Cracked Ksyrium rim, Cheap to replace ?

MarkMcp
MarkMcp Posts: 426
edited September 2008 in Workshop
I've got a crack in my back Ksyrium SL. It is a nine speed Shimano model and they are about 4 or 5 years old. As I'm skint at the moment, how much is a new rim ? or is it best for me to get a new wheel all together. If I do get a new wheel, where is the best place to buy a single wheel rather than a wheelset and will it matter if I have different front and back wheels ( apart from aesthetically)

Cheers

Comments

  • ACMadone
    ACMadone Posts: 300
    Hi Mark
    I only found this out too late, but my LBS quoted me £70 for a Ksyrium ES rim about 6 months ago. I bent mine after a crash, but wasn't aware you could replace the rim so bought a new pair :(
  • Captain Fagor
    Captain Fagor Posts: 739
    On the re-build option, even assuming you can get a replacement rim, finding an LBS to strip and re-build a factory wheel might be difficult. The nipples are frequently (or even always?) threadlocked, so they're a major pain in the ass to work on. The time involved might make it uneconomic, I'm afraid.
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    It'd probably be cheaper to replace the whole wheel. Then you'll have a spare hub + spokes ready. Unless you prefer to go with another wheel that is... :oops:
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • bill57
    bill57 Posts: 454
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    The nipples are frequently (or even always?) threadlocked, so they're a major pain in the ass to work on.

    Not that I want to contradict you, but is this a common practice? How would you ever true a wheel? Anybody else found this?
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I was recently quoted £90 for a Ksyrium SL rim from RJ Chicken. The rims are expensive because they come complete with the proprietary nipples already fitted. Rebuilding Ksyriums isn't too difficult, but well worth giving the nipples a soak in Plus-Gas to free them up before dismantling the old wheel. I'm not sure any of the OPs have actually any experience with the wheel in question. Chain Reaction have some single wheels on offer at the mo too.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • MarkMcp
    MarkMcp Posts: 426
    Thanks for the advice everybody. The LBS have quoted me around £80 to £90 for the rim and approx £20-£30 labour, but it will mean I'm off the road for another 1-2 weeks. I am thinking about a whole new wheel, but as I said before I can't afford a whole new wheelset. Thanks Monty Dog for the heads up on the Chain Reaction single wheels, but all of the deals on single wheels seem to be for Campag only. I have seen a rear DT Swiss R1900 on the Parker site for £183. Any opinions on this wheel, would it be a pretty good like for like replacement ?, considering the Ksyrium SL SSC's are over 5 years old now ?

    Cheers again
  • 16simon
    16simon Posts: 154
    MarkMcp wrote:
    Thanks Monty Dog for the heads up on the Chain Reaction single wheels, but all of the deals on single wheels seem to be for Campag only

    All you neeed to do is swap the freehub from your current wheel - job done. It's very easy to change Mavic freehubs.
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    bill57 wrote:
    Captain Fagor wrote:
    The nipples are frequently (or even always?) threadlocked, so they're a major pain in the ass to work on.

    Not that I want to contradict you, but is this a common practice? How would you ever true a wheel? Anybody else found this?

    all mavics are assembled with loctite- its stops them going out of true due to vibration but you can still get a turn on the nipples using their aluminium spoke key ( the plazzy one they give you is next to useless)

    the threads should be re-loctited if the wheel is diddembled
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • grahamcp
    grahamcp Posts: 323
    Exact same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago (see my other thread)... 4-5 year old Ksyrium SSC SLs, Shimano 9 speed rear, split around a drive side spoke. Kinda gutted but they have given me great service in those 4-5 years so not too peed off.

    LBS quoted me a bit over £100 for new rim + rebuild. However, Mavic were in the process of changing how their dealer network operates, and they couldn't get the parts in straight away (still haven't called me back yet!).

    On the basis that you are skint, my advice would be to buy a cheap replacement for now (eg Shimano Tiagra £45 from Wiggle) then get a new matching wheelset when funds allow. The cheap one can then be kept for use on a turbo trainer or spare, and you'll appreciate the new ones even more when you get them!

    DT Swiss have a great rep, but those are 1900g/pr whereas the Ksyriums probably came in at 1500-1600g/pr. The 1450s would be the closer match, or the Easton EA90 SLX which is what I went for and am well chuffed with.

    Cheers,
    Graham.

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