thirdin77

I did a search but didn't read much on this forum about the American Racing Hurricane wheelset. It looks great- 32 3x double-butted spokes but they don't weight 2000g like my Ultegra/Open pro set from Performance. No rider weight limit, OK for cyclocross. Sounds like they want to be abused.

Thoughts?

bdcheung

It's a solid wheelset that stands up to a lot of abuse. I have teammates who use them as their Cyclocross race wheels.

If I had the money, I'd get a set to use for 'cross as well.

ravenmore

I've heard they're decent, but to be honest I'd go for a set of custom built wheels. It'd probably be cheaper, lighter, and stronger. A suggestion might be 30mm KinLin Niobium rims with some Serenity hubs. 28 spoke rear - 3x. 24 spoke front radial lace. If you've got the coin go with Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Should be a sub 1400 gram wheelset that is fairly aero and strong.

dekindy

Here's a couple in case you did not see them.

https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wh...6_2490crx.aspx

Nimitz87

I was looking at building some niobium 30's 24/28 cx rays but with DT hubs. are serenity/formula the same?

would this be good for a 200lb guy?

Chad

ravenmore

I was going to go with the Serenity hubs myself just from a budget standpoint. The DT Swiss 240 rear hub is the best out there IMO though. If you have the coin stick with it.

waterrockets 

On paper, they look like standard 32h 3x wheels.

Having experience with American Classic AC Sprint 350s, they are HORRIBLY assembled. They use some sort of glue for spoke prep, and you really can not maintain them at all. I had to completely re-nipple a set that I was servicing with bras nips -- all I wanted to do is true them. That sucks, right there.

If these wheels use the same nipple glue, I'd stay far, far away.

Even with the weight difference, there's really no performance difference between these and a set of Open Pros. The care and feeding of the Open Pros will just be easier.

BananaTugger

Open Pro + Ultegra.

Even Shook's pieces can't handle them.

Nimitz87

yeah but considering the cost of the DT hubs is almost as the entire wheel build for the Formula hubs....hard to stick with that.

think I'll go with the formula hubs, kinlin/niobium 30mm, cx-ray spokes, 24/28 should be around 1450 w/o skewers.

Chad

ravenmore

should be a solid build

joejack951

My AC 350 Sprint rear wheel might have been drastically under-tensioned but I had no problems with adjusting it back to spec. Maybe the nipple glue is something new (got mine in 2005).

csown

I had a pair that came with my Blue. I didn't have any trouble truing them - the nipples turned fine - and they never did really need much maintenance. I did tons of commuting with them and I was going to use them for cross this season. A lot of the weight savings is in the aluminum freehub, which gets really chewed up unless you use those clips that come with the wheels. I had about 3000 mi on the pair before the front was totaled when I got hit by a car. I personally think they're a better all-around wheel than Ultegra/OP's (which I used to use for training) due to slightly lighter rims and a slightly more aero cross-section (like aeroheads). The Ultegra/OP's are a lot cheaper though.

thirdin77

Thanks for the replies.

Upon reading csown's reply, I finally went and read up on these. AC says they use spoke freeze on their nipples. So that's why WR had a hard time with his. AC also recommends to using this tool to overcome the freeze of the spoke freeze. There's another $70. Then they tell you to take them to a professional mechanic to have them re-tensioned after 100 miles. I don't know how to tension so that would mean about $$ to have a competent shop do it.

I wanted these because they sounded like they were lighter but just as durable as my OP/Ultegra's but now it sounds like they would be not only more expensive to buy but more expensive to own.

duuuuuude

If you're gonna use them for cross, I'd go Ultegra Open Pros. Easy maintenance and super strong. You don't wanna go busting up expensive wheels anyway....

bdcheung

WR when did you get those wheels? Because my whole team ordered AC wheels this year and nobody has said a word about a) Bad assembly; b) Bad hubs; c) Any kind of nipple paste.

I know you're just speaking your experience, but it could be potentially damaging to a good company if your experience is antiquated.

DrPete 

Did anyone on your team have to true or otherwise maintain their wheels? Seems like WR's observations won't be made by someone who's just riding them.

ravenmore

^^^very fair observation. Waterrockets didn't just ride the wheels he actually took them apart because he had to in order to true them properly.

bdcheung

Yeah, many of us after a training camp that included some not-nice roads. Myself included.