Negotiate swap of WH-R550 wheels?
 

I have another post today asking about a fair price for an '06 Cdale R800. I am considering this bike and will test ride it tomorrow. It comes with the WH-R550 wheelset and I've read some negative posts about them. I weight ~205lbs and worry about the durability of these wheels. I expect to get a decent deal on the bike if I go for it plus I may be able to negotiate a swap (or credit) on the wheels.

So, should I swap them out or just use them? If I do swap, what wheels would be a reasonable replacement (similar cost level)?

Thanks,
Dave

Swap them, the R550's are junk! I had a pair that came on my C'dale R700 that gave me a lot of trouble. In 1700 miles I had to have them trued twice, retensioned once, and had a broke spoke. At that point I gave up on them and got a decent set of wheels.

In that price range you're best bet is probably a set of 32h Ultegra/Open Pros.

I have the exact bike with those wheels. I weigh 195 and have 3500 mile on it with no problems at all. What is a fair price? Thinking of selling mine right now?

I haven't got a response on a fair price yet. Plus, the bike I'm looking at is new.

This is why I am on the fence about the wheels. Two responses, two completely different experiences. I'm still leaning towards swapping them out.

Thanks,
Dave

550 can be found on Performance or Nashbar for mid/upper $100's and even cheaper on ebay.
I've put about 1200 miles on mine with the last 200 on my CX bike. Only recently broke a spoke due to CX abuse. From a performance standpoint, these wheels "feel" sluggish compared to other wheels I've rode (Kysrium Elites/SSL, Easton Circuits, Nuevations, AC 350, OP/Ultegra).
If it's not that much extra, swap them out for a mid range wheelset.

Ditto on the no problems. I weigh about 180 and have about 3,000 miles on my WH-R550s. I have seen others I ride with on the same roads have problems with other well respected wheels. I guess I have been fortunate.

I would see if you can swap them out for a set of Open Pros with Ultegra hubs. If you take the Open Pro / Ultegras to a good wheel builder and get them properly tensioned, they should give you years of trouble free service.

Swap them for sure. You will get ~$150 for those if brand new and you try to sell them...if you can get that or more in a swap do it for sure.

More spokes the better for us Clydesdales...go for 32 or 36 in the back and 28 or 32 in front laced to something like a DT Swiss RR1.1 or Mavic OP.

I was having the same thoughts about a Cannondale with WH-R550s. They just didn't seem like a good compromise between weight and strength, especially for anyone Clyde-ish (myself included.)

Well, just visit the LBS and rode the R800. Wonderful bike. The wheels felt fine. I asked about them and they claim they haven't had any problems with them. And if I did they would take care of me via warranty. So if I get the bike I may just go ahead with the wheels. If I get nervous I could sell them and buy something else. We'll see.

Thanks,
Dave

I went through the same dilemma when I purchased my new Serotta Fierte Steel. I now have 1,000 miles on the wheels with no problems. I have not ridden other wheels on this bike so I do not know if they would make a difference. If I had to do it over again, I would probably get a higher spoke count wheel with round spokes for strength/longevity/peace of mind and less crosswind turbulence.

Lower spoke count wheels definitely require proper maintenance, loosening all the spokes to retrue and special spoke wrench, but they are Shimano quality and if tensioned properly from the start they will be fine. I weight 215 lbs fully clothed. My front wheel came slightly out of true on my first ride but was easily corrected by tightening one spoke.

I had a set. I didn't have any problems at all but I am 135 lbs. so not many sets would give me issues.

I sold them for 125 if that helps. Most stores will sell them around 190 I think. Mine were pretty low mileage.

I have set, I'm not too crazy about them. No issues with broken spokes, but they go out of true fairly easily and aren't nearly as light as one would expect for the spoke count.

I still use mine, but I say swap'em.

Ok, stopped by and purchased the bike. They offered me either $280 or a swap to Ksyrium Race wheelset. I looked on Mavic's website and can't find these wheels. But elsewhere I found that these might simply be Aksiums.

So, should I go for the swap or keep the Shimano's? Or will the Ultegra/Open Pro's be a better bet overall?

-Dave

Aksiums would be better, but your not going to be a well built OP/Ultegra in that price range. 550's suck. Suck. Suck. Suck. Suck. Suck. They're like a garuntee(sp) on a box. You might feel OK at first, and it might help you sleep at night, but next thing you know there's money missing from the dresser and your daughter is knocked up.

...seriously they suck.

OP/Ultegra FTW.

So they will sell you the bike minus the wheels for $280 less than the previous asking price?

Yes the Ksyrium Race is the Aksium, Mavic's entry level wheel

aksium race = solid, if not heavy wheel

550=broke a rear spoke at the nipple, and noticed corrosion on the others.

Get the mavics or take your $280 and get a set of super cheap but solid Titan's from performance for $160, then buy pedals, helmet, bottle cages etc...