Mavic XA elite whee...
 

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[Closed] Mavic XA elite wheels

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Silly cheap on CRC at the moment , so I've ordered some as the stock wheels on my Kona 153 29 were crazy heavy (2.4 kg and I still managed to ding sing the rim)

Stw review was glowing, any one else ?

Bit sceptical of mavics as the old yellow Enduro ones used to explode at races on a regular basis !


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 5:16 pm
 DezB
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Bit sceptical of mavics

No need to be.. they’re fantastic. Well, Ksyriums, Crossmax, Crossrides are anyway.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 5:19 pm
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Our old 26" Crossmax XL have proved tough, light and easy to replace bearings when needed.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 5:45 pm
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Even as a French man I avoid Mavic based on past but recent experience of Crossrides. I understand XA may be better but I have very little confidence in them and their back up/ warranty has been poor even on a brand new pair of wheels with faulty front hub. Statistically irrelevant of course.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 5:46 pm
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Same as me!  Crossmax Enduro (the yellow fellas) were without a shadow of doubt the single worse wheelset I had ever owned!  As a result I would never buy another set of Mavic MTB wheels


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 5:51 pm
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I have the standard xa in 29 flavour. Very happy with them. The tubeless rim strip makes life easy as no taping required. The xa elite at that price are a total bargain. So much so that I posted a psa on Friday.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 6:10 pm
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Cheers for the PSA, I've picked up a pair for XC use.

Kimbers - A lot of the technology is very similar to the Crossmax XLs (as is the weight). I have ridden those loads and I expect these will have a similarly good ride feel, but I won't be going full enduro on them IYKWIM. Maybe keep your other wheels for rocky stuff.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 7:00 pm
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Yeah realistically I don't go full enduro that much these days


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 9:36 pm
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I’d been looking at these too. On Evans in better colours, but a bit more expensive. They do have 10% extra off wheel though.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 9:52 pm
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Just got a set of the E-XA elites with 40mm rim. Trying out 650+

So far seem ace, nicely finished, tubeless went up with track pump and they run nicely with no pinging popping or creaks. Time will tell, but really happy so far.

And they look pump as with the machined rim.


 
Posted : 26/08/2018 10:06 pm
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They're a very good wheelset, had mine for about a year. Plenty of Pennine abuse and no dramas.


 
Posted : 27/08/2018 8:39 am
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XL pros (aluminium flavoured) excellent wheels, just replaced the bearings front and rear and a couple of spokes after 2 years of Pennine abuse and no maintenance. I'd happily buy another set of Mavic.

I know the STW reviewer of those wheels, and he's pretty hard on kit, I'd trust his judgement


 
Posted : 27/08/2018 9:43 am
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Got me excited there but alas no black boost at the great price.


 
Posted : 27/08/2018 12:34 pm
 nach
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I eventually flat spotted the rear one through ProCore, but that was down to being really stupid on some of those square edged bits of pack horse at the top of Pendle Hill. Nothing makes a wheel indestructible ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tightened the spokes and it's still going.

The lightweight version of the Quest tyres they ship on them won't last anywhere rocky, but £209 is silly cheap for this wheelset.


 
Posted : 27/08/2018 2:21 pm
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Can these UST wheels be mounted with normal tubeless tyres e.g. Vittoria Barzo/Mezcals?


 
Posted : 28/08/2018 6:06 pm
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Yep - i have mavic xa elite set up with vittoria barzo tnt. Went up tubeless no problems - didn't even have to remove valve core.


 
Posted : 28/08/2018 6:18 pm
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..and the only difference between the XA and the Crossmax seems to be the rim width at 25 vs 22mm?


 
Posted : 28/08/2018 6:36 pm
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I've had XA elite alloy in 27.5 and 29 inch flavour, I liked them so much on th first bike I bought them again in the bigger size when I bought a new frame.

I always defaulted to Hope wheels but I absolutely love these Mavics, and I've given them some stick too with no issue.

Well recommended from me.

Edit to add - I've used them with Max is and Michelin tyres with no bother, in fact there the easiest wheels I've ever setup. And again highlighting the good value, they come not just tubeless "ready", but actually ready - valves, fluid, rim strips all installed, even some half decent (summery tread) tyres! And a selection of axle end caps!

I have a spare BNIB Shimano Free hub for these too in case anybodies looking...


 
Posted : 28/08/2018 6:58 pm
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Mine arrived, the blue almost matches the decals on my bike (fwiw the rim decals look like you could remove them easily enough)

went up tubeless with a track pump, no probs.

Bit narrower (4mm) than the wheels I swapped out (WTB) & rimwalls thinner but half a kilo lighter & spin round the block, they feel much nippier

if anyone has some torque caps they dont want........


 
Posted : 28/08/2018 10:07 pm
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Are they 'torque-cap? compatible?


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 9:56 am
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I managed to find some Crossmax elites for £209 as well:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavic-crossmax-elite-mtb-wheelset-boost-2017/rp-prod154369

Job done.


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 11:17 am
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Ive had a google torque caps are £12 for these wheels


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 11:29 am
 Keva
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I'm looking for a lighter wheelset for my new Anthem, can I fit a 2.35 tyre on the rear wheel as it only seems to mention 2.25?


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 12:27 pm
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thats just the tyre its supplied with (crossmax) the xa elits come with a 2.35 in 29


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 12:33 pm
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Accidentally bought a set of these earlier. Oops.


 
Posted : 29/08/2018 6:48 pm
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My Crossmax elites arrived.   The front doesn't have sealant / a valve but as they are the worlds shortest valves anyway I'll use my own.  Both came with tubes so now I've a couple of spares.  The red stickers look easy to peel off to be cleaned with IPA.

The Pro Pulse tyres look more chunky than I expected.   I'm putting a Barzo on the front, but will leave the Pulse on the back.  I won't be trusting these wheels on the next two weekends of racing without riding them first so will try that tyre out for general riding thereafter, may as well get some use from it.

Otherwise all good!


 
Posted : 30/08/2018 7:31 pm
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Be careful with these wheels for aggressive riding. Came stock on my 2018 Mega 290 pro and the rear has just folded on me at Bikepark Wales last weekend. Third Run down The new AC/DC red trail and the wheel has cracked in two places and folded in on itself. To be fair it’s done well to last 8 months so it’s not all bad, but I had a feeling they were the weak link on the bike and it was just a matter of time. Did consider replacing with the same set for sale at £209 on crc as discussed here (exact match in green &29er) but decided against it as I’d be worried about it happening again. Decided to go for a some DT Swiss XM481 on 350 hubs, hopefully they will a more solid option with less flex.

Also had something similar with some brand new crossmax XL’s last year where the rim cracked without any dings to the rim. These were sent back for warranty but Mavic were no help, just sent the wheel back broken. I’ll try and upload some pictures later.

Used to be a massive Mavic fan boy but have lost confidence now so I’m moving on to see if DT Swiss are any better.


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 6:30 am
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https://flic.kr/p/NHY1PC


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:11 pm
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/160633100@N04/9x757o


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:15 pm
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https://flic.kr/p/M6Cmta


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:19 pm
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/160633100@N04/sB4vnX


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:30 pm
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/160633100@N04/253659


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:33 pm
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/160633100@N04/04Z866


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:35 pm
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Sorry about the pics and links, first time I’ve tried uploading photos on here and turns out I’m not very good at this!!

I may have been unlucky with my wheels and I do understand wheels break from time to time but on both my recent wheels (xa elite and Crossmax XL)the rims have failed. Both times were flat out on rocky sections but I always run28 psi at the back and check pressures regularly so I can’t recommend these wheels for hard riding. They are light and good looking though so would be good for lighter use.


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 8:50 pm
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look like theyve failed where they are machined/formed out?

tbh I bought them knowing that they will probably die, Im a generally clumsy rider, I think the only manufacturer whos rims I havent killed are............ superstar 😎

for £200  ill see how it goes


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 9:14 pm
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Well well if you will take a relatively lightweight 24 spoke wheel to BPW...


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 9:28 pm
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Yeah they’ve folded at the formed part not where the impact was. Was using a dhf dh casing and it went back up fine with with no tears on my spare rear wheel to carry on with the day. Strange one


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 9:58 pm
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BPW is really smooth compared to what I’m used to riding round here, not sure that’s got much to do with it. Maybe nukeproof are at fault for specing these wheels on this type of bike, probably just me being unlucky 👍


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 10:04 pm
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Sounds like the wrong tool for the job to me, I vaguely remember at least one drop off with a nice pointy rock exactly where I’d land.

My wheels needed a re-tension after my last visit.


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 10:24 pm
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if a NP mega cant handle BPW then CRC are at fault for speccing it

wasnt it named after the megavalanche?


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 10:31 pm
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lbizzle123

How heavy are you? Did you case any jumps badly?

Can't decide if these are going back or not, haven't fitted yet. They look nice and seem good value but pointless if they can't handle the odd trip to BPW if well treated by a light rider.


 
Posted : 07/09/2018 10:48 pm
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The Mega track doesn’t have a feature every 30 secs, a lot of the new trails at BPW feel to me like a load of features with a bit of trail in between.

Done the Mega 5 times and personally BPW seems harder on my bikes.


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 9:33 am
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As I said before, they wouldn't be my choice for hard riding... Just from a durability POV.

Xc/trail wheels, and yes a poor spec choice by nukeproof


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 10:45 am
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I’m around 80kg. Didn’t case any jumps but I was trying to clear the two rock sections before the forest. I’ll find a pic off the vid one of lads made to show where it happened. It was rocky to be fair. I was probably really unlucky and just landed on a sharp rock.


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 11:17 am
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https://www.flickr.com/gp/160633100@N04/38fN4e


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 11:18 am
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Well I stuck my Crossmax Elites on.  No pinging on the obligatory garden test ride, tyres straight up tubeless.  Together with the quaxar rotors its taken 270g off - about what I expected which was 200g from the wheels and 70 from the rotors.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1867/44550397981_2d2e3b41fa_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1867/44550397981_2d2e3b41fa_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aSLrd2 ]2018-09-08_01-56-44[/url]

Its a lot of red but seems to work 🙂

I won't be able to ride it for a week or so, so I'll find out if they'll fall to pieces then.


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 2:36 pm
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Looks sweet mate, I’m sure your wheels will fine 🤘


 
Posted : 08/09/2018 6:26 pm
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@Kryton57

The wheels look spot on! I've literally just ordered the Spark RC 900 Team and was wondering how heavy the standard wheels are?

Thinking I'll put my SC Reserve 27s on it and use the Scott wheels to sell on my Hightower.


 
Posted : 09/09/2018 6:29 pm
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They are about 1950g iirc.

They are robust being dtswiss internals, I’m keeping them for winter and these for events


 
Posted : 09/09/2018 7:26 pm
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Ah they are pretty decent, if a little heavy then?  Good to know 🙂


 
Posted : 10/09/2018 10:55 pm
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Just received some xa elites 29er boost. Front came with some boost adapters attached with a little grub screw.

Rear boost adapters were in a little bag and I just pressed them on. Seems to work but is that it? I can't find instructions in the box or online.


 
Posted : 12/09/2018 10:24 am
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I just got some torque adaptors

what size is the grub screw, I don think I have a hex key small enough


 
Posted : 12/09/2018 9:43 pm
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Not sure as they were already installed, but looks tiny.


 
Posted : 13/09/2018 8:08 am
 Alex
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I’ve just bought (from Wiggle) the XA Carbons. Huge reduction on list - I assume - due to new wider ones coming out. As i only want to run 2,3/2.4 max on this bike I’m very happy to have picked up the wheels/tyres/tubeless kit for £580.

Replaced a set of heavy DT Rims/Hope Pro4/Maxxis WT wheels. 2lbs lighter! The tyres tho will be coming off when it gets wet. They amusingly slide-y. Wheels are fantastic quality tho, ride really nicely up and down and I like the whole ‘wheel system’ thing where you get valves/sealant/etc.


 
Posted : 15/09/2018 8:11 am
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Saw the carbons were cheap, sadly, £580 not cheap enough for me right now !


 
Posted : 15/09/2018 8:15 am
 Alex
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Yeah cheap is a comparative term 😉 Just been for a second ride on them - now tubeless - and they do make the same trails more fun up and down. Whether that’s £580 worth of fun would be a more difficult calculation!

My last set of Mavix wheels were some SL’s. Brilliant but fragile and the freehub needed love on a weekly basis. These seem significantly more robust/less silly spoked. We’ll see how they get on through the winter.


 
Posted : 15/09/2018 12:09 pm
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How is the bargain winter bike then Alex? 😉


 
Posted : 15/09/2018 2:03 pm
 Alex
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Bargain-tastic. I’d go as far as to say ‘cost neutral’. Although not if challenged to provide empirical evidence 😄


 
Posted : 15/09/2018 5:08 pm
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Got some riding in and xa elites are great so far, seem tough enough & even survived getting a bit of air (followed by my usual cased landing)

They are much lighter & faster pick up & spin up than my old wheels, so bikes feeling much more agile.

Went up tubeless very easy.

Only grumble is that the torque caps are just held on with a rubber seal, rather than grub screw on 15mm caps.  Luckily they are a pukey lime green so easy to find in the mud when they fall off fitting the wheel.


 
Posted : 01/10/2018 12:48 pm
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Resurrecting as these wheels are cheap again at CRC.
What's the consensus? A good buy? Strong enough for a heavy rider riding local trails?


 
Posted : 26/03/2019 7:49 pm
 Alex
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Not used mine that much but took them on a very rocky ride ride Llangollen and they felt perfectly stiff. Running 2.35s on mine and that’s a good shape on the rims. Probably wouldn’t want to go much bigger as they are only 26mm internal. I’m 77kg so not exactly heavy. I do think there is a weight limit on the carbon ones?

Anyway so far so good, but as I say not too much use through the winter.


 
Posted : 27/03/2019 8:47 am
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Thanks. Other option is to get my old Pro2 hubs rebuilt into something 27.5.


 
Posted : 27/03/2019 9:01 pm
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Amazing wheels at the prices CRC have been selling them, but I try to keep mine for less rocky trails as they can go out of true easier than a lot of wheels.


 
Posted : 27/03/2019 9:15 pm
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mine are still going fine, Im heavy & clumsy, but still true

ill know for sure after WGES at Afan this weekend


 
Posted : 08/04/2019 4:25 pm
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Very happy with my Crossmax Elites, 650b boost version. Tyres are definitely summery light, some others are on order, but that's not to say they aren't good for the intended purpose.

I haven't put many miles on them, and I right pretty light too, but they feel very well put together.

Mine came with tubes installed, but with every thing included to go tubeless. Set-up to tubeless was a doddle though, no faffing around. Just needed to pop out the tubes, in with the T/L valves and the Mavic juice, then just pumped them with a track pump. I felt almost dissatisfied that it was all so easy, no heroic tale of hours of messing around.


 
Posted : 09/04/2019 1:57 am
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yup they survived rocky afan

loving them now tbh!


 
Posted : 17/04/2019 2:14 pm

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