Planet X Model B v Pro Lite Bracciano

juststartinout
juststartinout Posts: 86
edited October 2010 in Road buying advice
I'm looking to get a half descent wheelset for next summer ( budget £200) and after searching sites i've narrowed it down to the planet x model b and the pro lite bracciano. I was wondering if anyone out there have had any of the mentioned wheels and how they rated them

Comments

  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    I wouldnt get the model b's again, the hubs are very soft. Search on here for views.
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
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  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    I really like my set of Model B's. I got them 6 months old with tyres and tubes for £80.

    They are probably the lightest for the money and a bit aero too.

    I have been hit front on by a car with them, the fork snapped yet they only went about 3-4mm out of true.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
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  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    Have you checked the hub? http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomandmay/4894658424/
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • bondurant
    bondurant Posts: 858
    Is this the same hub problem that is not unique to Model Bs?
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    Bondurant wrote:
    Is this the same hub problem that is not unique to Model Bs?

    Yep.
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    Is there a list of hubs or wheelsets that this is a problem with?

    Of 5 sets I've owned (2 mavic, 2 custom build on shimano hubs, model Bs) it's the only time I've faced it, would definately like to be sure I avoid it on any future purchases!
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • daveydave43
    daveydave43 Posts: 200
    got models B a couple of months back
    Planet X gave excellent service
    using a 9 spd cassette so not experienced freehub issues
    definitely faster than my previous mavic cxp 22s on tiagra hubs due to aero bladed spokes and lighter all round wheel
    hubs spin well
    probably the best wheel for the money :D
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  • Chris James
    Chris James Posts: 1,040
    mclarent wrote:
    Is there a list of hubs or wheelsets that this is a problem with?

    Of 5 sets I've owned (2 mavic, 2 custom build on shimano hubs, model Bs) it's the only time I've faced it, would definitely like to be sure I avoid it on any future purchases!

    My understanding is that 10 speed cassettes dig into alloy freehubs (unless the freehub is 10 speed specific or American Classic clips are used).

    Shimano hubs and (I think all?) wheelsets use steel freehubs.

    Aluminium is used to save a handful of grams. rather like aluminium nipples, a slight weight loss for worse performance.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    mclarent wrote:
    I wouldnt get the model b's again, the hubs are very soft. Search on here for views.
    As suggested above, the issue is common to all aluminium 9 speed hubs when used with 10 speed cassettes. The 10 speed cassettes need taller splines of 10 speed only hubs. If you use a 9/10 speed hub rather than 10 speed only then the cassette can move and chew. The answers are: specify model B's with a 10 speed only freehub (I have one set of 10 speed only, one set of 9/10 speed); use 9 speed cassettes; get American Classic cassette clips (so American Classic even had to invent a solution); fashion your own solution using pop rivets through some of the cassette holes; get steel shimano freehubs.

    The problem is not peculiar to Model B's, all similar alu 9/10 speed hubs can suffer. It is just that Model B's are very common so there is a lot of this issue reported. As I have the right cassette and freehub combinations on my Model B's, there is no problem.
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    Thanks for that, very clear - would have been nice to know this up front, but there you go. The main reason I'm even aware of the issue is switching my cassettes between 9 and 10 speed cassettes, should have just kept em on my 9 speed training bike. Think I'll be sticking with steel hubs in the future anyway.
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • mclarent
    mclarent Posts: 784
    BTW, for the record, I love PX, bought loads of gear through them :)
    "And the Lord said unto Cain, 'where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: I dropped him on the climb up to the motorway bridge'."
    - eccolafilosofiadelpedale
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    A friend of mine has bought them recently...

    To be honest, the only upside is the weight... other than that, you get what you pay for. The quick release are a joke, they rattle and come loose, wouldn't feel safe with those AT ALL.
    Problems with hubs have been reported... a first look suggest they're not quality hubs

    For 200 £ are still a good buy, provided you get a decent pair of skewers with them. The rims will probably wear off before the hubs die anyway... just don't expect them to last forever and they'll probably be OK
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  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    A friend of mine has bought them recently...

    To be honest, the only upside is the weight... other than that, you get what you pay for. The quick release are a joke, they rattle and come loose, wouldn't feel safe with those AT ALL.
    Problems with hubs have been reported... a first look suggest they're not quality hubs

    For 200 £ are still a good buy, provided you get a decent pair of skewers with them. The rims will probably wear off before the hubs die anyway... just don't expect them to last forever and they'll probably be OK
    Which ones are you referring to?

    If Planet-X,

    well the QR's are as good as any - are you doing them up properly?
    The hubs - this is NOT a Planet-X Model B issue alone - (read above)
    My two sets have done 6000 miles between them, include one set on a bike used for full on loaded touring - rims and hubs remain flawless.

    And I paid £99 for them
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    I've got some model B's that I've run for 18 months with no problems at all, hubs still in good nick they're still true, QRs are fine - looks like you'll see two diametrically opposed views on here, some people, like me, have them and think they're great value for money, others think they're an absolute nightmare.

    BTW as clearly explained above, the hubs problem is absolutely nothing to do with PX - I've got a pair of Easton 90SLXs that did exactly the same with an Ultegra cassette (seems the hubs were suitable only for Dura Ace but you don't find out till you get the manual) So again, don't let it distract you.

    You pays yer money...
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  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    My Model Bs have been absolutely fine. Quiet smooth and fast, great for the money.
  • cleeve hill reject
    cleeve hill reject Posts: 426
    My housemate had a pair of Model B's - rear went 8-10mm out of true after 100 miles, had them trued up at a respected bike shop, took them out and popped a spoke. Had the wheel replaced by Planet-X, then popped a spoke on it. I rode them when they were working and found them to be quite easy to spin up to speed but they flexed a lot when sprinting or going up hills. They son't look to be great quality hubs or spokes, rims are probably ok. I'd go for the Pro-lites!

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  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    edited October 2010
    If you increase your budget a little bit you could get a pair of shimano ultegra 6700s. I have the 6600s and they have been excellent. Or you could get the 6600s for under £200, possibly better wheels than the two you have decided on.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Just bought the Pro-Lites for 186.00 + shipping at Ribble the other day, waiting for them to arrive....

    Seem a huge bargain at that price for 1500g wheels that get a lot of good reviews.
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  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    A mate has a set of the pro-lites, very light but i'd be concerned that being a big fat git they'd just explode under me.
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  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    What are you running at the moment?
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    Just noticed this thread, thought it might be useful to copy my mini review from another thread here - http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 6&start=40
    I've done 2 rides on the Braccianos now. They were fitted as additionals for some Planet X Model B wheels, I like to have a spare set of wheels ready to go with cassette and tyres fitted in case of problems (don't like to miss out on riding).

    Anyway, they're about 120 grams lighter than the Model Bs, look very nice and the white lettering really stands out on them even while spinning, certainly is more eye catching than the Model Bs.

    They are exceptionally stiff, which took me by surprise, I'm sure I read that one poster said they could be described as 'whipppy'! They are so stiff, they are actually pretty unforgiving and give a slighlty inferior ride to the Model Bs. They're pretty clattery over rough roads. Though I should add that I also changed to different tyres on the Braccianos, on my Model Bs I have Michelin Pro Race 3s fitted and on the Braccianos I have Schwalbe Stelvio raceguards in an effort to provide some puncture proofing for the oncoming winter.

    The stiffness seems to aid climbing/sprinting ability in some way, but possibly not enough to have an effect on actual times.

    They are quiet, and once rolling you don't hear the freewheel pawls if you coast. My local cafe has storage for bikes that keeps the front wheel off the ground and the front wheel was still spinning after going in and drinking tea and coming out a few minutes later, so the bearings seem OK (obviously this isn't a good test of bearings, it's an unladen test).

    I think they're worth the money, I've been able to go to a much more robust tyre/tube combination for winter and still come under the weight of the old wheels, though I wouldn't necessarily consider the Braccianos an 'upgrade' as such over Model Bs. However, if you're facing the prospect of needing new wheels I would choose them over the Model Bs.

    Hope this helps.
  • juststartinout
    juststartinout Posts: 86
    Thanks for all the feedback think the jury is still out on this one.Might just stick to my winter wheels for now and hope santa brings me some pennys to put to my dream wheelset ambrosio nemesis/ duraace hubs.Thanks all

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