Ryleeryno

I tried the search function to no avail and Roadbikereview give mixed results.

Anyone have any experience with these wheels?

I have Bontrager Race wheels with around 600 miles and I'm starting to notice small cracks on the rim. I either want to upgrade to the race x-lites or get some Ksyrium SL's in the Spring. I weigh 170lbs and I'm not really a power rider or sprinter.

Thanks.

rpc180

Only 600 and you're seeing cracks? Damn, I'm glad I kept my CXP-22's...

Ryleeryno

Well supposedly the wheels were new when I bought the bike on Ebay in June. The frame was spotless but I think the wheels may have been swapped due to a few scratches and scuffs on them. What's funny is that Roadbikereview shows that a lot of other people had the same issue with cracks on them developing around 700+ miles... hmmmm.

AngryRooster

I weigh 165-67,6'1 and a half and I put about 200 miles a week on mine and have had Bontrager race X-lites since december. With 2 crashes, (one endoing over a hood that made a turn without seeing me) and various potholes, bunny hopping over stuff, up curbs and so on- they have only been trued about 3-4 times and are awesome. I have not one single complaint about my wheels. I love them. Great wheels.

R900

I rode some Race Lites and thought they were a bit flexy. My new Madone has the Race X Lites, and they are much stiffer, lighter, and seem like a great wheel.

John

Gustav

I got a set of Race X Lites in May and put about 2,000 miles on them this summer, including the Ride the Rockies tour and a couple of century rides. I love 'em. They're light, still true, and are stiff enough to let me feel more secure when descending. I'm 6' and 165 lbs., and pretty easy on my gear...no curb hopping, etc. I'm impressed with the value for the money and may get a set for my other bike next season.

cydewaze

Ditto that with mine, except I'm 5'11 and 185. One of the better wheelsets I've ridden.

cycle17

O.K. Heres the deal. The Bonty "Race" wheels have this problem mentioned by the OP. I'm 197 lbs and mine cracked around all the spoke beds at 2,000 miles. The Race wheelsets do not have the inset nipples like the Race Lite , Race X Lite etc.... Trek/Bontrager replaced mine free of charge through my LBS just recently. I also have two pairs of Race X Lite Aeros, and two pairs of the blue anodized Race Lites (one 2002 and one 2004) and they are awesome wheels that have never come out fo true. The 2005 and 2006 Race models....I'm not so sure about them.

cycle17

P.S. I have some Ksyriums that might be up for sale in a couple of weeks. Got em on a bike I bought recently and they are like brand freakin' new. The brake surfaces are pristine. I'm not a MAVIC fan and I have solid reasons for it, so they are probably going up for sale real soon.

haimtoeg

I have Race Lite on my Lemond, after 3 months and just over 1000 miles the rear hub bearing broke. I had to ride 20 miles with a wobbly wheel yesterday, hopefully it will be covered by warranty.

I am 6', 225 lbs.

ZurichSeattle

I have a pair of 2004 Race X Lite wheels and they are wonderful. I have had them for 2 years (bought em on ebay for $400) and they have gone -slightly- out of true twice. I have 4000 miles on them. I weigh 200-195 lbs. and ride a 61cm Cervelo R2.5.

I have read the reviews on RBR and have been watching for cracks in the hub, etc., but no problems. I highly recommend these wheels, even more if you can get them for less than the $800 asking price new.

not2fast

I have a new Madone 5.2 with Race Lites. I just went over 500 miles since buying it about 7 weeks ago. I weigh 225, and there are no cracks in the wheels.

oilman_15106

Same guy must have sold you "used only for one ride" wheels that sold me mine. Only neglected to tell me that someone else rode them 500 times.

Other than the mileage you put on them, how can you have any idea what is the total mileage on the wheels.

Oak Park Biker

I have the race x lites on one bike and with approximately 35,000 hard miles and counting they are still like new. I also have the Race X Lite Aeros on another bike and with 8,000 miles they are also very good. They don't climb as well as the race x lites but the aeros are fantastic on the decents and the flats.

55/Rad

I've had the Race Lites, X-Lites, X-Lite Aeros and the Rolf Prima Vigors. All are fine wheels and between the 4 sets, I've only had to true one of them exactly once.

BTW - I have over 10K miles and counting on my Race Lites - no cracks whatsoever - and certainly none in any of the other sets.

I would recommend checking out the Rolf Prima Elan before making a final decision on the X-Lites.

55/Rad

NealH

Wow, those Rolf Prima Elans are nice looking wheels and, very light. Do these have a rider weight limit? Often these low spoke ultra lightweight wheels are best for riders well below 200 lbs.

rpc180

Wow, this is semi-tragic news to me. I got a Bontrager Race wheelset in Feb for $100 - just put them on last week. I guess I'll be looking for a replacement set in the spring ... or perhaps I should CL them and get those Ventos in black...

GuitarWizard

Hmmmm.....I am now seriously looking at those Rolf Prima Elans for next year. Looks like it would make a nice climbing wheel.

rickkko

My Trek 2300 came with RaceXLites from the factory. I put 2000 miles on them then replaced 'em with xXx Lites.

Sold the XLites for $150 on Craig's List.

Both the X and xXx Lites are great products. No problems with either. Now I have over 2k on the xXx Lites

I weigh 170-175.

The nice thing I learned about Bontrager wheels is, the mfg. does not put weight restrictions on them so I'm guessing they are a little more beefy or durable than comparible wheels in same price range.

..rickko..

cydewaze

Oh, and by the way, even though I probably shouldn't admit to this, I've taken my Race X Lites for some off-roading. We have a MUP that switchbacks down a hill, and some mountain bikers cut their own path that goes straight down and connects the apexes of one row of switchbacks. I've taken my bike down it several times. Gotta lean waaay back and hang off the saddle, but it's fun for a change.

55/Rad

Wow, somebody got a deal on those x-Lites - $150 is a steal even with a couple thousand miles on them.

As for the XXX-lites - did you go clincher or tubular? How's the carbon rims holding up in terms of scratches and appearance - any issues?

55/Rad

cycle17

+1 Tell us your impressions of the XXXs man.

cycle17

As an FYI to the OP...

Trek/Bontrager just sent my replacement wheels to me through my LBS. I picked them up last night. Two cracked wheels...two brand new replacements. Mine were exactly a year old when I sent them back. So they did stand behind them being defective with no arguments.

gcl8a

Waitaminute. Are you saying that you are suspect about the 2005,6 models or that you're not sure if the problem has been fixed?

For what it's worth, my rear Race had the same problem -- drive side pulled out after 2-3000 miles. To their credit, Bontrager replaced the wheel free of charge, even though the warranty was expired and from a different country and I was legally entitled to diddly-squat (bought in USA, now in Denmark).

I'm just curious if I'll have the same problem in another 2000 miles or if I should stay off the cobbles.

cycle17

The 2005 models apparently were prone to this. Trek/Bontrager sent me a new pair of Race wheels and they are 2006 models. So I'm not sure if the problem has been fixed, but I guess I'm going to find out. Hopefully it was just a casting/materials problem with the 05's. We'll see.... I know my other sets of Bontys have been rock solid dependable, so I'm hoping this is an anomally.