Tom and All,
In a message dated 4/22/03 12:42:58 PM, kctommy@msn.com writes:
<< First question. There appears to be two Mavic GP 4 rims out there. An earlier lighter version (around 400 grams) and a later version (the one I am familiar with), designed to be super strong and weigh the same as a middling clincher rim at 480 grams. Is there a way from the labels to detect which is which? Of course if you have a bare rim, you can weigh it, but the ones I have are in built wheels.
After a bit of research, it appears that GP-4's were introduced in late '80 to early '81 and the claimed weight was 395gm. Mavic introduced the GP-4 as an "amateur" version of the SSC (from the 1981 catalog), offering limited spoking, i.e., no 40 hole rims, and a different color (anthracite rather than blue).
In 1987 the GP-4 was still listed as weighing 395gms, and five years later (1992) the weight was still listed as 395gms.
In the 1996 catalog, the GP-4 had put on some weight, and was now listed at 480gms.
I don't know the exact date when the rim took on the added 85gms, but obviously sometime between late '92 and early '96.
I would say any GP-4's which do not have the more "modern" appearing Mavic Label (the "squarish" label with Mavic followed by the "Lined M" with the model on the line) will be the 395gm rims.
Of course, Mavic measures rim weight without eyelets, don't they???
2nd question. Does anyone remember a Mavic "Sport" rim? Rim is polished silver, with a rectangular Mavic label, the red with gold inside old style. Hubs on the rims appear to be late 70's, which checks with the rim label (I think). Does anyone know the weight and intended use of these rims? >>
This was answered completely by David Bilenkey.
Regards,
Chuck Brooks
Malta, NY