I'm looking to have a new wheel set built and would appreciate some input and opinions. I weight about 165 -170 geared up. I ride a mix of trails in Western NC. A lot of XC single track but also some more technical single track as well. It is for a full suspension bike. I try to pick my lines well, but having FS I sometimes get lazy and plow over. So I want something durable. Budget is around $600.00
I must have a front hub that is convertible as I am currently running 9mm QR but will be making the switch to 15 in the not too distant future. Plus I just want some flexibility to move the wheel around. I want something that can run tubeless but I have to admit its not a huge concern for me as I like to change tires, and rarely get flats running tubes. That said if I have the option I might find myself running tubeless. If I did I'm kind of on the fence regarding whether I'd run true UST or ghetto i.e. Stans. I'm leaning towards UST, as it seem that UST tires are becoming more and more prevalent. At least in the tires that I find myself running.
I'm leaning hard towards WTB i19 rim, maybe an i23 for the rear. As I occasionally have to get my rear wheel trued but pretty much never for the front. Though I still think the i19 would probably work ok for me in the rear too. Leaning towards these based on reviews that I have read, they are pretty light weight and seem durable, Also true UST. Does anyone have any cons or reasons to stay clear is the i19s? Or better recommendations?
For the hubs, I am thinking Hope Pro 2 Evo. They seem to be the best bang for the buck in their price range. You can easily convert the front and rear hubs to different axle sizes. I have looked at the tech manuals and they seem easy to work on. Funny thing is I have had a bike mechanic tell me otherwise. Of course they were trying to sell me in Chris Kings, unfortunately those are a bit out of my budget. One concern about the Hopes are the freehub. I have read they aren't all that durable being AL. I also use a 36t cassette so that could be a factor? Any other hub recommendations?
Any suggestions on spokes, thinking DT double butted and alloy nipples.
If you're ok with black or silver, consider the White Industries hubs. They come with a cro-mo steel freehub body stock. The front is 9mm and 15mm compatible while the rear is convertible between 135 x 10mm and 142 x 12mm. They run about the same price as the Hope Pro 2 Evo.
DT Comps, Wheelsmith DB14 (my favorite and slightly lighter), or Sapim Race spokes are all a good choice.
i don't know if you are concerned with potential resale value but it my opinion it would be silly to build new wheels in this day and age and not build them tubeless ready. Take what I say with a grain of salt as I'm a newb to MTB but i can change a tubeless tire every bit as fast as one with a tube. As long as you have the stans syringe to inject the sealant you can also use it to remove the sealant from a tire when you want to just do a simple tire switch. It's quite easy. I have a set of wtb laser tcs trail wheels and they have been great. (I'm 6'3" 250 so I need stouter wheels, but if i'm not mistaken these rims are awfully similar in spec to the i23 in terms of weight and widtth) Because of my weight I elected to go straight to a USB specific tires not wanting to mess around with hoping other tires would seal. It has been great, zero burping issues and I'm running pretty low pressures 30 front 33 rear. At your weight you can go far lower.
Are you doing this build yourself? Whehter you go with the hope hubs or White industries, both of those are potential budget breakers. Your looking at around $350- 400 for the hubs alone. Probably about $75 each for the rims then $50-$75 for spokes already puts you right at your budget. Wheelbuilder.uk is a great site with an awesome ebook you can buy cheap to learn to build yourself. I've built several sets of great road wheels, it's really pretty damn easy to do and a good skill to know.
As for spoke choice, I'm a dt comp and sapim race kind of guy, you may wish to consider using brass nipples on the drive side rear but in all honestly, the one spoke nipple I"ve ever had break was on my road bike and it was a BRASS nipple, not alloy!
I'm looking to have a new wheel set built and would appreciate some input and opinions. I weight about 165 -170 geared up. I ride a mix of trails in Western NC. A lot of XC single track but also some more technical single track as well. It is for a full suspension bike. I try to pick my lines well, but having FS I sometimes get lazy and plow over. So I want something durable. Budget is around $600.00
I must have a front hub that is convertible as I am currently running 9mm QR but will be making the switch to 15 in the not too distant future. Plus I just want some flexibility to move the wheel around. I want something that can run tubeless but I have to admit its not a huge concern for me as I like to change tires, and rarely get flats running tubes. That said if I have the option I might find myself running tubeless. If I did I'm kind of on the fence regarding whether I'd run true UST or ghetto i.e. Stans. I'm leaning towards UST, as it seem that UST tires are becoming more and more prevalent. At least in the tires that I find myself running.
I'm leaning hard towards WTB i19 rim, maybe an i23 for the rear. As I occasionally have to get my rear wheel trued but pretty much never for the front. Though I still think the i19 would probably work ok for me in the rear too. Leaning towards these based on reviews that I have read, they are pretty light weight and seem durable, Also true UST. Does anyone have any cons or reasons to stay clear is the i19s? Or better recommendations?
For the hubs, I am thinking Hope Pro 2 Evo. They seem to be the best bang for the buck in their price range. You can easily convert the front and rear hubs to different axle sizes. I have looked at the tech manuals and they seem easy to work on. Funny thing is I have had a bike mechanic tell me otherwise. Of course they were trying to sell me in Chris Kings, unfortunately those are a bit out of my budget. One concern about the Hopes are the freehub. I have read they aren't all that durable being AL. I also use a 36t cassette so that could be a factor? Any other hub recommendations?
Any suggestions on spokes, thinking DT double butted and alloy nipples.
Build your own - get the $200 park truing stand, $70 park tm-1 (tensionometer), .50 dans comp sapim spokes, $350 chinese carbon rims, spoke wrench and hubs of your choice. It took me 6 hours for my first, 2 hours for my second. I think my third would take about an hour.
I have the i23s and they are very heavy. Built up with DT 350 on the rear and something generic on the front they were 1950 grams. I built chinese carbon rims with a rear used chris king hub that I bought for $90 on craigslist and a new american classic 130. The weight is about 1550g, total cost not including tools was 650 because I had to buy the $70 axle conversion kit for the chris king.
Around here, there are about 3 chris king wheelsets forsale on craigslist all around $500 (one is 750 I think). I talked one of the guys down to $380.
Once you build your own, you will feel much more comfortable maintaining the wheels yourself.
Stans Arch EX rims
Hope Pro 2 Evo
DT Swiss spokes
bue ano nips
they had a deal going - so got them in your price range
i wiegh about the same, and rode em approx 700 miles on a gant anthem x29 - inc the kokopelli from fruita to moab - wheels are still tight and true and I didnt pick great lines
just bouught the Kona Satori which came with the WTB i23/SLX hubs - seem a great all mt wheel - but mounted my arch/hope and easily converted the rear to the 12x142
weigh about 1.8 lbs less than the stock wheels and yhats rotating mass weight that you can feel i do like the wtb rim having looked at it closely and a few rides before swap. love the hope hubs - if u built with Stans or the WTB rim - you'd have a bullet proof set of wheels w good convertibility to axles
I just built up a set of i23's and pro2 evo's. My first custom built wheelset but I could tell a big difference from the first ride. They are stiff and feel very accurate if that makes sense.
Could have saved some rotational weight with i19's, but am hoping for more durability with the heavier rims. They are still lighter than my old xt/mavic set. Also used dt swiss butted (comps, I think) and alloy nips.
Very happy so far. Went ahead and got the wtb rim tape and sealant for conversion down the road.
Thanks for the replies and input I think I am on the right track. I was actually considering the White hubs but wasn't sure if they were convertible. I'll have to take a closer look at them. I'd like some in blue but I will take functionality and durability over style any day. Think I will definitely go with the WTB rims and think the i19s will hold up well for my riding style and weight.
While I wouldn't mind building them myself I'm probably going to have my LBS build them for me. I do most of my wrenching but they gave me lifetime maintenance with my bike which comes in handy of I am short on time or missing a specific tool. They have generally taken great care of me and also give me 20% off, so I'd just assume my money stay local even if it costs me a few extra dollars. Plus a lot of locals think he is one of the best wheel builders in the area so I figure he will do a better job than I could on my first try. Plus he'll stand behind his work.
Anyone want to add to the Hopes versus White durability etc?
Anyone want to add to the Hopes versus White durability etc?[/QUOTE]
I had a set of Hopes built up a couple seasons ago. They ended up being the shortest build I had owned - the rear was just too noisy. I don't mind hearing hubs "sing" but the Hope sounded like a card in the spokes. I currently own a DT Swiss rear hub and Stans 3.30 HD convertible front. I really like the DT Swiss rear's (350 or 240) and use any front as long as it is fully convertible.
I have them on several wheelsets. I have them on Stan's-built NoTubes wheels for 26, 29, and 650b rims. Stan's people build nice wheels, but they are not quite as flexible as some other builders. my last set came from Mike C at lacemine29.com. Those are Hope hubs on Bontrager Duster rims, which can be run tubed or tubeless.
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