Fulcrum racing 3 or shimano RS80

gog555

Looking to get some new wheels for my Canondale CAAD 10.
I've narrowed it down to 2 choices:
1, Fulcrum racing 3
2, Shimano RS80
Both are in the rough price band I looking to spend. They will be used for normal road riding and a few sportives a year.
What are peoples opinions on these, which would you buy?

ic.

RS80s are £305 at Ribble if you're quick!

I've ridden the DA version, very smooth ride. Bit more flez than a Ksyrium, so if you're heavier 90+ maybe look at something else. Never ridden Fulcrums

careful

I have both and they are great wheels. Struggling to choose, sorry I cant be more helpful - I would go for the cheapest.

EarlyGo

Both are good wheel sets and weigh in just over 1500g, but I believe that the Fulcrums are slightly stiffer. If you're light go for the RS80's. Also the Fulcrums have that noisy free hub whilst the Shimanos are silent. Could make a difference perhaps? The RS80s are available from planet-x for £320 whilst I couldn't find the Fulcrums for less than £399 in the UK. I bought the RS80s, being a skinny bloke who likes quiet wheels at a good price!

Regards, Earlygo

gog555

cheers for advice, think i`ll be going for the RS80s

springtide9

The R3's are lovely wheels, but parts cost a fortune.

My R3 freehub needed replacing at a cost of £60 (which seemed pretty steep for a freehub).

If I was buying again, I'd maybe look at a set of custom builds that can be easily (and cheaply) serviced) for years to come.

passout

I like Fulcrums myself - strong & reliable

ScreaminWargasm

I had the same decision last year and ended up getting the RS80's for £299. Im very happy with them so far although I've probably only done about 600 miles since getting them. Upgraded from Fulcrum 5's and made a noticeable difference!
My mate just got the racing 3's from some French company for about £310 which arrived promptly without any issues!
Both are great wheels for the price bracket so I'd get whatever you find cheapest.

navrig

Merlin are doing Mavic Kryseriums at a good price..... just to confuse you.

ugo.santalucia

Navrig wrote:

Merlin are doing Mavic Kryseriums at a good price..... just to confuse you.

Yes, you keep saying that, but they are a 3 years old model with very little or no spares still available... I don't think is the great deal you think it is, unless you plan to wear them out within the warranty period

smidsy

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't think is the great deal you think it is, unless you plan to wear them out within the warranty period

Even if you don't plan on wearing them out in that time does not mean they will last that long either

letap73

smidsy wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I don't think is the great deal you think it is, unless you plan to wear them out within the warranty period

Even if you don't plan on wearing them out in that time does not mean they will last that long either

Enter Mavic elites review - google search - would suggest that you are sadly wrong about Mavic wheels:

1.
Submitted by Tim Jones a Road Racer

Date Reviewed: November 9, 2011

Strengths: * Unbreakable so far!
* Spin well
* Light enough

Weaknesses: * None really

Bottom Line:
I got these wheels on my Motobecane Titanium bike as standard ($2800). I am a Clydesdale - nearly 100kg (220lbs) so tend to put equipment through a real test (LOL - ie. I break a lot of stuff!)

I have been using this wheels for over 4000km (~2500 miles) and they are still spinning true without any work (didn't even need to tighten them after started riding them).

I have used them in sprint training, hills rides, long road races (one 262km race!) and plenty of crits. Have been through rain, heat and quite a few pot holes - still working very well.

2.Submitted by Tim a Recreational Rider

Date Reviewed: April 10, 2011

Strengths: Bombproof

Weaknesses: none

Bottom Line:
I have 20,000+ miles on my set. Never broke a spoke, never had to true. I did have a crack in the rear wheel last year and had it rebuilt for about 150.
I am 6"-0" and 225 lbs. and ride about 160 miles+- a week.

3.Submitted by 1afc a Recreational Rider

Date Reviewed: February 9, 2010

Strengths: Strength and keep their trueness.

Weaknesses: Heavy and sealed bearings are not as nice as a good ball race.

Bottom Line:
These wheels came with my 06 Giant TCR C0 and they are boring. They are too heavy and don't roll as well as my Dura Ace 7800s .....BUT as a training wheel I have to grudgingly admit they are very good. I'm a little guy (around 215 lb) and I've done at least 20,000km on these wheels and they have never been trued. I also ran over a drainage grate at about 40 km/h and to this day cannot figure out how I didn't get thrown off. No flat, no dent, no nothing. These things are tough. What more do you want. Climbing.. hey I did say I was 215! What do you want? But I can come down the hill pretty quickly and these wheels are stable.

4.Submitted by TiRelax a Recreational Rider

Date Reviewed: September 11, 2009

Strengths: Stiff, fast, smooth hubs

Weaknesses: Maybe at bit heavy at close to 1800g. Can provide a harsh ride when coupled with an aluminum frame

Bottom Line:
These wheels came with my bike in 2003. almost 10K miles and many many pot holds later, they are still true and have never required servicing.
I now own a 15 lbs full carbon bike, and am shopping for wheels to match the part. Even at a much higher price I've removed so many options from my list after reading the reviews because I have come to expect the same reliability.
The Elites roll smooth, and spin up fast without any flex. I've ridden them on flats and the GA mountains with complete confidence. It just makes my selection that much more difficult for a reliable and fast upgrade.
I still plan to keep it for my other bike which I am building as a climbing rig. Maybe in 5 years there will be a cash for old wheels program??

5.Submitted by Messerschmitt a Road Racer

Date Reviewed: July 15, 2009

Strengths: Unbreakable, basically maintenance free (at least for me)

Weaknesses: No so far,

Bottom Line:
Well, I put close to 7000 miles on these wheels and I just cannot believe how durable they are. They seem to be indestructible, I will try them on a cross bike this winter but I am afraid I will not be able to break them. I was not happy with some of the previous Mavic wheels ( I owned Heliums) but these wheels kept me from going to another brand. Great training wheelset, if you are tight on the budget and cannot afford SE I would definitely consider these.

smidsy

And yet we have a rider in our very own midst that has worn them out in a single year. Go figure.

letap73

smidsy wrote:

And yet we have a rider in our very own midst that has worn them out in a single year. Go figure.

And yet we a rider in our midst who had to have his AC wheels serviced within six months of purchase, whilst my cheap mavic wheels that have supported my 90+ kg carcass have not been touched for three years with regards to maintenance. Go figure.

I could have posted another 100 or so postive rider experiences with regards to Mavic elites, but I don't want to get RSI from relentless copying and pasting.

smidsy

letap73 wrote:

And yet we a rider in our midst who had to have his AC wheels serviced within six months of purchase, whilst my cheap mavic wheels that have supported my 90+ kg carcass have not been touched for three years with regards to maintenance. Go figure

Well technically it was 18 months (plus) as they were at least a year old when I bought them second hand.

And the LBS was able to diagnose the fault, order the part, take delivery of the part and fix the wheel in 2 (maybe 3) days for £18.00.

Try that with a Mavic

letap73

smidsy wrote:

letap73 wrote:

And yet we a rider in our midst who had to have his AC wheels serviced within six months of purchase, whilst my cheap mavic wheels that have supported my 90+ kg carcass have not been touched for three years with regards to maintenance. Go figure

Well technically it was 18 months (plus) as they were at least a year old when I bought them second hand.

And the LBS was able to diagnose the fault, order the part, take delivery of the part and fix the wheel in 2 (maybe 3) days for £18.00.

Try that with a Mavic

I will, if maintenance issues should arise.........

navrig

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Navrig wrote:

Merlin are doing Mavic Kryseriums at a good price..... just to confuse you.

Yes, you keep saying that, but they are a 3 years old model with very little or no spares still available... I don't think is the great deal you think it is, unless you plan to wear them out within the warranty period

That's the only time I have mentioned the PlanetX deal so I am not sure what has rattled your cage. I am not a Magic fanboy and other than a old pair of Magic rims on an old Raleigh build I have never bought Magical before.

Prized Pratt.

ugo.santalucia

Navrig wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Navrig wrote:

Merlin are doing Mavic Kryseriums at a good price..... just to confuse you.

Yes, you keep saying that, but they are a 3 years old model with very little or no spares still available... I don't think is the great deal you think it is, unless you plan to wear them out within the warranty period

That's the only time I have mentioned the PlanetX deal so I am not sure what has rattled your cage. I am not a Magic fanboy and other than a old pair of Magic rims on an old Raleigh build I have never bought Magical before.

Prized Pratt.

Planet x? You say Merlin...
The Merlin deal has been raved on a lot recently, maybe it was not you... Apologies...