Planet x AL30 WHEEL SET

2

Comments

  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    Anyone got any updates on these again? Thinking of taking the plunge!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • nickel
    nickel Posts: 476
    Well since the rear hub bearings failed and were subsequently replaced in early February (as mentioned in my previous post) they've been spot on. I've hit some sizeable potholes and they're still almost perfectly true after 2500 miles. Spoke tension seems to have remained pretty even too.
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    I've just bought a pair of AL30's. I'll spare when they arrive.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Have also sourced two sets of SKF sealed bearings for £15
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Chris James wrote:
    In my experience Shimano hubs are well sealed, last forever and are a piece of cake to service.

    I suppose the bearings and alloy freehub are the main reasons why the PlanetX are so light?
    Only high end shimano hubs are well sealed. Low end ones are junk. Changing sealed bearings take 5 minutes with a couple of common use tools... With cup and cone, you never know... When the race is gone the hub is gone and cones are not so easy to source too.

    Would "lower end" include 105? Thinking of getting a set of H Plus Son rims built up on 105 hubs. Would there be a better sealed cartridge hub that is durable but doesn't cost £££'s?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Camcycle1974 wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Chris James wrote:
    In my experience Shimano hubs are well sealed, last forever and are a piece of cake to service.

    I suppose the bearings and alloy freehub are the main reasons why the PlanetX are so light?
    Only high end shimano hubs are well sealed. Low end ones are junk. Changing sealed bearings take 5 minutes with a couple of common use tools... With cup and cone, you never know... When the race is gone the hub is gone and cones are not so easy to source too.

    Would "lower end" include 105? Thinking of getting a set of H Plus Son rims built up on 105 hubs. Would there be a better sealed cartridge hub that is durable but doesn't cost £££'s?

    I put 105 in the "high end" category... I have had bad experience with Deore ones, which are kind of Sora-Tiagra in terms of where they sit in the range.
    105 is 90% like Ultegra.
    Difficult to give advice... Shimano hubs are great for heavy riders as the bearings are designed for load... they last well, but when they die you need to replace several different parts for a satisfactory result...
    For sealed cartridge, Miche Primato or RC 2 are good value for money
    left the forum March 2023
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Thanks Ugo, I appreciate the advice. I am not a heavy rider at 75kg so the Miche Primato might be a good option for me. funny as I was looking at them on Wiggle yesterday. The RC 2 (Miche too?) I am not familiar with but will have a look.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Camcycle1974 wrote:
    Thanks Ugo, I appreciate the advice. I am not a heavy rider at 75kg so the Miche Primato might be a good option for me. funny as I was looking at them on Wiggle yesterday. The RC 2 (Miche too?) I am not familiar with but will have a look.

    Miche make two road models which are essentially the same thing in different colours... one is called primato, the other RC2 or Racing box. These have a forged shell, bit more robust than your average hub, so a bit heavier too, but nice hubs for the money
    left the forum March 2023
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Thanks. Have had a look on Wiggle and they do look good in the black version. One horror story in the reviews but the others are all positive. This or 105 as they are both in the same ball-park?
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Not meaning to sound rude, but this thread is about Planet X AL30's, not Shimano wheels.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    Not meaning to sound rude, but this thread is about Planet X AL30's, not Shimano wheels.


    My apologies,sorry to hijak. the Al30's are on my radar but concerned re the hub quality hence the questions to Ugo. I will search or start another thread. :oops:
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Camcycle1974 wrote:
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    Not meaning to sound rude, but this thread is about Planet X AL30's, not Shimano wheels.


    My apologies,sorry to hijak. the Al30's are on my radar but concerned re the hub quality hence the questions to Ugo. I will search or start another thread. :oops:

    To be honest, it sounds to me like the bearings are the issue. Just bought 2 sets of the bearings from Ebay (SKF sealed ones) for £15, so I wouldn't let that worry you too much.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    The wheel arrived today, first impressions are favorable. They look great, are pretty light, with nice even spoke tension.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    ... with nice even spoke tension.

    Did you measure it?
    left the forum March 2023
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    ... with nice even spoke tension.

    Did you measure it?

    Of course not. I used the scientific "ping it with a biro" method!!!!
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    ... with nice even spoke tension.

    Did you measure it?

    Of course not. I used the scientific "ping it with a biro" method!!!!

    SO kind of a cycling weekly review: "even tensions upon pinging and they look great"... :lol:
    left the forum March 2023
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Tyres on & done a weight comparison.

    Std
    F - 2647g
    R- 3691g

    A30's
    F - 2050g (597g lighter)
    R - 2991g (700g ligher)

    So a useful 1297g saving on rotating mass. (Nearly 3lb)

    Initial thoughts after a quick 2mile blast are very good. They feel noticably stiffer^& the bike feels a whole lot more lively.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    Std
    F - 2647g
    R- 3691g

    A30's
    F - 2050g (597g lighter)
    R - 2991g (700g ligher)
    What tyres and tubes are you using?? They seem to be heavier than the wheels!
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    thegibdog wrote:
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    Std
    F - 2647g
    R- 3691g

    A30's
    F - 2050g (597g lighter)
    R - 2991g (700g ligher)
    What tyres and tubes are you using?? They seem to be heavier than the wheels!

    Given that un-tyred and tubed, the AL30 apparently weighs 1722 grams for the wheelset, I think we can assume that Marks original wheelset weighed 3kg :shock:

    No wonder he finds the bike feels 'more lively'!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Mark Elvin
    Mark Elvin Posts: 997
    Rolf F wrote:
    thegibdog wrote:
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    Std
    F - 2647g
    R- 3691g

    A30's
    F - 2050g (597g lighter)
    R - 2991g (700g ligher)
    What tyres and tubes are you using?? They seem to be heavier than the wheels!

    Given that un-tyred and tubed, the AL30 apparently weighs 1722 grams for the wheelset, I think we can assume that Marks original wheelset weighed 3kg :shock:

    No wonder he finds the bike feels 'more lively'!

    Just gone back & checked the numbers for the AL30's

    1722g for the AL20's, plus 460g for two tyres (GP4000S), plus 130g for two tubes (Maxxis Ultralight), plus 230g for the cassette (PG-950) equals 2542g for the pair, that's theoretical weight, they come in a couple of grams under that on my fishing scales (probably due to not having the nut on the valve stem), the kitchen ones I used last night must be WAY out, may explain a lot about the wife's cooking!!!! I was o tired last night I never questioned the numbers.

    When I have more time I must go back & check the OEM wheels.
    2012 Cannondale Synapse
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Mark Elvin wrote:
    ........ the kitchen ones I used last night must be WAY out, may explain a lot about the wife's cooking!!!!

    Have you been losing weight lately?! :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Pinarello Poser
    Pinarello Poser Posts: 4
    Yup, I've got a set of AL30s and the bearings failed after 2 months. Awful response and customer service. Wouldn't warrant the bearings.

    I have 4 other wheelsets that We"ve used over 5 years now on our bikes all year round and they're all still going well with the occasional bearing re-grease.

    The rims are light and aero but I've hardly used them. With poor support from PX there was loads of wrangling about the warranty (still not agreed) and the repaired wheels still weren't fixed properly! There is 3 mm of play in the new bearings that won't adjust out and the free hub is obviously the culprit too as it is still graunchy. the service guy has been as helpful as possible within the buisness constraints, but don't they test them before returning them?

    Couldn't get hold of them for weeks with their awful telephone system and now the wheels have gone back again.

    Planet X represent the worst aspects of unscrupulous Internet businesses. Do not touch these wheels. They distribute some competitive products but if you want service (or peace of mind) go to your IBD or Chain Reaction.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    No one warranties bearings. Cheap bearings used in these hubs can fail particulalry if they are the kind that run on large diameter axles. These kind of hubs unfortunatley are best used in the dry as water ingress does them no good. The other reason for poor bearing life is poor alignment of the bearing seats. In this case even good quality SKF's or INA bearings will wear out more quickly then they should. If your failed bearings are full of rust then it is water ingress that has killed them. also hubs like these should not be washed with anything but a brush and a bucket of water. Any high pressure water/detergents will get in and remove the grease. Infact this goes for all hubs really no matter how good the sealing is.

    Replacing the bearing on those wheels will give the same problems if they are used and treated in the way as before. You will have to change the way you use the wheels to get longer bearing life I am afraid.

    Miche hubs are good, I use lots of them and they give high mileage even in the wet, floods, wet + salt. They really do not mind.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Had mine over a year now and still going strong.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    I have some 30 year old kit that works fine but it has been hardly used so saying you have them a year doe not tell us much.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • warrior4life
    warrior4life Posts: 925
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    No one warranties bearings. Cheap bearings used in these hubs can fail particulalry if they are the kind that run on large diameter axles. These kind of hubs unfortunatley are best used in the dry as water ingress does them no good. The other reason for poor bearing life is poor alignment of the bearing seats. In this case even good quality SKF's or INA bearings will wear out more quickly then they should. If your failed bearings are full of rust then it is water ingress that has killed them. also hubs like these should not be washed with anything but a brush and a bucket of water. Any high pressure water/detergents will get in and remove the grease. Infact this goes for all hubs really no matter how good the sealing is.

    Replacing the bearing on those wheels will give the same problems if they are used and treated in the way as before. You will have to change the way you use the wheels to get longer bearing life I am afraid.

    Miche hubs are good, I use lots of them and they give high mileage even in the wet, floods, wet + salt. They really do not mind.

    Well said.

    As far as planet x phone lines go they have 10 guys answering 9-6-ish taking calls from all over the world. As the company expands I'm sure more customer care staff will be taken on.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    I have some 30 year old kit that works fine but it has been hardly used so saying you have them a year doe not tell us much.
    It means I have been using them for over a year!
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    using it once over a year, 10000 miles 1000 miles what excatly. Used under what conditions. Time is not what kills bearings it is the mileage and how much crap weather they are exposed to. Saying you have been using it over 1 year does not tell us anything except that you have had it over a year and used it at least once.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    using it once over a year, 10000 miles 1000 miles what excatly. Used under what conditions. Time is not what kills bearings it is the mileage and how much crap weather they are exposed to. Saying you have been using it over 1 year does not tell us anything except that you have had it over a year and used it at least once.

    They were on the bike when I got it and it is ridden year round as often as possible and that is the only validation I need. :shock:
  • onemoresolo
    onemoresolo Posts: 372
    The Novatec hubs these are based on are notoriously poor for the bearing seals and I'd be inclined only to use them in decent weather if you want trouble free riding. The freehub bearings were the first to go in my set. Buying a set of pretty light and stiff wheels for £150~ will always result in some compromises. PX should maybe be more upfront about the bearing issues but they are consumable parts at the end of the day and are relatively easy and very cheap to replace.

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