Number codes for Mavic Rims

[Daddy Pig]

Going back a year or so, I seem to remember a thread which explained the various code numbers for Mavic Rims. Can't find it using the search facility - can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[Radar]

can't help with the article but I had always thought that the first digit was the version number and digits 2 and 3 were the width of the rim. so 517 is the 5th version of the 17mm wide rim, 717 being the 7th version (version 6 was not marketed).

Or is that obllox?

 

[hamster]

That's a nice theory, but the 231 is certainly not 31 mm wide.
Maybe that works for the later numbering.

 

[Tazio]

Handily I've got a frame sitting next to me just now on naked rims. And even more handily one is a 517 and one is a 317. The internal measurement between the rims is 17mm.

I always assumed that the first number was the quality, so a 317 would be cheaper than a 517. And the 517 is SUP so a more complicated production method.

The size of a 1/3/5/7x17 etc is 558 x 17

 

[highlandsflyer]

My 717s are 17mm internally.

 

[Radar]

A little bit of google does indeed confirm that last two digits are rim width. First digit is combination ofversion and quality. 317 and 517 were available at same time. 517 were the newer more technolgically advanced version , so therefore dearer.

Some info on current Mavic site, but the answer you seek is 2004 Chicken catalogue

 

[scant]

That's a nice theory, but the 231 is certainly not 31 mm wide.
Maybe that works for the later numbering.

mavic 231rim is 23.1mm wide. 261 rim is 26.1mm wide, etc. this doesnt apply to later rims.

 

[Daddy Pig]

Thanks guys - that all makes good sense. Perhaps I should have googled first, but it's much more fun to start here

 

[Anthony]

That's a nice theory, but the 231 is certainly not 31 mm wide.
Maybe that works for the later numbering.

mavic 231rim is 23.1mm wide. 261 rim is 26.1mm wide, etc. this doesnt apply to later rims.

I think it may be here that 23.1 and 26.1 are the external widths of those earlier rims, whereas from c1997 onwards they changed their system and the 17 in 517 is an internal width, as is the 21 in 521 etc.

The first digits in 117, 317 and 517/717 denote quality levels - basically (although there are other sophistications that they rook you for), the 517/717 are welded and have eyelets, the 317 is pinned and has eyelets, the 117 is pinned and has no eyelets.

It's interesting how their price differentials have increased over the years. In 1998, the 221 (visually identical to today's XM317) was £23 and the 517 was £26. Now the XM317 is £26 (or £22 for silver) and the XC717 is £43.