Mike
Maximum Pace
- Sep 24, 2007
- 1,066
- 9
Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL vs HED Jet 50's
After doing some research on the web yesterday I found there wasn't a good comparison review on these two wheelsets so I thought I might have a go at doing exactly that. Before I get into it though I think it's necessary to let you know that while yours truly has ridden over 5000km on the Hed's I've only ridden 200km on the Mavic's. So read at your own peril Anyway I hope this helps someone out there. These are both clincher aero wheelsets.
Specifications
Cosmic Carbone SL
* Warranty: 2 years
* Weight: front 780g, rear 960g, pair 1740g
* Material: Maxtal and 12K carbon fiber
* Height: 52 mm
* stainless steel Spokes
* Count: front 16, rear 20
* Front and rear axle: aluminum
* Bearing: QRM+
HED Jet 50's (Now know as Jet 4's)
* Warranty: 2 years
* Weight: front 754g, rear 916, pair 1670g
* Height: 45mm
* C2 platform rims
* Black bladed stainless steel spokes
* Count: front 18, rear 24
* Sonic hubs
HOW THEY ROLL:
The HED's:
In a word, beautifully. These babies are very responsive and sound great when applying the gas. Fellow TCC clubmates will agree here, and I've noticed them tremble when they hear that wooosh wooosh sound of me accelerating The Sonic hubs sound great also when free wheeling. They motor along and cut through the air with ease, give a nice soft ride and take bumps and even potholes very well.
They climb modestly for a wheelset weighing 1670g, but nothing to boast about. If climbing is your thing and you want to go uphills seriously fast then the Jets are not for you.
They are resonably stiff which helps high speed cornering but I've noticed flex when opening up the taps (accelerating). The occasional touch of rim and brake pad gives this away, but nothing that causes any real trouble or effects performance.
I also have to write that I've had some trouble with these wheels. First the front bearings needed replacing, which HED did at no cost to me. And the latest problem was discovered by my LBS. The rear wheel has a cracked rim and is now unrideable. They are still under warranty so I'll let you know how it all goes. According to the guy from HED it's the first time to happen, so maybe I just got unlucky?
Ok, so moving on these wheels look great and come in different colours to suit any bike, although at $50 extra cost I'm led to believe.
Strengths:
- fast and seem to cut through the air like a knife through margarine (butter is bloody hard, isn't it)
- dampens hard hits nicely
- look gorgeous
- sound great and will scare the crap out of competition when accelerating
Weaknesses:
- not that strong
- bearings on front wheel not the best
- not great climbers
- not fantastic in crosswinds
The Mavic's:
OK, so I have to admit that after only 200km on them I'm very impressed with these wheels. They are very stiff and when accelerating I felt no flex at all! That stifness makes for fantastic high speed cornering, and great descending. These things go like missiles.
However due to the stiffness the ride is a little bumpy, and I have to say they sound tinny to my ears. This worried me at first, as I thought they might be prone to breakage. However according to almost every review I read they are almost bombproof. I hope that's true after the trouble I've had with the HED's.
On my ride yesterday is was very windy, and in crosswinds the Mavic's handled admirably for an aero wheel. Perhaps that extra 70g makes then more stable.
They climb fine, again like the HED's nothing to write home about. The Mavic hubs roll well and are suprisingly quiet. Yesterday was the first time in a while I could hear the birds singing on a descent.
Finally, they don't look that great, but that just seems to be me. It's the 12K carbon weave that I don't like, but hey everyone else seems to love their beasty looks. The eye of the beholder and all that I suppose.
Strengths:
- very fast
- stiff and strong
- corner well
- descend like a dream
- seem to handle crosswinds a little better
Weaknesses:
- a little jarring over bumps
- not pretty
- sound tinny
- 70g heavier than the Jet's
- not great climbers
So which wheelset suits you?
Well, this is a toughie but if you're like me, that is a bit of a pretty boy (yes, I'm not afraid to admit it) the Hed Jet's are for you hands down. They look great, the carbon weave is gorgeous, and the sticker can come in different colours to suit any bike. They also sound great when accelerating and have a throatier woosh woosh. They dampen the bumps better and oh yeah, they are 70g lighter than the Mavic's.
On the other hand if you want a very strong aero wheelset that handle really well, are stiff and corner better than the Jets's then these babies are for you.
One important thing, my bike is a she, not a he. If your bike is a male, then go with the Mavic's I reckon. They look hard core and will make you look like a real man too. The Mavic's when on my bike kind of make it look like a shemale, whereas the Jet's compliment her good looks.
So after reading this you might think I'm crazy considering the trouble I've had with the Hed's, but what can I say? I love em. What about you guys? Any opinions?
After doing some research on the web yesterday I found there wasn't a good comparison review on these two wheelsets so I thought I might have a go at doing exactly that. Before I get into it though I think it's necessary to let you know that while yours truly has ridden over 5000km on the Hed's I've only ridden 200km on the Mavic's. So read at your own peril Anyway I hope this helps someone out there. These are both clincher aero wheelsets.
Specifications
Cosmic Carbone SL
* Warranty: 2 years
* Weight: front 780g, rear 960g, pair 1740g
* Material: Maxtal and 12K carbon fiber
* Height: 52 mm
* stainless steel Spokes
* Count: front 16, rear 20
* Front and rear axle: aluminum
* Bearing: QRM+
HED Jet 50's (Now know as Jet 4's)
* Warranty: 2 years
* Weight: front 754g, rear 916, pair 1670g
* Height: 45mm
* C2 platform rims
* Black bladed stainless steel spokes
* Count: front 18, rear 24
* Sonic hubs
HOW THEY ROLL:
The HED's:
In a word, beautifully. These babies are very responsive and sound great when applying the gas. Fellow TCC clubmates will agree here, and I've noticed them tremble when they hear that wooosh wooosh sound of me accelerating The Sonic hubs sound great also when free wheeling. They motor along and cut through the air with ease, give a nice soft ride and take bumps and even potholes very well.
They climb modestly for a wheelset weighing 1670g, but nothing to boast about. If climbing is your thing and you want to go uphills seriously fast then the Jets are not for you.
They are resonably stiff which helps high speed cornering but I've noticed flex when opening up the taps (accelerating). The occasional touch of rim and brake pad gives this away, but nothing that causes any real trouble or effects performance.
I also have to write that I've had some trouble with these wheels. First the front bearings needed replacing, which HED did at no cost to me. And the latest problem was discovered by my LBS. The rear wheel has a cracked rim and is now unrideable. They are still under warranty so I'll let you know how it all goes. According to the guy from HED it's the first time to happen, so maybe I just got unlucky?
Ok, so moving on these wheels look great and come in different colours to suit any bike, although at $50 extra cost I'm led to believe.
Strengths:
- fast and seem to cut through the air like a knife through margarine (butter is bloody hard, isn't it)
- dampens hard hits nicely
- look gorgeous
- sound great and will scare the crap out of competition when accelerating
Weaknesses:
- not that strong
- bearings on front wheel not the best
- not great climbers
- not fantastic in crosswinds
The Mavic's:
OK, so I have to admit that after only 200km on them I'm very impressed with these wheels. They are very stiff and when accelerating I felt no flex at all! That stifness makes for fantastic high speed cornering, and great descending. These things go like missiles.
However due to the stiffness the ride is a little bumpy, and I have to say they sound tinny to my ears. This worried me at first, as I thought they might be prone to breakage. However according to almost every review I read they are almost bombproof. I hope that's true after the trouble I've had with the HED's.
On my ride yesterday is was very windy, and in crosswinds the Mavic's handled admirably for an aero wheel. Perhaps that extra 70g makes then more stable.
They climb fine, again like the HED's nothing to write home about. The Mavic hubs roll well and are suprisingly quiet. Yesterday was the first time in a while I could hear the birds singing on a descent.
Finally, they don't look that great, but that just seems to be me. It's the 12K carbon weave that I don't like, but hey everyone else seems to love their beasty looks. The eye of the beholder and all that I suppose.
Strengths:
- very fast
- stiff and strong
- corner well
- descend like a dream
- seem to handle crosswinds a little better
Weaknesses:
- a little jarring over bumps
- not pretty
- sound tinny
- 70g heavier than the Jet's
- not great climbers
So which wheelset suits you?
Well, this is a toughie but if you're like me, that is a bit of a pretty boy (yes, I'm not afraid to admit it) the Hed Jet's are for you hands down. They look great, the carbon weave is gorgeous, and the sticker can come in different colours to suit any bike. They also sound great when accelerating and have a throatier woosh woosh. They dampen the bumps better and oh yeah, they are 70g lighter than the Mavic's.
On the other hand if you want a very strong aero wheelset that handle really well, are stiff and corner better than the Jets's then these babies are for you.
One important thing, my bike is a she, not a he. If your bike is a male, then go with the Mavic's I reckon. They look hard core and will make you look like a real man too. The Mavic's when on my bike kind of make it look like a shemale, whereas the Jet's compliment her good looks.
So after reading this you might think I'm crazy considering the trouble I've had with the Hed's, but what can I say? I love em. What about you guys? Any opinions?