Wheel Shimano WH-RS500 700c Front

Budget friendly Shimano wheel set for my road bike.Pros: Low cost, Shimano hubs, mid-range hoops, Shimano qualityCons: None as long as you realize these are budget wheels and not ceramic hubs.

I replaced the Bontrager Race stockers that came on my 2016 Trek Domane 5.2 with these in Oct. 2020. At that time they were just under $300, so I thought they were an outstanding value. But after over a year of use I no longer feel that's the case. While the initial build quality was good, the rear wheel constantly needs truing. At 185 lbs., I'm well under the suggested weight limit of 225, but am unable to maintain the proper spoke tension. And unlike others here, I've found the ride quality to be somewhat harsh.I've always found Ultegra components offered near Dura Ace performance for a much lower price, but even though these wheels are pretty light, they seem more Tiagra-level in terms of performance and quality. They seem like the stock wheels you'd find on an ... MoreI replaced the Bontrager Race stockers that came on my 2016 Trek Domane 5.2 with these in Oct. 2020. At that time they were just under $300, so I thought they were an outstanding value. But after over a year of use I no longer feel that's the case. While the initial build quality was good, the rear wheel constantly needs truing. At 185 lbs., I'm well under the suggested weight limit of 225, but am unable to maintain the proper spoke tension. And unlike others here, I've found the ride quality to be somewhat harsh.I've always found Ultegra components offered near Dura Ace performance for a much lower price, but even though these wheels are pretty light, they seem more Tiagra-level in terms of performance and quality. They seem like the stock wheels you'd find on an $800-$1,000 bike, even if they weigh much less than wheels typically found on bikes in that price range. For that reason, and the fact they now cost considerably more than what I paid, I would recommend anyone considering spending $450 on these as a replacement or upgrade instead look at well taken care of used wheelsets with a good reputation.

This only lasted 1.5 years! I would rate these wheels higher, but I noticed hairline cracks in the rear wheel after a year of use. Yes, I ride a lot about 4k a year and I weigh 190lbs. I'm sure these are factors, but I think these wheels should last longer. Also, I tried reaching out to jenson to warranty these wheels and they pretty much ignored me. I ended up going directly through Shimano through a local bike shop and they replaced them.