Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Best bang for buck lightweight wheelset?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Best bang for buck lightweight wheelset?

Old 05-24-16, 09:54 AM
  #1  
I like my car
Thread Starter
 
ShadowGray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Best bang for buck lightweight wheelset?

What is the best bang for buck wheelset I can get right now? Just bought a new Pulsium 500 with Aksium wheels (~1800g) and common knowledge on the forums is that my new cf bike will assplode from trying to spin such heavy wheels.

Chinese carbon wheels seem to come in around ~1500g for around $400 but I want to see if I can't do better with my money.
ShadowGray is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 10:08 AM
  #2  
blah blah blah
 
milkbaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Try the Vuelta brand wheels from Nashbar. No guarantees on durability but very light discount wheels.
milkbaby is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 10:10 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
omarcastz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 55

Bikes: CAAD 10

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Fulcrum Racing 3 if you are looking for a very good clincher for a reasonable price.
Racing 3 (clincher/2 way fit) - Road Bike Wheels

~1500 grams for about $400 or cheaper if you look for sales. Probikekit and Merlin Cycles has them for about $375
omarcastz is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 10:14 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,517
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by milkbaby
Try the Vuelta brand wheels from Nashbar. No guarantees on durability but very light discount wheels.
+1

Corsa Lite which can be had for around $200 when Nashbar is doing 20-25% off (which is at least once a month) and 1550g. I had a set that I put about 5000 miles on with no issues only got rid of because I sold the bike. They were well built and true out of the box and never had to true them when I owned them. Only downside is they are 19mm wide
rms13 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 10:50 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 4,770
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 369 Times in 206 Posts
XR31T Wheelset Kit (SL79/SL210 Hubs + CXRay Spokes) - From $359.95
Elvo is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 10:55 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
NYMXer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Middletown NY
Posts: 1,495

Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO w Hi-Mod frame, Raleigh Tamland 1 and Giant Anthem X

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 352 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
I just got these: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Produc...0052_566773_-1

I'll post a review when I get a few miles on them
NYMXer is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:07 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Bikeracer123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Florida
Posts: 367

Bikes: 2016 Fuji Roubaix Ultegra 2014 Cannondale Supersix Black inc

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 130 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Campy zonda weigh about 1550 grams for about $350
Bikeracer123 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:24 PM
  #8  
I like my car
Thread Starter
 
ShadowGray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for all the recommendations! The Vuelta Corsa SLR seems to be the best option I've seen. ~1470g for low 200s. Reviews seem kind of mixed on the Vueltas though... even one thread recommending the Aksium over the Corsa Lite when it comes to durability?



I'm 145lbs max so I'm not putting a lot of weight on these wheels.


Could I find anything even lighter under $500? Anything approaching the 1300g mark for <$500?
ShadowGray is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:31 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 1,445

Bikes: Lynskey R240, 2013 CAAD10

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 50 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
If you're mechanically inclined, and have several hours to spare, build your own. I laced up a set of Pacenti SL23 rims to some BHS hubs in a 24f(2X)/28r(3x) configuration for <$300 (granted I did get the rims for under $100 for the pair). 1450g without skewers and rim tape. Great experience doing the work, and therapeutic too.
silversx80 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:40 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,608

Bikes: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint custom build, 2019 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0, 2018 Seven Mudhoney Pro custom build, 2017 Raleigh Stuntman, various others

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 782 Post(s)
Liked 475 Times in 238 Posts
Shimano WH-6800. You can find them for about $300 pretty easily. 1,640g, bulletproof, great freehub and some of the best bearings sold.
Hiro11 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:43 PM
  #11  
Custom User Title
 
RPK79's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE MN
Posts: 11,239

Bikes: Fuji Roubaix Pro & Quintana Roo Kilo

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2863 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times in 14 Posts
I run the Vuelta SLRs and I'm happy with them. I also have a set of Vuelta Corsa Pros that I use as my gravel wheels.
RPK79 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 12:51 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,517
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 3 Posts
Still haven't seen anything posted that is more "Best bang for buck lightweight wheelset" than Vuelta. Everything that posted that is the same weight is basically $150 more and the SLR can be had for about $100 less then the next cheapest wheels posted and are 100g lighter
rms13 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 01:12 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,453 Times in 1,823 Posts
Another vote for the Vueltas ....
Maelochs is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 02:52 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Bathwater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: In my car with my Garmin, stealing all your Strava KOMs
Posts: 327
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ShadowGray
Could I find anything even lighter under $500? Anything approaching the 1300g mark for <$500?
That's pretty tough to find. If you lived in Singapore these would be an option, but stateside, it'll set you back $610.

S2.0
Bathwater is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 02:57 PM
  #15  
I like my car
Thread Starter
 
ShadowGray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bathwater
That's pretty tough to find. If you lived in Singapore these would be an option, but stateside, it'll set you back $610.

S2.0
Should have picked them up the last time I was in Singapore!

It seems like the Vuelta's will be my best bet, since I don't ride anywhere near a competitive level. $200ish for <1500g wheelset sounds like a fair upgrade over the stock Aksium (410g weight reduction).
ShadowGray is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 03:03 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,055

Bikes: Lynskey R230 DA DI2 ENVE 3.4 SES, 6KU Fixie, Cheap Aluminum Slapstick Trainer only bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Shimano WH-RS81 C24... Bomb proof wheelset that feels great and rolls fast!
bored117 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 03:06 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
rpenmanparker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682

Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build

Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times in 36 Posts
You can get a pair of BHS/Kinlin/Sapim wheels that weigh 1,250 g for $375 including labor that you have to arrange. I would certainly build them for you for that. I ride wheels like that and love them.
__________________
Robert

Originally Posted by LAJ
No matter where I go, here I am...

Last edited by rpenmanparker; 05-24-16 at 03:19 PM.
rpenmanparker is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 03:08 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
rpenmanparker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682

Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build

Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times in 36 Posts
Originally Posted by bored117
Shimano WH-RS81 C24... Bomb proof wheelset that feels great and rolls fast!
I hate slow rolling wheels.
__________________
Robert

Originally Posted by LAJ
No matter where I go, here I am...

Last edited by rpenmanparker; 05-24-16 at 03:18 PM.
rpenmanparker is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 03:39 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 289

Bikes: 2013 Trek 1.5

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by rms13
+1

Corsa Lite which can be had for around $200 when Nashbar is doing 20-25% off (which is at least once a month) and 1550g. I had a set that I put about 5000 miles on with no issues only got rid of because I sold the bike. They were well built and true out of the box and never had to true them when I owned them. Only downside is they are 19mm wide
I'd love to upgrade my wheelset and I haven't seen a better bang for the buck than Vuelta. My stock wheels are incredibly heavy and Corsa Lites alone would cut almost 4 lbs from my bike, which is huge!!! I don't know where else you can get 4 lbs for under $300. Good to hear you didn't have any durability problems over 5000 miles. Although 19mm does seem pretty narrow, were you running 23mm tires?
Icculus21 is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 04:03 PM
  #20  
I like my car
Thread Starter
 
ShadowGray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nashbar website says rim width of 18mm for the Corsa SLR. Is that internal or external? It seems awfully narrow. I do want to ride 28mm tires on there eventually.

Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
You can get a pair of BHS/Kinlin/Sapim wheels that weigh 1,250 g for $375 including labor that you have to arrange. I would certainly build them for you for that. I ride wheels like that and love them.
That seems like a really good value. What parts are you looking at to get to that weight? I may try my hand at building a wheelset myself if the value is that good.
ShadowGray is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 05:29 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 2,667

Bikes: 2023 Canyon Aeoroad CF SL, 2015 Trek Emonda SLR, 2002 Litespeed Classic, 2005 Bianchi Pista, Some BikesDirect MTB I never ride.

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 647 Post(s)
Liked 135 Times in 88 Posts
Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
You can get a pair of BHS/Kinlin/Sapim wheels that weigh 1,250 g for $375 including labor that you have to arrange. I would certainly build them for you for that. I ride wheels like that and love them.
How do you build that set at 1250g? I have a Tune/Pacenti/CX Ray (20f/24r) wheelseet which is just over 1350g. Looking at the weights for those parts, that's pretty much as low as I've seen for something not underbuilt and scary fragile.
cthenn is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 05:33 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: California
Posts: 65

Bikes: Allez

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I've got the Corsa SLR's and they're best bang for buck if you just want to shed weight off the bike. I'm 180 pounds and have ridden them for about 1.5 years now, have yet to break a spoke (even riding them down curbs).

Only 3 cons I can find:
- Their width is narrow and they're difficult to mount tires on. I have no doubt I would have sold them if not for my steel core tire levers.
- I can feel them flex quite a bit under full throttle sprints but I am heavy..
- The rim strip they provided me is a bit too narrow. So much so that it might (when pushed to the edge of the bead) expose an edge to the tube.
Pactin is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 05:56 PM
  #23  
I like my car
Thread Starter
 
ShadowGray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Pactin
I've got the Corsa SLR's and they're best bang for buck if you just want to shed weight off the bike. I'm 180 pounds and have ridden them for about 1.5 years now, have yet to break a spoke (even riding them down curbs).

Only 3 cons I can find:
- Their width is narrow and they're difficult to mount tires on. I have no doubt I would have sold them if not for my steel core tire levers.
- I can feel them flex quite a bit under full throttle sprints but I am heavy..
- The rim strip they provided me is a bit too narrow. So much so that it might (when pushed to the edge of the bead) expose an edge to the tube.
Thanks for the info!

What size tires do you ride? Have you tried 28c?
ShadowGray is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 06:25 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: California
Posts: 65

Bikes: Allez

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by ShadowGray
Thanks for the info!

What size tires do you ride? Have you tried 28c?
I ride nominal 24 and 25c tires - Spesh, Hutch, Vittoria, Michelin. I think 28's would be too large/overkill on the wheels IMO, but I have yet to try them.
Pactin is offline  
Old 05-24-16, 06:45 PM
  #25  
SLJ 6/8/65-5/2/07
 
Walter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SE Florida, USA aka the Treasure Coast
Posts: 5,399
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 7 Posts
Bought a set of Vueltas for my wife from Nashbar a few Christmases ago and she's been very happy.
__________________
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Walter is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.