Moving into 2015, Mavic has added a whole new category to its offerings, Cyclosport- in addition to existing Aero and Enduro categories. Mavic describes that Cyclosport is not just about racing, but the many ways a rider challenges themself through adventure or escape, through local climbs or endurance events. With this addition, Mavic has reconceived its Ksyrium line to address the unique needs of that category. Ksyrium has symbolized performance for the brand, but moving forward it now holistically encompasses this new endurance-focused category, expanding its scope from wheel and tire systems to includean apparel and gear line to support that riding experience (to be discussed in a separate post).
What does all this boil down to? Wider, tubeless-ready rims and tires for multi-surface use (dirt and gravel). More on this departure after the jump.
The most notable change for many riders will be the addition of wider rim and tire profiles across the board. Mavic’s argument for this wider rim section has everything to do with a better, more comfortable quality of ride, lower rolling resistance, and safety and reliability of ride experience. Dissatisfied with the lack of tire size restrictions of other manufacturers with respect to wider rim profiles (and a general lack of adherence to the ISO standards governing tire and rim combinations), Mavic extensively tested a wide variety of tire sizes with rim widths to ensure safety and security of the tire on the rim at maximum inflation as well as to confirm that each rim and tire combination is optimized for their systems. Through this research, Mavic sets restrictions on what tires are safe on each rim in order to prevent tire blow-off in extreme conditions.
The most integrated hardware achievement in the line is the Ksyrium Pro All-Road Disc wheel and tire system. The rim has gotten wider, a surprise considering how Mavic has clung to narrower standards in the past few years as its competitors have enthusiastically jumped into wider, more wind-tunnel friendly profiles. The Ksyrium Pro Allroad Disc rim features a 19mm inner bead width, 24mm outer width as well as a disc brake-specific off-center profile with 24 Zircral spokes, front and rear to address complex braking forces. Despite its 4mm wider profile Mavic claims a rim weight of 420g, achieved through it’s ISM 4D rim milling technology.
The system’s Yksion Elite All-Road tire system has a larger air volume at 30mm inner diameter and is “perfectly” compatible with the wider inner width of the 19mm Ksyrium Pro All-Road rim and can be set-up tubeless for better protection at lower pressures. The tread pattern is designed for smooth pavement with a slick center profile changing to a nail file tread off-center, with greater grip to the outer end of the tire and integrated puncture protection from bead to bead for more rugged riding contexts. The tire comes in at 320g, claimed weight, and only differentiates front and rear by orientation. If cross is your thing, the rim is compatible with any appropriately sized UST tire.
The new carbon clincher offerings in the category have also gotten wider, now 17mm and 22mm inner and outer widths respectively. Despite a large part its purpose being claimed as braking heat dissipation in the rim brake case, the 80g aluminum hoop remains in the carbon clincher disc wheel assembly, though Mavic reinforces its relevance in impact resistance and rigidity of the system. The differentiator between the the disc and non-disc Pro Carbon SL rims is a laser machined brake track on the rim brake versions for improved braking efficiency and Mavic claims a weight of 405g per carbon clincher rim.
The new the Instant Drive 360 freehub features a 9 degree ring engagement, rather than the previous pawl and ratchet 17 degree engagement, and is featured across disc and non-disc hubs. The new Ksyrium road disc wheelsets are diversely compatible to reflect new standards in road axles. The rear is compatible with quick release or 12mm thru-axle systems. The front is compatible with quick release, 12mm and 15mm thru-axles. The set comes in both center-lock and six-bolt flavors.
First impressions:
Mavic invited members of the media to two days of ride testing around Jackson Hole, Wyoming to showcase the Ksyrium Pro All-Road Disc and Pro Carbon SL wheel tire systems.
The Ksyrium Pro All-Road Disc wheel-tyre system, featuring the Yksion Elite All-Road tire, was subjected to a mostly dirt and gravel course with over 1000 meters of climbing. The Instant Ride 360 freehub system was immediately appreciated on the climbs and rough terrain of the course. While I personally did not experience any flats on the course, several others did, some even managing to tear the sidewalls of the tires. Overall, though, the tires were plenty grippy for both climbing and cornering on the loose surface and the system was robust to handle some pretty rocky and rutted descents. And when we finally got back to pavement, the tires were smooth without being sluggish or cumbersome on the final climbs without any pressure adjustment.
The Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL system, featuring Yksion Pro Powerlink and Griplink tires, was tested on smooth pavement with several climbs in the Teton area. I was able to sample both tubular and clincher styles. While cornering felt more secure on the tubular version of the system, both wheelsets were stiff and responsive in climbs. I was also pleasantly surprised by the efficient braking on the laser machined rims- I haven’t experienced more secure braking on a carbon rim track/pad combination.
Claimed Weight, MSRP and Availability
Ksyrium Pro Disc All-Road: 1620g, $1249.90, July 2015 (in US)
Ksryium Pro Carbon SL T: 1190g, $2399.99, July 2015
Ksryium Pro Carbon SL T Disc: 1320g, $2399.99, July 2015
Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL C: 1390g, $2199.90, September 2015
Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL C Disc: 1520g, $2199.90, September 2015
