Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 in the test: high-quality all-rounder?

Test: The Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheelset is the French manufacturer's new high-end all-rounder. With its lighter, 45 mm deep rims and the new UD² finish, this carbon wheelset is said to be the fastest, stiffest and lightest all-rounder for road bikes with disc brakes. We wanted to find out whether Mavic can pick up on the old days and tested the supposed all-rounder for you.

In recent years, the traditional French brand Mavic has repeatedly had to take criticism for being no longer competitive with its wheel lineup and its technologies and for clinging to the successes of the old days. At that time, for example, the Mavic Cosmic Carbon Ultimate was one of the most popular wheel sets for professionals and amateur riders, or the Mavic Comete disc wheel was the miracle weapon for time trials and triathlon.

With the completely new Mavic Cosmic SLR 45, thanks to new technologies and a few innovations, the successful times are back and, in our opinion, we offer what we consider to be an ideal wheelset with modern features for racing cyclists who are looking for a fast and balanced all-rounder at the highest level.

The 45mm high carbon rim ensures the best aerodynamics with minimal air resistance and, thanks to its special design, is also the lightest in this category. A carbon top layer is also used here with the new UD² finish with a very special look, which also saves another 15 grams per rim thanks to the lighter laminate. The same goes for the inside of the rim, because with the Fore Carbon Technology developed exclusively by Mavic, the rim is only reinforced where it is absolutely necessary. This saves an additional considerable 40 grams per rim. Further weight savings result from the special attachment of the spokes. These are attached directly to the rim without having to drill the outer rim base. This means that no rim tape is required, which means a further weight saving of 30 grams and also significantly less effort when installing or repairing tubeless tires. The Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheelset has a total weight of 1440 grams (655/785 grams), which is quite impressive and promises good conditions for the next climbs.

Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 review

After the Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 wheel was conceived and developed by the manufacturer itself in Annecy, it is now 100% handcrafted in the company's own European carbon manufacturing facility. We can reveal so much in advance, you can feel this quality!

We were very happy with the first special feature of the Cosmic SLR 45, because the special shape of the rim well makes it much easier to mount and remove tires. We had no problems with tires from a wide range of manufacturers and were able to mount them in no time at all.

The already mentioned Fore technology in combination with the Infinity hub technology ensures a super stiff overall system, which ensures great power transmission. This gives you the feeling of getting a very direct acceleration and getting the necessary support for sprints and starts. This also has a positive effect on handling and conveys a very direct, agile driving experience, as if on rails. It doesn't matter whether it's brisk passages that require a lot of smooth running or technical sections that require good reactions, the Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 masters every challenge with skill.

Despite the high stiffness values and the direct handling, the wheelset also provides pleasant comfort. The UST tubeless set-up eliminates the need for a tube, which means less friction and more air volume, providing a smoother ride and also promoting rollability. Because the subject of speed also plays an important role with the Cosmic SLR 45: With its rim height of 45 mm, the all-rounder has the perfect height for aerodynamic performance at a relatively low weight. In addition, the patented elliptical Mavic spokes save another 5 watts according to the manufacturer. Time to step on the gas!

Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Compatibility

The rear wheel hub of the SLR 45 is available for either Shimano HG or Sram XD-R cassettes, and can be converted to Campagnolo with an optional freewheel body. A 12×100 mm thru axle will fit at the front and a 12×142 mm thru axle at the rear. Appropriate adapters are supplied for converting to quick releases.

You can find another wheel test by Mavic here here:

https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2021/12/test-mavic-allroad-sl-gravel-laufradsatz/