Planet X Model B Wheels
fenski
Posts: 119
So where's the catch? A relatively light, semi-aero wheelset for £100.
Surely the normal rule applies - you don't get light, cheap and strong. So is strength or durability the issue?
Surely the normal rule applies - you don't get light, cheap and strong. So is strength or durability the issue?
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No catch I'd say, you'll find loads of mentions on here of how good they are. I've got a pair which I've battered for a year on a cross bike and they're fine. Not the lightest wheels in the world, but for sub £100 you're laughing..."The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon0
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No catch, just good cheap wheels .....0
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I wont pretend to know anything about these wheels myself, but I was just reading some unrelated threads on the weight weenies forum and these wheels were being properly slated, might be worth nipping over there and having a search.
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/0 -
The early ones with the shimano freehubs weren't so good, the freehubs became chewed up, perhaps that was the gripe.0
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Or it might just be because they're heavy compared to proper weight weenie stuff.. Doesn't mean they're not a bargain and very light for the price though. Bear in mind that most on Weight Weenies will spend more on a wheelset then others would on a bike.0
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They are light cheap and strong because Planet-X cut out the middle-man. I have given two sets of these wheels a hammering over 18 months (including loaded touring), no issues at all, and you have to spend nearly three times the money to beat the weight elsewhere.
The hub issue is common to all aluminium freehubs (on all makes of wheels) designed for 9 or 10 speed, the splines are short to accommodate 9 speed cassettes, but using a 10 speed cassette will chew them up. The latest Planet-X wheels are 10 speed only, having taller splines, fitting only 10 speed cassettes, and no chewing.0 -
OK then. I reckon they're worth a punt given the price. Cheers.0
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Lighter than My Sciroccos which are 2.5x the price. Seem to work fine although the freehub does seem to be a little softer, It had more marking than expected after only 1 ride.Up: Wilier Mortirolo
Down: Orange Patriot0 -
I was going to buy them a couple of weeks back but ended up sorting the issue on my wheels, I was recommended wheels by Pro-Lite being sold by Ribble for around £120 and £130.
The two wheelsets linked here are those;
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...er/PROLWHFR260
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...er/PROLWHFR270
And a video of there building processes which I found on You Tube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcAWqNI0sV8
Not sure if this might sway your decision but figured it would be worth letting you know about them.
Billy0 -
I was going to buy them a couple of weeks back but ended up sorting the issue on my wheels, I was recommended wheels by Pro-Lite being sold by Ribble for around £120 and £130.
The two wheelsets linked here are those;
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...er/PROLWHFR260
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/roa...er/PROLWHFR270
And a video of there building processes which I found on You Tube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcAWqNI0sV8
Not sure if this might sway your decision but figured it would be worth letting you know about them.
Billy0 -
Model B wheels are great, i got some for my madone after the bontrager race lits had died, i couldn't believe they where lighter and stronger and way faster.
They are a great wheel for the price, i think they perform as well as most big name £300 wheelsets..0 -
alfablue wrote:They are light cheap and strong because Planet-X cut out the middle-man. I have given two sets of these wheels a hammering over 18 months (including loaded touring), no issues at all, and you have to spend nearly three times the money to beat the weight elsewhere.
The hub issue is common to all aluminium freehubs (on all makes of wheels) designed for 9 or 10 speed, the splines are short to accommodate 9 speed cassettes, but using a 10 speed cassette will chew them up. The latest Planet-X wheels are 10 speed only, having taller splines, fitting only 10 speed cassettes, and no chewing.
I am interested in purchasing these wheels too but at present my bike is a 9speed. I contacted PX regarding this and was told that if I ordered the wheels make sure i put a large note in the special delivery section stating that i needed the wheels as 9speed. They would then supply the wheels with the appropriate freehub, do you think i would be supplied with the old one that has been causing chewing problems or have they rectified this problem for 9speeds?0 -
There is only a problem if you fit a 10 speed cassette on a 9 speed freehub of ANY brand, if it is aluminium rather than steel (Shimano are steel). The problem is because 10 speed cassettes need taller splines, so on the shorter splines of 9 speed freehubs there is a tendency for "chewing". 9 speed cassette on 9 speed freehub = no problem.
The problem isn't really to do with Planet-X, it is to do with the advent of 10 speed cassettes requiring taller splines, and the fact that these are considered compatible with 9 speed freehubs, which is not really the case if they are aluminium freehubs.
(If you upgrade to 10 speed later, there are solutions to stopping chewing if using 10 speed on 9 speed allow freehubs; either putting some appropriately sized panel pins through some of the holes in the cassette sprockets, or getting some American Classic "Speed Clips")0 -
Thanks Alfa, thats cleared that one up for me. Was a bit dubious about placing the order but your comment has layed to rest some of the doubt that i had.0
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I ordered the wheels yesterday lunchtime and they arrived lunchtime today - great delivery service.
I just hope that they've sent the right freehub because I didn't specify 9 speed which is what I need :?0 -
Came with my Ti Road pro bike and they are awesome, incredibly impressed and better than my other best wheels (EA50;s which are still pretty OK).+++++++++++++++++++++
we are the proud, the few, Descendents.
Panama - finally putting a nail in the economic theory of the trickle down effect.0 -
Oh dear, I think the default would be 10 speed. Your 9 speed cassette may not fitfenski wrote:I ordered the wheels yesterday lunchtime and they arrived lunchtime today - great delivery service.
I just hope that they've sent the right freehub because I didn't specify 9 speed which is what I need :?
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I had 9 speed dura ace on the new model b's and it was fine, i also ran 10 speed ultegra on the same wheel.. No freehub damage at all... I wouldnt worry at all.
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a tall spline cassette can be used on a standard 8,9,10 freehub but if the hub is tall splined a standard cassette wont fit.0
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Are these wheels free of any logos etc?
They look that way on the website, just wanted to be sure...0 -
Good news - my SRAM 9speed cassette fits absolutely fine:) And yes they are decal free - black with anodised spokes - quite a stealthy understated look.0
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good news 0
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I had to replace my first set that came with my P X because they were shite.
The wheel was bent, I even had a spoke snap just before a race...what made everyone else laugh? I wasn't even on it. It was just propped up against the wall. What bollocks.
I got my bike during one of their firesales so I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and put shoddy wheel building down to their sales tactics increasing pressure to turn out loads quickly. I haven't had any troubles with the new pair yet - but I wouldn't recommend them due to the above either.The British Empire never died, it just moved to the Velodrome0 -
Ordered sunday night, just arrived, 4 mins after eta. Not bad.
They look great, just need to get shot of the logo on the hub with some black paint or something.
Will report back on feel compared to my other posh wheels.0 -
I fitted a 9 speed cassette on some new Model Bs over the weekend no problem. I didn't specify that I needed 9 speed.
Slightly anxious, but so far so good.
I weighed each wheel against the old ones in the process and I've saved about 600g against the rigida flyers that came as standard.
N²0
