SpeedofLite 

jdawginsc 

Great read. They really had the best hubs on the market. Virtually indestructible.

Didnt know the starfish could handle a triple.

steelbikeguy

That is a great article!
So much interesting stuff from Mavic! I still have a set of NOS MA-40 rims (I think?) stashed.
The hubs struck me as very desirable... sealed bearings, robust, and a nice light QR skewer. Never owned any, but I did pick up a rear skewer at one point. It's still a good design.

Steve in Peoria

Kabuki12

Thank you for posting , +1 on the hubs. I sold the bike that they were on but they are fantastic . They look great and spin even better!

smd4

Thanks for posting this.

Always liked Mavic rims, but that crank ranks pretty far up there on the ugly meter.

Chombi1 

It's one of those things that people really love or, really hate. I never was attracted to the original "Starfish" crankset because of its bulbous, hub cap-like looks, but I find this second generation of the starfish crank much better looking with the thinned out chainring spider arms. But I still prefer the older crankset designs thar we're not so chunky.
I think this generation of Mavic components veered away from their earlier weight weenie approach, maybe because companies like Campagnolo were issuing new designs that weighed much more than their previous ones.

Chombi1 

I personally think that the previous generation of the component group was much more interesting. Especially the derailleurs. Because they exuded a more classic avant-garde look to them.

smd4

I appreciate that the RD can be disassembled at the pivots with C clips.

jamesdak 

You sir....are blocked!!!!

smd4

It's like they looked at the gorgeous C Record cranks and said, "well, if that looks good, adding MORE METAL should make it look even better!

1989Pre 

They had aluminum skewers that would work well on a steel frame?

Rocket-Sauce 

Those pedals! I remember trying to sell them with a straight face. "Sure they are heavy, but at least they are huge so you will always know where the tarmac is when you corner."

steelbikeguy

The QR skewers had steel shafts, but the nut at the end was aluminum, and part of the QR closure was aluminum (although I'd have to check my parts box to be sure).
edit: the article does mention that aluminum shafts were optional. That doesn't seem like a prudent material, based on issues I've heard mentioned about other QR skewers using aluminum shafts.

Steve in Peoria

1989Pre 

Thanks. I tried a modern skewer with those materials at those locations, on the rear of a steel bike. It would not hold the wheel steady and straight. I then came to B.F. to ask about it, and the consensus seemed to be that aluminum skewers are not recommended for steel bikes. Maybe I mis-interpreted that, and/or maybe there are exceptions.

steelbikeguy

There is some difference between how well a good steel skewer can grip a dropout compared to an aluminum version.

In the days of chromed horizontal dropouts, it could be challenging to keep the rear hub from moving under extreme pedaling forces. Campagnolo Record hubs performed quite well, partly due to their excellent quick releases, as well as the knurled(?) locknuts that gripped the inner face of the dropout.
Here's a shot showing that locknut...




I don't have any good photos handy of the faces on the QR's, but they have a fair bit of texture too, in order to grip the dropout better.

The downside of these very effective steel ends of the quick release is that they are heavy!
A friend made some aluminum replacements for these steel Campy QR parts, and I got a couple of sets. I'm using them on my Raleigh Team bike without problem. Of course, the Raleigh Team does not have chromed dropouts, so that makes the job easier.

Here's a shot of those aluminum replacement parts...




There are no serrations or texture on the face of these parts to grip the dropout.

I will also say that my rear hubs are 126mm or less, and I'm relatively light. In cases where the rear hub is slipping in the dropouts, the fix is to make the QR tighter. If the axle is long, or if the rider is heavy, there is a chance that this might be enough to bend the axle when increasing the tightness. Hubs with more substantial axles, like Phil Wood, American Classic, or these Mavics are built to handle those sorts of loads without bending.

Steve in Peoria

Kontact 

Interesting that the levers are still the 89 ones. This group would get another Modolo lever after these, then a Dia Compe brakeset.

Atlas Shrugged

Thanks for the flashback. In the very early 90s, I had a Gitane Team R.M.O. with the full Mavic group. It was a very well-finished group and was very French in its aesthetic, unfortunately, also in its performance, so I only kept it for one season. It was a unique bike and stood out if that was your thing.

alcjphil

With the exception of brake levers and seat post, this is what they look like actually installed on a bike

chain_whipped

Galli fully serviceable as well. The forgotten classic weight weenie clone of Campagnolo Nuovo / Super Record.

masi61

Nice looking drive train! Is the rear derailleur indexed for Shimano 8 speed? And how would you rate the indexing precision for the 2 by 8 (?) gearing pictured?

Bianchigirll 

I worked with a guy back then who was really stuck on Mavic. I thought it was pretty cool stuff, and the older stuff too, but never liked that Starfish cranks, thought it just looked bulky and heavy.

Chombi1 

I have an unusual set of Mavic skewers. It has black finished nuts and lever cap ends. The center shaft is not steel but it looks like titanium with its darker color than aluminum. The same color as the Campy Super Record RD titanium pivot bolts.. The skewer set is much lighter than their regular steel version.
It's kinda scary when I clamp on my wheels to my bike as the center shaft stretches quite a bit, from what I feel. I'm also afraid that I might strip the threaded portion of the center shaft.
The 80's Mavic skewers do not have the progressive and positive locking lever feel that a Campy or Maillard/Spidel skewers had. I think they did not design the eccentric cam profile on the locking lever that well.....