Wheelset recommendations please

[leftieant]

Alright I know this question has been asked a gazillion times before, but let's go through it one more time.

I'm chasing a wheelset for a new project. Rocky Mountain ETSX70.

My requirements:

# UST or compatible rim
# Durable (I'm 105kg and not delicate on the bike)
# Mainly enduro and marathon work.

Options I'm so far considering:

# Mavic 819 and XT hubs (running these currently on the XTC, great combo, a touch heavy, but maybe a little bit too vanilla for this project)
# CRC Mavic 819 and Hope Pro II hubs (tempting... tempting...)
# Also investigating a set of TWE wheels, not sure what as yet, seeing what they come up with.

Anything else that should be going into the mix? Price is a consideration, although not crucial. To give you an idea, the Mavic/XT combo will probably go about $500, the CRC combo about $570, TWE not sure.

OK, do your worst:

[Spanky_Ham]

Spinergy Xyclone..... $700 off torpedo7 at the moment, and same price off sethius (think they're still for sale)


light, definitely not vanilla.... and surprisingly they work really well... although, you just cant hit up a bike shop if you munt a spoke... Apparently they now use Hadley rear hub internals, and comparing my hadley to my spinergy, they look pretty much the same (except hadley is 108 point engagement, spinergy isnt - well spanky's arent)


spanky

sorry, this is almost my worst.

[RichJS]

Alright I know this question has been asked a gazillion times before, but let's go through it one more time.

I'm chasing a wheelset for a new project. Rocky Mountain ETSX70.

My requirements:

# UST or compatible rim
# Durable (I'm 105kg and not delicate on the bike)
# Mainly enduro and marathon work.



There's always Mavic Crossmax SL (or ST) sets, the SLs pop up 2nd hand for $500 or a bit more. With the exception of the freehub, they're pretty tough so used should still be pretty reliable.

New Mavic within your budget would be Crosstrail, they're UST, though a bit heavier than their cousins.

The Shimano XT M775 Wheelset can found for a not much more $$, if you hunt around, and it's UST. Sposed to be OK.

I read that TWE will build up whatever you want .. if you like 819 rims, perhaps you can send a pair to TWE and get them to supply the rest?

[k3n!f]

XT complete wheelset?

Pros:
~1650g, $540, tubeless, good quality hubs, look pretty

Cons:
Only 24 spokes, *cup and cone bearings, only avaliable in centrelock

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/20794.jpg



*Some may say that this is an advantage


Although given that "Durable (I'm 105kg and not delicate on the bike)" is one of your requirements a Hope Pro 2/819 build might be better suited....

There is also a XC wheels sticky with some good information here:

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=111074

[kv1973]

Options:

Mavic Crossmax XL slightly heavier than the SL and SLR but not that much heavier. Downside is propriety spokes costly to replace but strong nonetheless. Hubs are easy to maintain.

Shimano XT - but the ALL Mountain version is stronger but then heavier. Nothing wrong with the cone hubs - durable as can be.

If money is not an object than the Chris King on 819 are all great too. Virtually maintenance free.

I run 2 sets of CrossMax SLR's and a set of ChrisKings on Stans. But I am lighter rider and hard on my bike and factor in that I ride a hardtail the rear wheels cop a lot more.

so many choices

[leftieant]

Good comments guys, keep them coming...

Any of the 'huskier' riders here got any experience with the Stans ZTR rims? I've got a couple of mates that ride them, very happy with them, but they're all whippets so probably not a fair comparison.

[DaGonz]

Get wheelcraft to build up either a Stans ZTR Arch or Syncros FLR DS23 on Dice Roulettes and whack in an appropriate stans rim strip. Should come in at about that price range. The Syncros DS23 should be pretty solid, the ZTR Arch maybe a little less so but marginally lighter.

Either or would be relatively bullit proof for XC I'd say...

of course there were XT & 819 wheelsets kicking around for sub $500 that would be seriously hard to pass up and no need for a rim strip.

*shrug*

Cheers
Gonz

[akashra]

I'd highly recommend you consider spending the extra on XTR hubs if you're going to go XT. Big difference and the XTR are seriously brilliant in terms of how they roll.

For your weight, I'd be guessing something like a wheelset based on a Shimano M975 hubs, Mavic XM819 and DT Swiss Champion spokes would be the way to go.

If you can get hold of them, Hope Pro3s are just sweeeeeeet.

[Dreggsy]

I'd be looking for something that has sealed bearings,
I have just tried these type of bearings on my fixie and they just feel so much better than cup and cone bearings.

DT Swiss 240s hubs are my preference.

I am currently running '04 XT hubs on Mavic x3.1 rims, I got these for approx $450.00
from www.phantomcycles.com.au
and they have been completely bombproof, i am only 68kg though.
I am currently replacing the cones in them after 4 years of enduro racing/riding as they got a bit pitted due to being loose.

[crosser]

I am a fan of the Stans rims, though even at 74kg (me, not the rims) I find the ZTR 355s a bit flexy. I use the Arch on my 29er and find them much stiffer with not much of a weight penalty so the 26" version might be the go for you.

I highly recommend the Pro 2 hubs -- inexpensive for what they are, very durable, low/no maintenance and the freehub makes a lovely clicking sound.

[Axela8]

Second the CrossMax STs or similar. I had a set. Perfect.
I'm 10kg lighter than you, but had no issues whatsoever with them.

[Oddjob]

I weigh 125+ kgs with my camelpack and assorted gear on and have run Hope Pro 2s with 717s on my XC bike without a problem. UST might not be such a hot idea if you weigh that much and you're hard on your gear, the 819s are tougher than the 719s anyway even if you decide to use tubes.

XT hubs are good too, but for $70 extra why bother with cup and cone bearings. The ability to swap axle types with the Hopes are a big bonus as well.

Those Spinergy Xyclones look the goods. You only save 50 grams on a Hope Pro 2/717 setup but the PBO spokes are amazingly tough from all the reports I've heard and read. Squidy ran a set of PBO wheels on his old Gemini DH bike without a problem.

[hillrider]

If your thinking of stans, shoot them an e mail with your requirements (which you can do on their website). I found them very quick and help full at getting back when I asked a few questions.

[k3n!f]

I could temp you with some bling if you don't mind putting rubber rim strips in to run tubeless:

Chris King Disc hubs
DT Swiss spokes
Mavic 717 rims
1680g
~$800

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/mikemike131/Chris%20King/45003029-1.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Chris-King-Disc-ISO-Hub-Mavic-XC-717-DT-Wheelset_W0QQitemZ330272163707QQihZ014QQcategoryZ5 8089QQcmdZViewItem

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/mikemike131/Chris%20King/717silver-mango.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Chris-King-Disc-ISO-Hub-Mavic-XC-717-DT-Wheelset_W0QQitemZ330273018375QQihZ014QQcategoryZ5 8089QQcmdZViewItem

[Oddjob]

I could temp you with some bling if you don't mind putting rubber rim strips in to run tubeless:

Chris King Disc hubs
DT Swiss spokes
Mavic 717 rims
1680g
~$800


But you only save 70 grams over the Hope 2/717 combo and you pay $300 more when you consider postage. Not a lot of point really.

[k3n!f]

But you only save 70 grams over the Hope 2/717 combo and you pay $300 more when you consider postage. Not a lot of point really.

Other than running bomb proof King hubs with 72 engagement points....

(I didn't say it was sensible, just bling :))

[Bodin]

I'm not as heavy as you, but I'm not exactly light either (80+ kg) and I'm a dumb and clumsy rider - can't pick lines to save myself, so I bash through a lot of stuff that better riders would avoid.

I've got 2 pairs of DT240/819 wheelsets (1 6-bolt, 1 centrelock) that have been running perfectly for 4 years without any maintenance except for a single service on the set that I rode across the Simpson Desert.

Sure, I'd love it if they were a touch lighter, but they're stiff, sexy and nothing ever goes wrong with them. My mate's Crossmax SLs (which are slightly younger) just had the entire freehub mechanism crap itself and he's a much lighter and smoother rider than me.

As a result, he's now borrowed one of my 240/819 sets. And loves them.

[cha_cha_]

I'll put in a vote for greg at TWE. I'm currently rolling on 2 sets of his wheels (1 on the roadie, 1 on the XC bike) with another to come (for the SS). very happy with them after 8 months on the XC wheels.

I'm 100kg + gear and i've been running a set of TWE branded hubs and rims with DT Comp spokes which comes in at about 1650-1700 for the pair and tbh i've never had a wheel that runs straighter or stiffer. very nice wheels. price was in the 600s delivered. I'm running them tubeless with a stans kit and have had no problems at all after a few thousand kms.

the set on the way is hp2 with a SS/trials rear hub with comps and twe rim which will be about 700 all told. same deal, should be sub 1700 for the set and strong as an ox. that said, i would've happily run the hp2/717 combo but gotten greg to build it if i wanted to save some money, but i reckon his rims are probably stronger (based on previous experience with light mavic xc rims).


happy shopping

[jmcavoy]

My mate's Crossmax SLs (which are slightly younger) just had the entire freehub mechanism crap itself and he's a much lighter and smoother rider than me.


I'll second that, the Crossmax's are weak and break often, and they are very expensive to repair. I buckled a rim and the distributor would not send the LBS a new rim without a full set of spokes as well, at $20/spoke, it was pretty hard to swallow. $700 later my wheel was repaired.

A year later they buckled again and I screamed :)
6 months later the free hub died (and so did a mate of mines with the same wheels), and so did my patience :)

I've since gotten rid of them.

I run XTR now and they are much better, no dramas so far and I've been on them for a year.

[powley]

sorry, this is almost my worst.

don't you mean, "sorry, this is almost Spanky's worst."
If you gonna keep the whole '3rd person thing' going:rolleyes:

[rip_it07]

get pair of sun ringle mtx or maic deemax thatl fix your problems ;)

[ETSX]

Have you looked at the hope pro 3 wheelsets? straight pull DT swiss 4.2 rims very nice and very loud :).
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20520
Sealed bearings all replaceable with parts on CRC. There are a few other versions of this type and will fall within your budget. None are UST but stans can fix that. Mine work great and are true with no issues, had them since Feb. They are stiff and go where you point them I really noticed it when I first put them on. But my old wheelset was pretty stuffed which was what I was use to.
Also have a look at the Fulcrum wheels on CRC they are UST good weight/price, I have heard they are good wheels also.

[Sethius]

take my sexy spinergys from me lefti :p they run an EXTREMELY tight rubber rimtape already in this things that came with the wheelset, im not sure if their supposed to be tubeless but i reckon it'd hold. and it can be qr or 20mm if you ever change forks and what not.

[Daver]

# Mavic 819 and XT hubs (running these currently on the XTC, great combo, a touch heavy, but maybe a little bit too vanilla for this project)
# CRC Mavic 819 and Hope Pro II hubs (tempting... tempting...)
:

I'd go for whatever you'd prefer out of these two. Remember to budget for a wheelbuild (or at least a true and tension) with the CRC builds as they're fairly average builds, but both choices will be better than most in the category. Being a bigger guy too, you will need better wheelbuilds than anyone else, otherwise you'll be bending and breaking them.

Stay away from proprietary wheels like the Crossmax's as you don't gain any benefits with them, and don't bother with the Spinergy's- good luck finding any spares or support for them. I have had very little experience with the TWE wheels, but they *seem* to be reasonably good stuff.

[k3n!f]

Have you looked at the hope pro 3 wheelsets? straight pull DT swiss 4.2 rims very nice and very loud :).
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20520
Sealed bearings all replaceable with parts on CRC. There are a few other versions of this type and will fall within your budget. None are UST but stans can fix that. Mine work great and are true with no issues, had them since Feb. They are stiff and go where you point them I really noticed it when I first put them on. But my old wheelset was pretty stuffed which was what I was use to.

Mmmm I'm not as happy with the Hope Pro 3 wheelset as I should be. I have been using mine for 10 months now and after 6 months the free hub springs died and had to be replaced. The wheel build wasn't particularly good either and required truing 6-8 times before I decided to ditch the super soft DT 4.2d rims and build the hubs up with Mavic 717's. Since then however they have been faultless, but I guess that's what is expected with a good quality wheel build.

[Jimmy L]

I run the spinergy xyclone for 3 years and they go good. I recently did 15km on the rim after tyre dissentergrated and they true up no worries. I wrap front rim round a tree at speed, it true up fine. The small parts order form on the website you can deal direct for fast delivering on spokes and cassette body etc. The engagement on mine a bit tired now so I look for upgrade proberly Renoylds Topo C

[krisko]

Here's another don't bother with Crossmax SL vote.
This week I killed the front axle whilst simply trying to undo it to service it.
The axle snapped were the 8mm allen key goes. Anyway no one in Australia has an axle and end cap. The distributor also has none.

Contacting a few of the major oversees retailers has made me realise how useless these wheels are. They are good when they work but when it comes to back up, forget about it.

Hopefully, the ditributor may get some parts in, if Im lucky. I will then fix the hub and chuck them on ebay. Of course their will still be hundreds of people bidding because they are a nice looking wheel and thats most of their appeal.

I just ordered a set of XTR's.

PS anyone got spares please PM me.

[TwoWheelsGood]

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster here:)

I'm just about to order an upgrade to my Crossrides and have looked at CRC, Spynergy and all the other various, baffling combinations. The information in this thread was very helpful in pointing me in the right direction and I eventually went for a wheelset from TWE in Sydney.

While each of the other sets have their pros and cons, the factors that sold me on TWE came from mailing them (Greg) and getting that LBS sort of treatment - quick, informative, cheerful responses came from someone who obviously has a passion for builing the right wheels for each individual customer. Not to mention a healthy confidence in the quality of his product....

I will be getting a 1500g, tubeless ready, 24 spoke (revolution) set on Sun/Ringle Dirty Flea equivalent hubs for much less than most of the comparable sets I've seen on O/S websites, and way better than my LBS can do (as good as they are).

TWE also carry all spares, build a quality product and give a lifetime guarantee which seems to be honoured (if testimonials on other sites are to be believed). So while your LBS may not be the best place to get your wheels (price-wise that is), you may not have to go to a no contact/support website to get a good product at a reasonable price. For something like wheels that's great but isn't really necessary for other components.

While this wasn't meant to be an ad for TWE, it may have ended up that way...haha. Regardless, I'll be sure to repost here about how they perform.

[leftieant]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've ordered the 819/Hope combo from CRC - and am holding my breath for arrival. Got the email last night saying that they had been dispatched from the UK, so I'm crossing my fingers, hoping and praying that they get here before the 24 next weekend! (if only to annoy my teammates with the obnoxiously loud rear hub!)

[Mad German]

[...], hoping and praying that they get here before the 24 next weekend! (if only to annoy my teammates with the obnoxiously loud rear hub!)

Hehe, you won't annoy me, because I will give everything to make sure, you stay behind me (altough it will be hard, I know) :D

Did you get my sms last night re your new baby? It's a real beauty. Can't wait to see it in action

[RMB]

Just got a set of Easton xc one rims for my ETSX70 very light and very strong

[BM Epic]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've ordered the 819/Hope combo from CRC - and am holding my breath for arrival. Got the email last night saying that they had been dispatched from the UK, so I'm crossing my fingers, hoping and praying that they get here before the 24 next weekend! (if only to annoy my teammates with the obnoxiously loud rear hub!)Will wait for a report on these, i have ordered 819's with xt hubs, only so i can service them myself, i am wondering if i should have gone with a hope pro11 hub though?
I find the cup and cone easy to service myself, what are the servicing requirements and ease of servicing the hope's?

[k3n!f]

Will wait for a report on these, i have ordered 819's with xt hubs, only so i can service them myself, i am wondering if i should have gone with a hope pro11 hub though?
I find the cup and cone easy to service myself, what are the servicing requirements and ease of servicing the hope's?

Hope hubs are a dream to service. The pull apart without an tools (except a light tapping with a nylon hammer) and if a bearing is dead you tap it out and tap a new one in. There is no adjustment required of cup and cones and the free wheel is completely serviceable unlike the disposable Shimano free wheels.

Here is a step by step guide and pictures of the Hope internals:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=283367

[MrCove]

i'm running various wheelsets
my xc wheels are running the same Hope XC hubs that i've had for 6 years, probably had about 4 or 5 sets of hoops laced to them in that time, currently running one Mavic and one DT rim (DT spokes)

another set which are a bit more agro are also running Hope hubs (Bulb 20mm front QR rear, also +5 years old, currently on a pair of battered Singletracks (DT spokes)

on my dh set up i have either, you guessed it, Hope hubs (Pro 2) laced to mavic and a pair of DT wheels (440's on 6.1)which are pretty damn sweet (both pairs DT spokes)

so i guess my recomendation would be Hope and/or DT hubs and rims with DT spokes

couple of DT wheels on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DT-Swiss-X1800-frontwheel-NEW-lightweightXC-MTBwheel_W0QQitemZ250302465918QQihZ015QQcategoryZ5 8089QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DT-Swiss-X1800-rear-wheel-NEW-lightweight-XC-MTBwheel_W0QQitemZ250302466590QQihZ015QQcategoryZ5 8089QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[BM Epic]

Hope hubs are a dream to service. The pull apart without an tools (except a light tapping with a nylon hammer) and if a bearing is dead you tap it out and tap a new one in. There is no adjustment required of cup and cones and the free wheel is completely serviceable unlike the disposable Shimano free wheels.

Here is a step by step guide and pictures of the Hope internals:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=283367Thanks a heap for that, i am going to speak with my lbs tomorrow about the hope pro2, this sounds like it might just be the ticket to happiness!

[leftieant]

Wheels have arrived. The build quality is excellent, am really happy with them.

HOWEVER

Major operator error from my end - and this is an inexcusable error in my book. After double, triple and quadruple checking the order before I submitted it, umming and aahing, and then finally making up my mind - I ordered the wrong bloody rims. I stupidly ordered the 819 rim brake rims, not the disc specific ones.

Doesn't bother me that much - actually it does, I'm hugely pissed off with myself - but the polished braking surfaces do look a bit, um silly.

Grrr.

Anyone want a set of 819 rim brake rims, laced to red Hope Pro II hubs and 1.8mm DT Swiss Comp spokes, plus the Prolock brass nipples? I'll do you a deal.

[fat'n'unfit]

Mate , if you can afford the loss of postage back CRC will swap them.

Rather than a loss selling them here.

[BM Epic]

Wheels have arrived. The build quality is excellent, am really happy with them.

HOWEVER

Major operator error from my end - and this is an inexcusable error in my book. After double, triple and quadruple checking the order before I submitted it, umming and aahing, and then finally making up my mind - I ordered the wrong bloody rims. I stupidly ordered the 819 rim brake rims, not the disc specific ones.

Doesn't bother me that much - actually it does, I'm hugely pissed off with myself - but the polished braking surfaces do look a bit, um silly.

Grrr.

Anyone want a set of 819 rim brake rims, laced to red Hope Pro II hubs and 1.8mm DT Swiss Comp spokes, plus the Prolock brass nipples? I'll do you a deal.I am sorry brother, see if you can exchange them, it will be worth it as fat n unfit says!
I just ordered the 819 ust(from lbs) with the hope pro2 hubs(ano red) and dt spokes!...I cant wait, but i'm sorry for your hassles!:(

[leftieant]

Yeah, I've chucked some tyres on them to see how they roll over the weekend. If I like them (and the hubs are ace), I'll either etch prime the braking surfaces and then enamel them, or buy some hoops locally and relace them.

Cost to send back $100
Cost to disassemble and reassemble $40
Cost to freight back here again - ???

vs buy 2 hoops here $250 or thereabouts, rebuild both prob about $100, plus it gets done by a decent wheelbuilder, and I should have bulletproof rims!

Still pissed at myself though!