Irishred

I have a 2000 Cannondale R1000 CADD7 that I would like to set up with a Ksyrium Elite wheelset. I have found several for sale online, but I don't know what questions I need to ask to make sure what I buy will fit the drivetrain. The bike is equipped with a Ultegra nine speed cassette. What else would be important to know for a rear wheel to work on this bike's drivetrain? Thanks

Pantah

I'm fairly certain all Ksyrium wheelsets were 700c but don't quote me on that so ask to ensure it's 700c.
Your bike will have conventional rim brakes so make sure the wheelset is designed for rim brakes.
Front hub spacing is 100mm and rear is 130mm (both common, standard sizing) so one more thing to ask about.
Lastly, your bike is running a Shimano drivetrain which means a Shimano cassette which means a Shimano style freehub. I believe Ksyrium rear wheels were also available in Campagnolo style freehubs so make sure you are getting the Shimano style.
For 11 speed, the freehub got a tad wider than the older 8-9-10 speed freehubs. However the splines are the same so if you get an 11 speed freehub, all you need is a spacer (not sure the size) to run your 9 speed cassette.

If I missed anything, someone will chime in.

jgwilliams

Pretty much what Pantah said. Are you buying new or used? They are a really good wheelset, imo. I had a pair for about 15 years until someone rear-ended me, and they always ran straight and true.

masi61

If you get a Ksyrium set that says “UST” you can run tubeless tires. This is a bigger advantage than you might think even if you only plan to run tubed clinchers initially. Today’s tubeless road tires are fantastic.

wheelreason

That wheel will fit, but Mavic wheels are crap.

Irishred

Thanks for the info. I had a pair on a past bike which I regrettably sold and loved the Ksyriums.

icemilkcoffee 

If you are buying a used set, just make sure you take off the freehub and lubricate the pawls with mineral oil after you got the wheels.

And Masi61's advice is spot on. The Ksyrium UST is your best bet because it can run tubeless. These are the best type of tubeless wheels- there are no spoke holes and do not require taping.

SoSmellyAir

You should ask the seller whether the freehub on the rear wheel is designed for an 11-speed cassette or one with less speeds. The two most recent versions of the Ksyrium Elite wheelset (WTS and UST; I have the former) come with a 11-speed freehub. To use it with a 8-, 9-, or 10-speed cassette, you need this: Shimano Dura-Ace FH-9000 Low Spacer (1.85mm) - Performance Bicycle (performancebike.com)

Pantah

I would say that high on the list of most unhelpful and useless comments anywhere is "(brand name) is/are (mean, nasty adjective)" without providing any reason why.

So, wheelreason, would like to be helpful or unhelpful today?

veganbikes

Not to answer for the other poster but they require specialized spokes and they have changed them over the years so you have to stock a bunch of different spoke skus, the build quality over all isn't great and I know they can chew through free hub bodies easily. Mavic rims are great but their system wheels while cool looking aren't ideal. Though some will last a while but anything with proprietary spokes that change year to year is a no go for me. I would go Astral wheels if I wanted some nice wheels with White Industries hubs which they already had been using (before they merged) and I can get them custom built if needed. I just bought myself a set of 650B wheels for a gravel build I am working on but got a front wheel from them that has seen heavy usage and is fantastic and they are super easy to deal with and really nice.

Plus as the saying goes, if it's not Scottish, it's craaap...LOL.

wheelreason

Neither, Though right now I'm recommending Mavic wheels to all 49er fans...

alcjphil

Mavic Shimano compatible free hubs have been 11 speed compatible since long before Shimano introduced 11 speed cassettes. There is a reason for this: At one time Mavic was producing their own cassettes that allowed the buyer to use cassette spacers that would allow the buyer to space their cassettes for either Campgnolo or Shimano drivetrains. This required that Mavic supply a spacer installed behind the cassette for Shimano drivetrains. When Shimano 11 speed came out, all that was needed to use a Mavic wheel with a Shimano 11 speed cassette was to remove that spacer

indyfabz

Allow me to step in. Over a decade ago, I bought a set of Kysrium SL Premiums. Mavic refused to warranty the front when a known design defect reared its ugly head. (The lube in the nipples could dry out, causing it to crack. It was impossible to remove the broken nipple, so the rim had to be replaced.) While that wheel was out being replaced, the rear rim cracked around a spoke nipple. According to Mavic, that was also on my dime. On top of all that, the rear hub wore prematurely. No matter how much it was worked on, it would occasionally scream like a banshee during descents. When I sent the rear back to have the rim replaced, Mavic actually told me that I should have the rear hub replaced. Several hundred dollars. Also, on my dime. I told them where they could and what they should do when they arrived and have never bought another Mavic product. And I will not if I can help it. All this happened in less than a 2-year span. And I am not the first person on this forum to complain about getting a crap product and Maiv thumbing its nose.

indyfabz

R.I.P., Willie

Black wallnut 

12 years ago my Secteur came with Mavic wheels. Within a month the rear started popping spokes. The wheel was declared defective and Specialized paid my LBS to build me a suitable wheel. That wheel has outlasted the bike by over a decade. The bike was broke beyond repair in a crash with a VW driven by a teen driver, right hook from left lane.... The front from that bike is still in service as well. My experience with Mavic is 50% good, 50% junk.

roadcrankr

Too funny! I'm a diehard Niner fan, but with you on these Kysriums. Maybe not as harshly.
As another poster said, spoke replacements present an obstacle. And spokes break on these wheels.
Also, I seem to recall these use sealed bearings. Some folks like 'em...I do not.
If you can afford it, try to find some new or gently used Dura Ace 9000-series.
I ride the tubeless in 25 depth. Got me a spare rear in 40 for later.
Been riding DA variations for years, hitting many nasty potholes along the way. Never needed truing. Bulletproof.
You may like Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35s, too. I actually replaced my Cannondale's Kysriums with these seven years ago.

indyfabz

Hope you were not hoping for another Giant miracle last night.

Pantah

Interesting insight from those with Mavic experiences. Mine has been generally good, though I admittedly haven't put any miles on my Ksyrium wheelset yet and all my Mavic rims/wheelsets have been used and almost all were Mavic rims with Shimano hubs.
I've been using a set of 36 hole Open Pro's laced to 105 hubs for many years now and that wheelset has been fantastic. However, the rims on that bike before were lower end 20 year old Mavic 32 hole rims (forget the model) that routinely broke spokes on the rear. Don't know if that was Mavic to blame or just 32 hole not being enough for a tall person like me. I've popped spokes on other brands of 32 hole rims on older bikes and the solution was 36 spoke wheels.
Had several older mountain bikes with Mavic rims and none of those have had issues.
We'll see how the Ksyriums last when I finally get around to building the Allez frame up that those wheels are destined for.

bargainguy

Proprietary spokes = less choice for you as a consumer. If a Mavic spoke breaks, a Mavic spoke is the only option.

I learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago, although it was a Campy lesson. I was JRA when my chain snapped. On the way out, the chain hit a rear spoke on my Campy Neutrons and snapped it in half.

I thought I could just buy a replacement Campy spoke or two. Nope, it's not sold that way. Best I could do was a mini-kit with 6 spokes, paid something like $60 plus shipping. I only needed one. Turned out to be a pretty expensive spoke.

veganbikes

Technically:
But yes MAKE WAY FOR WILLIE!

georges1

I have a pair of Kysrium's Equipe which must be twelve years old if not more and that are stilll great and fully reliable . I still have my first set of Mavic Cosmic Expert from1997 that are in very good condition and run perfectly well. Never had problems with mine