As Mavic sees it, there are three primary types of riding: aggressive downhill/enduro, hard charging XC racing, and everything in between. These wheels are meant to occupy that middle ground (click to enlarge).
Mavic is a lot of things. Trendsetter (or even trend chaser) is not one of them. The famed French wheel and apparel maker that's been around for 127 years frequently takes its time adapting new technologies. Critics will claim they're stubborn or even off the back. Mavic counters that they simply take a more measured approach, unwilling to rush product to market simply to keep up with the jones.
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We can't claim to know which is true. But we can say that it seemed odd that as the calendar turned from 2015 to 2016, Mavic still did not have a carbon mountain bike wheel in their catalog when so many other companies big and small did. "It may seem like we are late to carbon, but that was intentional," claimed Maxime Brunand, Mavic product line and concept manager. "We needed to make sure we hit the mark."
Test trails were a mix of fast and smooth, and rugged and rough. This bumpy ribbon of track provided courtesy of goats and sheep (click to enlarge).
That proverbial bullet was finally discharged in early May, when Mavic launched its new XA Pro Carbon wheels during a press launch in Hondarribia, Spain, which is tucked between San Sebastian to the south and Biarritz, France, to the north. If nothing else, they'd certainly picked a nice spot to entertain the world's cycling press. In one direction were the shimmering waters of the Atlantic Ocean's Bay of Biscay; in the other was our riding destination, the precipitously steep foothills of the Pyrenees. (If you're interested in exploring the area, make sure to get in touch with the crew at Basque MTB, who did a superb job of showing us around.) But first we had to learn about these new wheels.
The nuts and bolts are fairly straight forward - and some will argue too narrow. Indeed, in this day when "wider is better" is all the rage, Mavic's new composite MTB hoops have a relatively modest 26mm inner rim width. They come is 27.5 and 29, use steel straight pull, bladed, double butted spokes, 24 front/24 rear with 2-cross lacing, and are UST tubeless with a hookless profile for increased overall strength and less chance of burping.
An asymmetrical spoke design places spoke nipples 2mm off center, which is claimed to provide improved triangulation of the spokes. This in turn reduces drive side spoke tension, and balances tension with the opposing spokes. The straight pull spokes also mean they can be replaced without pulling off the cassette.
Claimed wheel weights are 1470 grams for the 27.5, and 1600 for the 29s. Price is $1850 including tires, which we'll talk more about in a moment.
What About That Width Decision?
"Yes we agree that we weren't wide enough before at 23mm, but we simply believe that most tires are not designed for such wide rims as you see in the market today," explained Brunand. "We feel you get good ride quality at this 26mm width, whereas 30-35mm for a 2.5" tire doesn't make sense. And yes we will start looking at plus soon, but that is a different conversation."
Price: $1850 (tires included). Claimed wheel weight: 1470g for 27.5; 1600g for 29er. Available: September 1 (click to enlarge).
The Mavic PR team was also quick to point out that though its parent company Amer Sports bought highly regarded carbon wheel maker ENVE in February, the Ogden, Utah-based company had no input or influence on the design of the XA Pro wheels. (For the record, a quick check of the ENVE website reveals no MTB wheels wider than 25mm internal, and none cost less than $2300.)
"We have no plans to make one company," said Michel Lethenet, Mavic's international press officer. "We will stay separate with separate DNA. Sure we will share some sales channels and things like that. But Mavic did not buy ENVE, our parent company did."
Continue to page 2 for more on the new Mavic XA Pro Carbon wheels »
We got to put the new wheels through a proper pounding on the amazing -- and rugged -- trails of Spain's mountainous Basque Country (click to enlarge).
As for intended use of the new Mavic wheels, the way Brunand sees it, there are three primary types of riding: aggressive downhill/enduro, hard charging XC racing, and everything in between. These wheels are meant to occupy that middle ground, being light and snappy enough to claw up steep climbs, but burly enough to stand up to a modest thrashing. Mavic calls it the "best balance of lateral stiffness and vertical compliance" that was achieved via an "enhanced carbon fiber lay up."
Inside those enhanced rims are alloy Mavic hubs with adjustable sealed cartridge bearings, and the capability to accommodate boost or standard spacing. Disc mount is 6-bolt, and you can run Shimano or SRAM XD, though you'll need an optional driver body for the later. The front is convertible from 15mm thru axle to quick release with included adapters, while the rear will handle 12mm thru axle and is also convertible to QR with optional adapters. Also included in the package are a set of Mavic's new Quest Pro UST tubeless ready, dual compound tires with 127tpi casing.
These new carbon hoops are designed for most riders and most riding situations, ripping around in the Basque Country included.
On The Trail
The day after our presentation powwow it was time for a little product testing, and test we did. The terrain outside Hondarribia is simply fantastic, offering up a blend of fast and smooth, with rugged, rustic and remote. Unlike in North America, where much of what we ride was conceived and built by mountain bikers, the Basque Country tracks were carved by cows, goats, sheep, and the footsteps of time. It was a solid test of man and machine, and a great reminder that mountain biking shouldn't always be the manicured (flow trail) experience we're growing increasingly accustomed to. It didn't hurt that views included the ocean to west and the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees to the north and east.
As for the new wheels, it's obviously hard to pass judgment after two days of riding. But initial impression was a lightweight hoop that spun up steeps climbs without complaint or engagement lag, and could stand up to a fair beating on the way down without a hint of slop or flex. One important caveat is that this is all based on riding the 27.5 version that were attached to my test rig, the utterly fantastic 140mm Canyon Spectral, a bike which was equally adept at crawling up nasty, steep grades as it was thundering through chaotic chunder.
The new Mavic Quest tire was a solid all-around performer that rolled well and provided good bite in all but the diciest situations (click to enlarge).
The tires (pumped to about 25psi) also faired well, rolling quickly uphill and on the flats, while also providing reliable and predictable bite on a variety of dirt conditions. Including Mavic staff, press, and guides, our group numbered about 15, and while there were a few sealant geysers, spare tubes were never needed, which was truly impressive considering the area riding's rocky nature.
Bottom line, though we'd love to see at least the option of something in the 28mm wide range, it was hard to find complaint with either the wheels or tires based on about 10 hours of ride time. If durability is up to snuff (something we can't answer yet), then Mavic's entrance into the world of carbon mountain bike wheels will be a success.
Click over to page 3 for a full rundown of features and specs of these new carbon wheels, and head to page 4 for a quick breakdown of Mavic's other new wheel offering, some colorful alloy trail hoops.
Continue to page 3 for a full rundown of features and specs of these new carbon wheels »
The aluminum hubs have adjustable sealed cartridge bearings, and play nice with boost or standard standard spacing (click to enlarge).
Mavic XA Pro Carbon Wheel/Tire System
- Price: $1850 (tires included)
- Available: September 1
- Claimed wheel weight: 1470g for 27.5; 1600g for 29er
- Rim material: Unidirectional carbon fiber
- Internal width: 26mm
- External width: 32mm
- Rim profile: Hookless
- Valve hole diameter: 6.5mm
- Tire type: UST tubeless
- Spoke count: 24 front and rear
- Spoke lacing: Front and rear 2-cross
- Spoke material: Steel
- Spoke shape: Straight pull, bladed, double butted
- Hub body material: Aluminum
- Hub internals: Adjustable sealed cartridge bearings
- Hub width: Boost (front 110, rear 148) or standard (front 100, rear 135/142)
- Color: Black only
- Disc standard: 6 bolt
- Freewheel: ITS-4 alloy
- Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM, convertible to XD with optional driver body
- Front axle: Convertible from 15mm thru axle to quick release with included adapters
- Rear axle: 12mm thru axle, convertible to quick release with optional adapters
- Tires: Quest Pro UST tubeless ready
- Front and rear tread: Dual compound
- Casing: 127tpi
- Tire sizes and claimed weight: 27.5x2.40 (780g) or 29x2.35 (810g)
Continue to page 4 to learn about the new Mavic XA Elite alloy trail wheels »
Choose between blue, black or green when picking up a pair of the new Mavic XA Elite alloy wheels (click to enlarge).
Mavic's other unveil in Spain was its new alloy XA Elite wheels, which follow the lineage of the new CrossMax Pro and Elite wheels Mavic released a few weeks back, but are 3mm wider. These new wheels also mean the existing CrossMax XL wheels won't be around much longer.
Mavic's elevator pitch on the XA Elites is "high technology, simplicity and fun in a strong, light, tubeless-ready wheel-tire system." The fun is the availability of three colorways: low key black, and more vibrant green or blue. ISM4D machining of the rims helps keep weight in check without compromising strength. Claimed weights are 1695 grams for the 27.5 rims and 1770g for 29ers. Price is $750 including the same Quest tires we rode on the XA Pro Carbon wheels. Here's a complete rundown of highlights and specs.
ISM 4D drilling of the XA Elite rims is designed to shave weight without compromising stiffness (click to enlarge).
XA Elite Wheels/Tire System Specs
- Price: $750 (tires included)
- Available: July 1
- Claimed wheel weight: 1695 for 27.5; 1770g for 29er
- Rim material: Aluminum with ISM 4D drilling
- Internal width: 25mm
- External width: 32mm
- Rim profile: Hookless
- Valve hole diameter: 6.5mm
- Tire type: UST tubeless
- Spoke count: 24 front and rear
- Spoke lacing: Front and rear 2-cross
- Spoke material: Steel
- Spoke shape: Straight pull, bladed, double butted
- Hub body material: Aluminum
- Hub internals: Adjustable sealed cartridge bearings
- Hub width: Boost (front 110, rear 148) or standard (front 100, rear 135/142)
- Color: Black, blue or green
- Disc standard: 6 bolt
- Freewheel: ITS-4 alloy
- Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM, convertible to XD with optional driver body
- Front axle: Convertible from 15mm thru axle to quick release with included adapters
- Rear axle: 12mm thru axle, convertible to quick release with optional adapters
- Tires: Quest Pro UST tubeless ready
- Front and rear tread: Dual compound
- Casing: 127tpi
- Tire sizes and claimed weight: 27.5x2.40 (780g) or 29x2.35 (810g)
For more information visit www.mavic.us.