Wheels - Fulcrum R1 v R3: which is better VFM?

markmw

Am looking at getting some Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels at some point (was recommended them and have also generally heard good things).

However, if you buy mail order, I know you can get the R1s for a similar price to the RRP of the R3s if you bought from a UK shop (£400).

Indulging that irrational justification of considering more expensive wheels than I had originally intended , how do the two wheelsets compare in terms of value for money? My basic understanding is that the R3 is towards the top of its price range whereas the R1 is more mid-table.

For the record, I don't really intend to race much except the odd tri and probably won't buy til next year - my current wheels will do for the winter.

Any views?

Brian B

The Race 1s are heading towards the top end(Racing Zero the top) whilst Race3s are the mid range and Race 5,7s the bottom. I had Race 3s last year and they performed ok but I upgraded to Mavic wheels this year.

Race 1s are lighter, stiffer than the Race 3s and if you can get your hands on the Race1s for roughly the same money then the decision is a made.

wildmoustache

at jedi sports R1s are £430ish inc. postage and R3s are £300 in. postage and R0s are £530 inc. postage.

Of the three I'd go for the Zeros. The R1s are the worst value in Fulcrums range IMO, though they are considerably more bling than the 3s. I'd say either go for Zeros or else go for 5s, which are really great value.

martins2463

When I did my build last year I had Fulcrum 3's, Had those over the 1's as the difference in weight and price made 3's the obvious choice, just gone to Mavic SL premiums, would have gone for the Fulcum Zeros but at £750 UK price versus £550 Mavic, no choice

markmw

Brian B wrote:

The Race 1s are heading towards the top end(Racing Zero the top) whilst Race3s are the mid range and Race 5,7s the bottom. I had Race 3s last year and they performed ok but I upgraded to Mavic wheels this year.

Race 1s are lighter, stiffer than the Race 3s and if you can get your hands on the Race1s for roughly the same money then the decision is a made.

Cheers for the replies.

The "same money as the R3" thing is just my poor justification to buy a higher spec wheel than I need. As wildmoustache points out, I know I can also get the R3 for cheaper than the RRP, at least 10% off from any shop and much more online - Lordgun is doing EUR 386 inc postage (c. £270).

Although I'm not so bothered about bling (would just prefer black wheels), it sounds like the R1s aren't the ones to go for. That said, it's just plain unfair to throw the R0s into the ring. Again Lordgun is doing EUR700 in postage - around £490).

Hmmm...

Captain Fagor

Markmw - I can't help you with your quandry, but would be interested to know if you have used Lorgun cycles before. Their prices are incredible!

By the looks of things, the prices include Italian VAT, so presumably you don't pay VAT again in the UK. Are import duties applied?

martins2463

You could and can import Fulcrum 1's from Italy or Germany for the price of the 3's in the UK, the 20% approx difference goes to a good cause, The UK Distributor-www.jimwalker.co.uk

aracer

Captain Fagor wrote:

By the looks of things, the prices include Italian VAT, so presumably you don't pay VAT again in the UK. Are import duties applied?

No, you pay the Italian VAT, but that's it - no other charges for importing goods from other EU countries.

markmw

aracer wrote:

Captain Fagor wrote:

By the looks of things, the prices include Italian VAT, so presumably you don't pay VAT again in the UK. Are import duties applied?

No, you pay the Italian VAT, but that's it - no other charges for importing goods from other EU countries.

That's correct. VAT is only paid once (I emailed Lordgun who confirmed their prices include VAT) and no duties apply since you're importing from within the EU.

I've never used Lordgun, and don't know anything about them. Only came across them when I was researching prices. Woud also welcome any info or any experience about dealing with them.

Martins2463 - I don't quite understand what you mean. Should I be feeling sorry for the UK distributor, whom I presume (correct me if I'm wrong) has contributed to the fact that the UK price is much higher than mainland Europe, presumably because the UK market can support it? I won't be shedding any tears for them, but I do feel bad about the LBS from whom I would much rather buy, and I will be seeing if they are prepared to do anything about their price (I'd be happy paying slightly more than the Euro price to buy from them).

Captain Fagor

Thanks guys. I see that Lordgun has an eBay shop - http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/lordgun/ - , and they have a feedback score of 3669 with 100% satfisfaction. Very encouraging! Pity it's in Italian, right enough.*

I am tempted to buy wheels from them, as the Real Design Supersonic wheels on my '05 Litespeed Tuscany are absolutely pish. Great when true, but that only lasts about fifty miles.....

*Edit: the shop is bi-lingual, not just Italian.

The Fulcrum Racing 0 for £480, Racing 1 for £400, Racing 3 for £255.

markmw

Captain Fagor wrote:

Thanks guys. I see that Lordgun has an eBay shop - http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/lordgun/ - , and they have a feedback score of 3669 with 100% satfisfaction. Very encouraging! Pity it's in Italian, right enough.*

I am tempted to buy wheels from them, as the Real Design Supersonic wheels on my '05 Litespeed Tuscany are absolutely pish. Great when true, but that only lasts about fifty miles.....

*Edit: the shop is bi-lingual, not just Italian.

The Fulcrum Racing 0 for £480, Racing 1 for £400, Racing 3 for £255.

Oh deary me. Nice spot.
Think you've made my mind up. Just looking at those zeros though. Red spokes. Hmmm....

giant_man

They come in black and red if the red is too bling for you Mark. If I had 500 quid and looking for a decent set of wheels I know what I'd do!

wildmoustache

giant mancp wrote:

They come in black and red if the red is too bling for you Mark. If I had 500 quid and looking for a decent set of wheels I know what I'd do!

yeah, "in person" the all red zeros are really things of beauty. they go with most bikes as well, unless the frame is yellow (yuk).

markmw

I hope you guys aren't trying to encourage me to buy something I shouldn't.
The black/red would go fine with my frame (still red spokes mind) but my understanding is that these are really for racing (which I don't intend to do).

By that I understand that they would run better than the R3s, be stiffer and lighter, but are they as hard wearing? I'd much rather have a heavier but tougher wheel since I hope to put some miles in on them.

giant_man

Don't worry about the racing part of it. Most of us have 'racing' wheels but we don't race our bikes. I personally wouldn't bother with the others and just go for these, nice and stiff!

HungryCol

F3's on my bike :-D