List of new wheels down to 2 but two final questions....

jackdee98

Hi folks,

I've just spent a few hours trawling through old posts and have a shortlist of either Easton EA90SLX or Dura Ace 7850 Carbon Laminate wheels. They are to replace the Jalco Dynamics 270 on my Specialized Allez Elite.

Firstly are the Dura Aces worth the extra money? Is the build quality better?

Secondly I've seen on some posts that the Eastons are a pain to get tyres onto, I really struggled to get Conti GP4000's on my current wheels and really don't want the hassle each time, so I suppose the question is will the Dura Aces be easier to get tyres onto?

Many thanks in advance!

HonestAl

I've got a pair of the Eastons and didn't have any problem at all getting tyres on them. (I've got Open Paves on them) Having said that I tend to be pretty generous with doses of talc on the tubes to make life easy but no problem that I found.

weapons

I have a set of DA7850 CL. They are brilliant. Upgraded from Ksyrium Elites and noticed a massive improvement, especially when climbing I can now take the same hill a gear higher.

I run Conti GP4000S on them, they are a doddle to get on the rim.

Anonymous

I had a set of the Dura Ace wheels whom I sold to some muppet.

I was telling my mate on a ride yesterday how much I missed them

They were brilliant wheels, the hubs were in a league of their own for factory wheels.

aberdeen_lune

The dura ace wheels are nice but they dont last long if you use the brakes much. The rims are wafer thin and a replacement rim is £250. So fine if your only going to use them for racing but definetley not an everyday wheel.

weapons

NapoleonD wrote:

I had a set of the Dura Ace wheels whom I sold to some muppet.

I was that muppet.

bristolpete

Hi,

I had the Dura Ace wheels fitted yesterday. Very happy. What I have noticed along with a tyre upgrade is the momentum the wheels generate. Example being if I am free wheeling or ebbing towards a stop, the bike keeps going rather than plodding to a halt like the previously owned Mavics. Overall very pleased but will report more over the coming week.

ScottieP

I have some 2008 Easton EA90SLX and haven't had any problems getting tyres on ... from memory it seems to be the EA50SL's that people seem to struggle getting tyres on. I like my Eastons and when I bought them they were about £200 cheaper than the Dura Ace CL's (don't know what the difference is now) and I couldn't justify the extra cash - I've ridden 2,500km so far on the Eatons which are still absolutely true. I'm just about to put a new set of Mavic Open Pros with Hope 3 hubs on my bike for the winter and my now used Eastons are slightly truer than my new Mavics.

Anonymous

weapons wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

I had a set of the Dura Ace wheels whom I sold to some muppet.

I was that muppet.

wicked

Aberdeen_lune wrote:

The dura ace wheels are nice but they dont last long if you use the brakes much. The rims are wafer thin and a replacement rim is £250. So fine if your only going to use them for racing but definetley not an everyday wheel.

I was under the impression that although the alloy on the rim is indeed thin but the braking surface is standard thickness? Perhaps the owners could clarify this?

I too am gonna get either the CL's or 09 SLX for next year.

Anonymous

No probs with braking surface at all...

It's just the usual interweb b0ll0x spouting that someone said once and people propagate because 'they heard that it happens...'

APIII

I've just cancelled my order for the EA90SLX. Placed the order on 4th July, but got fed up with waiting, If you've got Shimano, you 'll be ok as CRC have them instock.

hopper1

I've got EA90 SLX's... Fantastic wheelset, very happy, so far.
I'm running Conti 4000S's, but they were already fitted when the bike arrived

bristolpete

To update, I rode to my parents this evening. There and back. What a difference the Dura Ace made. Quite surprised as you read all about wheel upgrades, but I can honestly say it was a totally different experience and coming home I hammered my PB from my parents as the wheels simply just roll.

More than pleased.

lfcquin

Just took the plunge on a set of Dura Ace from Merlin Cycles. Had my eye on a set for ages but while just browsing around this evening I found on their website they have an extra 10% off until Midnight tonight. That is a pair of Dura Ace 7850 CL Wheels for £479.00 delivered.

It was enough to tip me over the edge. Damn you all for fueling my spending habits!!!!

aberdeen_lune

NapoleonD wrote:

No probs with braking surface at all...

It's just the usual interweb b0ll0x spouting that someone said once and people propagate because 'they heard that it happens...'

No not hearsay this one. I have a set of Dura Ace 7850CL wheels I bought in April. They lasted till August (RIP). 2000miles of hilly rides and I admit probably quite a bit of heavy braking on descents. The rims are worn through. Tried to purchase replacement rims I was quoted £250 per rim so not economically viable. Hope you guys have better luck with them than me. I wont be buying another set. The new bike I've ordered had them as standard on it. I opted for a different set of wheels.

pianoman

They don't call 'em SHIMA-NO for nothing :P

I think you'll end up picking the Eastons, then again why not have a look at Campag/Fulcrum? I would think that Fulcrum would look best on an Allez Elite - in fact I know someone who wants good wheels for the same bike and I also know someone who sells them.

The colour matches too

chriskempton

Aberdeen_lune wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

No probs with braking surface at all...

It's just the usual interweb b0ll0x spouting that someone said once and people propagate because 'they heard that it happens...'

No not hearsay this one. I have a set of Dura Ace 7850CL wheels I bought in April. They lasted till August (RIP). 2000miles of hilly rides and I admit probably quite a bit of heavy braking on descents. The rims are worn through. Tried to purchase replacement rims I was quoted £250 per rim so not economically viable. Hope you guys have better luck with them than me. I wont be buying another set. The new bike I've ordered had them as standard on it. I opted for a different set of wheels.

I'm intrigued as I'm interested in buying some of these.

Did you try to get a refund on the wheels? 5 months and 2000 miles surely means they're not of merchantable quality or whatever the phrasing is in Sale Of Goods act.

What did the retailer/distributor have to say about such poor durability, or did you not pursue this route at all?

What exactly do you mean by the rims worn through? Literally, this would mean bits of rim bead falling off and I doubt it got that far, so what problem meant you could no longer use the wheels?

Thanks

pianoman

Maybe only the carbon laminate fell apart? I'd be surprised if the brake pads wore through the carbon AND the alu parts of the rim depth.

Unless of course you were using the wrong brake block type :P

agnello

imagine he means the bonded on aluminium braking surface. i have a pair and can see how this could happen eventually (and quicker than a structural aluminium rim)...

aberdeen_lune

The aluminium braking surface is worn down on the front and back wheel. The little indicator holes have mostly dissapeared. I was using Kool Stop dual compound pads. Spoke to the retailer and he quoted me £250 each for replacement rims. I dont think this will be covered by any guarantee as its a wearing part a bit like brake discs on your car. I was very surprised they lasted such a short time. Nice wheels but to me this is a serious design flaw. I have a set of DT Swiss wheels which have done more than double the miles and they are still in excellent condition.

billybiker

I've done several K miles on my DA wheels and the braking surfaces still look like new. Using DA 7900 brakes and pads. Fantastic brakes! These wheels are the best I've ever ridden and I think they look pretty good too!

soveda

PianoMan wrote:

The colour matches too

#

This is vital, hence going for Fulcrum 5s on my Defy 2 (red)

Is it wrong that I don't want a red saddle despite red tape, wheels and tyres?

NWLondoner

I agree they both look like great wheels. Although are expensive to repair if they get damaged.

Why not go for some handbuilts instead?

chriskempton

Aberdeen_lune wrote:

The aluminium braking surface is worn down on the front and back wheel. The little indicator holes have mostly dissapeared. I was using Kool Stop dual compound pads. Spoke to the retailer and he quoted me £250 each for replacement rims. I dont think this will be covered by any guarantee as its a wearing part a bit like brake discs on your car. I was very surprised they lasted such a short time. Nice wheels but to me this is a serious design flaw. I have a set of DT Swiss wheels which have done more than double the miles and they are still in excellent condition.

Thanks for the description. What have you done with the wheels now? The DA hubs are fantastic - would you be interested in selling me the wheels as they are?

aberdeen_lune

The wheels are in wheel bags in the spare room. they are in excellent condition apart from the worn braking surfaces. If your interested in buying them Chris send me an email gregpquinn@hotmail.com

rjh299

I've had my DA wheels for a year, put couple thousand 'cornish' miles (up hill, down dale) on them and they still look like new. Surprised that other guys wore out so fast. I've changed my pads once in the time and replaced them with the original spec shimano pads.

Beardy10

My wheels are handbuilt DA hubs on DT 1.1 Rims. The hubs are just brilliant, so smooth...and the wheels are very strong.

They are proving to be extremely durable....I'm 16 stone and ride my bike a lot in London including commuting so they get plenty of stick.

Anonymous

rjh299 wrote:

I've had my DA wheels for a year, put couple thousand 'cornish' miles (up hill, down dale) on them and they still look like new. Surprised that other guys wore out so fast. I've changed my pads once in the time and replaced them with the original spec shimano pads.

Cornwall is the hardest place I've ever ridden.

Have they ever heard of flat? Even a steady incline would do!

doughty2002

I've had HED Ardennes for over a year now. They are fantastic wheels. I can compare them to Campagnolo Neutrons, Reynolds Stratus Clinchers and Handbuilt Mavic CXP33's. The Heds outshine all of these wheels. They roll really well and soak up a lot of the road buzz. Their is no deflection from them when sprinting or standing when climbing (I weigh about 11 stone) and they also have a rather fetching (and sensible) luminous writing on them which aids you not being the next car fodder on the ever lengthening dark and dreary nights.
The Ardennes have wider than average rims and this is what I believe accounts for the smoothness of the ride. Check out a number of very favourable reviews of these wheels on various websites.

I think that you can only order them direct from HED uk but they are well worth the trouble.

Hope that helps.