​Mavic Crossmax Ultimate: New carbon wheels weighing 1,080 grams, at World Cup standard

​​Conclusion from the editor’s perspective

The new Crossmax Ultimate marks one of the most ambitious moves Mavic has made in the MTB segment in recent years. Weighing just 1,080 grams, the French brand has set a record-breaking benchmark and sits right at the top of the list of the lightest XC wheelsets. What’s particularly interesting is that this weight reduction isn’t achieved through uncompromising lightweight construction; instead, the wheels promise high stiffness, modern rim widths and race-ready performance. The Mavic Crossmax Ultimate is clearly aimed at ambitious XC racers and marathon riders who do not wish to compromise on materials. Weighing just 1,080 grams, they are among the lightest and most exclusive production wheelsets currently available for mountain bikes. Stefan Frey, BIKE editor

It is almost exactly 30 years since the French wheel specialist Mavic unveiled the first Crossmax wheels. The launch in 1996 is now regarded as one of the most important milestones in the history of MTB wheels. In the mid-1990s, high-quality wheelsets were still mostly built individually. Complete, industrially developed high-performance wheelsets were virtually unknown. Mavic was the first to consistently pursue the idea of an integrated wheelset system, in which the rim, hub and spokes were developed as a single unit.

The first Crossmax wheels – as you might imagine – were still based on 26-inch rims back then. Their ceramic-coated brake surfaces were still designed for cantilever or V-brakes. Weighing 1,550 grams per set By the standards of the time, the Crossmax wheels were exceptionally light. This was down to aluminium spokes made from a special Zicral alloy, 26 spokes at the front and 28 at the rear, a ceramic coating and special hubs.

The lightest Crossmax ever

Today, 30 years on, the French company is unveiling another milestone in its history: the brand-new Crossmax Ultimate wheels. Mavic makes no secret of what the development of these ultra-lightweight wheels was all about: maximum performance in XC racing.

Compared with the previous generation, virtually every component has been redesigned. According to Mavic, the new rim, the carbon spokes with titanium nuts and the redesigned hubs alone have each saved around 100 grams.

The result is a weight of just 1,080 grams including a tubeless rim base – and that’s in a 29-inch wheel size. This means Mavic comes very close to matching the weight of the world’s lightest XC wheels currently available, the Roval Control World Cup. Even in our most recent comparison test of five incredibly light XC wheelsets No other model has achieved such a low weight.

New carbon structure for greater efficiency

At the heart of the new wheelset is the newly developed Adaptive Lay-up Technology. In doing so, Mavic specifically optimises the carbon fibre structure for different stress zones within the rim. The aim was to use material only where it is actually needed. The advantage:

• lower weight
• high lateral stiffness
• controlled vertical compliance
• high impact resistance

According to the manufacturer, the new rim is around 50 grams lighter than the previous generation, without compromising on stability or reliability.

Carbon spokes for maximum acceleration

Particularly striking is the use of Carbon spokes. Whilst many top-of-the-range wheelsets continue to rely on high-quality steel spokes, Mavic combines high-strength carbon spokes with titanium nipples. This significantly reduces the rotating mass. According to Mavic, this is said to contribute to better acceleration, more direct power transfer, greater steering precision and improved responsiveness. Each wheel features 20 spokes arranged in a double-cross lacing pattern.

New hubs with ceramic bearings

The wheel centres have also been significantly slimmed down. The new hubs weigh 105 grams at the front and 180 grams at the rear. This makes them among the lightest production hubs in the MTB segment. In addition, Mavic has opted for high-quality ceramic bearings, which are designed to minimise friction losses and improve rolling performance. Another detail concerns the freehub body, which, according to Mavic, is now 25 per cent lighter than previous versions.

New freewheel with 40 teeth

For power transmission, Mavic uses the latest version of its tried-and-tested ID360 freewheel system. The new ‘Light’ version uses a 40-tooth ratchet system and is designed to enable particularly rapid power transfer. This is intended to give the rider an advantage, particularly when accelerating out of tight bends or on technical uphill sections. The wheels are also designed to respond extremely directly in explosive racing situations or during intermediate sprints. In addition, the spring design has been optimised to further reduce internal friction losses.

30 millimetres internal width for modern XC tyres

One of the few areas where Mavic has aligned itself with the current standard is the width of the carbon rim. It offers an internal width of 30 millimetres, which is designed primarily for modern XC tyres in the 2.3 to 2.4-inch range. The wide rim platform is designed to provide better support for the tyres, increase traction and allow for lower tyre pressures. The rim height is a modest 25 millimetres.

Already successful in the World Cup

The Crossmax Ultimate wasn’t developed in the lab alone. Riders from the Mondraker XC Factory Racing and KTM XC Factory Racing teams were involved in its development right from the start. The first successes were already recorded during the 2026 World Cup season, including several top-10 finishes and Katrin Embacher’s U23 World Cup victory in Nové Město. According to Mavic, the final wheelsets were tested under race conditions for a total of nine months.

Mavic is committed to maximum quality control

Manufacturing is a key part of the project. Every Crossmax Ultimate is assembled by hand and then tested at the Mavic test laboratory in Chavanod in the French Alps. According to the manufacturer, up to 57 different test procedures are carried out during this process. Every generation of wheels undergoes both individual component and complete system tests. This quality control is designed to ensure a level of reliability that far exceeds standard industry standards.

Mavic Crossmax Ultimate - Facts & Price

• ​Scope of application XC and Racing
• Wheel size: 29 inches
• Rim material: Carbon
• Inner rim width: 30 mm
• Rim height: 25 mm
• Spokes: Carbon spokes with titanium nuts
• Hubs: 105 g front / 180 g rear; ceramic bearings; ID360 Ultralight freehub; 40-tooth ratchet system
• Installation dimensions: 15 × 110 mm at the front / 12 × 148 mm at the rear
• Brake disc mounting: Centre-lock or 6-hole configuration
• Free-wheels: SRAM XD, Shimano Micro Spline
• Weight: 500 g at the front / 580 g at the rear / 1,080 g per set, according to the manufacturer
• Price: 2,299 euros

Conclusion from the editor’s perspective

The new Crossmax Ultimate marks one of the most ambitious moves Mavic has made in the MTB sector in recent years. Weighing just 1,080 grams, the French brand has set a record-breaking benchmark and ranks right at the top of the list of the lightest XC wheelsets. What’s particularly interesting is that this weight reduction isn’t achieved through uncompromising lightweight construction; instead, it promises high stiffness, modern rim widths and suitability for racing.
The Mavic Crossmax Ultimate is clearly aimed at ambitious XC racers and marathon riders who do not want to compromise on materials. Weighing just 1,080 grams, it is one of the lightest and most exclusive production wheelsets currently available for mountain bikes. Stefan Frey, BIKE editor