Ok, I know I am setting myself up here, but…has anyone switched from a 404 front to an 808 front and noticed a difference in the handling of the bike, absent of wind. That is to say, with wind out of the equation, does the 809 feel any different than a 404 in cornering, lateral stiffness, coming up to speed, climbing, etc?
Does anyone regret switching?
Thanks,
Bob
Ps- And yes I know there are many threads on the 606 vs. 808 discussion, but none mentioned switching from one to the other…
I went from a 404 front to an 808 front in 2004- but with a disc on the back. Taking wind out of the equation the short answer for you is no. I never noticed a difference in any of the areas you are asking about.
Ok, adding wind into the equation, a big difference or nothing of note?
Thanks,
Bob
I rode my 999 set up for two years before I had a slight problem at IMWI in 2005. It was really windy that day and on some of the very fast down hills the 808 front was a bit much for me. I did live through the experience though and I am still riding a 999 set up and would on any course. It can be a problem (I race at 6-1 and 180 lbs btw), but those experiences are very, very few. Unless Kona or something like that is on your radar I would say go with the 808. Even if you’re doing Kona I would still recommend it. It really is a great wheel. Just don’t expect it to offer much more than a 404 on the front as the differences in speed will be indistinguishable IMHO.
I ride 808’s and 606’s. If it’s windy I do notice the difference with the 808 front.
My son asked me to bring his race wheels to track nationals for him last year. Thinking it would be faster, I packed the 808 front to go with the disc. He was not a happy camper. He said the 808 was a problem in the wind in the points race. It was OK in his pursuits because it wasn’t too windy those days. He’s not small (6’2" and 170 pounds) and is VERY experienced. There was a good side to it though. Because he didn’t like the 808, he was using his 32 spoke wheel in the scratch race. Some newbie went down in front of him and there was nowhere for him to go. Wrecked frame, disc and 32 spoke rather than frame, disc and 404 that he would have been using if it were there.
If you have only one set of race wheels, I’d pick a 404 for the front since there will be occasions when it will actually be faster because you’re not having to fight it and it isn’t much slower in good conditions. If you’re small and light, you might even consider a 303 on the front.