i9, American Classics wheel experiences?

notax

I started a thread on 'buying advice' about wheels for my new Bronson. The above were recommended to me as pimpy, light wheels but my LBS have advised against both for UK reliability in mud and sand that we ride in all year round. Their customer experiences with these brands haven't been great. Do you have any long term experience of Industry Nine or American Classics?

http://www.industrynine.net/

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/a ... 012-35349/

notax

This isn't good - I was hoping loads of people would say how reliable their i9 and American Classic wheels have been! The only opinion I have had so far is from the LBS whose experience of their reliability in UK conditions has been very poor. Do you know anyone with either of these wheelsets? Keen to try a light, strong and pimpy alternative to Mavic who haven't given a launch date for their 650b range yet...

nferrar

I've had i9 enduros for a couple of years (i9 hubs/spokes on Stans Flow rims). They've been really reliable (not even serviced the hubs yet although have read they need servicing annually but mine are still going strong and I'm not especially careful when hosing it down and have done plenty of wet rides).
The main issue with them is the aluminium spokes add a bit more faff (need to use a spoke tension meter with them when truing and for the retension after the first few rides). To be fair though after that initial retension I haven't had to touch mine and I'm more clatter rather than flow through trails. I did break a spoke recently though and haven't gotten around to sorting it yet (mostly due to the faff with a tubeless tyre and taking the rim tape off, had a spare front wheel so been using that instead for now).
So they've been very reliable and if you want a bling looking wheel they certainly fit that bill, they're pricey though considering they're not especially light. I don't regret buying them but I doubt I'd buy another set, I reckon you're better off either with something like Crossmaxes or handbuilts with Flow EXs and save some cash, or blow a wedge more and get a carbon rim - the i9 sits between them but doesn't really justify it's price tag.

Not use the AM all mountain wheelset myself but have heard lots of good things about them, in fact would probably go for those rather than Crossmaxes

jairaj

How easy is it to get hold of spare parts, freehubs, spokes etc and how much?

I'd be tempted to go for something like a DT swiss 240 hub and standard spokes. Yes it won't be anywhere near as pimpy but probably a similar weight and price but more proven reliability and easier to get spares.

benpinnick

If you were tempted by i9, maybe some Chris Kings?

handful

I've got AC wheels on my road bike and they are great wheels IMHO. I know this isn't really relevant to a mtb but my LBS raves about them and the owner is a top gravity enduro rider and really knows his stuff. He has them on all of his bikes apparently. Just to add some credence to my comment, his name is Rob Cooksley, here is a link to some info about him and his experience, give him a call if you want a more recent endorsement as he told me about 18 months ago. Top guy.

http://www.cyclorama.net/viewRetailer.php?id=254

nferrar

@Handful - funnily enough it was Box I got my i9's from (not sure if they still deal with them though), he did a great job getting the tension sorted after the first few rides to.
Spares for i9's are easy to get hold of AFAIK, can't remember the UK distributor but they're one of the bigger names. I got 4 spares spokes with mine when I ordered them initially so not sure how long the wait time would be ordering them separately.
As for CKs - I considered them myself at the time but had read too many posts about needing to service them at least annually and sometimes need frequent adjustment/tightening which sounded more faff than I was willing to put up with. I'd also say they're over-priced for what they are but then I guess you could say the same for i9's

notax

Thanks, yes I'm after some fit and forget wheels and the CK rear hub sounds a pain to me. The LBS made a pretty valid point to me - I've finally decided to go with a carbon frame and chose SC as I rate their product so they think I'm mad considering wheels which they see as inferior. I've asked them to price up the Carbon Enve for me (which is an option on the Bronson anyway) and would probably go with the standard Hope Pro 2 Hubs. I can't find a price for Enve 650b wheels on line - except for the £1600 option price on the SC site. Gulp. I guess they'll be around £2200...

notax

Found a US company selling them for £1700 with DT240 hubs - any idea what import duty would be?

lawman

Probably the difference between buying them here. Not even close to worth it IMO. Bike-discount.de had Easton Haven Carbons for just over a grand ad no import duty as they're inside the EU. That's what I'd go for if you really want carbon wheels but they're just not worth it over a quality alu rim like an arch EX for what they cost.

notax

Thanks, but I don't think Easton offer 650b yet?

ddraver

I'd put the lack of replies on most people not having that much to blow on a set of wheels than any significant problems Notax...

notax

You could be right, but I do see quite a few pimpy sets of wheels on my travels!

allthegearnoidea

ive been riding mhy AM classic wheels for best part of 3 years now,
i have the mtb tubeless 26" versions, now, i'm 100kg pre geared up, and in general am a Heavy rider on the bike, the wheels are on my Soul (130mm ) and it gets used in all conditions, rain, mud, mining waste, gloop etc, in the time i have owned them i have had to replace the tubeless tape on the rear wheel and replace the freehub body, and thats it!! the rear does now have a Minor buckle (is about 2mm out on one spot) and a couple of bent spokes, but otherwise fine, the fronts still bob on true! they Roll fantastically well, and are Super simple if you need any maintenance on them, spares are easy to get hold of through the uk distributors - eurobike Or clee-cycles carry most the stock, JRA used to as well, and discount cycles direct do too iirc.

i'd seriously recommend them,