Question about Ksyrium SL Wheels

richard36
richard36 Posts: 346
edited July 2012 in Road buying advice
I recently bought a bike with Mavic SL wheels. When I lift the front wheel up and push the wheel round it spins freely and quietly, and for quite a while but the back wheel doesn't seem to spin that well. It makes a clicking noise when it's rotating (assume that's normal) but the wheel doesn't rotate too many times before it slows right down and stops. By way of contrast my son has some old Mavic Sup wheels and the back wheel spins quietly and for a long time.

Wondering whether there is a bedding in period (though I have done about 80 miles on the bike) and the back wheel of the Mavic SL will soon spin for a long time (I'm assuming that a wheel that spins for a long time is better than one that doesn't)

Hope the above makes sense and isn't a daft question.

Thanks

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    The rear hub has a free hub system, 3-6 pawls which engage and cause friction. In addition, it has 4 bearings instead of the two at the front... that explains the much greater friction... with time it will just gets worse as bearings get "grindy"

    In essence, all is well
    left the forum March 2023
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    It's normal. As Ugo says there are 2 pawls in the SLs, more bearings and a rubber ring between the freeub and the wheel so it's never going to spin as long as the front. The differences you are looking at are pretty meaningless in use though being worth a fraction of a watt on the road.

    The bearings used are good and smooth. I had a set for 6 years (still got a different set now too) and the rims went before the bearings needed changing. Nothing to worry about at all :)
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    Should have said, have you adjusted the bearing play with the tool provided (with the pegs that fit into the little holes on the non-drive side)? These are sometimes a little loose and sometimes a little tight when new so worth checking it's juuuuuust tight enough to remove play and no more. Some people run them with the tiniest amount of play so they know they have super free running bearings. Mavic and Zipp too say this play goes when the bearings are loaded so it's no problem. Happy spannering!

    Oh, and if you want a quiet freehub when coasting it's very easy to remove the freehub and lube the pawls and the track they run in. This makes them nearly silent for a couple of months then you'll have to repeat if it bothers you. Instructions easily found via google, it's literally a 3 minute job with just allen keys.

Categories