Specialized Alloy Wheel fracture

Turbo Mike · Apr 2, 2026

Good day to all.
Was wondering if anyone else has experienced fracture cracks at the spoke junction for a specialized alloy wheel rim.
2021 Turbo Levo Comp.
Appx 4k+ miles.
Fractures (Low cycle fatigue) at 9 locations around the rim. (See pictures at all blue tape locations.).
Would not ever expect that kind of failure.

Any experience with the fractures . . . . thoughts . . .

But also had some deadly Arizona "Snake-Bite" damage to the rim (to be expected!) ;?)

Actually, a fairly rare "Blue Diamondback Rattler" for your amazement and amusement . . . .

Appreciate any and all comments.

IW78 · Apr 2, 2026

think 4k is good! Buy my Levo SL Comp two weeks ago with Standart Wheels but new HX 1700 Light Support arrived yesterday but i Need an extra Specialized Centerlock Magnet. Non of my four Magnets works so i Must wait Till saturday.
I've only had good experiences with DT Swiss wheels, so I'm swapping them right away.

bmwpowere36m3 · Apr 2, 2026

Everything has a fatigue life... 4k is a good bit of mileage on a rear wheel. I've destroyed a few DT Swiss alloy rims (XM1700/481) similarly after a season or two of trashing on my 160/170mm analog. Typically they'll get bent/flat spotted a bit, I'll keep riding, then re-tension, ride, re-tension and eventually the nipples start to pull through the rim. That and/or spokes starting to popping after a while.

TBF I was a bit hard on those wheels and not good about keeping tension proper. I also have XM1700 wheel sets going on 5 years on my short travel bike. I've switched to carbon in most applications, as the wheels just require a lot less maintenance and stay truer longer.

Turbo Mike · Apr 2, 2026

IW78 said:
think 4k is good! Buy my Levo SL Comp two weeks ago with Standart Wheels but new HX 1700 Light Support arrived yesterday but i Need an extra Specialized Centerlock Magnet. Non of my four Magnets works so i Must wait Till saturday.
I've only had good experiences with DT Swiss wheels, so I'm swapping them right away.

I was wondering about the mag pickup with different hubs. Thanks for the insight.

Turbo Mike · Apr 2, 2026

bmwpowere36m3 said:
Everything has a fatigue life... 4k is a good bit of mileage on a rear wheel. I've destroyed a few DT Swiss alloy rims (XM1700/481) similarly after a season or two of trashing on my 160/170mm analog. Typically they'll get bent/flat spotted a bit, I'll keep riding, then re-tension, ride, re-tension and eventually the nipples start to pull through the rim. That and/or spokes starting to popping after a while.

TBF I was a bit hard on those wheels and not good about keeping tension proper. I also have XM1700 wheel sets going on 5 years on my short travel bike. I've switched to carbon in most applications, as the wheels just require a lot less maintenance and stay truer longer.

I know I have a fatigue life some days …. You are correct everything has a fatigue life, but this has to be THE CRITICAL AREA of stress that the design should have considered.
Dings, bangs and smashes are outside the scope. They could accommodate but no one would like the weight ….
Thanks for your candid post. Appreciate it.

bmwpowere36m3 · Apr 3, 2026

Turbo Mike said:
I know I have a fatigue life some days …. You are correct everything has a fatigue life, but this has to be THE CRITICAL AREA of stress that the design should have considered.
Dings, bangs and smashes are outside the scope. They could accommodate but no one would like the weight ….
Thanks for your candid post. Appreciate it.

Wheels are generally considered consumables... some may last longer or less, but still. A lot of OEM wheels are crap anyways. So any quality aftermarket wheel (DT, Stans, RF, i9, Reserve, etc...) will last longer.

Astro66 · Apr 3, 2026

I can get the Raceface AR30 alloy rims in 27 and 29, for AUD$100. Admittedly I lace my own wheels. But I just change my rims when I damage them. These raceface rims have been really solid.

4000 miles and 5 years on a rear wheel. I would be ecstatic at a AUD$100 rear wheel service.

Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5" 32H Rim Grey

Buy Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5inch 32H Rim Grey Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.pushys.com.au

Turbo Mike · Apr 5, 2026

Astro66 said:
I can get the Raceface AR30 alloy rims in 27 and 29, for AUD$100. Admittedly I lace my own wheels. But I just change my rims when I damage them. These raceface rims have been really solid.

4000 miles and 5 years on a rear wheel. I would be ecstatic at a AUD$100 rear wheel service.

Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5" 32H Rim Grey

Buy Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5inch 32H Rim Grey Now at Pushys. Lowest Price, Secure Shopping and Fast Delivery from Australia's Best Online Bike Store

www.pushys.com.au

Thank you! I'll look into those.
Right now I'm looking at a set of Mavic E-DeeMax wheels.
I have rebuilt my shimano hub twice(Replaced bearings) and it may be getting "Long in the tooth".
Perhaps time for a refresh.

Specialized Alloy Wheel fracture

Turbo Mike

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IW78

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bmwpowere36m3

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Turbo Mike

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Turbo Mike

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bmwpowere36m3

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Astro66

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Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5" 32H Rim Grey

Turbo Mike

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Race Face AR Offset 30 27.5" 32H Rim Grey

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