Cracking rims - Trek Domane
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Cracking rims - Trek Domane
Hi - I have a Domane 4.3 (2015). For the second time, the stock Bontrager TLR (not the race version) rear wheel has developed cracks and needs to be replaced. 2000-2500 miles each. I don't ride it roughly or on particularly bad roads (all paved, not all smoothly). If you want to blame the user, I run about 200 lbs. Trek replaced the first under warranty (or perhaps the LBS did under extended warranty I bought). LBS is looking into warranty claim for this one.
Anyway, this seems like an unacceptably frequent rim failure, no? Anyone else with these wheels meet such a fate?
And, whether or not the second one gets a warranty replacement, any recs for rims (or at least a rear) for non racing use? I.e., regular road, don't need super-aero profile, weight of course matters, but with reasonable budget (hard to justify a $1000+ wheel set on a $2000 bike I think). I'm somewhat inclined not to deal with the hassle of wonky rims, unless Trek steps me up under warranty this time to something that lasts a bit longer.
Anyway, this seems like an unacceptably frequent rim failure, no? Anyone else with these wheels meet such a fate?
And, whether or not the second one gets a warranty replacement, any recs for rims (or at least a rear) for non racing use? I.e., regular road, don't need super-aero profile, weight of course matters, but with reasonable budget (hard to justify a $1000+ wheel set on a $2000 bike I think). I'm somewhat inclined not to deal with the hassle of wonky rims, unless Trek steps me up under warranty this time to something that lasts a bit longer.
#2
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I've had two rims crack at a spoke hole in the last three years on my (2013). Warranty replacement for both rims. I'm 182 pounds.and ride on some dirt trails and roads. My LBS is at a lost of what causing this and he said Trek is as well. I'm around 4000 miles each year.
#3
Occam's Rotor
Sorry to hear about that. Hopefully TREK stands behind the wheels.
If not, I recommend Chris King or November Wheels to build you some nice custom ones. I use aluminum HED Belgium Plus rims, but November now has some carbon rims they say are as robust as the HED Belgium Plus rims. FWIW, I also weigh nearly the same and I beat the living shyte out of mine and they are still pristine, five and four years later.
If not, I recommend Chris King or November Wheels to build you some nice custom ones. I use aluminum HED Belgium Plus rims, but November now has some carbon rims they say are as robust as the HED Belgium Plus rims. FWIW, I also weigh nearly the same and I beat the living shyte out of mine and they are still pristine, five and four years later.
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Bontrager wheels have been cracking around the drive side spoke holes since the 1990's. I don't know why people continue to use their products.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ught-them.html
Wheel issue, cracking around spoke nipple.
Cracks in Bontrager rim
Cracked bontrager race rear wheel / need new wheel
-Tim-
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ught-them.html
Wheel issue, cracking around spoke nipple.
Cracks in Bontrager rim
Cracked bontrager race rear wheel / need new wheel
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 09-27-18 at 08:58 PM.
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#6
Senior Member
Their cheap wheels are really cheap. I think they are place holders, since many people ditch the oem wheels anyway
#7
Occam's Rotor
If I ever get another Trek, I think I might get a frame and build it up. Ditching a stock saddle is one thing, but paying > $4K for a bike and then having to shell out another $1K or more for wheels isn't good value. It is enough to make me buy a (complete) bike elsewhere (assuming it has adequate wheels and other components). Santa Cruz bikes guarantees their carbon rims for life, and puts those wheels on many of their mountain bikes. I wonder if there is something analogous in the road bike world?
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If I ever get another Trek, I think I might get a frame and build it up. Ditching a stock saddle is one thing, but paying > $4K for a bike and then having to shell out another $1K or more for wheels isn't good value. It is enough to make me buy a (complete) bike elsewhere (assuming it has adequate wheels and other components). Santa Cruz bikes guarantees their carbon rims for life, and puts those wheels on many of their mountain bikes. I wonder if there is something analogous in the road bike world?
Unfortunately, I don't have any feedback on the stock wheels that came with my Domane - I think that I put all of 100 miles on them before the streets cleared up and I put my nicer wheels on. The stock back wheel will likely get relegated to trainer duty.
#9
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Are the wheels on their more expensive Domanes reliable?
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 09-28-18 at 09:07 AM.
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I can only assume that their carbon wheels are good and reliable - I've seen nothing but glowing reviews for them and, despite already owning some Reynolds Assaults, I'm kinda lusting after a pair of Bontrager Aeolus Pros.
In their alloy line, I think that they've got the Paradigm Comp and Elite, maybe some others. I haven't heard anything bad about the better Paradigms and they're available separately for not exactly rock-bottom prices, so I would think/hope that they're at least reliable. Now that I think about it, one of the guys that I ride with still has the stock wheels on his Boone and hasn't felt the need to swap them out. It's an Ultegra bike, so I would guess it's the Paradigm Comps. He's not a small guy (175-ish?) is and always one to hop a curb or take a shortcut off-road (this is with road tires, no CX), so he's putting them through the ringer.
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Good question. Looking at current models (too difficult to check old ones) it looks like the 105 model (SL5) comes with basic aluminum wheels; the Ultegra (SL6) comes with Paradigm wheels, and the Ultegra di2 (SL7) comes with Aeolus Pro 3 (carbon) wheels. I imagine there was similar tiering for the model year I bought.
Perhaps having to sell the wheel in the market (or trying) means they have fewer problems?
Perhaps having to sell the wheel in the market (or trying) means they have fewer problems?
#12
Occam's Rotor
Thanks.
I've probably bought more that 12 Treks since my first one in 1992 (a 520 touring bike that was rock-solid throughout its entire life -- I finally gave it away to one of my grad students), including a bunch of mountain bikes ranging from a few hundred bucks (kids bikes) to about $2.7 K. Every last one of those was completely robust and without any major issues, including the wheels. That is why i am so surprised that the less expensive Domanes would have fragile wheel rims.
I've probably bought more that 12 Treks since my first one in 1992 (a 520 touring bike that was rock-solid throughout its entire life -- I finally gave it away to one of my grad students), including a bunch of mountain bikes ranging from a few hundred bucks (kids bikes) to about $2.7 K. Every last one of those was completely robust and without any major issues, including the wheels. That is why i am so surprised that the less expensive Domanes would have fragile wheel rims.
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Thanks.
I've probably bought more that 12 Treks since my first one in 1992 (a 520 touring bike that was rock-solid throughout its entire life -- I finally gave it away to one of my grad students), including a bunch of mountain bikes ranging from a few hundred bucks (kids bikes) to about $2.7 K. Every last one of those was completely robust and without any major issues, including the wheels. That is why i am so surprised that the less expensive Domanes would have fragile wheel rims.
I've probably bought more that 12 Treks since my first one in 1992 (a 520 touring bike that was rock-solid throughout its entire life -- I finally gave it away to one of my grad students), including a bunch of mountain bikes ranging from a few hundred bucks (kids bikes) to about $2.7 K. Every last one of those was completely robust and without any major issues, including the wheels. That is why i am so surprised that the less expensive Domanes would have fragile wheel rims.
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TLR Wheelset
Those stock Bontrager TLR wheels look like tubeless ready Race Wheels. My Madone 5.0 came with a set. They cracked within a few months. Also non drive side spokes kept loosening. Trek replaced then. The second set lasted until last summer when the rim cracked at two drive side spokes. About 15k miles but with spoke adjust every few hundred miles. Gave me an excuse to upgrade to Aeoles Pro 5s. Much stronger. The R3s are shallower but same price.
#15
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Bontrager wheels have been cracking around the drive side spoke holes since the 1990's. I don't know why people continue to use their products.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ught-them.html
Wheel issue, cracking around spoke nipple.
Cracks in Bontrager rim
Cracked bontrager race rear wheel / need new wheel
-Tim-
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...ught-them.html
Wheel issue, cracking around spoke nipple.
Cracks in Bontrager rim
Cracked bontrager race rear wheel / need new wheel
-Tim-
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Where are the "you are taking a chance with those Chinese wheels" folks?
#18
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I've gotten cracked nipple holes on both Bontrager and DT SWiss rear rims, with me at about 180 lbs, both at about 5k miles each. I'm now on an H Plus Son "Deep V" rim that I had laced to my PowerTap hub, 4k miles no issues so far.
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Aksiums weigh in just over 1800g per set. I beat the hell out of a set for several thousand miles on the rough streets of NOLA and some gravel roads. They were still true when I sold the bike a few weeks ago.
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Had the same problem with my 2013 Domane 4.5 Cracks around the spokes on the rear wheel, Trek replaces the wheel it was less than a year old, I now use them as spare wheels that I lone out when someone needs them.
#24
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My 2017 Domane SL6 Disc came with Vision Metron 40 wheels...no issues...~205lbs at 2K miles. The 2019s have Bontrager Paradigm Disc Tubeless Ready...believe the 2018s had some model of Bontrager as well.
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Well, Trek agreed to replace the second wheel under warranty (it was only a year old, and they have 2-year warranty on wheels). Hopefully this one lasts longer than the last two, although I think I'll need to start looking at new rear wheels as a precaution in about 2000 miles . . .
Last edited by drewguy; 08-21-22 at 12:22 PM.