Zondas - are they rubbish or am I unlucky?

blooocow

In September 06 I got a pair of Zondas.

In Jan 07 the rear, apparently sealed bearings started oozing rusty water. So I got them replaced.

In April 07 I was riding home from work and just got to the bottom of a fairly but not madly steep hill (if you're local, Hagley road in Brum just before the Quinton Expressway) when I heard a ping, metal flew up, I ground to a halt and looked down to see the hub flange had snapped around the spoke holes. Ventos have an oversize flange with cut-outs.

Got the wheel replaced, eventually, in October 07.

In Feb 08 the rear, apparently sealed bearings started grinding. So I got them replaced.

On Wednesday I was was riding home from work and just got to the bottom of a 10% hill (if you're local, Powke Lane in Smallheath, just by the cemetery - which would have been handy) when I heard a ping. I looked down to see the hub flange had snapped around the spoke holes.

First time I thought manufacturing fault. Second time I thought design fault. A bit of perspective, it's a front wheel and I weigh under 9 stone so please don't think I maul bikes in my handling.

But to be fair to the wheels, they do do 100 to 150 miles a week over the Winter and 100 a week in the Summer. But surely, 12 months for a hub and 6-months for a flange is a bit weak?

Any thoughts, similar experiences?

gkerr4

hmmm - i think you are pretty unlucky there

I don't have them (although I do have Eurus which I am impressed with) but i have only ever read good comments about zonda's before tonight

Ken Night

blooocow wrote:

Any thoughts, similar experiences?

I got the 04s, liked 'em so much I bought Eurus in '06

Now use Zondas on Audaxes and did PBP on them

Lovely wheels

aracer

blooocow wrote:

But to be fair to the wheels, they do do 100 to 150 miles a week over the Winter and 100 a week in the Summer.

Ah well there's your problem. They're presumably designed for people who only go out posing on their bikes for a few miles at a time when the sun's shining :twisted:

blooocow

aracer wrote:

blooocow wrote:

But to be fair to the wheels, they do do 100 to 150 miles a week over the Winter and 100 a week in the Summer.

Ah well there's your problem. They're presumably designed for people who only go out posing on their bikes for a few miles at a time when the sun's shining :twisted:

And that's what p**ses me off. I bought these to replace the hand-built Velcoe Hub/ Mavix CXP33 rims that had performed perfectly well for 4 Winters and Summers but which I felt deserved a retirement on my less used commuter. Now I'm back to using those old wheels whilst my 'poser-wheels' lie in a heap in the garage.

Pirahna

Mavic and Shimano for the winter, Campag for best.

blooocow

Pirahna wrote:

Mavic and Shimano for the winter, Campag for best.

Forgot to mention that the axles and hub-nuts turned orange at the first sign of wet.

Slow Downcp

blooocow wrote:

In September 06 I got a pair of Zondas.

In Jan 07 the rear, apparently sealed bearings started oozing rusty water. So I got them replaced.

In April 07 I was riding home from work and just got to the bottom of a fairly but not madly steep hill (if you're local, Hagley road in Brum just before the Quinton Expressway) when I heard a ping, metal flew up, I ground to a halt and looked down to see the hub flange had snapped around the spoke holes. Ventos have an oversize flange with cut-outs.

Is it Zonda's or Vento's you have?

Steve928

blooocow wrote:

Forgot to mention that the axles and hub-nuts turned orange at the first sign of wet.

That is weird as Zondas have the superb Record aluminium axle assemblies.

Captain Fagor

Another satisfied zonda user here. Mine have been bulletproof.

stoobydale

I have a pair of Zondas that are coming up for their 3rd season. I have recommended them many times and would do so again, however I do only use them in the summer months. I have a pair of Khamsins that I have used last winter and this one. I have chanced the bearings in the front & back wheels and also the freehub bearings, I am also possibly having to replace the pawls and pawl spring. Still undecided as to weather this is value for money or not. I bought the bearings from a local supplier, the hub bearings cost £10 for four and the freehub bearings cost £11 for two. They are top quality bearings with both sides sealed so hopefully they should last a lot longer. (for some reason the bearings that were removed had, had the inner rubber seals removed at the factory)

blooocow

Slow Downcp wrote:

blooocow wrote:

In September 06 I got a pair of Zondas.

In Jan 07 the rear, apparently sealed bearings started oozing rusty water. So I got them replaced.

In April 07 I was riding home from work and just got to the bottom of a fairly but not madly steep hill (if you're local, Hagley road in Brum just before the Quinton Expressway) when I heard a ping, metal flew up, I ground to a halt and looked down to see the hub flange had snapped around the spoke holes. Ventos have an oversize flange with cut-outs.

Is it Zonda's or Vento's you have?

:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
I'm gonna go crawl away and hide for a period of time

brian t

Do answer the question as to which wheels.

If it's Ventos, let me say I have used tmine hrough two summers and winters and they look and perform as new.

normanp

I have had perfect performance from Zondas over 2 years with lots of spring & summer miles. However these are very light race wheels not hack wheels so they are not suitable for winter or rough roads and should be ridden with care and consideration (as you would with any race wheels I hope!). For winter I have used handbuilt Open Pros / XTR hubs which have withstood some very harsh treatment. I think the kit should suit your riding - expensive does not mean bomb-proof!