Wheelsets You May Buy

These are some light XC wheelsets, that may be less expensive than others in some cases.

All pictures are at the bottom of this story.

Mavic Crossmax SL
(1520g)
These wheels are cheaper than the ubiquitous SLR and have exactly the same weight according to Mavic specs. 2007 Crossmax SL were already good but 2008 version has new hubs with an outermost bearings placement that allows a gain on stiffness and weight.
There are IS as well as Center Lock disc versions. These are tubeless wheels.

Easton XC One
(1585g)
These wheels seem to be good ones, stiff and light.

Spinergy Xyclone Disc
(1695g)
This famous wheels feature composite spokes which makes them look different than the other wheels, but this may actually be their only advantage.
One or two years ago you could find these wheels at hardly more than 400$ but now prices have gone up despite the fact that the technology hasn't changed and the weight is still the same. It seems that stock bearings are plain shit and should be changed (just type in 'xyclone bearing' in eBay's search box!).
For this, I think these wheels are not really competitive anymore.

DT Swiss XR 1540
(1540g)
These are the wheels you could get from DT Swiss previous years before they were replaced with the lighter XR 1450.
1540g is still very light and you could get those wheels for less than the XR 1450.
I think this is the same kind of wheels than the XR 1450: stiff, fast, no comfort, Center Lock.

Fulcrum Red Metal 1
(1655g)
Much cheaper option than the Red Metal Zero.
You can get those at CenterLock or IS standard. Those wheels are tubeless compatible.

Prices
Here are a few numbers I just got for you:

• Mavic Crossmax SL - lowest: 570$, 600€ - used: starting at 400€
  
• Easton XC One - lowest: 400$, 340€
  
• Spinergy Xyclone Disc - lowest: 500$, used: around 300€
• DT Swiss XR 1540 - lowest: 420€
• Fulcrum Red Metal 1 - lowest: 427€
  

Pictures:
Mavic Crossmax SL

Easton XC One

Spinergy Xyclone

DT Swiss XR 1540

Fulcrum Red Metal 1