Mavic Allroad SL in the test: The traditional French manufacturer is up-to-date with the Allroad SL Disc. The light wheel set convinces with high-quality technology and rims optimized for tubeless tires.
The Mavic Allroad has been around for five years, with the current aluminum top model, the Allroad SL, being presented at the end of 2021. The SL has replaced the Allroad Pro and Allroad Elite versions, is between the two previous models at 850 euros and is significantly lighter than both: At 1.570 grams, the wheel set tested weighs even 20 grams less than the manufacturer states. A special feature of the Allroad are the rims, which are hookless and also have a closed rim bed - the spoke nipples are screwed into the rim from the outside. Both make sense with tubeless installation: The smooth rim flanks without the inwardly drawn rim flange offer the tire good lateral support, especially with low air pressure, and the system is also airtight without rim tape.
Mavic Allroad SL – Versatile thanks to medium internal width
The rims with an internal width of 22 mm live up to their name "Allroad" so that narrow 28 mm road bike tires can also be fitted. This means that the aluminum wheel set can be used universally, can be used from gravel bikes to racing bikes and back again. Of course, it should be noted that hookless rims must not be operated with high air pressure - for the Allroad, Mavic specifies a maximum pressure of 3 to 4,5 bar, depending on the tire width. Of course, the latter is more than sufficient for tires around 30 mm.
Light weight and nice sound
The tires can be fitted quickly and the wheelset survives a few days of downtime without major air loss. When driving, the Mavics behave inconspicuously, feel stiff and have a positive effect on handling thanks to their low weight. The "Instant Drive 360" toothed disc freewheel, which can be removed by hand, whirrs nicely and, thanks to 40 grid points, has only a small idle travel. Even after a long period of cyclocross use, the wheel set runs smoothly; if one of the ovalized hammerhead steel spokes breaks, replacing it is not a problem - the spokes are inserted, not threaded. The fact that Mavic only uses one type of spokes on the entire wheel set makes things easy.
Admittedly, the Allroad SL is rather expensive for an aluminum wheel set, but this is due to its really low weight. For 490 euros there is the Allroad S, which is identical except for slightly heavier rims and spokes and weighs 1.820 grams on the editorial scales. Depending on the application, the additional weight can be tolerated - the Allroad S is also an all-round convincing wheelset.
