This year, the French company is celebrating a milestone birthday: 125 years have passed since it was founded. This is being celebrated with a limited edition top model of the system wheelset from the Ksyrium range. The innovative new feature is the completely redesigned aluminium rim. The previously very angular shape with milled recesses gives way to an elaborately three-dimensionally over-milled, rounded profile, which is not only lighter, but should also offer significantly better aerodynamics. In the front wheel, 18 aluminium blade spokes rotate around the sun-yellow hub flanges, while at the rear, the ten left-hand spokes, arranged radially, are made of carbon.
The wheelset impresses with good stiffness values (45/48 N/mm front/rear) and is very light: at 1,410 grams (without tyres and quick release), the Ksyrium 125 is one of the lightest aluminium wheelsets on the market. The Exalith brake track enables high braking forces; we have not noticed any loud squeaking noises in the newer models since 2013, as we did with the first Exalith versions. The wheels continue to be sold with tyres, which have recently been manufactured by Hutchinson and made a much better impression during our test ride in terms of grip and smooth running; however, a laboratory test is still pending. Of the 6,000 sets produced, 500 will be delivered to Germany; each set is numbered with a laser engraving.
PLUS Very light, good braking behaviour
Price On sale from July 2014, at an anniversary price of 1,250 euros including tyres.
Info www.mavic.com
