South Industries announce XCR Rims and Wheels

[Underachiever]

13 hours ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

Yes, it's a lot of cash, but comparing apples with apples, their pricing is in line with the rest.

A set of Bontrager Kovee RSL wheels sells for R47k.
https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/equipment/cycling-components/bike-wheels/mountain-bike-wheels-and-wheel-sets/bontrager-kovee-rsl-30-tlr-boost-29-mtb-wheel/p/37181/?colorCode=black

Add a set of DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs to the South rims, and lace them with quality bladed spokes, and pay the wheel builder, and you're looking at a sticker price for a wheelset of around R39k.

R8 000 cheaper than the equivalent Bontragers.....

They all line price!!

[dasilvarsa]

So you get these Super Light Rims Where you save a Few Grams over Alu.

Then you have to Add at Least 830 Grams Worth of Tyre and 125 Grams of Sealant.

A bad Sidewall Puncture at Speed in a rocky environment and your rims are toast. (Ask Amy).

Does Anyone Actually buy these Rims ?

 

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

1 hour ago, dasilvarsa said:

So you get these Super Light Rims Where you save a Few Grams over Alu.

Then you have to Add at Least 830 Grams Worth of Tyre and 125 Grams of Sealant.

A bad Sidewall Puncture at Speed in a rocky environment and your rims are toast. (Ask Amy).

Does Anyone Actually buy these Rims ?

 

You're not wrong!

But yes, some people prioritize (and can afford) these kinds of wheels.
Have you ever ridden a 1300g wheelset on your MTB, with Spez Fasttrack or Maxxis Aspen tyres?

It feels like you have added 50w to your power.

I build about 1 or 2 sub-1500g carbon wheelsets (R25-35k) a month for customers who are NOT racing for podiums.

Never forget that for many people cycling is a hobby and a passion, and they do it for enjoyment.
In the same way a hobbyist photographer spends R70k on a new lens for his R30k camera.... or a golfer spends R40k on the nicest clubs.

[Furbz]

1 hour ago, dasilvarsa said:

So you get these Super Light Rims Where you save a Few Grams over Alu.

Then you have to Add at Least 830 Grams Worth of Tyre and 125 Grams of Sealant.

A bad Sidewall Puncture at Speed in a rocky environment and your rims are toast. (Ask Amy).

Does Anyone Actually buy these Rims ?

 

ignorance is bliss.

light/stiff wheels are such an awesome experience. really does fell like you are cheating 

[dasilvarsa]

47 minutes ago, Furbz said:

ignorance is bliss.

light/stiff wheels are such an awesome experience. really does fell like you are cheating 

You are being disrespectful.

[dasilvarsa]

1 hour ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

You're not wrong!

But yes, some people prioritize (and can afford) these kinds of wheels.
Have you ever ridden a 1300g wheelset on your MTB, with Spez Fasttrack or Maxxis Aspen tyres?

It feels like you have added 50w to your power.

I build about 1 or 2 sub-1500g carbon wheelsets (R25-35k) a month for customers who are NOT racing for podiums.

Never forget that for many people cycling is a hobby and a passion, and they do it for enjoyment.
In the same way a hobbyist photographer spends R70k on a new lens for his R30k camera.... or a golfer spends R40k on the nicest clubs.

Yes, I've ridden Merida Factory Bikes.

Quite a Few.

I wish that your business continues to flourish.

Edited April 26, 2023 by dasilvarsa

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

21 minutes ago, dasilvarsa said:

Yes, I've ridden Merida Factory Bikes.

Quite a Few.

I wish that your business continues to flourish.

Thank you! 
 

[DieselnDust]

as with everything in in life there is a point of diminishing returns and it varies for different people.

I'm happy with a 1450 gr set of Zero2 wheeels on my Scalpel, They're cheap enough to replace under crash replacement and they're pretty strong. As much as I love South Ind. rims I can't afford to replace one quickly under crash replacement so I don't buy them. I do wish they flourish because they're local and I do desire their products. Life would be boring if there was nothing to aspire to.

For other a good alloy rim may be their point of diminishing return

[Furbz]

35 minutes ago, dasilvarsa said:

You are being disrespectful.

fair enough.

rather - don't knock it til you've tried it

[Headshot]

17 hours ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

Yes, it's a lot of cash, but comparing apples with apples, their pricing is in line with the rest.

A set of Bontrager Kovee RSL wheels sells for R47k.
https://www.trekbikes.com/za/en_ZA/equipment/cycling-components/bike-wheels/mountain-bike-wheels-and-wheel-sets/bontrager-kovee-rsl-30-tlr-boost-29-mtb-wheel/p/37181/?colorCode=black

Add a set of DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs to the South rims, and lace them with quality bladed spokes, and pay the wheel builder, and you're looking at a sticker price for a wheelset of around R39k.

R8 000 cheaper than the equivalent Bontragers.....

The point is that the stuff be it South Industries or anyone else is ridiculously overpriced for what it is. A set of bike wheels. No, we don't have to buy it and I never would as a matter of principle, but it sets a mark and leads to overpricing lower down the line too. You can double the price of a decent set of alu wheels and they'd still look like value compared to these and I suspect that is what happens sometimes.

[Headshot]

1 hour ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

You're not wrong!

But yes, some people prioritize (and can afford) these kinds of wheels.
Have you ever ridden a 1300g wheelset on your MTB, with Spez Fasttrack or Maxxis Aspen tyres?

It feels like you have added 50w to your power.

I build about 1 or 2 sub-1500g carbon wheelsets (R25-35k) a month for customers who are NOT racing for podiums.

Never forget that for many people cycling is a hobby and a passion, and they do it for enjoyment.
In the same way a hobbyist photographer spends R70k on a new lens for his R30k camera.... or a golfer spends R40k on the nicest clubs.

Anything new feels amazing for the first few rides until you get used to it and then the effect fades and you start looking for the next big power gain eg an electric motor. 🙂 

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

25 minutes ago, Headshot said:

The point is that the stuff be it South Industries or anyone else is ridiculously overpriced for what it is. A set of bike wheels. No, we don't have to buy it and I never would as a matter of principle, but it sets a mark and leads to overpricing lower down the line too. You can double the price of a decent set of alu wheels and they'd still look like value compared to these and I suspect that is what happens sometimes.

I definitely can't argue that prices have become silly.
I've seen prices on wheel parts go up 30%-40%+ over the past 7 years.

I used to be able to build a premium alloy set for R10k. That's now R14k....

Same with bikes, right? What's the price of a top-of-the-range racing MTB? R200k+?

If your MTB costs R90k (not unrealistic these days) and you spend R30k on wheels, that's only a third of the value of the bike.

Did your entry-mid-range alloy hardtail cost R40k? Is it reasonable to spend R10-15k on wheels?

It's a fascinating discussion because everyone has a different perspective on the value for money you get on cycling equipment.

Have you seen that PRIME energy drink? R400 for a can.
Is it good value? Hell no, but they're selling like hot-cakes.

[Underachiever]

3 hours ago, nick_the_wheelbuilder said:

You're not wrong!

But yes, some people prioritize (and can afford) these kinds of wheels.
Have you ever ridden a 1300g wheelset on your MTB, with Spez Fasttrack or Maxxis Aspen tyres?

It feels like you have added 50w to your power.

I build about 1 or 2 sub-1500g carbon wheelsets (R25-35k) a month for customers who are NOT racing for podiums.

Never forget that for many people cycling is a hobby and a passion, and they do it for enjoyment.
In the same way a hobbyist photographer spends R70k on a new lens for his R30k camera.... or a golfer spends R40k on the nicest clubs.

Yebo, I just pulled the R50k trigger to be a better photographer.  Still need the 800mm f11 and 1.4 t/c 🙂. 

[splat]

Is there truth to the story I heard that South is making rims for Tune ? (i,e. the Tune carbon wheels are actually made by South Industries?)

[dasilvarsa]

6 hours ago, Headshot said:

Anything new feels amazing for the first few rides until you get used to it and then the effect fades and you start looking for the next big power gain eg an electric motor. 🙂 

It's called the Placebo Effect.

Same thing Happens when I buy a New Bike.

 

[DieselnDust]

Driving sales requires the next best thing to be available with in 2years of the last. It retains jobs and drives value for shareholders. Pricing is a subset of what people are willing to pay to show their commitment, it’s sort of like a Scotsman showing you what’s under their kilt