I'm looking to buy a set of the Mavic Cosmos wheels? Are they decent? Would anyone recommend them? How much should I be willing to pay for them?
Thanks!

I've got a pair I've had for 1.5 or 2 years. Weight-wise, they're very similar to a Mavic Open Pro on a decent hub. They're sturdy, mine have never needed any maintenance or trueing. The hubs are quiet and smooth. You might find a better deal, but expect to pay around $300 a pair.

They're pretty sturdy and smooth but slightly heavier than I'd like. It feels sluggish when you're accelerating.

they came on my jamis quest as stock....never had to look back, never had a problem. Agree completely with everyone here, sturdy, stiff, great wheel. It's two years later now and I'm only just starting to sniff around for something new

expect to pay $300-350

I think that open pro on dura ace hubs are a better deal. cosmos is heavier then dura/OP and costs more, and I dont think the mavic freehub is any better then the dura ace hub.

Helen's, all over Southern California, has a web special on the Cosmos for $200 https://www.helenscycles.com/index.htm and hunt around. The Cosmos wholesale price is rather low.

I don't like less than 32 spokes on the rear or I'd buy them- and I build my own wheels, but this deal amounts to - almost- lower prices than I pay on components unassembled.

I rode a bike with Cosmos as stock and thought they were excellent. I'm always curious to hear what folks like Slvoid are riding.

I've had mine for almost three years now. I had Rolf Vector wheel on my Lemond (they came stock) and replaced them with Cosmos. The Rolfs were flexy and the whole bike would shimy a little over 35-40mph. With the Cosmos I don't get any of that. They track straight and true. Laterally they're very stiff, but they still ride comfortably.

I've had two pairs, one was a warranty replacement.

Good wheels but for a similar price I would go for the new Shimano R550 wheels. Look the same as last years Dura Ace wheelset. Seems like they trickled down the technology to a great price point. I think these are a great bargain compared to the similarly priced Cosmos.

I'd ride 'em if someone gave me a set. They're certainly not worth that much money. If you absoultely have to have a lower spoke-count wheel, the newer Shimanos are a better bet. Mavic designs their hubs so they are not user/shop servicable. They are relatively robust, but we've had customers go without their wheels for 6-8 weeks when they have had problems. That's not for me.
Check out Sun Ringle wheels. I have a set of Pro Races I have yet to touch in three years. Lighter, better hub design, and easily replaced spokes.

Like PhattTyre, I have a LeMond that came with Rolf Vectors, but I did not have the same problems and thought they were great wheels, but after 12,000 miles and me being in the 210-220 range, they got some little hairline cracks near the spoke holes so I had to change them out. This was two years ago and I replaced them with the Mavic Cosmos, on sale for $250 (the $200 price would be a steal). I have really liked the Cosmos also. They've stayed very true and they don't seem to be heavy or slow to me. I think they are a great value and I like the way they look.

Came with my Vigorelli 2003. Over a year of riding, 2,000 miles, still going strong, I've went over potholes, summer and frigid cold, they stil look good, true, and haven't needed any service at all.
I'm looking to buy the Ksyrium SSLs, but just for those long and very hilly club rides. And leave my Cosmos for regular, tough training.
Corsaire

Look for them on eBay - many people upgrade them and put the old ones up for sale on eBay. I sold a barely used pair a year ago for $150 or so.

This thread leads me to the question – which are the better wheel set;
1. Mavic Cosmos
2. Bontrager Race (not Race Lite or Selects)
3. Ultegra/Open Pro’s

Same here, 2003 Vigorelli, they are working fine. I do seem to get some spoke noise though. I need to take them and have them re-trued. I hate doing that, myself.

Do you know if they are the 2003 or 2004's?

Oops. I meant to ask this to tvphobic.

Those ones at helenscycles are 2003 model. I have those - never needed trueing. A friend of mine is getting some Xero XR1's soon, about 300gr lighter, and I'm looking forward to seeing if the light weight really makes that much difference.

I just called them and they said they were the 2004’s. I asked the young man who answered the phone if he was sure. He then said he needed to ask his manager. A couple of moments later he came back to the phone and said they were the 2004’s. My guess is they probably have no idea what they are.

The picture on the helenscycles link definitely shows 2003 ones. I bought mine in early 2003, and they look exactly like that. According to my hasty research, 2004 ones look like this:

https://www.withingtoncycles.co.uk/pr...2011bd3375e60b

i.e. lighter grey and fewer decals. Of course helenscycles might be using an out-of-date pic. Maybe you could ask them if they look the same as the pic?

I'm currently riding a set of Cosmos and when it's time to replace them I plan to do so with an Ultegra/Open Pro wheelset. If the two sets were the same price I'd recommend the Ultegra/Open Pros. As I said before tho, I like the Cosmos. I've treated them rough (potholes, jumping curbs, little dirt here and there) and they've held up. They have a really small flat spot now tho. I can't notice it riding, but I can see it in the truing stand and it's there to stay. I hit a pothole at about 30mph. I got the front wheel over it, but the rear wheel smacked hard. The pinch flat was 4 holes, one on each side of the rim and both sides (rim and tire) of the tube. I learned a good lesson tho... don't follow too closely on curvy, fast, rough roads.

I really dont have much experieince with the Bontragers, but I know many people with cosmos, and I have a set of dura ace/open pros on my stted right now...I'd say that the cosmos and the ultegra/open pros are equal, pick the ones that are the lowest price. 200 is a darn good price.

I'm running Cosmos and really, really like them. I don't have much to compare them to, except the Sun rims with 105 hubs that came with my bike.