are spinergy rev-x's really that bad?
#1
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are spinergy rev-x's really that bad?
After reading so many different opinions on these wheels does anyone here have any actual experience with them??

#2
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Nobody has lived to tell their experience with these wheels.

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some versions work well. some version are defective and might explode. search around for how to identify which is which.

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The fact that you feel the need to ask that question is enough for me to know I'll probably never want them. I would try and find some that good wheels instead, as in "are xxx wheels really that good?"
Last edited by Saddle Up; 07-25-09 at 08:19 PM.

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Since the moment I first saw them, well before they became declared as IED's, I knew they were gonna be trouble, big trouble.
Get a real wheel. One that can be trued, one that's not glued. They may seem kind of crude, but at least they'll support the weight of a normal sized dude.
Get a real wheel. One that can be trued, one that's not glued. They may seem kind of crude, but at least they'll support the weight of a normal sized dude.

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Bad rhymes are a crime.

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it so tempting for the price...... when compared to other carbon wheels like HEDs. Granted they are clearly not even close to the same quality

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I have never looked into these death traps, what is the price for a single wheel?

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cannot be unseen!

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they are fine. make sure the hub doesn't use carbon circlips to support the carbon blades, these are the ones that exploded.
The problem was that the clips hold the blades apart, being held apart gives the blades tension and keep the wheel stiff. Those clips failed, the blades loose their strength, wheel shatters, reputation gained.
They revised the hub and later editions are fine. You can tell because the hub has a 3 piece aluminum design that looks like this.

Remember, they sold these wheels for nearly 10 years of production, they produced thousands of them and there are only a handfull of horror stories that relate to the first design of the hub. Check out the review on Roadbikereview.com, people have ridden 1000's of miles on them with no troubles. If you can, get the extra stiffs as they are extra stiff.
The problem was that the clips hold the blades apart, being held apart gives the blades tension and keep the wheel stiff. Those clips failed, the blades loose their strength, wheel shatters, reputation gained.
They revised the hub and later editions are fine. You can tell because the hub has a 3 piece aluminum design that looks like this.

Remember, they sold these wheels for nearly 10 years of production, they produced thousands of them and there are only a handfull of horror stories that relate to the first design of the hub. Check out the review on Roadbikereview.com, people have ridden 1000's of miles on them with no troubles. If you can, get the extra stiffs as they are extra stiff.

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#16
aka mattio
They stopped making them when the UCI changed the requirements for race-legal wheels. For road races, they require a wheel with at least 16 spokes. Regardless of the fact that most consumers of the wheel don't ride in races governed by the UCI, that will kill a market and has done so for other products. Mini clip-on aero-bar-esque extensions come to mind. Spinergy didn't stop making Rev-Xs because of their failure. In fact, the continued making them because they improved them. They stopped because they were banned in international competition and that spells doom for a product.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.

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They stopped making them when the UCI changed the requirements for race-legal wheels. For road races, they require a wheel with at least 16 spokes. Regardless of the fact that most consumers of the wheel don't ride in races governed by the UCI, that will kill a market and has done so for other products. Mini clip-on aero-bar-esque extensions come to mind. Spinergy didn't stop making Rev-Xs because of their failure. In fact, the continued making them because they improved them. They stopped because they were banned in international competition and that spells doom for a product.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.
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Yes we have all read that site, but out of the thousands of wheels sold over the years, only a few reports have been issued to that site, also, they are early production models.
As long as you get a late model, in which they had ironed out the kinks, it will be fine.
I saw a set of late production rev-Xs sell for $675 about 2 months ago!
Remember, they also made these as DH MTB wheels (which is kinda stupid as whats the point of aero wheels when you have 2.3" tires at 35psi???).
But sure, spread the word, they suck, keep the used prices down for us.
As long as you get a late model, in which they had ironed out the kinks, it will be fine.
I saw a set of late production rev-Xs sell for $675 about 2 months ago!
Remember, they also made these as DH MTB wheels (which is kinda stupid as whats the point of aero wheels when you have 2.3" tires at 35psi???).
But sure, spread the word, they suck, keep the used prices down for us.

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They stopped because they were banned in international competition and that spells doom for a product.
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#23
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They stopped making them when the UCI changed the requirements for race-legal wheels. For road races, they require a wheel with at least 16 spokes. Regardless of the fact that most consumers of the wheel don't ride in races governed by the UCI, that will kill a market and has done so for other products. Mini clip-on aero-bar-esque extensions come to mind. Spinergy didn't stop making Rev-Xs because of their failure. In fact, the continued making them because they improved them. They stopped because they were banned in international competition and that spells doom for a product.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.
Or, alternatively, we can let internet word-of-mouth lead to lots of fearmongering. Whichever.
this poster is correct.
I have used the power of the interwebs and consulted industry experts such as Damon Rinard (the guy who posted that huge database of wheel lateral stiffness tests, now working with Cervelo) and also Kraig Willet, who once worked with spinergy, now with Trek; regarding some of the issues with the rev-x and why it ceased production.
He no longer had ANY affiliation with Spinergy when he posted a lengthy article on his frustrations with the UCI, and consequentially, how the UCI can make or break a product, especially when it comes to an industry so heavily bent on marketing gimmikery, such as cycling..
Its the UCI's inherent French background, and subsequent pairing alongside another French wheelmaker that permanently shelved all one-piece wheels in mass-start racing.
If you acquired a wheel that had never had an issue and was treated normally, then you should not have an issue. any questions with this wheel, or whatnot, post back!
I have had considerable experience with a later gen rev-x and from bashing it on the same streets you probably frequent, I have not have had any issues, noises, cracks, explosions, etc.

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Yes we have all read that site, but out of the thousands of wheels sold over the years, only a few reports have been issued to that site, also, they are early production models.
As long as you get a late model, in which they had ironed out the kinks, it will be fine.
I saw a set of late production rev-Xs sell for $675 about 2 months ago!
Remember, they also made these as DH MTB wheels (which is kinda stupid as whats the point of aero wheels when you have 2.3" tires at 35psi???).
But sure, spread the word, they suck, keep the used prices down for us.
As long as you get a late model, in which they had ironed out the kinks, it will be fine.
I saw a set of late production rev-Xs sell for $675 about 2 months ago!
Remember, they also made these as DH MTB wheels (which is kinda stupid as whats the point of aero wheels when you have 2.3" tires at 35psi???).
But sure, spread the word, they suck, keep the used prices down for us.

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the rev x's usually go for pretty cheap though. they usually sell for around 150-200 as opposed to hed 3s which go for 300-500
