American Clasic 420's vs. Rolf Vigor RS's
06-05-06, 10:14 AM
#1
Closet Bike-a-holic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Way North of 635
Posts: 823
Bikes: '02 Cannondale R700 Road Warrior
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
American Classic 420's vs. Rolf Vigor RS's
Is this a coin flip??
__________________
The road don't go nowhere, stays right where it is.
www.friscocycling.com
www.hopefellowship.net
The road don't go nowhere, stays right where it is.
www.friscocycling.com
www.hopefellowship.net
06-05-06, 10:51 AM
#3
Former Hoarder
Throw the Niobium 30's in that mix as well.
__________________
06-05-06, 12:29 PM
#4
ONE DOWN, FIVE UP...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 1,462
Bikes: LOOK KG281, Bianchi Pista, Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've owned the AC 420's and currently own a set of Vigor's (non-RS). I love them both!!! Get the one that you can get the better deal on. If you want to put a cassette on my Vigors and take them for a spin, let me know. I mostly use them on calm days but how many of those do we get around here
06-05-06, 04:59 PM
#5
Closet Bike-a-holic
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Way North of 635
Posts: 823
Bikes: '02 Cannondale R700 Road Warrior
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by kevinmcdade
I mostly use them on calm days but how many of those do we get around here
__________________
The road don't go nowhere, stays right where it is.
www.friscocycling.com
www.hopefellowship.net
The road don't go nowhere, stays right where it is.
www.friscocycling.com
www.hopefellowship.net
06-05-06, 05:17 PM
#6
Industry Maven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Wherever good bikes are sold
Posts: 2,936
Bikes: Thylacines...only Thylacines.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
AmClassic hubs are utter crap, with reliability issues, bad sealing, and a bizarre size bearing that you can only get from them, and they're made in Taiwan to top it off. Rolfs have none of those issues, which is why they'd get my vote if you were just limited to those two. The Rolfs also have more quality innovation per square inch than almost any other pre-built wheelset out there, which has to be a factor.
However, if I was getting new road wheels, it would be IRD Cadence rims, laced with Sapim CXRay spokes to Soul-Kozak hubs. 1350g of insane custom wheels. Want a bit more aero? go with the Cadence Aero rims.
However, if I was getting new road wheels, it would be IRD Cadence rims, laced with Sapim CXRay spokes to Soul-Kozak hubs. 1350g of insane custom wheels. Want a bit more aero? go with the Cadence Aero rims.
06-06-06, 02:13 AM
#7
Made in Norway
Originally Posted by Thylacine
AmClassic hubs are utter crap, with reliability issues, bad sealing, and a bizarre size bearing that you can only get from them, and they're made in Taiwan to top it off. Rolfs have none of those issues, which is why they'd get my vote if you were just limited to those two. The Rolfs also have more quality innovation per square inch than almost any other pre-built wheelset out there, which has to be a factor.
However, if I was getting new road wheels, it would be IRD Cadence rims, laced with Sapim CXRay spokes to Soul-Kozak hubs. 1350g of insane custom wheels. Want a bit more aero? go with the Cadence Aero rims.
However, if I was getting new road wheels, it would be IRD Cadence rims, laced with Sapim CXRay spokes to Soul-Kozak hubs. 1350g of insane custom wheels. Want a bit more aero? go with the Cadence Aero rims.
06-06-06, 05:28 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 127
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My CR420s were bulletproof. I also have the 38mm carbons. I also suggest you get the sapim CXray upgrade... the aero spokes definitely make a difference. My carbons have the DTs... and the 420s felt faster. The only reason why I sold my 420s is because they were shimano... and I ride campy now.
Baloney that AC hubs are crap. I've logged 9k on AC hubs last season without issue. Plus, you can easily upgrade their hubs to ceramic for less than $100 from BocaBearings.com
I was under the impression that A/C makes the hubs for Rolf as they do for Ritchey.
As for choosing between the two... I would rather have spokes that can be trued. As opposed to the super high tension setup on the Ralphs.
The only negative about them (and this applies to both... because its the same rim) is that the braking surface is narrow. You need to keep an eye on your pad wear, or they will take off the anodising on the rim sidewall. Best thing is to edge your pads on a bench grinder, so the contact patch is the width of the narrow braking surface.
Baloney that AC hubs are crap. I've logged 9k on AC hubs last season without issue. Plus, you can easily upgrade their hubs to ceramic for less than $100 from BocaBearings.com
I was under the impression that A/C makes the hubs for Rolf as they do for Ritchey.
As for choosing between the two... I would rather have spokes that can be trued. As opposed to the super high tension setup on the Ralphs.
The only negative about them (and this applies to both... because its the same rim) is that the braking surface is narrow. You need to keep an eye on your pad wear, or they will take off the anodising on the rim sidewall. Best thing is to edge your pads on a bench grinder, so the contact patch is the width of the narrow braking surface.
06-06-06, 05:33 AM
#9
ONE DOWN, FIVE UP...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 1,462
Bikes: LOOK KG281, Bianchi Pista, Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I never had any problems with my AC420's either. I used them as everyday wheels and loved them.
06-06-06, 06:41 AM
#11
Isaias
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 5,182
Bikes: Ridley X-Fire (carbon, white)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by kevinmcdade
I never had any problems with my AC420's either. I used them as everyday wheels and loved them.
AC did have a recall for some of their hubs that required a cam plate to be replaced. AC sent me a cam plate--no charge, of course--I started the replacement myself with no problem, but it turned out that I didn't need the new plate.
06-06-06, 08:09 AM
#12
Former Hoarder
Originally Posted by Rich_W
I was under the impression that A/C makes the hubs for Rolf as they do for Ritchey.
__________________
09-08-06, 10:24 PM
#15
Baby it's cold outside...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SK, Canada
Posts: 7,310
Bikes: Trek 5000, Rocky Mountain Wedge, GT Karakoram K2, Litespeed Tuscany
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like my AC 420's enough.
The Rolf wheels use American Classic Rims.
The Rolf wheels use American Classic Rims.
__________________
-Trek 5000* -Project Litespeed* -The Italian Job* -Rocky Wedge* -The Canadian Connection*
-Trek 5000* -Project Litespeed* -The Italian Job* -Rocky Wedge* -The Canadian Connection*
09-09-06, 12:23 AM
#17
Faith-Vigilance-Service
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 8,330
Bikes: Trinity, Paradisus, Centurion, Mongoose, Trek
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I think they are both good. The AC's had hub issues a year or two ago, along with an appropriate recall. They flaw has long since been taken care of, and I have heard nothing bad since. I personally will soon be in the market for a set of AC-420's fpr my wifes new machine. I can't think of anything better for around $500-$600 to put on it.
__________________
President, OCP
--"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
President, OCP --"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
Last edited by Patriot; 09-09-06 at 07:12 AM.
