear hub - I don't particularly like the rear hub design - because the bearing adjustment is set by three tiny set screws. You also have to remove the disc adaptor to get to them. Again - don't know why they kept coming loose - but I had it happen twice. After the first time I tried to readjust and tighten after the second time I sent em back and they replaced all the hub parts. I've not had any problems since. The wheels are true and have worked well over the past year.

Their customer service is excellent - and their turnaround time on the fixes was very fast. Just disappointing that i've had to deal with the issues. Others I know have had problems with the bearings wearing out prematurely but I think it's the bearing adjustment which comes loose - people don't notice and then the bearing fail.

As for getting them again - not really sure as they have been fine since having them fixed by Rolf.

[zonatandem]

Have ridden Rolfs on singles/tandem but only for test rides. Nice. But no long term usage.
Topolinos: have them on my single with about 3,500 miles on 'em and they are my only set of wheels. I weigh in at 135 lbs/bike under 18 lbs. No issues whatsoever. Great wheels, smooth and light. Never even have trued them. Great wheelset at the price.
Have used the front Topo on our tandem a couple times, worked great and no issues.
Would I buy them again? Definitely.
Would we buy a pair for the next tandem: You bet!
Riding Bike Patrol yesterday for the El Tour de Tucson; stopped for a racer who broke a couple spokes on his racing single . . . OOPS they were Bontragers . . . end of the ride for him. Stuff happens!
As backup/go fast wheels or even daily riders, we'd recommend the Topos.
Just our opinion/experience.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[cgallagh]

We have Rolfs on our Co-Mo Roadster. They came with the bike we got used. Previous owner had less than 100 miles. We have over 1500 on them. We have not experienced any problems. The wheels are still true and are fine. If we do not have any problems I plan on having them inspected after 2500 just to see if all is still good. I have considered getting another wheelset for daily riding and saving the Rolf's for special needs rides but for now they are all we have. The bike weighs approx. 34 lbs with nothing extra on it, add about 4 lbs for the back rack and bag. We are a 300 lb team.

[brianb]

I'm toying around with picking up a second set of 'go-fast' wheels for a new tandem and I've narrowed it down to two different brands: Rolf Prima & Topolino. While the models I'm looking at are geared towards tandems (Prima Vigor Tandem & AX 3.0, respectively) I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone using any of these wheels relative to their satisfaction with the product and customer support. In this regard, single-bike users may also have some pertinent feedback.

So, here are the specific questions:

1. Whose got 'em, what's your bike's total ride-away weight, which ones do you have, are they your 'daily drivers' or are they only used for 'special occasions' and how many miles have you put on them.

2. Any problems or have they delivered flawless performance?

3. For those who have had problems, what were they and how was it resolved?

4. If you had to get a new set of wheels would you buy them again. If not, what would you get and why?


1. I have Rolf Prima Vigor tandem wheels on a CoMo Speedster (2005). Total ride-away weight approximately 375 lbs, we have about 5000 miles on the Rolfs. These are the only wheels we have for the tandem

2. No problems with the wheels, they have been flawless. However, I hate the skewers, they are very finnicky. For some reason the rubber gasket causes the skewer to open on it's own if tension is not just right. I actually bent one of the skewers while clamping it down a little too hard, they are being replaced on my next parts order with Salsa's or something nicer.

3. N/A

4. If I bought a new tandem, I would opt for the Rolfs. I know others have had nightmares with them, so maybe I'm just lucky. The nerd in me really enjoyed the engineering specs that shipped with the wheels, showing the exact tension of each spoke and runout measured to the hundredth of a millimeter. I have heard repairs on these wheels are very expensive if you go through Rolf. A few more thoughts, they look very sexy and have a definite aero advantage, but are no lighter than a decent set of tandem wheels. Buy for aero, not for weight savings, and keep in mind that if you have any problems they cannot be fixed locally.

[TandemGeek]

Summary of feedback TO DATE from this forum & Hobbes:

Yr Model: Team weight -- mileage -- failures (service) - buy again

’03 Rolf’s: 388 -- n/a -- spokes (good) -- Unk. Note 1
’04 Rolf’s: 270 -- 9,000 -- hub/bearings (good) -- Yes. Note 2
’04 Rolf’s: 280 -- n/a -- none (n/a) -- not stated
’05 Rolf’s: 261 -- 2,500 -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’05 Rolf’s: 295 -- 8,600 -- hub/spokes (good) -- No. Note 3
’05 Rolf’s: 350 -- n/a -- spokes/rim/hub (good) -- Undecided.
’05 Rolf’s: 375 -- 5,000 -- none (n/a) -- Yes. Note 4
’06 Rolf’s: 300 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- not stated.
’07 Rolf’s: 290 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’07 Rolf’s: 340 -- n/a -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’07 Rolf’s: 400 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- Yes. Note 5

’03 Bonts: 270 -- 12,000 -- none (n/a) -- No. Note 6
’05 Bonts: 350 -- 1,500 -- hub (good) -- No. Note 7
’05 Bonts: 350 -- 2,500 -- hub (good) -- Yes


Notes:
1 -- ’03 Rolfs: Good wheels, and if buying high zoot wheels would buy again. However, given the early trouble I might not choose to buy high zoot again.
2 -- ’04 Rolfs: Would probably buy again because they are a good compromise of cost, low drag and low weight.
3 -- ’05 Rolfs: Early failures shook confidence, drove acquisition of second conventional wheelset for every day use. Not being racers there is no good reason to get lightweight fast wheels, but in this case they came on the tandem as original equipment.
4 -- ’05 Rolf’s: Stock skewers have proven to be finicky.
5 -- ’07 Rolfs: Initial issues with noise from the front wheel. Rolf re-tensioned the wheel at 100 miles and no issues since.
6 -- ’03 Bonts: Too heavy and other quality/value issues would likely drive purchase of high-end lightweight conventional wheelset or other brand/model of performance wheels.
7 -- ’05 Bonts: Failed to meet needs / expectations for racing wheelset: brake surface, bearings, and weight plus ‘other’ issues make them less than ideal for competitive purposes.

Topolino's will, for the time being, have to wait for a future opportunity. We have ordered up a set of the '08 Rolf's with the updated rims: reduced from 34mm deep to 32mm, with material added at the spoke bed and a standard size brake track vs. the ultra-narrow one in previous models. Total weight is purportedly now 1,830 grams vs. 1,490 grams for the Topolinos vs. 2,245 grams for Bontragers.

[joe@vwvortex]

Summary of feedback TO DATE from this forum & Hobbes:

Yr Model: Team weight -- mileage -- failures (service) - buy again

’03 Rolf’s: 388 -- n/a -- spokes (good) -- Unk. Note 1
’04 Rolf’s: 270 -- 9,000 -- hub/bearings (good) -- Yes. Note 2
’04 Rolf’s: 280 -- n/a -- none (n/a) -- not stated
’05 Rolf’s: 261 -- 2,500 -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’05 Rolf’s: 295 -- 8,600 -- hub/spokes (good) -- No. Note 3
’05 Rolf’s: 350 -- n/a -- spokes/rim/hub (good) -- Undecided.
’05 Rolf’s: 375 -- 5,000 -- none (n/a) -- Yes. Note 4
’06 Rolf’s: 300 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- not stated.
’07 Rolf’s: 290 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’07 Rolf’s: 340 -- n/a -- none (n/a) -- Yes
’07 Rolf’s: 400 -- 2,600 -- none (n/a) -- Yes. Note 5

’03 Bonts: 270 -- 12,000 -- none (n/a) -- No. Note 6
’05 Bonts: 350 -- 1,500 -- hub (good) -- No. Note 7
’05 Bonts: 350 -- 2,500 -- hub (good) -- Yes


Notes:
1 -- ’03 Rolfs: Good wheels, and if buying high zoot wheels would buy again. However, given the early trouble I might not choose to buy high zoot again.
2 -- ’04 Rolfs: Would probably buy again because they are a good compromise of cost, low drag and low weight.
3 -- ’05 Rolfs: Early failures shook confidence, drove acquisition of second conventional wheelset for every day use. Not being racers there is no good reason to get lightweight fast wheels, but in this case they came on the tandem as original equipment.
4 -- ’05 Rolf’s: Stock skewers have proven to be finicky.
5 -- ’07 Rolfs: Initial issues with noise from the front wheel. Rolf re-tensioned the wheel at 100 miles and no issues since.
6 -- ’03 Bonts: Too heavy and other quality/value issues would likely drive purchase of high-end lightweight conventional wheelset or other brand/model of performance wheels.
7 -- ’05 Bonts: Failed to meet needs / expectations for racing wheelset: brake surface, bearings, and weight plus ‘other’ issues make them less than ideal for competitive purposes.

Topolino's will, for the time being, have to wait for a future opportunity. We have ordered up a set of the '08 Rolf's with the updated rims: reduced from 34mm deep to 32mm, with material added at the spoke bed and a standard size brake track vs. the ultra-narrow one in previous models. Total weight is purportedly now 1,830 grams vs. 1,490 grams for the Topolinos vs. 2,245 grams for Bontragers.

Good info. Interesting that they changed the brake track surface - it is very narrow. I may be selling mine soon - so I can get a front disc version.

[mrfish]

Another data point:

2004 Bontis, a few 1000 miles, approx 300lbs. Used for trailer towing and training type rides. No issues whatsoever. Only reservation is that they are expensive versus touring wheels and heavy versus racing wheels. As a do-it-all wheel which comes cheap on a Trek tandem that can use standard spokes in an emergency I think they have a lot going for them.

Another thing to try given your team weight would be to try something like an American Classic CR420 rim with a slightly beefier or disc hub as the brake track on those isn't very strong. That would build into something extremely light.