Ksyrium SL vs. ES

you are better off getting a 28/32 spoke wheel with CX-ray spokes, really good hubs (white industries, DT 240s etc) and a rim like velocity aeroheads or open pros. They will be just as aero, stiffer, with better quality hubs.

bobbyOCR said:

you are better off getting a 28/32 spoke wheel with CX-ray spokes, really good hubs (white industries, DT 240s etc) and a rim like velocity aeroheads or open pros. They will be just as aero, stiffer, with better quality hubs.

What would a wheel set like that weigh in at? Comparable to ksyriums, higher, lower? Also what do the rims themselves weigh, if you know? I'm guessing I would have to lace them up myself, too? Been awhile since I built a wheel.

ToffoIsMe said:

What would a wheel set like that weigh in at? Comparable to ksyriums, higher, lower? Also what do the rims themselves weigh, if you know? I'm guessing I would have to lace them up myself, too? Been awhile since I built a wheel.

If you did it with the right parts, it'd weigh less. Mavic rim weights are on the heavy side compared to many off the shelf rims. IIRC they came in at around 430g-450g.
please correct me if I'm wrong.

Spec of ES wheelset is 1450g.

bobbyOCR said:

you are better off getting a 28/32 spoke wheel with CX-ray spokes, really good hubs (white industries, DT 240s etc) and a rim like velocity aeroheads or open pros. They will be just as aero, stiffer, with better quality hubs.

Agree totally with this. I just swapped from mavic ksyrium SL 2 to a hand built set of 32 hole mavic Open Pro's laced to Record hubs with DT comp spokes. The new wheels are the same weight, yet stiffer and better rolling. the new campy record 07 hubs are so sweet. You are definitely better off going for a set of hand built wheels. They will always, always be stronger than factory wheels, and they are certainly comparable in weight and invariably cheaper. Just not as flash or bling looking

sogood said:

Spec of ES wheelset is 1450g.

From Weight Weenies, an actual weight: 1528.9g

alienator said:

From Weight Weenies, an actual weight: 1528.9g

I suspect there'll be some fluctuation on that. At the same time, M10 freehub adds a whopping 16g, taking it to 1544.9g! Remember, must not put in too much grease to keep it under the weight spec.

To answer the original question,

It's all in the ES bling.

Follow the advice given earlier. Don't bother just get a wheelbuilder to make you some.

I thought everyone stopped looking at Ksyriums since this test came out!🙂

http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-4934445.html

Worst aero wheel out of the 31 tested high-end wheelsets, and they ranked mid-range for acceleration and stiffness

531Aussie said:

I thought everyone stopped looking at Ksyriums since this test came out!🙂

http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-4934445.html

Worst aero wheel out of the 31 tested high-end wheelsets, and they ranked mid-range for acceleration and stiffness

The fact that people buy bike gear based on a balance b/n performance and heart will continue to make the ES popular in certain circles. Afterall, the SL has a good following and the ES just adds that extra bling.

ES wheel is 19mm
K's are 25mm

azdroptop said:

ES wheel is 19mm
K's are 25mm

ES front 22mm, rear 25mm.
SL 25mm front and back.

sogood said:

The fact that people buy bike gear based on a balance b/n performance and heart will continue to make the ES popular in certain circles. Afterall, the SL has a good following and the ES just adds that extra bling.

yeah, they're pretty sexy, but way overpriced. Does anyone really think they're worth $1590 (AUS). The only thing I think is good about them is the smooooth hubs. They're not aero. They're light enough, but many say this is at the expensive of stiffness

http://www.cecilwalker.com.au/category116_1.htm

531Aussie said:

yeah, they're pretty sexy, but way overpriced. Does anyone really think they're worth $1590 (AUS). The only thing I think is good about them is the smooooth hubs. They're not aero. They're light enough, but many say this is at the expensive of stiffness

http://www.cecilwalker.com.au/category116_1.htm

A$1100 or there abouts at ProBikeKit.

If the SL is worth $1400, which many have bought, then the extra $200 on the ES is for bling and more CF and the two included wheel bags.

sogood said:

ES front 22mm, rear 25mm.
SL 25mm front and back.

Thsx for the correction. I thought when I wrote 19 I was off, but knew they were smaller.

A friend of mine just received his ROL D' Huez wheelset and I am anticipating his first ride on them. Just the feel alone are nice with good rims, hubs and Sapim spokes.

I am considering a pair, but will wait until my friend has had a chance to try them for a couple of months. He weighs about 190 and is an agressive climber so this will be a good test to see if the wheelset holds up.

ksyriums are bomb proof wheels tho... i love my elites. ill get hammered and ride through grass, up/down curbs, down stairs what ever else is in my way lol (dont worry none of my good bikes get treated like that) only thing is ksyriums are not light at all.

I would have some wheels built up if your trying to be light. as far as Dt hubs do some research...

IEatRice4Dinner said:

ksyriums are bomb proof wheels tho... i love my elites. ill get hammered and ride through grass, up/down curbs, down stairs what ever else is in my way lol (dont worry none of my good bikes get treated like that) only thing is ksyriums are not light at all.

I would have some wheels built up if your trying to be light. as far as Dt hubs do some research...

Ksyrium elites cannot be compared to ksyrium sl/es. elites have stainless spokes AFAIK which are extremely thin compared to SL/ES alloy spokes. Stainless spokes also stretch less so you have an inherently stiffer wheel. Because they are narrow they are also more aerodynamic, and the fact that there is more material in the rim makes them stronger. You end up with a better wheel with a penalty of a meaningless couple of hundred g

bobbyOCR said:

Ksyrium elites cannot be compared to ksyrium sl/es. elites have stainless spokes AFAIK which are extremely thin compared to SL/ES alloy spokes. Stainless spokes also stretch less so you have an inherently stiffer wheel. Because they are narrow they are also more aerodynamic, and the fact that there is more material in the rim makes them stronger. You end up with a better wheel with a penalty of a meaningless couple of hundred g

So, just to clarify: your opinion is that the heavier, cheaper Elites are a better wheel than the lighter, more expensive ES or SL's?