FSA Wheels

Dweezle said:

Hi:

I was thinking about getting a pair of FSA RD400 wheels. Has anybody tried these? Any experience or opinions about them?

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Thanks

Hey Dweezle

First off - I think FSA is a great company. I have the bars, stem, seatpost and MexaExo Compact carbon cranks on my Litespeed. I really like the RD400 wheelset. Better than the Ksyrium Equipe that came with the bike. Unfortunately, the wheelset has a durability issues that FSA will have worked out soon, if not already.

I got a set of RD400 wheels last year. Within the first 300 miles a spoke on the rear wheel non-drive side broke. FSA replaced the spoke and fixed the rim to prevent that from happening again.. The company claims that that issue is no longer a problem.
Then after about 3000 miles, I had them trued. 500 miles after that, I noticed cracks in the rim from the spoke holes - in both the front and rear wheels. FSA is going to fix this problem, and hopefully make the wheelset more durable.

Sounds like the wheelset will be improved sometime this year to make them more durable. Will this mean additional weight ? Maybe. Regardless, I think they are worth it. I have a set of Ksyrium SSC SL's ordered and on the way. However, I don't plan to discontinue using the FSA wheelset. They are LIGHT; they roll very nicely; they're stiff - but not uncomfortable. Some have complained that tires are hard to take on and off - but I feel it's no more so than the Ksyriums or other wheelsets that i've owned.

Maybe these problem are due to my weight (170lbs), the way I ride (big gears - 11/21), or where I ride (flats to hills). In addition, I bought the wheels right when they became available. Sounds like the wheelset will have some improvements done on them this year to address the durability issues.

There's a chance that you won't experience any of these problems. FSA claims that racers heavier than me have had no problems. Still, I think they are worth the money. And if you have any problem with them, FSA will be very helpful at resoving any issue.

mfoswterwa said:

Hey Dweezle

First off - I have the bars, stem, seatpost and MexaExo Compact carbon cranks on my Litespeed. I really like the RD400 wheelset. Better than the Ksyrium Equipe that came with the bike. Unfortunately, the wheelset has a durability issues that FSA will have worked out soon, if not already.

I got a set of RD400 wheels last year. Within the first 300 miles a spoke on the rear wheel non-drive side broke. FSA replaced the spoke and fixed the rim to prevent that from happening again.. The company claims that that issue is no longer a problem..

Hey mfoswterwa
I want to thank you for your answer. It is really helpful to hear your experience.

Dweezle said:

Hi:

I was thinking about getting a pair of FSA RD400 wheels. Has anybody tried these? Any experience or opinions about them?

fullspeedahead.comfly.aspxOpen ↗

Thanks

I like FSA also; have their Team Carbon crank, Megatech OS BB and Integrated Headset. FSA is a brand name for Tien Hsin, a leading Taiwan OEM manufacturer.

Suggest you also check out Velomax (now Easton/Velomax). I've got a pair of their Circuit Comps, and have had no truing issues with them at all in 5400 miles. Well built wheels, good performance and value for the money, IMO. They have a good rep here.

i wrote a long review.
basically. they are light and cheap.
downside is you have to take the rim strips off to true.
also the skewer broke and f'ed my paint up before it was recalled.
also the profile makes it so your brake pad holder rubs before the pad is
totally worn down...

First off - I think FSA is a great company. I have the bars, stem, seatpost and MexaExo Compact carbon cranks on my Litespeed. I really like the RD400 wheelset. Better than the Ksyrium Equipe that came with the bike. Unfortunately, the wheelset has a durability issues that FSA will have worked out soon, if not already.

I got a set of RD400 wheels last year. Within the first 300 miles a spoke on the rear wheel non-drive side broke. FSA replaced the spoke and fixed the rim to prevent that from happening again.. The company claims that that issue is no longer a problem.
Then after about 3000 miles, I had them trued. 500 miles after that, I noticed cracks in the rim from the spoke holes - in both the front and rear wheels. FSA is going to fix this problem, and hopefully make the wheelset more durable.

Sounds like the wheelset will be improved sometime this year to make them more durable. Will this mean additional weight ? Maybe. Regardless, I think they are worth it. I have a set of Ksyrium SSC SL's ordered and on the way. However, I don't plan to discontinue using the FSA wheelset. They are LIGHT; they roll very nicely; they're stiff - but not uncomfortable. Some have complained that tires are hard to take on and off - but I feel it's no more so than the Ksyriums or other wheelsets that i've owned.

Maybe these problem are due to my weight (170lbs), the way I ride (big gears - 11/21), or where I ride (flats to hills). In addition, I bought the wheels right when they became available. Sounds like the wheelset will have some improvements done on them this year to address the durability issues.

There's a chance that you won't experience any of these problems. FSA claims that racers heavier than me have had no problems. Still, I think they are worth the money. And if you have any problem with them, FSA will be very helpful at resoving any issue.[/QUOTE]

Here in Italy FSA wheelsets have quite a poor reputation - they do not stay true and the hubs are considered rather shoddy. Just my two cents - N.B. I have never ridden their rims, all I know is that everyone who got them in my club is desperately offering them second hand veery cheap.

Caveat emptor.