KillerBeagle

Nashbar has these on sale for $450. I need a set of wheels for a bike I'm building up, somewhere under $500, and wondering if this particular model year is a good value at $450. I seem to recall some complaints about KE models from certain years having trueness and spoke breakage issues, but can't remember if that included 2009's.

dayday82

If they are new for 2009 then it might be a good deal. Elite's are only about $550 so you aren't saving too much.

LowCel 

I bought the same set from Performance a month or so ago. I rode them twice and sent them back. I'm not sure what was going on but the front wheel had play side to side. The rear wheel engaged "funny" and it made a loud clunking noise every time I hit a crack in the road. I tried taping up the valve stems just in case that was what was causing the noise but it didn't help.

I know a lot of people ride those wheels so I am sure they are typically good wheels. The set I bought was junk.

datlas 

You could do better with $450 or comparable for less.

These wheels are ok but I stand by the above.

Ultraslide

Such as ... ? (links would be great)

2ndGen

Actually, $650-$675.

2ndGen

Like?

Yeah. That's what I'd like to know myself.

rangerdavid

$450 is not bad for 2009 KE wheels, new.... and they're good wheels. For every day riding and training, I'd get 'em. Oh, yeah, I got some 09 KE..


they are great wheels!!

2ndGen

Agreed. I'd jump all over that wheelset for $450. (MP3 Warranty should be $35./2 years).

datlas 

For better wheels at that price point, look at Soul or Williams, to name a couple.

For comparable wheels at a lower price point, Neuvation is worth a look.

Again, these are decent wheels and may be good for you, but it's not like it's the deal of the century or anything.

longbeachgary

Not a bad price. Performance had them for about that price last year so I bought 3 pair. With points back and a couple of coupons it was like getting a pair for free.

2ndGen

How are they better than 2009 Elites?

datlas 

Either lighter or more aero, depending on which model you get.

Both will get BF seal of approval over the Ksyrium Elites. Not that Elites are bad, they are fine like I said above, they are ok at that price but not a steal or anything.

Actually I needed just a front wheel 1 year ago and got a 2009 elite on sale from Performance for $179 and it's fine for my purposes.

rangerdavid

if they're on Nashbar, you'd better check availability. I've bought, or so I though, twice in the past what were excellent "deals" only to find out later when I was wondering where my package was, that my credit card had been charged and credited, and when I contacted them, they said they were sold out. No email, no notice, no nothing. Asswipes. Pissed me off and I haven't bought anything from them since.

2ndGen

Are they stronger than Elites?
Able to handle bad roads better?
How stiff are they compared to the Ksyriums?
What kind of testing have they been through?



(those are the things I prioritize)

Eclectus

If you can get as-good a wheel for less, grab it. Or better wheel for same $$. I got my 09 KE's for $480, on a custom build, spring 09.

I can say this, I have wheels that I have to true, some more than others. After ca. 12k mis, I haven't had to true the KE's yet. I will straighten them when they need it, but so far, they are doing fine. I'm a clyde, not riding fast, but there's a lot of crappy pavement here. For example, I can dodge potholes, but we have these across the road pavement recessions which are unavoidable. They're only a half-inch to an inch deep, but you definitely feel them. I could bunnyhop them, but I'm too old when they happen every 50 feet for three miles.

2ndGen

Think about it...they are cyclocross favs.
That speaks volumes about what they can put up with.
All in all, the best rim for the money is the one that keeps you on
the road and spends the least amount of time needing maintenance.
IMO, for $450., one would have to go custom to be Mavic KE's and then,
on top of that, they'd still have to give up "something" (ala' The Bontrage Rule).

Even for the $600. I spend for my 2011 Mavic Ksyrium Elites (out the door/installed),
I couldn't find anything better. Not here, not in Asia, not in the U.K., not anywhere.
(I sprung for the MP3 2 Year Warranty for an additional $50. too.)

1550g, manufactured from excellent materials (stainless steel, aluminum, etc...),
rigorously tested, loved by professionals and regularly associated with the phrase,
"bombproof" by those who ride them and other brands (even some mentioned here).

BTW, I LOVE Soul S2.0s and plan to purchase a set after I have acquired my plastic hoops.

bowman57

I had the same thing happen to me also with a set from performance. It sounded like a clunking rattle and it did it everytime under a load or hitting any bumps. I thought also they were suppose to have stainless spokes also, but a magnet would hold to them figure that out. They went back and i got a set of Boyd wheels on the way to replace them.

Ra_

Soul S2.0s looks nice...comparable price to Ksyrium Elite.