Originally Posted by
vega2614
Well that escalated quickly.
I'd consider repairing the Ksyrium Elite if it were sub $150, but $200-250 seems really steep for a wheel that is probably about $300 new. And I'd be pretty upset if it cracked at 4k miles again. What's funny is I had a high opinion of them until they cracked; I never once had to true them and I liked the feel. It annoys me how everyone describes them as "bombproof," as from my own experience as well as what I've read from other posts, they're not, unless maybe you're 150 lbs.
the fact that you've never had them trued may have contributed to the cause of the cracked rim. Loose spokes will allow things to flex, and flex causes fatigue. I've never seen a rim crack due to loose spokes, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
Rear wheels cost about $400, and MSRP is probably a bit higher than that. Buying wheel parts usually cost more than a built wheel, but the OP only needs a rim and labor. $150 sounds like a pretty good deal to me, but YMMV.