Elitewheels warranty over AliX

[Bender87]

Did anyone had some recent warranty claim over a wheel set bought from AliX?

I ordered some Aero+ with ceramic ball bearings in July and received them on 11th August 2025.

Had them for few rides on my gravel bike till my Light Carbon frame arrived.
Rode them in total about 1000km on my LCR-18D till end of the year.
Finished the year with a bike wash with a sponge and let it dry indoors.

A week later i found out that the front wheel had some issue with the bearing, it was very hard to turn the wheel and it made some strange noise.
Removed the wheel and end caps. The axle with the ball bearing were barely movable at all.

So i contacted Elitewheels on AliX to get some help, they said to remove the seal to see the inside.
And of course, one side had some nice orange grease in it -> properly rust from the water.
Also send me a link to their Mana Shop with all the spare parts and the ball bearing size for the front wheel.

They further said remove the ball bearings from the hub to check if it is turning.
It took me few days to get some ball bearing removal tools. In this time i also ordered some DT swiss ball bearings locally to install them right after the removal of the old ones.

When starting removing the ball bearing, the whole wheel made a loud "bling" sound and axle was at least movable, but still very grindy or how to say, not smooth at all.

I asked about the warranty twice during the conversation, and they wanted pictures from the removed ball bearing without the seal, which they got after the removal.
Then they mentioned the 180 days warranty for hubs, spokes, bearings etc.

As i asked again if i will get replacement ball bearings, they (or the AI chat bot) said that my warranty period just expired.

Here comes the fun part why i write this all down:

EW: Hi,friend Your package was delivered on August 11, 2025, and it has been 6 months since it was delivered until January 11, 2026

ME: My friend, that's not true. August is the 8th month, 8+4 =12 would be December. And then still 2 months left till February. 180 days/6 month are over on 11th February.

EW: We calculate on a monthly basis, while you calculate on a daily basis, which is why the calculation results may differ. We will provide feedback to the company and get back to you

I'm pretty sure, the 180 day/6m are over mid February, but let's see what Elitewheels say.

Now on you opinion, is it my fault because I washed my bike? 
I mean, 1000km and some water and i have to replace the ball bearings?

[TidyDinosaur]

If you buy Chinese wheels or hubs, you should expect to replace the original bearings very soon.
Just replace them and move on.

[cyruscycles]

Check out my experience here:
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6322.msg87964.html#msg87964

I need to update the thread. Elitewheels found the thread and reached out again after denying my claim. Agreed to send me out a rim and nipples so I could repair the wheel, but only if I delete the post.

I don't think I'm going to. I'll probably just update the post with screenshots and ask Peter to make me a new rim for the hub and spokes and include it in my next XMCS order

[offspring_fan]

+1 just buy some new bearings yourself and forget about it.

You don't want the ones Elite will send you for warranty anyway, because they will be just as bad as the first lot.

Get SKF/NTN or whatever Euro brand and they will probably last 5X as long next time.

[alfiomotrambo]

Newbie question: if I wanted to change my breathers, how would I know which ones to buy and what tools to use? Is there a thread about this?

[Dan S.]

Newbie question: if I wanted to change my breathers, how would I know which ones to buy and what tools to use? Is there a thread about this?

Usually these are pretty standardized, but to be sure you can get in touch with the hub manufacturer. Or you just pull them out using blind bearing puller (something like this) and measure the dimensions using a caliper. Then you just buy the right bearings and you install them using a bearing press. Finito.

[Bender87]

If you buy Chinese wheels or hubs, you should expect to replace the original bearings very soon.
Just replace them and move on.

Yep, i'm pretty aware of: you get what you paid for.
Like for the price difference to an EU based wheel manufacture, i can replace the bearings like 20 times and still be cheaper.

+1 just buy some new bearings yourself and forget about it.

You don't want the ones Elite will send you for warranty anyway, because they will be just as bad as the first lot.

Get SKF/NTN or whatever Euro brand and they will probably last 5X as long next time.

After a real person took over the chat, i will get a new set of the ceramic ones. I've asked if i can get at least the steel ones or other, but that's not possible due to process and warranty.

And as mentioned, i already replaced the bearings with DT swiss ones with a better sealing.

I just wanted to say if there is a warranty, you should get a replacement.
And i would even tell Elitewheels about the issue when it happend after 7 months. Because if they (or any other manufature) don't get any feedback, why would they change something?
The more people complaint about something like the bearing, may they consider to change the bearings to another manufacturer in the future. That's my opinion.

Check out my experience here:
https://chinertown.com/index.php/topic,6322.msg87964.html#msg87964

I need to update the thread. Elitewheels found the thread and reached out again after denying my claim. Agreed to send me out a rim and nipples so I could repair the wheel, but only if I delete the post.

I don't think I'm going to. I'll probably just update the post with screenshots and ask Peter to make me a new rim for the hub and spokes and include it in my next XMCS order

You don't consider getting a replacement for the deletion of the thread?

Newbie question: if I wanted to change my breathers, how would I know which ones to buy and what tools to use? Is there a thread about this?

You can asked them directly which ones are installed in the hub. At least i got a reply after max 1,5 days.

Usually these are pretty standardized, but to be sure you can get in touch with the hub manufacturer. Or you just pull them out using blind bearing puller (something like this) and measure the dimensions using a caliper. Then you just buy the right bearings and you install them using a bearing press. Finito.

The puller don't work with the fromt wheel hub, due to the axle between the to ball bearings, you have to "hammer" one side out and the on the other one you could use this tool, or hammer it also out.

[Chiyou]

The puller don't work with the fromt wheel hub, due to the axle between the to ball bearings, you have to "hammer" one side out and the on the other one you could use this tool, or hammer it also out.

Reginald Scot would beg to differ. https://youtu.be/mS92am9UYfE?si=uVdj-NRMZbd1cFuC&t=882

[Bender87]

Reginald Scot would beg to differ. https://youtu.be/mS92am9UYfE?si=uVdj-NRMZbd1cFuC&t=882

The front hub has a axle going thru and the ball bearings holding it in place, see picture.
Please tell me where to put the puller when there is no edge in the inside which it can grab on?

[Chiyou]

My bad - hammering it is. And thank you for highlighting their use of shoddy components and warranty weasel tactics.

[Hualicopter]

Is it better to just replace the bearings while the wheels are new or just wait for them to need replacement?

[cyruscycles]

Is it better to just replace the bearings while the wheels are new or just wait for them to need replacement?

Just wait unless you’re racing. Less wear on the bearing seats

[offspring_fan]

Is it better to just replace the bearings while the wheels are new or just wait for them to need replacement?

I would remove the seals from all hub and freehub bearings using a seal pick and double fill them with quality grease from new, but I favour reliability over rolling resistance.

[Hualicopter]

Yea just recreational riding here so don't need the most performance. I'll look into how to repack the hubs and bearings!

[sloth]

Did anyone had some recent warranty claim over a wheel set bought from AliX?

Same boat here. They initially refused to honor the 3-year warranty.

Keep insisting and don’t take “no” for an answer. That’s what I did, and they eventually partially honored it (they’ve supposedly shipped the replacement parts, but I haven’t received them yet).