Road Cycling - *Shimano WH-R540 Road Wheels question

Do these wheels have a sealed cartridge bearing or loose bearings? Is anyone using these wheels? Are they ok wheels?

Someone help please!

The Shimano site says they are fully serviceable. Im guessing that means, that they arent sealed. Here is the link to the site.

http://bike.shimano.com/Wheels/index.asp

I have these wheels.. and so far with about 500 miles in the past 2 months on them.. I'm pretty impressed.. smooth ride... much lighter than my old crappy rims I had... I believe they are cartridge bearings.. but I'm not 100% sure

Jeff

i have emailed performance and got no answer at all, anyone, anyone??

I have them and I think their great. I have a little over 1000 miles on them with all types of roads. They are still running true even hitting numerous potholes. I weigh around 205 lbs (for the first 600 miles, down to 188 now) and they seem to be really solid feeling in the turns. I was on a 400 mile tour in July where I lost it going down hill on a corner (hit sand) and ended up bouncing off the guard rail. They came through without a problem.

I was at Performance the other day and had their tech guy look thru their catalogs as I had a similiar question on R540's. Their catalog and Shimano's doesn't specify anything on the R540 hubs. You might try a shop/wheel guy who works on wheels or someone at Shimano. Good luck to ya!

Check out

http://www.shimano-europe.com/cycling/phpimages/product/exp_view/WH-R540-F.pdf (front)

and

http://www.shimano-europe.com/cycling/phpimages/product/exp_view/WH-R540-R.pdf (rear)

Looks like standard loose bearings.

Andrew

All Shimano hubs are loose ball hubs. The guy at Performance isn't much of a tech guy-maybe I should look into a job transfer.

I hope their not meant to be sealed because I have pulled my front one apart to service it. Ball bearings every where!:D

I have the R535s, they are a robust rim and very good value for money. They do make a lot of noise when powering over small rises though. The back wheel sounds very fragile, like an aluminium can, but it has never needed truing.

CHEERS.

Mark

I know what you mean about the aluminum can sound from the rear wheel. I thought I was the only one. Everytime when I'm REALLY cranking up a climb I hear a popping sound coming from the rear. I can never figure it out what causes it. The first few times I inspected the wheel to make sure I didn't have a factory defect or something, but so far after 1000 k's they are still true and seem pretty solid to me.

I also second the notion that all Shimano wheels are ball bearing, they don't make cartridge hubs.

that answers alot, i think i may go with the mavic cosmos elite. they are a bit more but i want the sealed cartridge bearings.

although for 299 - 20% performance coupon, $239.20 is a pretty good deal. Performance doesnt sell the mavic wheelset i was looking at, decisions decisions.

I have the Mavic Cosmos, and really like them.

what should mavic cosmos elite cost on average??

Do you mean Mavic Cosmos or Mavic Cosmic Elites? Take a look here for the latest deals on Mavics. They give you good sources on ebay deals and store web sites.

http://qbike.com/category/wheels-m.html

Hope this helps!

Cosmos should cost somewhere around $300-$350, if memory serves. I'm no longer at a Mavic shop so I don't have current pricing. I'd go with the Shimano wheels over the Mavics...we didn't have much luck with those hubs, particularly the freehub bodies. Servicability is pretty much nonexistent-if you have a problem you send the wheel back to Mavic. Just MHO...

get the dura-ace open pro wheels from excel sports. they are light as all get up, and I have heard very good things about the durability of the open pros. I only have about 50 miles on my new wheels, but they are sweeeeeeet...

Plus they are only $300 bucks. less then the cosmos, better wheels then the R540s.

Originally posted by djbowen1
what should mavic cosmos elite cost on average??

The Cosmos are a better model and are a little bit more expensive than the Cosmics. [I think those names are very very close and confusing.] I was looking on eBay and they were like $400 for the set, new of course.

-Dan the Man-

Actually,,,, the Cosmics are the taller aero rims that the pros have been using. They are more expensive than the Cosmos. They come in carbon, too. :D One of the two wheelsets should be called something else. It's too confusing.

i didnt even see the difference in names until now, i meant cosmic elite to begin with. How much are these wheels, i cant find a positive answer anywhere.

These are Mavic Cosmic Carbone (16F/20R - deep section rim)- $1100-1200

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/cosmic_c_ssc1.jpg

These are Mavic Cosmic Elite (20F/20R) - $400

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/cosmic_e2.jpg

These are Mavic Cosmos (24F/28R) - $300

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/i_cosmos1.jpg

These are Mavic Ksyrium SSC (18F/20R) - $800

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/ksyrium_ssc_sl5.jpg

These are Mavic Ksyrium Elite (18F/20R) - $500

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/ksyrium_e1.jpg

This is the Mavic Comete Route (Disc) - $1400

http://www.mavic.com/upload/produits/comete_roue7.jpg

Andrew

i think that the zipp disc looks better.

The Zipp is nice, but the best value is still the Renn;

http://www.rennmultisport.com/images/Renn_Wheel.gif

For a whopping price of $320 - http://www.rennmultisport.com

Andrew

meh. whats the point. If you are going to discs, you are obviosly very into the sport meaning that you are very good, and you deserve the best...not the bargain bin.