PeaceGrabber

Many wheelsets are lighter and cheaper than Ksyrium SL or SSL. Such as, new Brontrager X Lite wheels are often cheaper on ebay. (Brontrager X lite weighted almost the same as the SL) I have seen many people upgraded their wheels to Ksyrium SL or SSL on this forum but not Zipp, Reynold, Shimano, Rolf, Spinergy and Brontrager.

azwhelan

They look cool! Lets face it most of us make decision based on looks since we're not good enough that a few ounces makes a difference. If we were good enough that counting grams made a difference people would be paying us to ride with their wheels.

ewitz

Lets see they are light, bombproof, stiff as anything out there and corner like nothing else. And they are not really that expensive when you consider that they can be both your race and training wheel.

Tequila Joe

My experience & reasons:

Virtually indistructable. I've run mine over railroad tracks, into pot holes, bunny hop over crap on the road and after 5000 km, still true as the day I got them.

Stiff! No flexy noodle wheels here. Great control in tight crits, fast descents and every ounce of energy translates into forward motion.

Great hubs and bearings. Like I said, 5000K and still rollin smooth.

T.J.

Oh yeah, and they look "Da Bomb" Baby!

531Aussie

they DO look cool

check out the price of the new Ultegra wheels.....WOW!!!!

steppinthefunk 

Personally I don't care too much for the look of Mavic wheels in general... What's up with those stickers! especially on the new Cosmic Carbone SL's - Talk about overboard!...
-jason-

krazyderek

i hated them when they first came out, but i eventually got them cause i wanted a "bomb proof" set of wheels, looking forward to using them.

hypersnazz

We've been noticing a slight decrease in robustness ever since Mavic started scalloping out the rim between the spokes on the Ksyriums. Had a handful of cracked rims come in, especially from heavier riders and riders using them as everyday / training wheels. Major bummer. Nowadays we tell customers they're primarily a race wheel that can be used for light to moderate training, to be on the safe side.

I personally don't like the look of the latest crop of silver Ksyriums...they look terrible on any bike that isn't black, especially against Ti (and we sell a TON of Sevens and a number of IFs with that raw Ti look). The Ksyrium ES is money, though. I dig the way they integrated the look of the Helium and sorta modernized it. Super sexy, especially on this frame.

SquatchCO

OCP value?

EURO

It's one of those 'tipping point' things isn't it? Everyone gets them now, because they are a 'standard' like Nike Jordans.

Lectron

They are not particular light or bombproof and waaaayyyy overpriced. Reasonable stiff though.
Why everyone gets them? Easy.Marketing always win

roadwarrior

I got the SL set with a bike, a Cannondale CAAD7 R3000 two years ago. Loved them. Strong and light. It's a pro racing road wheel that can also hold up to the rigors of cyclocross. We have two guys in the bikeshop that ride them in cyclocross, as well. BUT...if you are a bigger guy (as I think this has been mentioned), you can still ride them. It's a racing wheel, I ride them every day. It was just after the 10,000 mile mark that I finally had a spoke go. I cannot complain about that. I have kept them for two additional years on to, now, my second Six/13.
However...if I was going to buy a wheelset, I'd buy Zipp, and because they are made in Indianapolis and their sales director is a friend of mine...who gives me grief about my Mavic's.
I met a guy from out of town who had purchased a Pilot 5.9 which comes spec'd with Bontrager Race XLites and he's about 5'9" and around 200 pounds. He flexes the wheels so much that he is riding with the brake quick release opened up...light is not always the best, unless you are Simoni size...also, remember that professionals have a semi load of wheels at their disposal. Durability is not the issue with them.
The reason I am impressed with the SL's is that it is a light race wheel that is holding up to the rigors of everyday riding with a minimum of maintenance.

They can't be too bad if the Italians like them.

Personally, being in the bike business offers the benefit of riding what we want and having the chance to ride a lot of different equipment. What I like may not be what everyone else likes...but having ridden a half dozen different type of wheels, and done it on my frame, these are, IMO, really nice and responsive wheels that, unlike many other race wheels, can withstand daily riding.
It's interesting that several pro teams go with these since they are clincher wheels. FWIW...

roadwarrior

Does Simoni know this?

orguasch

its a great racing and training wheels, I have the Mavic Ksyrium SSL SC/2003 Tour de France Edition with one Yellow spoke and its Numbered.

Lectron

How many sets do you think he got and how many miles do you think he has on them?

Yes. And what do you think he paid for them?

roadwarrior

Don't know...don't care...but I know how many miles I have on mine.

My guess is that, in Bikeforum's great tradition, another poster has weighed in on a subject as they have "read something in a magazine during the morning constitutional after my coffee so now I am an expert", yet does not have many if any miles or experience on the wheels...since you have an opinion, maybe sharing the experience you have on this wheelset to form that opinion would be valuable...go about four posts up and you'll see why I think it's a good wheelset. Your mileage may vary.

BTW...I put the smiley face on my post for a reason....

Thank you.

BikesAreCool123

they are bombproof wheels

FlashBazbo

MAVIC Ksyrium SL are great wheels:

1. Light. In fact they are lighter (when the actual wheels are weighed) than most wheels that claim to be lighter. (Check the Weight Weenies website.) I haven't found a comparable performing wheel that's as light or lighter.

2. Strong. Stiff and work well for riders of various weights. Confidence-inspiring on descents and curves.

3. Very low maintenance. I have roughly 20,000 miles on the various iterations, starting with SSC, and I have never ever had to true one of these wheels. I've hit some serious craters, railroad tracks, etc. and have never had an issue.

4. Not THAT expensive compared to comparable wheels. They're selling for less than $1,000 now. Easton sells wheels of comparable weight for less money -- but they are decidedly fragile and high maintenance.

umd

You dug up a 5 year old thread to add that**********???


hahahahahahahaha

K.Katso

He probably works for Mavic. I swear sometimes I think that Mavic owns 50% of this forum, Cannondale the other 50%.

CyciumX

I was going to post that pic of the single speed Caad again.... but decided to spare you guys in case you just ate lunch.

I own a Caad9 and Ksyrium Elites.. no comment on anything higher, but they both propel my ass with more confidence than some other wheels I have... and I haven't had to True them since buying them last year (+4,000 miles).

coasting 

sram

SpongeDad

My set:

Pros:
15,000+ miles over potholes and 9 cyclocross seasons - absolutely dead true and they look like new.
When coasting on descents, I catch up to people - it's not my position either.
No flex - very crisp feel.

Cons:
Not cheap.
Bladed spokes catch crosswinds.

Quel

Testing puts them as some of the least aero wheels you can buy, so I'm not sure what to make of that comment.

Anyways, good enough wheels. Psimet can build you better for cheaper though.

rangerdavid

THIS is the correct answer. AND.....


they are the SHIZZZZZZ!!!