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Easton EA90 SLX wheelset

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Easton EA90 SLX wheelset

Old 12-18-11, 02:20 PM
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Easton EA90 SLX wheelset

Hi, I'm looking for a do it all wheelset with a little less weight than what I've got now . My currant wheelset is a DT swiss 465 with dt240 hubs , nice wheels but they weigh about 1700+ grams.
I came across these and coming in at 1398 and have ceramic hybrid bearings and no weight limit (I'm 180 and never get below 170 lbs.). The rear wheel is deeper than the front F-21mm/ R-25mm(adds a little aero) they cost $1000 but new ones can be had for as low as $700 +.
Wheels with less weight maybe not be up to the tack of a do it all wheel .
Has anybody ridden these wheels or have an opinion on them ???
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Old 12-18-11, 04:23 PM
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Haven't ridden them so opinion only. But since nobody else has responded I'll give it a go.

I weigh the same as you, and for everyday training wheels I like a few more spokes. I ride sets that are 24f/28r or 28/32. I'm also skeptical that the ceramic bearings offer any noticeable benefit. If you want something lighter a set of kinlin/novatec laced with db spokes will cost about $350 and can be tailored to your build/riding (look at psimet or BWW). For a few buck more you can have fancier hubs or HED C2 rims and still be a couple hundred less than the eastons.

Put simply, I don't see much bang for the buck in aluminum clincher training wheels that cost much more than $500.
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Old 12-18-11, 04:26 PM
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Soul s2.0
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Old 12-18-11, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Elvo
Soul s2.0
I was looking at souls 2.0 but it seems a lot of owners are having broken spoke problems and they are much lighter (people)
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Old 12-18-11, 06:58 PM
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I have a set of the SLX's and weigh in at around 175 lb. They are fast, spin forever and still true after a ton of miles. Fantastic wheels

Greg
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Old 12-18-11, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by sdean911
I have a set of the SLX's and weigh in at around 175 lb. They are fast, spin forever and still true after a ton of miles. Fantastic wheels

Greg
He has had better luck than me, but weighs about the same.

1) I had a rear wheel bearing fail in my SLX's at about 500 miles, due to water ingression. Easton support was super in covering this under warranty, but it took a while to diagnose and was a real nuisance.
2) I broke a rear spoke at about 1000 mi (but the spoke had been scratched when the chain dropped, so I don't blame the wheel).
3) A front spoke broke with about 1500 miles on the wheels for no known reason.

If a spoke breaks, the wheel will be so out-of-true that it will hit the frame/fork and the wheel will not roll. You will have to carry the bike. IMO, go for the Souls.
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Old 12-18-11, 08:15 PM
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That's a problem with any low spoke count wheel, not just Easton.

Carry a multi-tool with a spoke wrench so when a spoke breaks you can true the wheel enough so it'll turn.
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Old 12-19-11, 05:16 AM
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Ok, that's not so good. I must admit I am a fair weather rider. No rain unless I get caught by surprise and that is rare. So my bearings are still smooth as can be. I never considered how out of round the wheel would go if you broke a spoke. Blind dumb luck has its good points I guess.


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Old 12-19-11, 10:26 AM
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Have 'em, love 'em, hard to beat price/weight point on those souls though... I got mine before I was aware of the souls. Then again, my SLXs have been problem free.
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Old 12-19-11, 12:10 PM
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I had a set of EA90SLX. The bearing in the freehub gave way at around 3000 miles. There were several repairs/updates so that the preload adjustment would not go out every ride; the last one seems to have worked. All of the bearings (every single one) were shot after 10,000 miles. Ceramic bearings are costly, so they were replaced with stainless steel ones. No broken spokes yet, but I'm usually just south of 130 pounds. I feel that these wheels don't hold speed very well for me. They are of course great on hills because of their weight but I have a harder time on the flats with them and prefer to use my slightly heavier wheels that hold their speed better for whatever reason. In fact, I've given the wheels away to someone on my team, along with full disclosure.
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Old 12-19-11, 12:35 PM
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I think their are a lot better choices for the money. At your weight I would get a better built wheel with more weight. I bet Psimet could blow those wheels away for that price. I built a set of velocity wheels not as light but much better durability. A few grams difference is never a trade off if you are breaking spokes or having issues. I suggest a 28 rear 24 front rim. Spokes don't weigh much and allows lighter rim, rotational weight in the center is better than heavier rims and less spoke count. Of course just my opinion.
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Old 12-19-11, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ducati hyp
Hi, I'm looking for a do it all wheelset with a little less weight than what I've got now . My currant wheelset is a DT swiss 465 with dt240 hubs , nice wheels but they weigh about 1700+ grams.
I came across these and coming in at 1398 and have ceramic hybrid bearings and no weight limit (I'm 180 and never get below 170 lbs.). The rear wheel is deeper than the front F-21mm/ R-25mm(adds a little aero) they cost $1000 but new ones can be had for as low as $700 +.
Wheels with less weight maybe not be up to the tack of a do it all wheel .
Has anybody ridden these wheels or have an opinion on them ???
Why spent so much money when less can do just as fine.
Vuelta Corsa Lite Road Bike Wheelset $250
1578g for the set. I got their basic wheels at 99 a pair and they spin really well and bullet proof.I hit big path holes and nothing broke.Wheels are still true.


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Old 12-19-11, 05:37 PM
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I already own a set of bulletproof wheels at 1700grams, im looking to lighten up my evo.
Originally Posted by Rubo
Why spent so much money when less can do just as fine.
Vuelta Corsa Lite Road Bike Wheelset $250
1578g for the set. I got their basic wheels at 99 a pair and they spin really well and bullet proof.I hit big path holes and nothing broke.Wheels are still true.


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Old 12-19-11, 09:17 PM
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I think some of us are just concerned that you may end up being underwhelmed. And/or disappointed if they prove problematic. But if you are keeping your DTs for hazardous duty and know that there is a compromise with lighter weight wheels, you may end up happy.

And just for comparison, take a look at these https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...-/prod_34.html in the 'podium' build. For just $500 you get a wheel that has deeper rims, more spokes and weighs about the same as the ea90 set.
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Old 12-19-11, 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ducati hyp
I already own a set of bulletproof wheels at 1700grams, im looking to lighten up my evo.
You can get lighter and more aero by going with tubs. I bet you can get wheels that roll better than yours but weigh in the area of 15 - 1600 gm. I'd go with something like a 30mm rim. There are many choices; I use Rol Wheels (their Race SL wheels are 15xx gm and are just great wheels). Psimet can build you some great ones, too (I have a set of Psimet wheels with Velocity A23 rims and White Industries hubs that are also outstanding at arount 1500 gm). It's all in what you are willing to spend, either money, time or both.

One data point you might be interested in is that I've owned some very light wheels (under 1400 gm). I have felt that they are not as fast for me as heavier ones that are more aero (like my Rols or my Psimets). I feel like I work harder and I'm in more danger of not making the important selections when I've been riding my lighter wheels. Full disclosure: the hills are steep but short here in central Texas and I weigh south of 130 pounds.
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Old 12-19-11, 11:56 PM
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Haven't tried these, but I am riding a set of ea90sl's. They are around 1550 grams and feel very sturdy. I weigh around 150, so I'm certain I could ride the slx version, but I like the extra spokes because I can't be bothered with paying for/waiting for broken spokes.
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Old 12-20-11, 09:59 PM
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160lbs and never had a problem. If you know how adjust bearings, then you will not have any problems. If you do not, then you better find out.
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Old 12-22-11, 08:42 AM
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I've got the SLX's. Had bearing problems in one wheel, swapped it out. Broke a spoke on another, swapped it out. Good wheels. Bearings will go and spokes will break. I'm about 180lbs.

Performance bike took care of me with those wheels.
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Old 12-22-11, 11:45 AM
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I have an older pair of the SLX's. they have been solid.
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