RS80 C24 vs Fulcrum Racing 3 vs DT Swiss R 1700

matudavey
matudavey Posts: 108
edited April 2013 in Road buying advice
Looking for a wheelset upgrade for around £350

Any information on the 3 following wheelsets (selected due to their 'yellow sticker' discounts!) would be greatly appreciated:

Fulcrum Racing 3----£319---RRP £479---1555g
Shimano RS80 C24--£299---RRP £475---1521g
DT Swiss R 1700
£365---RRP £730---1698g

Bikeradar listed all these in their upgrade article http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/article/best-road-wheel-upgrades-34661/ and are positive about all of them (although the DT Swiss wheel they tested was the 'Tricon' version - i don't know what that means, and google revealed little about it)

The DT Swiss RRP seems high, but I'm always a sucker for a bargain. Is there any reason the DT Swiss R1700 are better than the other two? (despite being ~180g heavier?)

Thanks for your help!

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    DT Swiss make exceptional hubs and high quality spokes and rims, that might be the reason.
    Unfortunately the tricon have all the disadvantages of factory wheels, in terms of uneasy repairs/service and lack of spares.
    You only factor in weight, there are other factors in a wheel... What about the ride quality? Shimano wheels are pretty harsh... Never tried the DT.
    High end fulcrum use stupid solutions, like odd numbered rims, aluminium spokes... All things that once failed are irreplaceable, due to lack of spares
    left the forum March 2023
  • chanjy
    chanjy Posts: 200
    You're not really gettign a bargain with the DT Swiss ones are you? The article lists the retail of those at £599.

    I'd go for the Strada handbuilts personally from the article but of your list the RS80 seems best - they use the same rim as the Dura Ace C24 I think and Ultegra hubs which are basically bulletproof. And they are cheapest and lightest so what's not to like!?
  • matudavey
    matudavey Posts: 108
    Sorry for the confusion, the DT Swiss wheelset in question are from ProBikeKit (thats where the RRP 730 comes from)
    http://www.probikekit.com/uk/components/wheels/road-wheels/dt-swiss-r-1700-tricon-wheelset.html

    Thanks for the advice so far, looks like RS80 will be the winner, the only negative being their lack of 'little red bits'... but I'll have to manage!
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Novatec Hubs, Stans Alpha Rims, DB spokes. Light and reliable and repairable.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    styxd wrote:
    Novatec Hubs, Stans Alpha Rims, DB spokes. Light and reliable and repairable.

    Yes, except for the Stans rims... tubeless tyres are an acquired taste... they are expensive to run and the advantages are questionable in road cycling.
    Stans rims are too light to be durable or reliable... only tubular rims can be good at 350 grams or thereabout
    left the forum March 2023
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    Stans have just released 'version 2' which is 30-40g/rim heavier so even they acknowledge that they pushed the envelope a bit too far with the Alpha 340.

    OP -
    If you're light the Shimano RS80 is a great wheel, probably the best for the cash, not all that stiff though so if you are heavier or a strong sprinter you should expect some brake rub.
    I can't really fault the Fulcrum 3's I had either, ran straight and true until they fell apart somewhere over 10,000 miles (ridden in all seasons). Yeah, parts are a pain to get hold of but that's true of any factory wheel.
  • chanjy
    chanjy Posts: 200
    matudavey wrote:
    Sorry for the confusion, the DT Swiss wheelset in question are from ProBikeKit (thats where the RRP 730 comes from)
    http://www.probikekit.com/uk/components/wheels/road-wheels/dt-swiss-r-1700-tricon-wheelset.html

    Thanks for the advice so far, looks like RS80 will be the winner, the only negative being their lack of 'little red bits'... but I'll have to manage!

    Just as a word of warning, PBK also says this at the bottom of the description:

    •Does not include rim tape or QR skewers.
    •This is the R version of the wheelset - NOT Tricon.

    Budget accordingly :)
  • careful
    careful Posts: 720
    Havent tried the DT Swiss but I have RS80s and Fulcrum 3s. Both are great wheels and I have had no problems with either, but if I had to choose one of these it would be the Fulcrums mainly for better looks imo. Also the cartridge bearings are hassle free. If you can raid the piggy bank a bit more though I would go for Mavic Ksyrium Elite as my first choice. I have an old pair (2009) that have done about 8000 miles with never a problem:

    http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/wheels/road-wheels/factory-road-wheels/mavic-ksyrium-elite-2012-pair.html

    All these are factory wheels of course with all the usual spare problems. The upside for me is that I have had no problems with any of them and you get superb wheels at a lot less money than quality hand-builts.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    careful wrote:
    All these are factory wheels of course with all the usual spare problems. The upside for me is that I have had no problems with any of them and you get superb wheels at a lot less money than quality hand-builts.

    Not true... don't take Strada as a reference, their prices are way off others... their business model is very expensive to run, enquire with Harry Rowland or Paul Hewitt and you'll get a more realistic quote for hand builts, in my view very competitive with the market
    left the forum March 2023
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    +1 for the Fulcrum 3s. My pair have been very durable and are still true after 18 months with zero maintenance.

    I would agree with the fact that they are far from ideal from a repair standpoint, as the custom spokes cost an arm and a leg.

    Personally I'd like to give a custom build. Stans 400s are the new rims and are supposed to be very good... the 340s were well regarded, apart from their durability. Novatec hubs seem to get good press, but I'd personally for for Hope as it's a company that I highly regard for accessorising - not the lightest, but built to last and easy maintenance.
    Simon
  • Kef
    Kef Posts: 21
    Finally which pair you get????
    and are you happy with your choice??
    im thinking to get rs80 ..
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    I have some RS80s and think they are great. Similar quality to the Fulcrums but I find the hubs run smoother. I don't find them harsh or flexy either but I am now less than 65kg. As others have said, don't overlook handbuilts though, perhaps with some red nipples for added go-fast bling :)
  • matudavey
    matudavey Posts: 108
    I didn't make a decision in the end! Now leaning towards Ksyrium Elite or potentially building my own with Novatec hubs and some Alpha 340 rims
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    matudavey wrote:
    I didn't make a decision in the end! Now leaning towards Ksyrium Elite or potentially building my own with Novatec hubs and some Alpha 340 rims

    Brave man... build your own... :D
    left the forum March 2023

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