First Look: Mavic's Enduro-Specific Wheel and Tire System

Jun 18, 2013
by Anna Buick  
Above the beautiful French alpine town of La Clusaz, Mavic launced their latest line of enduro-specific products - the Crossmax Enduro Wheel and Tire System and the Crossmax Enduro shoe - to cycling journalists from across Europe and America. To present the products were MTB Product manager, Manuel, and Melanie and Jeremy who oversee footwear and tire development respectively. Also at the launch to explain their input and to answer questions were Mavic's professional riders Anne-Caroline Chausson and Jerome Clementz. Jerome also joined us for a day's riding to test the products and show us how it's done.



Crossmax Enduro

Mavic Crossmax Enduro Wheel Tire System (WTS)

Mavic’s Crossmax Enduro wheel is the culmination of twenty-eight years of experience building high-performance wheels and rims for mountain bikes. The French component maker says that the addition of a tire to make an integrated wheel/tire system (WTS) makes history for the company. While the WTS system may be new to the mountain bike world, Mavic first launched the concept on the road with reasonable success. The two new tires, the Charge and Roam XL are front and rear-specific in both tread design and casing diameter. Mavic refers to the system as ‘Crossmax Enduro’ and as one may expect, the project relied heavily on two of the sport’s top professionals: Jerome Clementz and Anne-Caroline Chausson, during the development and testing stages. The developers identified differing needs for each WTS and produced them to satisfy these specific requirements. The front wheel and tire are made for grip, stability, handling and comfort, while the rear system looks to provide responsiveness, minimal rolling resistance and traction.

WTS Basics

•Crossmax Enduro Front Wheel/Charge tire: 21mm rim and 2.4 aggressive tire
• Crossmax Enduro Rear Wheel/Roam XL tire:19mm rim and 2.3 faster rolling tire
• Front hub compatibility: 6 bolt, 15 mm & 20 mm (QR with optional adapters)
• Rear hub compatibility: 6 bolt, QR & 12x135 & 12x142
• Available July 1, 2013




• Weight: WTS: 26" =1660 g per pair. 825 g front / 835 g rear
Tires: 26”: front 2.4 = 950 g / Rear 2.3 = 850 g
• Weight: WTS: 27.5" =1710 g per pair. 850 g front / 860 g rear
Tires: 27.5”/650b: front 2.4 = 990g / rear 2.2 = 870 g
• Cost: WTS: 26" and 27.5"/650b = $1000


Crossmax Enduro Wheels

Crossmax Enduro wheels are 100% developed to maximize the enduro experience, with different rims widths front and rear to accommodate different tire width and tread pattern. The front wheel has a 21mm rim to house the 2.4 width tire and give greater stability. Stability also comes from the stiffness created by 24 Zicral spokes and Inter Spoke Milling. The comfort factor is provided by crossed spokes for vertical compliance. The rear wheel has a rim width of just 19mm. Whilst this may seem rather narrow, Jerome Clementz, who was integral in the development process, was assured that up to a 2.5 width tire would fit, and therefore a 19mm rim was plenty wide enough. It was also re-asserted that this is a racing product and therefore the increased weight that would come with increased width, along with a decreased efficiency from a wider width tire, would compromise the performance of the WTS. With the desire to produce a responsive wheel, the Crossmax rear wheel has a ITS-4 hub, Isopulse (20 spokes. Radial driveside, crossed disc side) and is UST/tubeless ready.



Mavic Charge and Mavic Roam XL Tires

photo
The Mavic Charge (left) and the Roam XL.

These tires are designed to be 'all-rounders', able to deal with what an enduro race will throw at you. They are designed and developed by Mavic but manufactured elsewhere in France. There are no plans for a 29-inch version as Mavic feel 650b/27.5-inch wheels/tires are likely to be the choice for enduro racers in the coming years.

The Roam XL is a rear wheel specific tire especially formulated for Enduro racing which looks to combine speed, traction and strength. It is designed for efficient rolling, traction and cornering and comes with dual ply 'Guard' casing, dual compound tread and is UST/tubeless ready. The Roam XL features ramped centre knobs for lower rolling resistance and smoother first contact with the ground , high side knobs for better cornering and has a tread pattern designed for mud evacuation while rolling. The Crossmax Charge is a front wheel enduro specific tire with aggressive design for braking, grip and control. The Charge has Super Contact Compound (SCC) for grip, high side knobs for better cornering and aggressive center knobs for efficient and predictable braking. Large 2.4 casing increases comfort and 'Guard' dual ply reinforced casing gives reliabilty, as does Mavic's UST Tubeless Ready system.

Pinkbike's First Impressions
bigquotesCrossmax Enduro Wheels:
One day of riding, on an alien bike, makes it very hard to isolate the feel of a wheel. What can be said is that Jerome and Anne Caroline seem to have a genuine love of the product, and that fifteen eager journalists and a generous handful of Mavic employees bombing downhill all day did not experience any problems, not even a burp.

Tires: Charge and Roam XL
Despite knowing that front and rear tires may handle very differently it still took a lot of getting used to. The Charge gripped, tracked and inspired confidence on a range of terrain and in both the dust and mud, while it took significantly less than a fist full of back brake for the Roam XL on the rear wheel to come into your peripheral vision. However, once we started riding with rather than in spite of the tires, in the style they are designed to complement and enhance, they felt good; fast, fun and functional. There was only one real complaint from the tires, and that was their braking traction in the wet. In the steep, muddy gullies scrubbing speed was a problem, but then it was greasier than a cheap fry-up and was thus perhaps beyond the reasonable realm of all but a dedicated mud tire.

Conclusions:
To really appreciate the WTS I think you need to be looking for a tire that is 100% enduro specific and race-ready, which is exactly what Mavic are marketing. This specificity, plus the reliability features such as 'Guard' casing, make the Crossmax Enduro Wheel Tire System capable of winning Enduro races. Ultimately, watching Jerome ride made it very clear why the Mavic Crossmax Enduro WTS is as it is.



Crossmax Enduro Shoe

photo

The Crossmax Enduro shoe is, essentially, a marriage of Mavic's cross-country specific Fury and the much heavier duty trail/freeride Alpine XL. Its discipline-focused concept, development and testing make it the first enduro racing specific shoe on the market. The close collaboration with Mavic's pro riders Jerome Clementz and Fabien Barel is indicative of the importance of race performance in the product. According to Mavic, the Crossmax Enduro shoe "gives superb power transfer, all day long comfort and enhanced protection."

Crossmax Enduro Shoe Details

• Ergo Fit 'Orthalite': A sock liner for softer, more cushioned fit on and off the bike
• 3D Breathable Mesh: Keeps the foot cooler and drier
• Ergo Lite Toe Cover: Strong toe cap offering lite protection and support
• Mid ankle protection with perforated neoprene
• Available September 2013
• MSRP: $220



• 'Ergo Lite Ratchet': Lightweight ratchet with highly precise adjustment
• 'Quicklace': Lightweight lacing system for one pull tightening
• Lace Cover
• Designed to take cleats
• 'Trailgrip Outsole': 'Contagrip', the best in traction and durability
• Ergo Tongue Concept: Overlapping tongue for maximum foot hold, comfort and breathability


Crossmax Enduro Shoe Construction Notes
In terms of comfort, the Crossmax Shoe offers an overlap 'Ergo tongue' and an 'Ergo Fit Ortholite' insole to give a cushioned fit, plus a 3D breathable mesh that is designed to keep the foot cooler and drier. Protection wise the Crossmax Shoe has a lightweight but seemingly sturdy toe cap, perforated neoprene mid ankle protection, a heavier-duty heel cup and a hook and loop fastened lace cover. The 'Quicklace' system that allows the shoe to be tightened to fit your foot with one pull is carried over from the Alpine XL, although it stops short of the ankle to allow for the 'Ergo Lite Ratchet' which tightens across the top of the foot and locks the foot in place. This combined system for creating a uniformly snug and secure fit is designed to optimise comfort and power output, increasing pedalling efficiency and control. In addition to this performance aspect is the 'Contagrip' sole for optimal grip on all terrain. The cleat plate has three options for positioning.

photo


Pinkbike's First Impressions
bigquotesThe Crossmax shoe revealed a weak point early on when I tried to attach my SPD cleats. The tread on the sole of the shoe made the space for the SPD cleat too narrow. This may be a result of the small shoe size (Eur 38, USA 7), either way it looks like a bit of DIY could sort the problem easily enough. On a hot day of riding my feet never felt sweaty or swollen, but nor did they feel cold or particularly wet after trampling through snow and crossing innumerate streams and the occasional water-logged field. The Crossmax shoe holds your foot very nicely; it is well supported throughout, allows supple movement through the ankle and feels sturdy yet comfortable. For someone who really struggles with numb feet when riding, I was very pleasantly surprised that blood remained in the balls of my feet and toes all day, a small miracle that I attribute to the ergonomic insole. The stiff sole felt good riding both up and downhill, giving efficient power transfer and a solid, confident feel on the pedals. The slight flex in the front of the shoe supposedly makes walking easier and more comfortable. However, for me, the 'some-but-not-all' approach felt like an indecisive middle ground. That said, we did not do a great deal of walking, and, moreover, the Crossmax Enduro shoe is made for racing with the riding performance thus the priority, for which it felt very adept. The greatest praise I can give these shoes is that, whilst riding, I forgot about them. The Crossmax Enduro Shoe is certainly comfortable and, after just one day's worth of riding, seems competent and suited to its purpose. - Anna Buick


photo

Photographs: Jeremie_Reuiller©MavicSAS (unless shown otherwise)

www.mavic.com

Author Info:
AnnaBuick avatar

Member since Jun 14, 2013
1 articles

204 Comments
  • 182 40
 NO MORE YELLOW! they need to start giving color options.
  • 18 93
flag og-squid-mtb (Jun 18, 2013 at 14:42) (Below Threshold)
 THANK YOU! Black or white is all we need. Also no more red on wheels please.
  • 55 7
 It worked for DeWalt. As soon as they went yellow and black, their sales of power tools went up like crazy.
  • 129 8
 But... I like yellow...
  • 50 3
 The shoes are from Lego Land!
  • 9 20
flag d0c0ne (Jun 18, 2013 at 16:01) (Below Threshold)
 CUSTARD, YUCK!!!
  • 20 9
 Mavic, what about just keeping yellow as your 'team colour'. And let your customers pick for themselves.
  • 10 5
 You're gonna make a bee hive excited...
  • 10 4
 Those shoes are sexy!
  • 12 34
flag prenderville (Jun 18, 2013 at 17:09) (Below Threshold)
 Incase you haven't noticed , the mavic logo is yellow , that's why they're yellow , not blue , green , red , pink , purple etc
  • 15 6
 Because colours make all the difference to your riding.......Yea right
  • 14 4
 Yellow's great...
  • 9 8
 Yellows sooo 90's!
  • 4 0
 I have a yellow road bike from the 90s that this wheelset would match perfectly! Would also make that bike a lot funner to ride if they fit.
  • 18 3
 Sorry guys. I love the yellow. And I'm sure there's plenty more out there who do too.
  • 13 1
 Yellows badass. I dont understand why people care? Dont like Yellow? Buy something else in a color you do like! In todays market im sure you can find a product equally as amazing and in a color you do like. In a sport where company logos and color schemes are insanely multicolored anyway im pretty sure you and your bike will be fine with a splash of yellow.
  • 18 2
 BRING BACK THE CHROME!
  • 3 1
 They make the Deemax AND deetrax in Silver..
  • 17 13
 Ya for real this is a french company so should be all fruity and colorful as they are. ITS4 is the shiz but the aluminum freehub body wears out quick. Do yourself a favor and buy extra ITS4 driver and spokes. Customer service at mavic smells worse than the cheese they are eating right now. Still dope wheels, tires cost how much??? Getdafugouttahee. Those are cute ballet slippers in yellow also. Parlevou you mofugga.

I already have a mavic WTS. Its called crossmax with kenda small blocks.
  • 7 1
 one funny comment /\ /\ lol
  • 5 1
 I'm surprised the tyres aren't yellow aswell...
  • 2 0
 That's one cool set of wheels, loving the radial/crossed 20 spoke rear, good weight too, as for the tires... 950g!!!!!! GTF.
  • 8 2
 Maybe Mavic should eschew over a decade of running yellow so a 16 year old kid with a cheap dirt jumper with flat tires *might* consider buying a set when they show up in the buy and sell......

Yellow is Mavic's 'brand color' like Turquoise is to Yeti. Deal with it. There are plenty of trendy catalogue companies pushing garbage hoops that come in rainbows of colors to match your diminutive fruity fashion 'taste' that only teens and rappers high on cough syrup can appreciate.... :-P
  • 4 0
 Why not? I think the wheels look great, they could be called Deemax Light. If I didn't have a 5 months old set of Crossmax SX (the white ones) I'd definitely go for them. Only the tires are quite heavy.
  • 1 1
 i am still looking for the white ones Wink
  • 1 4
 only dee maxx should have a completely yellow rim
  • 4 3
 get a pot of tip-ex if you want white versions.
  • 1 0
 No this is rite it dont help u ride any better if they was red or blue or green but it's just nice to have the Option as we all like are bike to go in Colour haha
  • 2 1
 It's called Branding. Everyone knows Mavic is Yellow. Where does it say the wheels will not be available in other colors?
  • 1 2
 The yellow complaints are because people dont want to spend £££ $$$ on bikes to spoilt the appearence when their bike is say, blue or red? And couple this with the quality of mavics components makes people want and not want at the same time, colour options work - fact - mavic products are fast in any colour
  • 1 0
 @RodRamsey for World ruler and any other opinion based life role! Legend
  • 1 1
 i like the shoes. keep the yellow it says caution i am coming and may case that jump or be wrecking soon. well i dont wreck much anymore or case jumps like i use too but its funny
  • 2 0
 Ya bro no bailing or casing allowd with the yellow slippers on haaaaaaaaaa.
  • 70 5
 Enduro specific? What does that even mean? Marketing hype and cashing in on the enduro trend like everybody else. When will the madness end, and people will go back to calling it mountain biking?
  • 62 4
 But what about the spokes?? Are those enduro spokes?? And the air needed to pump up the tires - please tell me Mavic includes special bottles of Enduro-specific air from Evian to fill those tires! FFS...
  • 27 0
 Most of us in the NW just call it trail riding.
  • 6 0
 Quite-just make the friggin' thing and let us decide what to use it for, if at all.
  • 8 2
 I agree with all the above. "Enduro" looks like trail riding to me
  • 5 0
 If you are from Vancouver, Enduro just looks like a day of riding... Sweet products though!
  • 3 4
 In Europe its called "Onduro." Can we please get this sorted out. Wink
  • 8 0
 If you do anything but ride Enduro with these wheels, you void warranty. Wink
  • 6 1
 @richierocket: Enduro being just a trail riding day is actually the north american vision of enduro it seems. Enduro is a racing format. That's about it. It's (steep) trail riding yes, but it's a race. The industry tries to "enduro" everything and that's just annoying. Those wheels are an example. In the end, it's a cross max sx up front and an st at the rear. ok, the spokes are a little different... and they are (Deemax racing) yellow (which I like). We've seen lots of "enduro" helmet launched recently (Bell, TLD..) which will be forbiden on most races!! Cause they are no full face.
  • 8 0
 I'm waiting for enduro specific grips.
  • 2 0
 Reminds me of a comment i read else where " ive got 99 wheel sizes but 26 aint one" the wheel size hype is out of control too
  • 1 0
 LOL, I see what you did there(old school)^.
  • 1 0
 @highstreet, amen to that! Just a regular day in the woods...
  • 41 5
 oooo enduro enduro... load of sheeet. This whole enduro biz is just an untapped market to design and sell new products. I bet every single one of us has been an "enduro" rider since the first day we learned to ride. Sure it blends the line between XC and DH, but categorizing our riding style is limiting and pompous if you ask me. Do you like to bike in the woods? Yes? than you are a mountain biker. END OF FUKING STORY!!!
  • 14 1
 biggest bike hype terms/trends of the past decade: freeride - slopestyle - all mountain - enudro
  • 5 1
 "all mountain"? depends on the mountain!
  • 4 0
 I'm having issues figuring out what the hell kind of rider i am... I have a kona blast hard tail and a yeti 575, i've hit the same trails with both with no issue, while yes the blast climbed better and the yeti kills it going down, and i ride some pretty tech stuff but both bikes are fine with it... So does this mean i'm ONLY riding on XC trails? or am i taking my XC bike on AM trails? all this talk of enduro/AM makes my head hurt
  • 3 0
 rclugnut: maybe your an "All-Bike, All-Mountain" rider. Should I copyright that term?
  • 9 0
 Most-mountain.
  • 3 0
 I guess I have been riding endure for 20+ years but I just called it riding...
  • 4 0
 Savinka - Mostly mountain for me on the Giant Reign. There is a small section of road I have to ride to get to the local trails. So that makes me mostly mountain. Once this new category is firmly established with a new wheel size, chain specs, and most importantly specially designed alloys for the derailleur hangers I'll need to know how to get the bazillions of dollars in TM fees to you.

Why hasn't Freetard riding taken off yet?
  • 2 0
 I'm just happy the motard thing didn't pop up in mtb, I'd be pretty chapped if I saw a session 9.9 with commuter bike tires
  • 2 0
 You mean there is something wrong with riding my Giant Glory with Hookworms to and from work?
  • 2 0
 @rclugnut...You are a mountain biker. Embrace it. Celebrate it. Don't spend too much time worrying about what label to attach to your riding style. The marketing departments of cycling companies will try and do that for you.
I ride a little of everything, myself. I am a cyclist.
  • 36 3
 I know yellow is Mavic's brand color but its at risk of being over used on their MTB side. Yellow says Dee-Max to me. Wish they could evolve that thinking to include other colors. The shoes are probably good but again the yellow doesn't work - it makes sense on the high-end mtb and road carbon-soled shoes but not here in the 'everyman's sport' of enduro. I don't think these shoes are expensive compared to most mtb clipless pedal shoes - Sidi can run over $400.

Wishing they brought back that R-SYS carbon spoke concept for these wheels, that would have been sweet.
  • 28 0
 Yea, whenever i see someone riding on a yellow wheelset, i automatically assume it's a deemax.
  • 3 2
 thats for sure, yellow belongs to the deemax Smile if they had them in anodized blue (my color) and other colors I would go straight for the wheelset because they seem decent and i need a new one!
Mavic, make sure to pick up on the color issue!
  • 2 2
 Thats the thing aswell if Deemax hadnt been yellow id probably had them on all my bikes at one time. But i didnt buy a single pair. Mavic must have lost alot of revenue to their yellow obsession. Shame when they make the best wheels.
  • 18 0
 crossmax SX front with crossmax ST rear and you have basically the same wheelset, just a clash of colours lol
  • 5 0
 but possibly with a weaker rear wheel when it would be better to sacrifice strength on the front
  • 2 0
 Ahh true. maybe less stress on the rear by the looks of that rear specific tire though
  • 4 0
 my thoughs exaclty, mega
  • 2 0
 No no no you have everything wrong @mega-turtle ! This is a new concept and you have super tires -_-

Seriously, the only advantage of this wheelset is that you get the best of the crossmax sx and st. That's it, that's all.
  • 1 0
 still... a 19mm wide rear rim won't gradly accept 2.35 Hans Dampf for instance. i have a set os ST's and will soon be chaging them for a wider set
  • 1 0
 Weird...I can fit 2.3 WTB Vigilante on mine.
  • 1 0
 @rocnriderider: schwalbe tires sizes are kind of odd. they are generally much wider than other brands, despite claiming the same width. whose is actually correct, i'm not certain.
  • 3 0
 think schwalbe is right and maxxis is wrong, those 2.5 minions are no way in hell actually 2.5 considering they're smaller than 2.35 hans dampfs
  • 1 0
 IMHO Schwalbe tyres are just too wide! Then the knobs are too spaced one from another otherwise the tyre would get too heavy... They think.
  • 2 0
 EnduroManiac: Schwalbe provides a quite correct tyre size. I'd rather say that with some tires they provide too thin sidewalls for the volume, at least for now, when the choice of wide rims is so small. You need 25mm internal width or more to properly support a 2.25 Nobby Nic or Rocket Ron, so it does not feel sketchy, at least for an average rider like me. Put a 2.4 NNic on a Crossmax ST and unless you run 30psi - you burp sealant all over like me after beans

Most brands exaggerate tyre size number to come out lighter. Continental DH tyres in 2.5" weigh approximately 150g more than 2.5" Maxxis - too bad that Maxxis DHF is actualy a 2.3" tyre and in proper 2,5" size which is their 2.7", they would weigh the same. At the same time Continental commits same crime on trail front, with their 2.4" MKings being as narrow as a proper 2.2" tyre. Marketing.
  • 1 0
 I never said they were too wide for the indicated size. I'm just not necessary fan of wide tyres in general, misunderstanding. I prefer a casing with good support and a soft compound up front. For the rear I don't really care! I know Maxxis are smaller than the given one, that's why to compare tires I just look at the ETRTO values, not this funny 26x2.something that the brand gives.
  • 1 0
 You choose either wider casing or longer knobs to get same grip. I take a wide tyre with shorter center knobs over a slim tyre with longer knobs anytime. Knobs add more weight than casing as it is a bare rubber. Wider casing rolls better than longer knobs. Wider = less pressure needed = more cushioning = larger contact patch when on obstacle = traction. 2.2 or thinner tyre + short knobs = spin out, worse bump absorption. Everyone likes their own, and has different trails around so whatever anyways Smile
  • 2 0
 Depends also a lot on the dirt you ride. Long knobs on hard pack are kind of funny in terms of feeling, not to say awkward sometimes! My favourit:minion DHF! quite lots of knobs, not widely space, and each quite wide. So they grip well and roll pretty good.
Less pressure is nice but down to a certain point where the tyre (if casing is too soft) start wobbling.
  • 1 0
 True, I have minion DHFs 1ply EXO right now on my Nomad, they work perfect on short rides and in the bike park. If you skip the weight and rolling resistance, Minion climbs very well thanks to the pattern as it hooks on anything - a thing that High-roller utterly sucks at due to ramped knobs. But I will switch to shorter knobs as I just can't utilize so much grip as to increased rolling resistance on home trails, especially that I got some taste for longer tours lately. Spec Purgatory Control and Butcher Control it shall be so some Minion Spirit will be left up front Smile
  • 20 6
 1660g is pretty heavy, you could knock a 100g off that with a Stans Flow EX and DT Swiss 240 build while leaving less of a dent in your wallet. pfft. bright-freakin'-yellow lol.
  • 7 2
 Probably but Mavic stuff is 100x stiffer and more resistant.
  • 5 0
 Not to mention true UST
  • 2 1
 Yes, not that BS conversion stuff that will add som much weight...
  • 1 0
 d0c0ne - Mavic completes are bloody bomb proof -nr1. 1660g is bloody light -nr2. I had Deemaxes and now sport CMAX STs. The build you mentioned costs almost the same as any top Mavics. DT 240 hubs alone cost 400£, so add 130 for rims, then to go below 1800g (you still won't go under 1660g) you need DT Aeros or CXRays which are another 150£. I'd have nothing against ZTR rims if not the price. They are made of whatever alu in Asia, so in such circumstances I'd rather add 30£ per rim and buy light-bicycle carbon rim. Especially that LB just announced they will be making a 35mm rim at 400g weight!

Sure, if you break some spoke, you are in 2-3week wait for replacement, if you break a rim - you are seriously f*cked. Then Mavic SHOULD learn that CrossMax SX wheelset should be as wide as Flow EX. That wouldn't give them that feather weight though.
  • 1 0
 What's that LB carbon rim you're talking about? How much? I'm interested in carbon rims but I'm still not ready to pay 350£ for a rim :/
  • 8 0
 I just dont get the narrow rear rim 19mm and the justification as a racing rim. Enduro racers are still gonna throw these into corners and gardens and anything else that comes with the DH side of enduro. Would'nt it have been easier for everyone to just make these 21mm front and back? especially given the marginal weight savings and where exactly on an enduro course is this more efficient?
  • 4 1
 People will buy it because Jerome Clements wins on them. Full stop. The fact that he could win on any other wheelset is irrelevent
  • 4 0
 25 mm minimum.
  • 3 0
 64mm!
  • 1 0
 If you want 21 mm front and back just buy some crossmax sx! They have no flat spokes so what? I doubt it's a massive difference
  • 1 0
 @K-D-M: not such a long time ago some top guys were riding slr wheels on enduro races... that was pure trashing! CMax ST are super solid, just like the XM819 rim they derive from.
  • 2 0
 I don't get the skinny rims either. Mavic needs to get their shit together or get left in the dust by companies that are actually responding to rider demands. I'm just a regular old trail rider, but would never go skinnier than an Arch EX (currently on old flows) as the wider rims just make fat tubeless tires so much better. I ran Mavic 819s for a while, and had to run big pressure to stop it from squirming. Mavic, wake up!
  • 12 2
 19mm width rear rim...no thanks
  • 3 3
 This. I would take the SXs and an extra 100gms any day.
  • 5 2
 so dumb. A narrow rim is heavier if it makes you need to run a wider tire. STUPID STUPID STUIPD where are all the wide rims?!?!? 27mm minimum!!!
  • 2 0
 I ride Mavic XM819 every day and they are just soooooooooooo strong for their weight. Sure you can't put a Schwalbe 2.5 on it. But I wouldn't anyway.
  • 6 0
 I'm really excited to be getting a couple pairs of these tomorrow for myself and to have as a demos. I'll be sure to let you guys know how they ride. A few things to consider though, these wheels and shoes are being made and marketed as enduro RACING products which means two things....of course Mavic is going to make them yellow, and if you're not into racing or yellow isnt your thing there's plenty of other less flashy shoes and wheels that Mavic makes. I agree that my initial thoughts were like some of yours.... the wheels were a little narrow, but in racing every gram counts and considering they've been tested by Jereome Clementz, Fabian Barel and Anne Caro I figured they have more qualifications than I do when deciding what's a good race wheel set. I've had the rear tire for quite a while and it's great so it will be interesting to see how the front is. I'll try to get some pics and impressions up tomorrow.
  • 1 0
 The yellow color isn't entirely consistent across the lineup however. Its seen on their top-line road shoes, but three different models. Then it doesn't appear anyplace else on their road wheels, including the wheels most commonly associated with the pro peloton like the Cosmic Carbones. Yellow isn't used on the SLR mountain bike wheels which again are race-oriented, SSC products. Its only otherwise used on the top-line mtb shoes which are like the road shoes with lugged soles. I sure wouldn't want to see Cosmic Carbones in yellow however. So now we have a racer wearing a yellow roadie lid, wearing yellow carbon-soled clipless pedal shoes, riding DeeMax or Enduro wheels.
  • 1 0
 Ditching the Tevas Jeff?
  • 1 0
 Mattradical, Nope, still wearing Tevas. The new Pivots we just released are pretty sick. I'm running Mavic apparel and helmets now as well as Wheels and tires.
  • 3 0
 Not so sure about the 20 spoke rear-wheel bit, but I actually LOVE the looks of them and I'm just stoked to see them still be 20mm compatible. This 15mm/smaller stanchions crap that Fox and others are pushing on the "AM/Enduro" is total BS. The shoes I'd have to try out to see if I could live with them... They're a bit "much" IMO but they sound like a good idea.

It's funny to see everyone scurry like cockroaches to name their stuff "enduro specific" trying to cash in on the buzzword of the year. Reminds me of Freeride stuff in the early 2000's and most of it is's just re-badged/named stuff from X companies "trail" line only now "trail" isn't cool anymore (except in the pages of MBA where they just make up names for stuff randomly), everyone's gotta have a full load of "All Mountain/Enduro" as if it's really any different. Oh and then charge 20% more for it cause well... it's "enduro". I really like the Enduro format of racing, but to SOME OF US, AM is all Mountain biking has really ever been. Even when I was lugging around a 40lb bike, I was just riding up a trail so I could bomb down it. Same thing it's always been only now the marketing morons and bean counters see dollar signs and we've got a whole "new" category of riding. Unless you were a Lycra Loser, you've probably already GOT gear for riding Enduro...
  • 3 1
 wow...those are some expensive MTB shoes. especially considering if ridden properly, they will get abused to hell and not last super long. (unlike road shoes which you can keep for years so its easier to justify the $250+ price tag on some of the higher end models)
  • 5 4
 $250 is realativly cheap in terms of shoes. High end mountain bike shoes come in often above $400.
  • 14 2
 Not really. A set of 510 freeriders is about $100 plus shipping.
  • 1 2
 Compared to Sidi their pretty well priced. Carbon sole, Hmmmm, carbooooon. Yum!
  • 2 1
 but sidis will last you 15-25 years, everything on sidi is replaceable
  • 1 0
 I use Mavic Crossmax since their first disc edition, it was the real top xc set...black with superb and usefull 3M reflecting stickers. they weight a little more than 1800gr , still works OK after 10 years with minimal job. I suppose the width was 19mm too , shoud chek it. At the time I fitted Specy UST 2.2 tyre at 890 gr, super casing, tread and compound....after 10 years they teach us that's an enduro wheelset.... and 10 years ago it was a word cup must. Power of marketing. I still have SX bombproof set, grey Deemax and Ksyrium SL too. They do excellent wheels, ok they are a bit heavyer than Others, often bearings are not top end, and early rachets type where weak , but now ITS4 works fine and clean for years also if not as buttery as many other competitors. Mavic produces not the finest wheel, not the lightest (they won't), but you can surely trust that Worth the money.
finally..I like Yellow mavic product, own Fury and Alpine XL too (paid 112 €), superb shoes.
  • 1 0
 even the road crowd is seeing the benefits of wider rims. 19 may work but wider would be better on a mtb tubeless setup. And enough of the enduro this or that. The enduro race trend is killing the XC scene...nobody wants to race uphill anymore.
  • 2 0
 Did anyone really want to race uphill in the first place? Besides lunatics?
  • 1 0
 Did anyone really want to race uphill in the first place?

lol
  • 1 0
 I think the new catagory should be prefer mountain that is the catagory where you get on your mountain bike pedal anything and everything you can when you can because you love riding but prefer a mountain so prefer mountain. But one day it will once again be called riding or just mountain biking
  • 4 1
 Bright-freakin'-yellow huh? Well that's one way to stand out. Hopefully they have a different color option that is a little more subtle.
  • 5 2
 Agreed. I hope they come out with some darker colors to match better to bikes . . .
  • 2 1
 It matches well with the new Force GT, I guess.
  • 1 0
 Naw, the new GT bikes have gold accents.
  • 1 0
 they need chrome wheels
  • 2 1
 Am I the only one who actually likes this new trend of enduro? Why is there so much hate!? This is just an all mountain wheelset for crying out loud, sorry Mavic decided to call ut an enduro wheelset and that offends you so much.
  • 1 0
 Mavic is overpriced, really a roadie brand and the color screaming stinks. The strange spokes and hubs wont help either. Mavic branded Hutchinson look a bit weak. 26+ Enduros are a shortlived maintenance nightmare. Wont be seeing too many in the alps -
  • 1 1
 Mavic overpriced? DT Swiss - same factory - higher price. DT hubs - let's don't talk about it. Then how about No tubes so many get wet about? ~70£ MSRP for a fkn Asian-made cheapo aluminium with no eyelets. Sure, they are wide and light, they got it super smart with extrusion, but they are the kings of overpricing to me.

Mavics are at least made in Europe so you pay for infamous French unions Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Wouldn`t touch Mavic. Same with DT and other Scriptbrands. Can do without the hefty brand-surcharge and their less than stellar engineering and eyecancer inducing graphics. Companies that scream at me - wont buy.

Stans are lowend. You get what you pay for.

I use SunMTX33 and SunRingle Drift 2.1 (really the same) and Sun 600 Al. Around 350-$400 set. All with Novatec hubs. Also troublefree my daughters Azonic Outlaws.
  • 2 0
 Yup, but the weight you carry there is quite substantial, even for Enduro riding. Reliable, strong at a great price. But you don't get the alive feeling of a pair of Crossmax. Depends if you are heavy or light rider, style: tough on wheels or smooth, big bike, small bike (can't hit square edged stones as hard on 120mm bike as on 160mm as you can't ride so fast) - are your trails fast'n'rough or are they smooth, prefer fatter or thinner tyres, high or low pressures - Bloody gajilion of factors... and some will find those Mavics excellent. It's jewelry, you can't compare MTX to it, which is a workhorse. I always thought that welded Singletrack was Toyota Hilux of MTB rims.

However I personaly, a self-sponsored loonie, would never ever race proper Enduro in proper mountains on such wheels...
  • 1 0
 Hilux, love that thing. Soft on your back even in a stone desert, on african dirt roads and extremely dependable. MTX are in the same category. I have them in gold and black... I dont care about Enduro - Enduroterritory - use an Absolute SX single speed. 11.5kg with Sun 600 and lockouts on both axles. Fine with all tracks except steepest ascends. There its walk and talk. I know its beyond common conceptions where more bling and switches are better...but I keep it simple where it not for that bloddy fox air shock.. Enduros dont last in the Alps, bearings, wheels, airshock - all go south.
  • 2 0
 You guys are missing the point. Everything is faster in yellow. It's scientific fact.
I'm just pissed I recently bought a pair of Alpine XLs in white/black. Not nearly as fast.
Seriously though, I do love the Alpines.
  • 1 0
 Crazy look at diferent rim width. I always used rims like that fatter in front for the front tire be a lite bigger than the rear. But 19mm in the back looks prity small specialy for burping tubeless tires... but I live Mavic rims. Much better that dt swiss and others...
  • 1 0
 i used to ride ATB back in the day, then came along MTB, then DH, then slalom into 4x, this thing called free ride and all mountain.
Now we have Enduro....I will still be riding whatever i want, whatever they want to call it...
However, i have had 3 sets of mavic wheels of various kinds and they have all been overpriced rubbish...
the freehub body/cassette body is stuck in the dark ages..the rims have always been ok, but i have had issues with the axles and the hub body's shattering (mavic would not cover under warranty as they were miserable french blokes) not vere had this problem with HOPE....

HOPE forever "
  • 1 0
 Really? they took an SX front hoop and an ST rear, painted them as obnoxiously as they could, and threw 'em in the same box and bumped the price? I just sold my ST wheelset a couple months back with no regrets thus far as my new eastons are rolling mo bettah
  • 4 2
 I want everything featured here. I don't race, so I can't say they'll be used for Enduro. They just look perfect for all day rides
  • 2 0
 no mention of rubber compound.... might be harder than others for rolling speed, maybe harder on the rear? I NEED ANSWERS!!!!! HAHA
  • 2 0
 still probably only have a tiny amount of paw springs inside and a really slow take up,mavic take note... I will stick to my Hopes which are bomb proof and lighter...thanks..
  • 2 0
 I second your comment. I used many Mavics and also did maintenance to others (all kind of models), very weak systems... I switched from the Crossline in my Yeti (they came with the bike) to a pair of custom Stans+Hope Evos, the sweetest wheels in my entire ridding life and is around 20 years just in MTB.
  • 3 0
 they need to bring in a deflection test so we can see how stiff the wheels are.
  • 2 0
 Comfort normally means flexy so we should find out before long
  • 1 0
 exactly what i was thinking
  • 1 0
 Enough with the Yellow, I seriously hope Mavic will listen to the riders, everyone I know feel the same way, great product UGLY colors. drop the yellow Mavic and I will start buying your stuff again, until then, I'll pass
  • 5 1
 I used to ride all mountain , but now Im sticking to Enduro
  • 1 0
 sounds like a good plan haha
  • 2 0
 You use to ride a sport called mountain bike and now you ride a sport called mountain bike buy if you are a fashion adict you need to find a new name for MOUNTAIN BIKING. I LIVE MOUNTAIN BIKING... NOT A logo sport...
  • 1 0
 I have and love the white ones they are replacing and they were no where near this pricey! Plus the White and Black doesn't look to badSmile Love the mavic stuff but they're French so style is out.
  • 1 0
 Dear mavic please have a colour option for your dee max wheel set so we can have them in black and white and they look good on everyone's bikes
  • 2 0
 MAVIC must give a free CD-Single (like Mr. Cab driver from Lenny) when you buy these wheels.
  • 1 0
 Yup! And when you buy the yellow plastic shoes, they also give you a pair of baggy pants and a CD with MC Hammer's single : Can't touch this... Smile )
  • 1 0
 Haha. Don't care how good they are... After watching fort William. It seems if ya rims are yellow. They are guns fold! Hahahahahahahahaha.
  • 2 0
 I've thought wheelset rims should b front n rear specific so its good to see this happening even if its still off the shelf
  • 3 0
 Rims seem very narrow - like all Mavics
  • 1 1
 I've been riding Mavic wheels pretty much forever, and I've got to say I swear by them. Mavic can do nothing wrong with wheels in my opinion, over 10 years of riding their stuff and nothing but good things to say about them.
  • 2 0
 Not even the hubs and freehub seals? Glass is half full for you!
  • 2 0
 Almost thought they were Deemax's....oh well. need more color options! Yellow is for Deemax. Maybe red?
  • 1 0
 21mm ??? Not wide enough for me. I ride Flow EX (25.5mm) on my trail bike (Pivot Mach 5.7) and I really like the way they make the tires "work".
  • 1 0
 Too narrow for low pressure in a UST format. I like Stan's rims better, and their cheaper. Plus Mavic are notorious for burping with lower tire pressures.
  • 1 0
 19mm is TOO small for anything besides a pinner xc hoop IMHO.

NO other tire in the world is asked to comply with a rim that is 1/3 its width for a reason
  • 1 0
 If they're naming wheels for your riding style thet should be called "Hangover", "Case", "Weight Weenie", "Crash Master" and "Scared Straight".
  • 2 1
 Wheels price might be up to 400$, add Mavic logo.. prices goes up to 1000$.
  • 2 0
 Now you can sell anything that has enduro in a name! even Enduro shit!
  • 2 0
 I used to ride En' Mountain now I ride All Duro...
  • 2 0
 Think I'd stick with the white cross max sx
  • 3 2
 Like everyone else, looks like they just copied the Maxxis Minion. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
  • 3 0
 Minion? Try High Roller 2.
  • 1 0
 I was thinking High Roller 2 crossed with a butcher. My two favorite tires for the front actually.
  • 1 0
 I would it looks like the minion dun had its dirty way with an ardent and this is what its kids look like.
  • 1 0
 Those wheels look more like Free Enduro compatible...kinda like Enduro but a little more burly.
  • 1 0
 Pretty lame someone with a size 7 shoe would have to modify a 220 dollar pair of shoes
  • 1 0
 Its bright yellow so its Mavic. there s your advertising just in the colour.
  • 1 0
 So, more crap that already existed has been given a different name and sold as new technology then? what a surprise.
  • 1 0
 I will also pick up a 27.5 version of this enduro wheelset. I've always been impressed with Mavic quality.
  • 1 0
 I missed the bullet point about what colors the shoes are offered?
Oh yellow only...good luck with that.
  • 1 0
 Checkout the 2013 Charger Pros they finally made some graphics that don't suck.
  • 1 0
 Am I right in think that the front wheel is a yellow sx and the rear is a yellow st rim?
  • 2 0
 1000$ just for wheels!
  • 1 0
 excellent for my meta sx ) even for skin options))
  • 1 0
 Any idea from where I can get these shoes.....?
  • 3 3
 Well Mavic just did a big F-u to specialized... no Mavic enduro wheels for their new 29er Enduro Evos
  • 6 1
 Specialized makes their own wheels
  • 1 0
 Correction, Specialized has wheels made for them.
  • 1 0
 then puts a specialized logo on so they can bend you over on price
  • 3 2
 Specialized hasn't ever actually made anything. They started out as an American design brand with Japanese manufacturing and they've simply kept shifting the production to other Asian countries ever since. Ever since Merida bought 49%, all the frames have been built by Merida and previously they were made by Giant for a good many years.
  • 1 4
 correction - who cares? "those die-hard-rider cheating wheels with a Specialized brand logo" are wider and come in carbon. If Specialized designs bikes and components - so does most of widely admired brands, Spesh just does it better than most. If I got a carbon Stumpy evo with roval carbon wheels I would not care whether it is made by Enve, Merida, Vatican or Richard Dawkins. It's an obscene super bike.
  • 1 0
 @ wakidesigns I love to see you comment on everything Smile its one of my favorite parts about pinkbike lately haha
  • 1 0
 Oh... Im sorry for being so sour lately. I will try to keep it more up-beat from now on.
  • 1 0
 are these products up to the "challenge"?
  • 10 8
 Why no 29er version?
  • 8 7
 Why does that get negative props?
  • 5 14
flag Gawdodirt (Jun 18, 2013 at 15:32) (Below Threshold)
 Because 29ers are so gay.
  • 7 2
 Dang man, I don't knock what king of bike your'e riding.
  • 4 2
 Okay come on, nobodies bike is gay. But there's just no market for 29 enduro stuff that I'm aware of. All wheel sizes have their place. My XC bikes are 29 but my AM bike is 26, simple enough right?
  • 3 1
 Eh, I could see these going on the Tallboy Lt, Stumpy EVO 29, Enduro 29, etc..
  • 1 2
 Only 29er i'd ride is a Lenz PB-J, for obvious reasons. That bike is badass!
  • 1 2
 Because the REALLY long travel 29er market is dying before it ever really took off. Specialized and Trek's having models in development because they misstimed the rise of 650B notwithstanding, the Enduro world has already spoken.
  • 1 0
 I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say "really long travel". If you are talking about the 130-150 mm travel 29ers I would have to disagree with you. If you are talking about bikes with longer than 150 mm of travel, then yes I agree, there really isn't a market for >150 mm travel bikes with 29" wheels. But that's because you don't need any more travel than 140 mm plus or minus a centimeter of travel on a 29er.
  • 1 0
 It is only a matter of time before 29er's reach the 160mm plus travel range. As you can see, the travel is slowly increasing and will ultimately end up in the 7-8 travel range. And when that happens, then I will jump on board.
  • 1 0
 Only if you want to restrict ownership to the 6 foot plus club of riders or to eunichs. To fit that much travel into a frame, and still have room to clear the BB and pedals properly, makes for enormous standover clearances. As is is, anything in the 140mm and up from most every brand there is means nothing smaller than a medium size is available.
  • 1 0
 What do those tires weigh?
  • 1 0
 IVE BEEN ENDURO RIDING FOR 23YEARS!!!!
  • 1 0
 hell yeah, cool shoes, sick wheels and tires sweet
  • 1 0
 2013 Reynolds 650b Carbon pay a little more for a spectacular ride.
  • 1 0
 At least they're making the wheels in 650b and not 27.5"...
  • 1 0
 No! Yellow only means DeeMax. End of story.
  • 1 0
 How bout that Rock Shox!
  • 1 2
 My word, those shoes are nice...looking. But for that price, they better come In all black!...maybe sum yellow highlights.
  • 3 3
 Chinese 30 mm carbon rims $110 a piece. light and strong ftw!!!
  • 2 1
 You all crack me up.....
  • 2 0
 You crack me up...The-Gunt
  • 1 0
 those shoes look awesome
  • 4 6
 What a fugly pair of wheels .....and 20 spokes on the back wheel?? How long will that last?
  • 3 5
 Another wheel system?
  • 2 0
 I used to ride En' Mountain now I ride All Duro...







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