I've got some, which I think are 2006, with 20 & 24 DT Aero Speed spokes. The new ones have less spokes (18 & 20) and use a custom version of Sapim CX, which aren't CX-Rays
This is from a recent Aussie magazine on the difference between 404s and FP rims: "
Flash-Point rims are constructed using four cut pieces of carbon, which, if you can imagine forming into the complex shape of a rim, produces significant overlap of excess material. Zipp 404s use 60 CNC cut carbon pieces per rim, which minimizes overlap and keeps weight to a minimum, but this process is much more labour intensive, and therefore more expensive".
The Flash-Points are decent wheels, but some of the weight weenies think that 1850g is heavy for a set of 58mm-deep aero clinchers.
However, as a 185 pound masher, I find mine a bit too flexy, so I'm gunna get rid if them. I had the spoke tension checked, so it's not slack spokes that make them flexy. The rim construction seems a little flimsy to me -- I can easily bend and warp the carbon in my hands, and the wheels can easily be wobbled a long way side to side on the bike. Also, when flexing the spokes together with my hand (as you would to manually check spoke tension), the rims warps almost into an egg!
Maybe I should've only used them for road races (which I never do
) instead of mashing criteriums
Anyway, most people like them, so go for it.
Maybe I got some duds
I'm now looking at the new 50mm Dura-Ace clinchers, coz, by all reports, they're uber-stiff
The hubs are good, but big guys can bend aluminium axles.
I can't imagine the hubs being too much heavier than 404s, because the FPs have alu axles and an alu hub body. I bought my FP60s used, and replaced 3 of the slightly worn rear cartridge bearings with SKFs, and they run buttery smoooooth. I'm happy with the hubs. I'm pretty sure they use Joytec 'internals' with Zipp Flash-Point shells. I've seen the exact same hub internals and rear bodies on Airline wheels, Neuvations, Bustor hubs, and a couple of others I can't remember.
Anyway, unless hubs come with titamium and/or ceramic parts, or some other super-exotic metal, they (expensive hubs) are a total ripoff. If anyone's ever pulled apart a cartridge-bearing hub, you'll see that there's not much tech in there, so, in my opinion, paying huge bucks for "better" hubs is a big waste of money. For instance, a rear cartridge hub has about 50 bucks worth of (4) cartridges (even for a 'good' brand, like SKF), a cheap alu shell, an alu axle worth nothing, a few rubber seals and 'stoppers', then the hub body, the only 'tech' in which is the pawls!! In other words, I wouldn't be shelling out lots of extra bucks just for "better" hubs