Cyclocross is coming. Are you ready? For many, being ready is having a lightweight set of tubular race wheels. We’ve got the latest from Mavic in review, and we’re taking a look at these flagship wheels: the Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc.
Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc tubular wheelset is one of the lighter disc brake carbon tubular options. © Cyclocross Magazine
The Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc is Mavic’s update to a classic wheel line that changed the industry following the success of Mavic’s own Helium wheelset in the mid-1990s. The Helium was the first complete wheelset to come from a component company. Prior to that wheels were built up with the various components, hubs, rims and spokes. Mavic thought that with control over every component, the outcome would be a lighter and stronger wheelset.
The Ksyrium, released in 1999 with even more out-of-the-box innovations such as Zicral® aluminum alloy spokes and Mavic’s IsoPulse® spoke lacing pattern followed on the success of the Helium and has marked the top of the Mavic heap ever since.
This year, Mavic introduced the redesigned Open Pro rim while two years ago, the company unveiled the Ksyrium Pro All Road disc wheel and tire system. The Ksyrium Pro SL T disc represents the lightest road and cyclocross racing wheelset for tubular users with disc brakes. You could say it is made for the cyclocross racer, considering many race on tubulars, and disc brakes are much more common on the cyclocross course than on the road at this time.
Since 1999, the Kysrium has represented Mavic innovation, and the Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc tubular wheelset continues with its lightweight carbon build for disc brake cyclists. © Cyclocross Magazine
The wheels are built around a 25mm deep carbon rim that has a 20mm wide tire bed that is 4.6mm deep, roughly matching the radius of a 33mm tubular common in cyclocross (the UCI limit for tire width).
24 straight pull bladed double butted steel spokes lace the rims to Mavic hubs that are available at thru-axle 12mm or 15mm X 100mm front, and 12mm X 142mm rear. Quick release conversion is easy with optional adaptors. The rear hub has Mavic’s IsoPulse lacing where the drive side is radial and the non-drive side is X2. The front wheel is X2 both sides. An 11-speed Shimano compatible freehub is standard, but an XD driver is available.
The Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc tubular wheelset features chamfered and rounded flanges for the straight-pull double butted bladed stainless spokes. © Cyclocross Magazine
Centerlock rotor mounts. The Mavic SSC (Special Service Course) moniker has been used for their top line racing equipment since 1972. Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc tubular wheelset. © Cyclocross Magazine
The claimed weight of the set is 1320 grams with 625 gram front and 695 gram rear for the standard thru-axle version. We measured our QR set slightly higher with a 630 gram front and a 720 gram rear for a 1350 gram set which is still really light, and with a 120kg weight limit, sounds like it should be durable for a lot of the racing set to whom the wheelset is marketed. We’ll let you know if that’s the case. Stay tuned for a full review.
ISOPULSE driveside flange detail: drilled for lightness of the Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc tubular wheelset. © Cyclocross Magazine
Mavic Ksyrium Pro SL T Disc Specifications:
Rim: carbon, 25mm deep, 24mm outside width, 20mm bed width. 4.5mm sagittal depth
Hub: Mavic Kysrium, 24 hole front and rear. r QR (steel quick release skewers included), 12mm or 15mm X 100mm front TA, 142mm X 12mm rear TA
Spokes: Mavic straight pull double butted bladed steel, black, X2 front, X2 non-drive, radial drive rear (Mavic IsoPulse®)
Weight: QR 1350 grams (actual), Front 630 grams (actual), Rear 720 grams (actual). Claimed weight for through axle = 1320 grams
More info: mavic.com
