Lightweight, Strong AM Wheels
Comments
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Must be a new model, as the AM versions I have seen are 1.9kg.0
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That's what I couldn't understand either, the older reviews from around '09-'10 quote weights in the region of 1,860.
Yet the American Classic website quotes 1,546 for the latest version. I just don't see how they could have dropped 300g from a wheelset without a massive price hike or drop in strength.
I reckon some verification on this weight is required. Might see if the LBS can get a set on sale or return.0 -
32 spoke wheels too, usually lighter ones will be running less... And not skinny spokes either. I'd be skepticla myself, if you look at say a Traversee EL they run less spokes, and lighter, with a comparably light hub and about as puny a rim as you can get away with calling "all mountain", and tip the scales at 1550g without tubeless valves.
They do say on the website "They are durable for extremes such as drops, rough terrain and high speed." Now that just sounds like an everyday XC wheel to me not an AM wheel, but it's such a vague term...Uncompromising extremist0 -
The traversee are pretty flexy though! The new am from ac is probably the old xc set with a beefier rim.0
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Aye, that's kind of my point though, the Traverses cut everything to the bone yet AC are claiming a lighter weight for a wheel with a lot more obvious meat on it. Just don't see how it adds up.Uncompromising extremist0
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That's the problem with these different pigeonholes for MTB, they are very open to interpritation.
I've seen a review of the most recent 29er AM wheelset here, which suggests that the 29" ones are around 1,800g, but have not yet seen any recent reviews of the
26" versions.
If anyone knows of anywhere that's done a comprehensive review of the most recent 26" AM wheelset, please do let me know.
Edit: Found one Actual weight comes out at 1,620, which is still very reasonable.
Makes for an interesting read actually. Things I didn't know before include: Rims only weigh 390g, and are not compatible with Schwalbe Snakeskin tyres (which is a shame because they are my weapon of choice).0 -
Cat With No Tail wrote:That's what I couldn't understand either, the older reviews from around '09-'10 quote weights in the region of 1,860.
Yet the American Classic website quotes 1,546 for the latest version. I just don't see how they could have dropped 300g from a wheelset without a massive price hike or drop in strength.
I reckon some verification on this weight is required. Might see if the LBS can get a set on sale or return.
I looked into this a while back as I too rather like the look of the American Classic all mountain wheelset and will probably get a set in the new year. In my searching, they were the lightest wheelset that I could find that were rated for "all mountain" usage and this side of £1k.
The 2009/10 All Mountain ones were 1900g. For 2011 they renamed these the "downhill" set and made a new all mountain set that is the same as the MTB26 one but with a wider, stronger rim.0 -
Hmm... They use the 225 hub which they don't usually rate for AM use, interesting. But even then the hubs are only 40g lighter than a pair of 240s. The extra spokes will probably make the spokeset heavier than the Traversees (which are thinner spokes, but not neccesarily lighter individually... But there's 14 more of them. So I guess the weight cut has to be in the rims.Uncompromising extremist0
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Is as I thought, is the MTB set with heavier rims, no other differences.0
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Did you test the MTB set at any point sonic? what was it like?
they say that the AM set is the same, but with a wider, deeper profile rim which somehow makes it stiffer.
Northwind, not sure how much of a difference it makes, but they will save a bit of weight on spokes by having some of the biggest flanges about (
:roll:). 0 -
Tested the old MTB set that was claimed to be 1486g - there is a newer, lighter one now. Seems the whole line up has been overhauled ie a lighter XC set, the AM set being the old 'MTB' set with these new rims, and the DH set the old AM set. The terrain set seems to be a budget build.
I didn't get the weights, were part of the Moda Solo that I tested. The rim looked quite beefy anyway, and was certainly stiff. Had some pretty nasty rock strikes, had no effect. Was very impressed, certainly the best value Factory set I have seen. Hubs stayed trouble free, but at that weight I am not sure what exactly they can take. Seem be made by the same people who make A2Z hubs.0 -
It's a tough choice that's for sure.
I'm currently leaning towards the classics at this time. I reckon I can get away with a fairly lightweight set. Most of our riding here is natural XC, we've got plenty of big loose fkoff rocks and such, but nothing particularly "gnar". And it'll be some time before I'm back on a black run (well over a year I reckon). I want to set the Edison up as light as possible for when I can get back on it. But still strong enough to handle AM as I start to progress a bit more as I get my strength (and confidence) back.0 -
I am kinda spoiled ;-) Have XTR M965 wheelset on one bike, CrossMax Enduro on another, and have tested the ACs. Very tough call between AC and XTR. I think the XTR hubs are smoother, and should be stronger, and those scandium rims are tough, but the twin spokes reduce stiffness. If I was in the same position to buy I really wouldn't know what to do!0
