X-LinkedRider

Hey everyone.

I ride a Giant FCR3 and normally ride on my 700x25's with 32c rubber when I tour. I was considering getting into more road riding and joining the local club. There is a guy selling Xero XSR-3 Lite wheel set brand new in my area for 200 bucks. Are these rims any decent and are they worth the upgrade. Either way I am going to have to get new wheels in the future for road riding.

I just did not know if any of you had personal good bad opinions about these wheels. I know they are not the top of the line, but I would be coming from stock alloy double wall rims that probably cost around 45$ each.

Or for the 350 dollars that it is going to cost after a new cassette, chain, chainrings, and install should I just hold off and save up for a newer road bike?

Sorry for the all the question.
-X

X-LinkedRider

I forgot to mention that I weigh under 160 lbs and would really only be using this wheelset for road riding, and club riding. I have 5 or 6 other bikes that I could get by as daily's.

However, I was also considering using the wheelset on my 73 Schwinn Le-Tour. But I think I would have to change the brakes.

Grasschopper

I am having a hard time thinking of a wheel these would be an upgrade from. If you have a low budget think about the Mavic Aksium...VERY good budget wheel.

lenexatokcmo

I had a pair of these come on a GIANT and keep promising to upgrade them.
Pro: they seem to be built like a tank and have stayed true despite lots of careless abuse
Con: they weigh the same as a tank.

I suppose a case could be made for you in that they can withstand a lot of newbish beating - but I am not sure that they are really worth $200.

Tsuru

Hey OP! I had a set that I got from my friend who had a fresh set that came with his giant. I had not problems rocking them as a single speed, just some trueness issues here and there. BUT, on his giant, they came out of true quite a bit. He get them re-set than a few hundred miles later, wonka-wonka-wonka. I sold mine off with the single speed, he eventually replaced his with the Aksiums, which I also have on my new BMC. Nice wheels so far, no problems, taken a few hits on our sh*tacular roads too!

Tsuru

Quick add...... just did a quick search and saw a post on a different forum that said this..

That sounds like the problem he was having... go out of true, nips get boogered up, replace, then repeat.

But again, on the SS, I had only the occasional re-truing to worry about. But I put a lot less miles on it than he put on his giant.

helmut

Why will you need to replace the cassette, chain and chainrings? The only install charge should be about $4 to swap your current cassette from one wheel to another. Also, those Xeros are nothing to write home about. I would look at the classic Mavic Open Pro/Ultegra combo, or some Neuvations.

andrace

I have the Xsr-3's and i think they suck. They loose their true within a week of being trued, if you let it go too long they get really bad. If your rear brake is adjusted too tight they rub pretty easily. They also make all sorts of great pinging sounds on a regular basis. When i can afford to i plan on replacing these wheels.

X-LinkedRider

Ok. Well This all seemed like good info. Something to looking into those aksiums.

X-LinkedRider

I only see the aksiums coming with Shimano 9/10 speed. I run a SRAM sx4 8 speed.

X-LinkedRider

I have about 4k miles on the bike and the chain and cassette need replacing anyways. I should probably replace top 2 chainrings of the 3 as well. Just something I figured I would have to do.

lenexatokcmo

Only if they actually show signs of serious wear - especially the cassette and chainrings. Are the teath actually wearing down or developing "sharks teeth"?

Grasschopper

Should be fine. Shimano 9 speed is the same as their 8 speed (so that should actually say Shimano 8/9/10) and SRAM 8 speed cassettes are Shimano compatible.