dwellman

Question: Two Mavic Reflex Clincher rims: Sell or keep?

These are the sliver-ish CD. Got these in 1997.

One 36 hole unlaced and one 32 laced to a HB-6400. Maybe ridden a total of. . 18 miles. And then put into "storage"

Funds are basically down to the E, but if these aren't worth anything much I'll. . . .

You know, it's a shame, but about all I can afford is something around a FH-4500: which, is just "wrong" to be in the same wheelbase with such vintage Shimano hotness. . . but again it's also wrong to have these lying around doing nothing. . .

If I were to CL or Ebay ( or here ) these things what should I expect?

auchencrow

Keep. - but not because they aren't worth something:

From what I read, the Mavic Reflex clincher was the same as the Open Pro, and when I went to price these they were $77@ on line - in black.
(The silver version is quite attractive and I would think, worth a premium.)

I would keep them because in general, good vintage rims are getting pricier. You won't see NOS rims for $10 anymore.

dwellman

Right, so what goes on the rear? I mean, where I'm a gonna find a FH-6402? For less than say $50? Here's a 28 hole that went for not too much a few weeks ago. . .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SHIMANO-600-...#ht_500wt_1322

auchencrow

You asked for input on whether you should keep or sell the RIMS.
When it comes time to build up wheels - You will have to get a hub, and you will get what you pay for then. (Personally I'd wait till I had some cash and look for a good FW hub for such a nice rim.)

FastJake

I have a similar problem too. I have an old Dura Ace 36h front hub that will probably never get built into a wheel because I'll never be able to find a matching rear hub for less than a fortune. Have you seen the prices on them? It's ridiculous! I think I got the front hub for $15 but a rear hub with an 8/9/10S body is like $50-$100, IF you can find one.

I say keep them until you can get a matching hub. A front wheel and a rim are not worth much, and I would not recommend tearing down the front wheel just to sell the rims as a pair. Then you're left with a hub and a bunch of spokes you'll probably never use. Keep searching, you should be able to find a FH-6402 for around $30 on ebay sooner or later.

Standard Issue

oh yeah? I've got a set of reflex clinchers in bronze/black with dura-ace hubs but the rear freehub body has a cracked race and I can't find a hub without a uniglide body to swap over. I even bought a brand new axle thinking that's all the hub needed, talk about a predicamint! All I want is a working set of 700c rims with 126-130 spacing. I'd gladly trade my reflex/dura ace wheels with the new axel for a decent set of 700s.

dwellman

Dura Ace. Yeah. . ALMOST got one, but then remembered: you CAN'T (for all intents and purposes) swap out the uniglide bodies on those.

Thinking about that set of 105 I saw on the ebay. . . but I only have one 36h Reflex clincher.

Backstory Dept.
In fact when I had these wheels built THAT's the hubset (HB-1055) I wanted and THOUGHT I ordered and until recently just assumed is what I had. . . granted this was 15 years ago. I cleaned off some grime and saw the tricolor logo. . oh.

OH.

Well. Ok.

Now the fact "they" put in an HP-6500 makes sense, but not the UN52 BB. . . why not a UN71 or. . ok I'm arguing with the past)

I HAD a 32 hole FH-6400 (laced to an Open 4 CD) I did do a body swap on sold it for $78. The 4CD doesn't quite match the Reflex (dark grey vs silver)

And the only reason a I have 32 and a 36 instead of pair of one or the other is 1) I was trying to save money by using my existing hub (stupid Miche 36h freewheel) and 2) scuttlebutt, at the time, was a 32 home stronger because of more even tension or some junk-- probably untruths.

FastJake

Yep, you nailed it. I almost bought a 7S DA hub before I remembered the issue with swapping the FH body. To make matters worse you can't even put a normal 7S cassette on because the threading for the last cog was smaller to allow an 11T to fit. So if you want a DA hub that isn't an old freewheel hub, you pretty much have to get something made after 1990.

Anyway, good luck figuring out your wheel dilemma. Sounds complicated.

dwellman

Thanks.