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Submitted by
Charlie
a
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Hill Side Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | strong, light, and the black finish looks great and holds up well. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | this is my first wheel build. | | Bike Setup: | Diamondback Response, Titec Hellbent bar, stem, and grips, Deore LX hubs, derailleurs and 9 speed cassette, Sram Attack shifters, FSA Alpha crankset w/ bash guard, and Avid bb5 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | After much research I decided to use Wheelsmith black straight 14 gauge spokes. I took my time and laced them right and now I have a wheel set that is as strong as can be. (using 32x3) I can't say enough about the quality of these spokes and there ability to stand up to the abuse given by a 6'6" 250lb rider on a bike with disk brakes!
I run high spoke tensions and found wind-up and stretch not to be a problem as other reviewers have noted.
the bottom line is these are GREAT spokes!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, Or
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Rocky Mountain Bikes | | Strengths: | 14g spoke (non butted) Very strong, | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | DT Butted | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Equipe (1992) | | Bottom Line: | These spokes came built up with my Wolber At-18 rims by Rocky Mountain. The wheels have seen some very strong rides and so far have well over 1000 miles on them. They are laced up to a set of ols DX hubs. The spokes have stood the test of time and are yet to be trued. I would say the combination of a good wheel builder and these spokes are the reason. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JmZ
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Still Looking - Any Suggestions? | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | Various | | Strengths: | Lighter than DT
Easy to build
Cheap
Not as popular as DT | | Weaknesses: | Wind up a bit more than DT
Not as popular as DT | | Similar Products Used: | DT
No namers | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mountain Fanatic - Rebuilt | | Bottom Line: | I've been building with thes for a few years.
They have been easy to build with, pretty cheap, and lighter than the DT's that they compete with. Locally the DT's are about $1 a spoke for regular double butted spokes, and $.90 for the Wheelsmith's. Online, both are cheaper, closer to $0.50.
No failures that I know of, and they are on various wheels I've built. I've run both the XL's and the DB's all the above holds true.
$16 a wheel for the standard DB and closer to $30 a wheel for the XL's.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gabe Padilla
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clara, CA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUS | | Strengths: | Strong, shiny, inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | Heavy as far as spokes go | | Similar Products Used: | DT Swiss Champion (14g) | | Bike Setup: | I have used these spokes on several setups: Shimano XT/Mavic F519, Surly/F519, Surly/Rhyno Lites. All builds used brass nipples. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the Wheelsmith 14g unbutted spokes. I have used these on three separate wheel builds and they have worked well every time. I am a very new wheelbuilder and these were some of my first builds. The fact that they are still holding strong is a testament to their strength given that I am sure the spoke tensions are horrifically uneven. These are great spokes for a cheap durable wheelset. On my next build I'm going to try the Wheelsmith DB14 (2.0mm/1.7mm/2.0mm) double butted spokes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mirek
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Rapids, MI
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA | | Strengths: | Durable | | Weaknesses: | Non so far | | Similar Products Used: | DT | | Bottom Line: | I weight more then 230Ibs. I had my wheels built with mavic 618 rims and Chris King hubs. About 1000 miles of riding and the wheels don't need any truing.
I suppose if you or someone for you built them well you be happy with Wheelsmith spokes.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter None
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA web store | | Strengths: | they are some good spokes,stiff,an durable.look good. | | Weaknesses: | none so far,as functions.but i do think they are a bit pricey. | | Similar Products Used: | alot of other nameless spokes | | Bike Setup: | T 4500 with full XT upgrade and Avid BB mech d.b. | | Bottom Line: | if you want to build some stiff wheels,get yourself some of those good spokes.i just want to mension here,that i was very dissapointed with the niples that i got for those spokes-wheelsmith,again,but they were very soft,didn't fit to my spoke wrench,and the black finish wore of just from lacing and tuning the wheel.that sucked... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LANCE STEPHENSON
a Cross Country Rider
from SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE TOWN
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | GRABOUW | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | WEIGHT, STRENGHT AND RELIABILITY | | Weaknesses: | TO MUCH SPRING IN SPOKE | | Similar Products Used: | DT,SAPIM | | Bike Setup: | GT ZASKAR PRO, SKAREB SUPER, XTR | | Bottom Line: | THESE SPOKES ARE SUPER COOL, STRONG AND TAKE A PUNCH. I FOUND THAT THEY HAD TO MUCH SPRING FOR MY LIKING THO, I'M A MECHANIC AND DO BUILD WHEELS(STRIVING TO BE A MASTER OF THIS BLACK ART)AND FIND THAT TO BUILD WITH THEM IS NORMAL AND IT TAKES TIME TO SETTLE THEM IN, BUT WHEN TRUING THEM, ESPESCIALLY ON DRIVE SIDE REAR WHERE THE TENSION IS HIGH THEY STRETCH ALOT AND GO OUT A BIT MUCH. I CHANGED MY CROSSING AND PUT IN SHORTER AND FOUND THIS TO GET BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE. LOVE THE SPOKE. SAPIMS ARE MY SECOND FAVOURITE SPOKE AND WOULD CHOOSE THEM OVER THESE NEXT TIME I BUILT A NEW SET A XC RACE WHEELS, I'D RATHER SUFFER A SLIGHT(MINUTE) WEIGHT DISADVANTAGE THAN GO FOR SUPER LIGHT. I ONLY WEIGH 65KG BUT DO PUT STRESS ON THE WHEELS IN SPRINTING AND BECAUSE OF MY RIDING STYLE(DOWNHILL BACKGROUND) ITS A GREAT SPOKE FOR AN OLDER RIDER WHO WANTS SUPER LIGHT AND DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING BUT NUKE A WHEEL IN RACING. SAPIM IS TOUGHER IN MY OPINION BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF MY INTENDED USE. ITS ABOUT USING THE RIGHT SPOKE FOR THE JOB/INTENDED USE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Coker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with lots of rocks/drops | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | hammerheadbikes | | Strengths: | they work | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | DT, etc.. | | Bike Setup: | Hammerhead 100x | | Bottom Line: | I was just checking the reviews and came across "spokes"
just a quick plug for Wheelsmith
We have used them on LOTS of wheels, zero problems
their 14/15 is lighter than DTs and hold up very, very well
I am 200lbs and run them on disc brake wheels (32, 3x)
as usual, the build is everything
Charles
Hammerheadbikes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josef
a Racer
from Milpitas
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Grant Ranch,San Jose | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | I have three wheelsets built by Wheelsmith,built in 1987,89 and 1991 using Specialized Z21,GS26 and B-23 hoops and I've raced and ridden them everyhwere and not once have I've taking them into a shop to have a spoke replaced are have I had a wheel retrued.These wheels have outlasted my bikes.They're a bit oldschool for my new rigs but if they work,why use something else? | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | DTs on Mavics,Arayas,Suns,Treks. | | Bike Setup: | 1992 Gary Fisher,XT,Deore/2000 Schwinn Moab M3,Suntour XC Expert and XTR/1992 Specialized Stumpjumper Team,XT/1995 Specialized Rockhopper,Deore,XT/1987 Specialized Stumpjumper Team,Deore XT/1990 Bridgestone MB1,Deore XT/1989 Mongoose IBOC Pro,Deore/Deore XT.1989 Raleigh Technium,Suntour XC Pro/2002 Santa Cruz Superlight,XTR. | | Bottom Line: | The wheels and spokes last forever.I'm passing them on to my kids.Uh,forgot about that.Let them get their own! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | penny farthing cycles | | Strengths: | ...ummmm, i guess the colour matches my rims.... | | Weaknesses: | they are WEAK, two of mine have broken (although they were built by Wellingtons crappiest wheel builders at Penny Farthings) | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | giant atx840 | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy these spokes. Don't buy a bike that has these spokes. Don't go into a store that uses these spokes, ever. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | I've got about one year of wheelbuilding experience, so I'm still a novice. I've been using DT all along, and just switched to wheelsmith for my most recent build (King ISO/Tioga factory DH). I like how they're sold without nipples, since I have plenty already. The packaging (50 spokes per bag?) is pretty goofy. The wheel hasn't been ridden much yet, but I found building with these to be easier than DT's. Whether it's the material or the black finish Wheelsmith uses, I found that these spokes stuck to each other at the crossings much less than DT's. It made the build a lot less finicky. We'll see how they hold up (the stretching thing in the review below sounds like trouble), but for now, I'm impressed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcus Van Kommer
a Weekend Warrior
from Yakima, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | They don't break too often (that is dependent on the wheel builder though). | | Weaknesses: | The materials they use are soft, the spokes don't go through a Philwood machine very well. | | Similar Products Used: | DT, Marwi, Union, Philwood, Schwinn | | Bottom Line: | I have been building wheels for about four years (not as long as some, but I have been told by many that I do a damn good job) I built up a set of wheels for a triple tandem. The front with Philwood 14g spokes and the rear with Wheelsmith DH-14 (tandem and downhill spokes). While waiting for more parts to come in to finish the bike build the front wheel didn't budge while the rear wheel the spoke stretched like crazy. The spokes got all soft and the The rear was fairly close to asymetrical and the rear hub was a shimano with very thick flanges. The bike was not ridden either. I don understand it, because I put just as much time into both wheels. I'll stick with DT and philwood spokes from now on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tyson
a Downhiller
from UT
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that points down | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | I've worked at a bike shop for two years and these spokes we don't even use. Personally, I think the spokes are alright but the nipples are the crappiest things ever. They round so easy at high tension it's not even funny. Stick with DT Swiss | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Ames
a
from Fort Collins CO 80526
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | "Old Flowers Road" | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Strong and light | | Weaknesses: | ? | | Similar Products Used: | DT spokes | | Bike Setup: | Klein Additude w/mostly XT and a Kooka crank | | Bottom Line: | I have enough fingers to count the number of wheels I've built. My newets wheel set uses Hugi, Mavic and Wheelsmith 14/15 butted spokes. Even a hack like me can build a good reliable wheel with these. They a good combo of light wieght and cost(12 bucks a wheel or so). They didn't wind up much in the building process and have stayed true. Though I have a pretty didicated XC rig I do alot of fun Rec. Riding that puts a little more stress, AKA some jumping and DH,but they have held up great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I build wheel for a living and I've switched to the XL 14 spokes for my custom builds. They come in all the sizes I need, are as light as anything else on the market, and are very cost effictive. I've had no breaking problems with them at all. | | Overall Rating: |
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