Road Cycling - Shimano R-540

I'm looking for opinions of the Shimano R-540 wheelset. I'm a fairly aggressive rider, enjoy riding hills and weight approx. 175 lbs - is this a good wheelset or should I consider something else?

Thanks

The mavic Cosmos is a better wheelset for about the same price. If you do look at the Cosmos they made some improvements for 2004 so make sure that you are not looking at last years model. While both are very good you might as well have the latest. Or, at least make sure that you get a better price for last years.

My lbs sell them at the same price but throw in a pair of Michelin Pro Race or Conti 3000's with last year's model.

If I were buying my wheels separately, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the R540, but since they came with the bike I didn’t really have a choice. Not to say they’re bad wheels, but they certainly can be beaten. Some problems you might encounter are the weight (nearly 1900g), low spoke count (16 front and rear), and irregular nipple size for truing (4.3mm). Some people say they experience flex, which causes the wheel to rub the brake pad, but I haven’t been able to replicate that with sprinting or aggressive climbing. I don’t know the exact weight, but a set of Open Pro’s laced to an Ultegra hub would probably be cheaper, stronger, and lighter.

I have them and cant really full heartedly recommend them. I do notice some flex and I am only a 136lb rider. I had a spoke on the back that kept coming loose, the LBS kept tightening it and used locktite. It finally broke and since no one has one of those spokes I have a temporary on there that works ok. They are heavy, I'm looking to get some new wheels. THe front wheel has been problem free and is still true even after the beatings I have made it endure in terms of road conditions.

If they're anything like the R535s, getting a tire on and off the rim is a bear. Plus the other gotchas that have already been mentioned, weight, odd nipple size (requires supplied nipple wrench), flexiness, and hard to find spokes.

I'm looking for opinions of the Shimano R-540 wheelset. I'm a fairly aggressive rider, enjoy riding hills and weight approx. 175 lbs - is this a good wheelset or should I consider something else?

Thanks

I have actually been very happy with mine. I too am a fairly aggressive rider and weigh 180 lbs. I have never experienced any flex that the above posts mention. These wheels have taken some pretty big hits on the crappy post-winter pavement around St. Louis and have stayed perfectly true. I was thinking about getting the Mavic Cosmos too, and if memory serves me correctly, the wheelsets are within a few grams of each other in weight. Having not ridden both, I can't comment on the Mavics, but the 540's are very good, solid wheels that give some aero advantage over "standard" wheels. Just my .02

I have the 540's.. and have heard a few funky things with them.. mainly the flex and such.. but I've never experienced any of it.. I like the wheels... I have about 1200 miles on mine... so far, no problems at all

jeff

I have put over 6000 miles on my 540's and have never had any issue. Always stayed true and I thought handling was pretty good. However broke my forst spoke today and am concerned about getting it replaced with the exact type spoke. Also looks as if it just wore thin at the point it enters the rim (gets thinner there during the 180 degree turn. Worried now about the other 15 spokes. Also, when you loose one spoke out of 16 you are done riding at that point. It throws your wheel out of true so bad it is not ridable. Any suggestions?

I have a set that I've put 2000+ miles on and they are still true and have no issues(I weigh 180). I live in Mexico and had an LBS in Laredo, Texas get some spokes to have on hand since they are hard to come by even more so here... You ought to remember that the posts against them are probably in the minority over all. I also have a set of low spoke count Ritchey DS PRO wheels with normal spokes and about 1500+miles on them with no issues. These also are maligned on the forums. Everybody has their pet wheel sets, tires... frames etc. and critics abound. If you like them just go with them.

If they're anything like the R535s, getting a tire on and off the rim is a bear. .

I agree with that. I won't even attempt to change a tire/tube on my 535's :mad:

I just take them to my LBS.

I have a set that I've put 2000+ miles on and they are still true and have no issues(I weigh 180). I live in Mexico and had an LBS in Laredo, Texas get some spokes to have on hand since they are hard to come by even more so here... You ought to remember that the posts against them are probably in the minority over all. I also have a set of low spoke count Ritchey DS PRO wheels with normal spokes and about 1500+miles on them with no issues. These also are maligned on the forums. Everybody has their pet wheel sets, tires... frames etc. and critics abound. If you like them just go with them.

The new models of the 540 have straight, bladed spokes. There were "supposedly" some metal fatigue problems with the older ones where the spoke hooked into the side of the rim.
Mine are fairly stiff wheels. They roll VERY well, and have caused me no problems. I hve them on an older touring weight steel framed bike, and they still transmit bumps a bit harshly.

If they're anything like the R535s, getting a tire on and off the rim is a bear. Plus the other gotchas that have already been mentioned, weight, odd nipple size (requires supplied nipple wrench), flexiness, and hard to find spokes.

They are. Changing tires/tubes takes about an hour and a month's allotment of swear words.

I have about 2K miles on mine and have had no problems. Like someone said earlier though, I have them because they came on the bike I purchased. If I were buying wheels separately I would probably get something different, possibly the Velomax Ascent II. However, the price jump is substantial. From my experience I would say go for it. Hope this helps. ROn