WTF Bontrager???
#1
2 Wheels good
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WTF Bontrager???
First off, I have changed a ton of tires from BMX to MTB to Road - and never have I had such trouble as on my bontrager race wheels. I think the Rim size is a larger diameter than a traditional 700c wheel. It literally took me 15 minutes just to get the bead back on one side. This is the first time doing a tire change on it, and it pisses me off.
After I finally got the tire on I spun it around I noticed some cracks starting to form around the spoke nipples. I have less than 1000 miles on this wheelset- This is just plain annoying. I hope Bontrager will do the right thing and replace these. TO be honest, I liked the wheels when riding on them, and I hope this doesn't become a big issue.
Were the design engineer and quality control person getting it on in the closet while this wheel was being made? Cause they sure as hell weren't there doing their job.
-10 Points, Bontrager.
After I finally got the tire on I spun it around I noticed some cracks starting to form around the spoke nipples. I have less than 1000 miles on this wheelset- This is just plain annoying. I hope Bontrager will do the right thing and replace these. TO be honest, I liked the wheels when riding on them, and I hope this doesn't become a big issue.
Were the design engineer and quality control person getting it on in the closet while this wheel was being made? Cause they sure as hell weren't there doing their job.
-10 Points, Bontrager.
#3
Time for a change.
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As you can tell- I do not like Bontarger and my mates have had too many problems with Bontrager wheels to even bother about them. I am the ride mechanic and Bontrager named parts are my bugbear.
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#4
the actual el guapo
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fwiw, i have some bontrager race tires that i put on my bontrager camino rims. i have the same problem getting the bead to seat properly. its a real pain in the arse.
haven't had any problems with the rims other than, for an atb wheelset, they sure seem to go out of true really easily.
haven't had any problems with the rims other than, for an atb wheelset, they sure seem to go out of true really easily.
#5
Making a kilometer blurry
Rim cracks
Let's take a 100-year-old failed marketing idea (paired spokes) and use that to create a mythical reason to increase spoke tension so we can use fewer spokes and save weight. Then, we can make the rim thicker to account for the higher spoke tensio... oh wait! That would make the wheel normal weight again! No, let's just let normal thickness rims crack when people train on our race wheels because they're OEM spec'd on bikes.
Brilliant!
I'd recommend you milk the warranty, but buy some decent training wheels for the intermittent spots where Bontis are out for service in the coming years.
Let's take a 100-year-old failed marketing idea (paired spokes) and use that to create a mythical reason to increase spoke tension so we can use fewer spokes and save weight. Then, we can make the rim thicker to account for the higher spoke tensio... oh wait! That would make the wheel normal weight again! No, let's just let normal thickness rims crack when people train on our race wheels because they're OEM spec'd on bikes.
Brilliant!
I'd recommend you milk the warranty, but buy some decent training wheels for the intermittent spots where Bontis are out for service in the coming years.
#7
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Which wheels? Blanket statements don't cut it. My RaceXLites are excellent, as are most of the Bontrager higher end stuff and Carbon. I used some RaceLites that were a little flexy, but otherwise fine, no experience with Race or Selects.
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#8
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Hmm, i should check the wheels on my friend's bike. He's got a LeMond with Bontrager wheels and a spoke on the rear wheel just broke last weekend... He's not light either (around 210).
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Yeah, no problem with my Race X Lites and tire changes. You're really sure it's not the tire?
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Are the cracks only around the rear drive side spokes? I think they needed washers between the nipple and rim since there were no grommets in the rims like the Race lites or Rae X Lites. If they are still under warranty take them back. But you Will have to wait for replacement while they (Bontrager) figures our what to do. There are no replacements at this time.
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Naaa! its Bontrager- Sorry but if it has bontrager on it- It is not good quality and at a very high price.
As you can tell- I do not like Bontarger and my mates have had too many problems with Bontrager wheels to even bother about them. I am the ride mechanic and Bontrager named parts are my bugbear.
As you can tell- I do not like Bontarger and my mates have had too many problems with Bontrager wheels to even bother about them. I am the ride mechanic and Bontrager named parts are my bugbear.
#13
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I've had race lites and x lite wheels, plus x lite tires on both, never had any issues.
Yeah yea, Bontrager and Trek are crap, that's why the most succesful pro team in the Tour the past eight years has chosen to use their stuff, but what do they know...
Yeah yea, Bontrager and Trek are crap, that's why the most succesful pro team in the Tour the past eight years has chosen to use their stuff, but what do they know...
Last edited by DigitalRJH; 08-11-07 at 02:20 AM.
#14
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I have had my Bontrager Selects for going on 3 years and not a single issue. I was looking to get a new wheelset but as long as these are going strong I see no reason to. I am no racer, just a recreational rider and they have been good to me so far.
Cheers,
Brian
Cheers,
Brian
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I have had 1 set of Bont Race and 2 sets Race Lites over the last 25000km. In all cases cracks developed around the spoke nipples on the rear wheel. Being that I weigh 230 lbs, I questioned both the LBS owner and the Trek Rep weather or not if I was to heavy for the wheel. They said that weight had nothing to do with it and that I had defective rims. Each instance they promptly gave me new wheel sets. The solution was a mavic open pro wheel build which also did not cost me a cent. I think that Bontrager, Trek and my LBS did a great job handling my warantee issues.
As far as the tires go, I have never had any issues fitting the tires and the tires seem to last a reasonable 8000km or so which is't bad for the price.
As far as the tires go, I have never had any issues fitting the tires and the tires seem to last a reasonable 8000km or so which is't bad for the price.
#16
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bontrager wheels and tires both have been great love em last a long time
#17
Making a kilometer blurry
Paired spoking is a dumb design. It's not a durability issue in the timeframe of a race, when you have a truck full of wheels. Note that the team didn't train on paired spoke wheels.
Last edited by waterrockets; 08-10-07 at 11:11 PM.
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Rim cracks
Let's take a 100-year-old failed marketing idea (paired spokes) and use that to create a mythical reason to increase spoke tension so we can use fewer spokes and save weight. Then, we can make the rim thicker to account for the higher spoke tensio... oh wait! That would make the wheel normal weight again! No, let's just let normal thickness rims crack when people train on our race wheels because they're OEM spec'd on bikes.
Let's take a 100-year-old failed marketing idea (paired spokes) and use that to create a mythical reason to increase spoke tension so we can use fewer spokes and save weight. Then, we can make the rim thicker to account for the higher spoke tensio... oh wait! That would make the wheel normal weight again! No, let's just let normal thickness rims crack when people train on our race wheels because they're OEM spec'd on bikes.
#21
Making a kilometer blurry
Actually, if you read this: https://rolfprima.com/tech/paired_spoke/index.html, you'll see that what you're saying isn't necessarily true. I race and train on my Rolfs and have had far fewer problems than with traditional wheels. And I've talked with mechanics that agree that many of the newer wheelsets are more durable than traditional wheels.
Rolf has technology that makes sense (different sized flanges, for example), but they stick with the paired spoking for brand recognition. People like the wheels for their looks, but the paired spoking is not a good structural design.
If you want to group spokes together in a way that makes sense, Campy/Fulcrum triple rears are engineering genius. The DS/NDS tensions are equalized, and the unspoked spans of rim are shorter.
#22
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I have bontrager SSR wheels with the select tires. Tire changes are super easy and no problems with the rims yet and I think its the cheapest model they have.
Last edited by Turboem1; 08-11-07 at 04:41 AM.
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my bontrager carbon seat post snapped the other day, clean through - i'm 190lbs, not too heavy - luckily i managed to save my arse from the jagged leftovers of the post! i shudder to think... anyway, bontrager - not gonna say everything they do is crap, but seems many people have criticisms...
(btw the seatpost thing ever happen to anyone else?)
(btw the seatpost thing ever happen to anyone else?)
#24
Ha ha ha ha ha
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I use bontrager race lites on my commuter. They are the flexiest wheel I've ever used and I'm only 59kg. I agree with the OP, they are crappy when trying to mount tyres.
I have had to resort to metal levers after snapping three plastic levers.
When it's time to replace them, I'll be looking elsewhere.
I have had to resort to metal levers after snapping three plastic levers.
When it's time to replace them, I'll be looking elsewhere.
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https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html