Ha! Ain't that the truth!

Almost 3 years of running the race x lite wheelset on my BMC. Great wheelset. I'm over 185 lbs now, and no flexing or any problems at all. I bought a OpenPro-Chris King wheelset 2 years ago, thinking that when the XLites failed I would put them on as training wheels and buy a new set of race wheels...... The x lites are still running strong.

Ah... I kind of expected that people were just bashing Bontrager for being part of "the man" (aka a huge corporation (Trek)).

My lemond came with a bunch of bontrager parts. I tried to hate them but I cant. For stock components the bars are pretty light and I cant destroy the cheap wheels it came with.

But 'Bontrager' just sounds so friggin uber-cheesy.

That is all.

Very true. I have been trying to reason as to why I need to replace my stock Bontrager Select wheels that came on my LeMond. I have had them for almost 3 years now and have had zero issues with them, and I am 205lbs. I just can't justify it. Now...I am no racer and never will be, I am just a recreatioonal rider who likes to get out and ride so I do not really NEED new wheels and these are as true as the day I got them and have never let me down. However I am not completely satisfied with Bontrager tires or saddles.

Cheers,

Brian

Just because guys like Tullio and Kozo and Ernesto, to mention but a few, had cool sounding last names, that's no reason to be down on Keith. He's just running what he brung, so to speak. After all, he is a real innovator, not just a brand name cooked up by the marketing department.

You must be talking about

Tullio Dawes
Kozo Windsor, and last but not least
Ernesto Motobecane.

My Race Lite rear wheel needed a complete rebuild, a warranty repacement, and a major re-true (in that order) at 2,000 mile intervals. While it was being warranteed, I had a select rear loaner wheel - I'm not sure how they managed to engineer extreme flexibility AND very poor ride quality (I kept checking to see if I had a flat) into the same wheel, but they did.

I weigh 185, which must have been too much for the wheels - my other Bonty components - (race X light carbon bar, fork, stem, seatpost) I am very happy with - they even survived a collision with a drive through. (while on my roof rack.)

What is wrong with Bontrager??

Nothing in my book. I'm happily sporting Bontrager gear on my bikes.

Honestly I have to say I naturally shy away from them because, as pcad mentioned, you feel like you're buying the crap stock components the buyers throw on bikes to squeeze margins - the ones you throw away as soon as you get home.

That was until about 1 1/2 ago. I was having some saddle issues. I needed the tilt to be exactly in between two of the notches on all of the traditional seatposts I had in my shop. Big ride in a day or so, and I needed a solution quick.

Headed to an LBS and they presented me with a few options. I quickly narrowed it down to the Thompson and a Bontrager seatpost. I couldn't get over the clamp design. I fell in love instantly. SHop was a Tri shop and my buddy in there was telling me how they love them because they can reverse the same post, rotate the clamp and viola - Tri -time.

I've always thought they were overpriced, but honestly I think Trek is overpriced in general. I couldn't see spending $90 on a friggin house-brand seatpost.

Then my guy pulled out their all AL one. Sold.

I love that post.

Now....I actually view Ritchey like most of the people on here view Bontrager. Every Ritchey item I have tried has been total crap. I can't stand their seatposts.

Like Bontrager though I will give Ritchey another shot. I just picked up a cyclocross rig that is dripping in Ritchey components. I hope I am pleasently surprised.

As opposed to Zipp??

Please define a "a spoke go wobbly on me". I have had mine (my bike) go wobbly on me (bont race lite) but not sure if it is a wheel problem or a driver problem.

Lookin' at the Madone 6.5. Nice looking bike, but for $5800 I'd rather have an Ibis SL/Dura Ace/Deda/Thompson with some Zipps. The Bontrager stuff does not look like it is of the same quality as the brands found on other bikes of comparable price.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...e/madone65pro/

Do you have experience to back up your conjecture?

I'm a fan of Bontrager. I've put my Bontrager Selects (training wheel-set) through hell and then some and they've never complained. I did have a spoke break on a rear wheel but in all fairness I was riding on roads that rival the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix at the time. And I'm a larger rider at 6'3" 180lbs.

I have been riding since before Bontrager became part of the Trek concern. Bontrager bikes- and some of the components were good so In my opinion- the Bontrager name had a good reputation. Unfortunately since Trek took over the name- they have used it as their "In house" Brand name. I do not like many inhouse branded parts. They are on the bike to keep the price down and not the quality that the "OLD" Bontrager parts used to be.

Bontrager may make some good parts but if a Bonti branded part is for sale that is good- it is overpriced up against the same quality from the specialist supplier.

So just have a bontrager part on a bike and I am afraid I will change it. Not the quality that it should be or the quality I want. But not many inhouse parts are from any manufacturer- and overpriced for the quality it is. Just don't get me started on Bontrager saddles

Do you have experience to back up your conjecture?

My ring buddy's Bontrager rims cracked around the eyelets and had to be replaced. His seat post kept slipping too, and he replaced it with a carbon Cannondale. Besides that, no.

PEZ cycling just posted a glowing review of Bontranger:
https://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fu...69&status=True

The spoke was loose.