Road Cycling - Shimano R540 vs R535

What is the difference between these wheelsets?

Brendon

the 540 is just a 'new and improved' 535, i.e. same wheel minus a few grams. Not sure how many though. Im riding the 540's for what its worth

Same wheels, actually. Shimano's tech manual specifies no weight changes or anything else, for that matter.

OK..odd..but that's Shimano for ya!

I am looking at a bike that has 105 components, the R540 wheels, R540 pedals for $2000NZD...normally you'd be looking towards the $3000 mark for this sorta stuff! Or I could get the Ultegra bke for $2,500 with the same wheels and pedals.

Thing is I have heard that a strong rider will find too much flex in these wheels and they aren't the strongest for sprinting - one thing I don't do too bad at!

If I was to buy the bike I would probably sell the 540 wheels and use my current 32spoke wheels untill I can afford some Ksyriums *drools*

The 540s retail for $700 here in NZ, what do you think would be a good price to ask if I were to sell them without them even being used? $500? I am going to take them off the bike as soon as I get it (if I get it)....

Brendon

I was never that impressed with my R535's. They were a good price for such a low spoke count wheel, but did flex a lot, enough to scrape the brake pads that were 1mm away from the rim. The other problem was broken spokes. I had a spoke go in the back and had to call a taxi to get home, it was unrideable. I am only 65-68kg a friend who weighs 83kg also had the same problems with flex and spokes. I bought the Ksyrium SSC SL's and they are fantastic, light, fast, and stay true.

CHEERS.

Mark

About like the ritchey wheelsets.Might be ok for the lighest of riders.

ive stopped using any of the shimano wheelsets as ive flexed all of them when out of the saddle on climbs...i am 200lbs and put alot thru the pedals tho :)

even the new dura ace wheels had to be sold to a lighter rider

I use the 540's.. I like them a lot.. not too much flex for me.. but then I'm only 163 lbs...

Jeff

Any ideas as to what price I could sell them for?

Sipper, one of the things with flex for me will be my sprinting...without any sprint training I am able to do about 55kmh..... and cadence at 192rpm. I am about 152lbs....

I have read a review on roadbikereview.com of some tiny sprinter from singapore (100lbs!) and he was breaking spokes in a sprint.

I have also not heard good things about the hubs and bearings.

I think these wheels would be OK for TTing, but the Ksyriums are more aero? With the schools TT rules here you are not allowed deeper rims than 32mm and bladed spokes of no more than 2mm wide blah blah blah.

I don't think my FD goes up to 192,man.

FD? sorry?

Hi,
ask your dealer if you can trade them in while they are new for credit towards better wheels. That will take a big bite out of buying better wheels.

Any ideas as to what price I could sell them for?

Sipper, one of the things with flex for me will be my sprinting...without any sprint training I am able to do about 55kmh..... and cadence at 192rpm. I am about 152lbs....

I have read a review on roadbikereview.com of some tiny sprinter from singapore (100lbs!) and he was breaking spokes in a sprint.

I have also not heard good things about the hubs and bearings.

I think these wheels would be OK for TTing, but the Ksyriums are more aero? With the schools TT rules here you are not allowed deeper rims than 32mm and bladed spokes of no more than 2mm wide blah blah blah.

Damn... that is fast... my legs don;t rotate that fast... maybe they aren;t all that great for racing.. but for general recreational/ quick club rides... they have been fine for me...

Jeff

Oh yeah im really into racing and stuff lol....forgot to say...... I love all aspects as I am an all round rider - TT, Road Race, Hill Climb, havn't really tried Crits yet.

Brendon

FD? sorry?
Flight Deck

I have an Echo J12...not that expensive but it does give a Max RPM and average RPM....and if you hit 200rpm or more it will flash say 00 when you select max RPM..... or if you were to get 215 it would flash 15 etc.

One of my aims is to crack 200rpm :D:D

Hi,
ask your dealer if you can trade them in while they are new for credit towards better wheels. That will take a big bite out of buying better wheels.
Thats what i did.Perfprmance gave me 150 for the ritcheys that were on my bike and i put that towards the elites.

Never had a customer complain about the Shimano wheelsets-even had some clydesdales that regularly broke spokes with other wheelsets have no issues with these. True, they are a bit flexy, but that also gets you a more complaint ride than the Ksyriums, for example. It all depends on what your intended purpose is.
Not sure about the comment about the Ritchey wheelsets; never had a problem with those either.
Methinks a lot of what you get out of wheelsets relates to how good a job your shop does when checking spoke tension and truing the wheels out of the box...

It all depends on what your intended purpose is.
Racing Racing racing :D:D

Brendon

Then don't use shimano wheelset.How's that?

Then don't use shimano.

:rolleyes:

Gimme a break.....Groupo will be Shimano 105, as I cant afford Ultegra or Campy. Wheels will not be shimano.

Brendon