easton wheels

[spongy]

Has anyone had any issues with the rear bearings and freehub carrier on easton wheels.They came on my cube and have done 700 miles....took bike back to dealer who admitted bearings and freehub are knackered,seems strange after such short mileage.The only good thing is the dealer will replace bearings etc under warranty.Have had a few issues with this bike am i the only one or do modern bikes just fall to bits due to poor build quality/cheap parts.

[anonymous-user]

I've been through 2 x freehubs on my EA70's in a year. Really really crappy sealling imo, and once you get a bit of water / dirt into the hub it's curtains pretty quickly.

[spongy]

mine has been in use all winter so has seen a lot of rain .the guy at the dealers showed me how easy it was to get access to bearings ....cant see these wheels staying with me long...to say they are rough is an understatement.shame cos its a nice looking wheel

[yellowjack]

spongy said:

mine has been in use all winter so has seen a lot of rain .the guy at the dealers showed me how easy it was to get access to bearings ....cant see these wheels staying with me long...to say they are rough is an understatement.shame cos its a nice looking wheel

That's exactly what a lot of manufacturers go for on a new bike. Something that looks good, preferably in a complimentary colour/finish to the frame. Something that has 'kerb appeal' and will help sell the whole bike. They will let a contract with a wheel or rim manufacturer based very much on low cost, so as to extend their profit margins.

I spent £1100 on a Merida RoadRace 905 with a full Ultegra group two years ago - I knew when I bought it that they weren't the best wheels, but recently I needed a new spoke. The shop where I got it replaced kindly weighed the rear wheel. I was staggered by the weight of it (so staggered that I lost the piece of paper upon which I wrote the figure, but it was well into 1.2kg territory).

I knew they were solid, but this was taking the piss. Thing was, they really looked the part on the bike, both in the catalogue images, and then in the shop, so much so that I was persuaded to extend my budget by quite a lot to get it. White 'AlexRims' Road Aero 32mm rims, with black spokes built onto Ultegra hubs (matching the groupset). In my case I was lucky with the hubs (Shimano Ultegra), but the spokes are, as far as I can see, not the 'butted' kind, and the rims are where much of the weight is. An upgrade is on the cards, but I'll have to soldier on with these girders while I save the required funds. (Cheers for the heads-up on one wheelset to be avoided!)

[Pupp]

Have a set also on a Cube and, whilst the bearings and freehub seem to be holding up ok, I do get through non-drive side spokes at a frightening rate. So much so, have just acquired some different spec Sapims rather than bother with any more from Easton...

[spongy]

Just an update on these wheels......3 weeks with the retailer and they still have not sent new parts so i am without bike...to say im gettingis an understatement.....seems once they have your cash thats it.dealer has said cube will replace bearings/and freehub but will not replace wheel.oh the joys of modern bikes....this never happened in the old days,grease bearings and simply adjust cups.

[AndrewM]

I've got EA50s on my Cube and the rear wheel lost all spoke tension on the 7 mile ride home the first day I got it. The wheel went back to Easton for a couple of weeks and "touch wood" have been ok so far since.

I really agree with the sentiments over kerb appeal - these wheels look great with red anodised hubs to match other parts on the bike but they are heavy - my MTB Hope hoops are lighter. I understand they retail for something like £420, so they should be good quality. I wanted to buy a bike I didn't need to upgrade, but I think this will be on the cards in the future.

[teknohippy]

OP grab something like a pair of Shimano RS20s for those times when you need spare wheels. You should find a pair for around £100 if you shop around. Shimano have a reputation for making strong reliable wheels, even at this price. Also they use cup and cone bearing that can be adjusted and serviced easily at home.

[spongy]

Have got shimano rs 30s on my felt and they seem like a good wheel.my eastons have been rebuilt now but im not sure how long they will last this time.guy in the shop was suprised by the mileage i have done on these wheels,think many people buy these bikes on the bike scheme and dont do big miles on em.Anyway am looking into some mavic krysiums sls.....have seen some for about 700 squid so the idea is to put these on the felt and have the rs 30s for spares

[Get Karter]

spongy said:

....this never happened in the old days,grease bearings and simply adjust cups.

I think Shimano and Campagnolo still produce all their hubs with 'proper' cup and cone, as they believe it is the best way to produce a quality wheel that can be maintained.

I have had an issue with lesser Easton wheel (the 50), with the rear non-drive side bearing seizing on the rear and the axle being too corroded to fit a replacement.