Lighter wheelset and tubeless help!

[The Grimmer]

Right, so I really need to shed some weight off my DH bike and I'm slowly going to upgrade it, eventually getting new forks and frame.
Currently I have sun ringle abbah lawwill hubs (Heavy and the rear is a bit trashed) and a Mavic EX721 on the front and 729 on the back. I really want to get a new, lighter wheelset but I don't want to compromise the strength of the wheel.
I was thinking about getting a hope pro2 laced to some ex729/721/823 But I don't know which rim to go for! I only weigh about 60kg but I have managed to put a small dent in my rear 729 already (yes, poor riding).
I was thinking about going tubeless to save some weight and didn't know whether the 823 is worth it? I have heard it's not as strong as the 729 and it has issues with the spokes.
So potentially to save the most weight I am tempted to get the 721 and use yellow tape and stans (never done tubeless before).
I run 2.5" maxxis minions dual ply, and also want a good profile, not sure if the 721 is potentially too narrow.
So a lot of questions i know!! Basically, I'm stuck and i just want some advice!
(I do DH and FR, never got a puncture on my dh tubes! So i'm conscious about the cons of tubeless)

[Ithnu]

[YRG]

At 60k, you can probably run flow ex and setup tubeless. Expensive and/or risky to go lighter

[pizon]

i have hope 2 with 823. I think its awesome, but i cannot compare weight to anything. Buddy had 823, blew a tire during a race and rode it out on the rim. It was a very rocky track but the rim survived, required minor trueing.

[The Grimmer]

hmm, i think i'm straying towards the 721 cause it's lightweight but apparently just as strong as other rims like the 729. I want something reliable and i don't want to be able just about get away with it, i want it to survive everything I throw at it, including the alps when i go in the summer. Hope hoops do a decent deal with the 721's so really close to getting them at the moment and just trying tubeless when i get them.

[DHgnaR]

A bud of mine has been using 721's tubeless with Maxxis 2.5 DH casing tires for years trouble free.
I have been on 823's tubeless for years trouble free.
His wheels are lighter than mine and we use the same tires, spokes, and hubs.

[echo24]

if you want light and strong, need to go carbon.

light strong cheap, you can only pick 2.

[DHgnaR]

if you want light and strong, need to go carbon.

$2098 in rims alone is not an option for most. If you want a "light" DH worthy rim (carbon rims aside), the EX721 is one of your best options.

[genemk]

I second Hope Pro 2 Evo laced to EX 823. Running mine with tubes since I'm sketched out on tubeless for DH. Best luck I've had with a rim. I'm not a smooth rider. Weigh over 70kg and like to go big whenever possible. Have cased a bunch of stuff and plowed through rock gardens with good luck so far. Only complaint is getting tires with a tight bead on/off is kind of a pain due to profile of rim. My understanding is that the 721 rims are a bit less durable, but keep those tires pumped up and you should be alright.

[The Grimmer]

Went for the 721's and hope pro2 mostly cause they're light and I've always heard good things about the 721's. Being a lighter rider it thought I didn't really need the 729's. I'll probably try stans and see how it goes!

[_rich_]

I just bought a set of Hope Pro2 EVO's laced to Mavic 721's built with Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples....
The Hope's engagement is not as great as my Hadley hubs but they are still nice hubs..
The EVO's are much easier to convert than the regular Hope Pro2 hubs..
No tools required(ok maybe some pliers) to convert from 10mm thru/12mm thru/Standard QR, you only need to replace the axle if you choose 10mm bolt on...Same thing for the front NO tools required(ok maybe a small flat screwdriver)

ok mine are set up with 10mm thru rear and 20mm front and here's what they weigh..
front 950 grams...rear 1,070 grams

pretty light for a fairly strong wheelset

for comparison my old set was Transition Revolution 32..front weighed 1,060 and the rear weighed 1,310 so i was happy with the weight i saved

p.s. wiggle has the best prices on these wheels...$362 shipped to USA
using a 10% coupon....ordered on a tues and they were delivered on saturday

[echo24]

$2098 in rims alone is not an option for most. If you want a "light" DH worthy rim (carbon rims aside), the EX721 is one of your best options.

i wanted to go carbon for strength but i just cant do carbon wheels. if i screw up to the point i need the strength of the carbon i want it to give. i rather cry over a "heavy" wheel i taco thats only $100 to fix.

but im also used to running doublewides. screw you weight weenies on dh bikes. i rather have strength. light is for road and trials bikes

[DHgnaR]

but im also used to running doublewides. screw you weight weenies on dh bikes. i rather have strength. light is for road and trials bikes

If you're satisfied running boat anchors for rims then more power to you. Building a reliable but reasonable weight wheel is of the best handeling improvements for your money on a DH bike. 823's for example are going to build up about a pound lighter in rim alone than doublewides, not accounting for tubeless weight loss, and I have been on my set for 4 seasons now, racing expert and weighing 240ish pounds.

[Lelandjt]

Hope hubs are over rated! Yes, they are quality and sealed well but I keep seeing them mentioned as a light hub. They're not very light. Also their 150 rear hub is just a 135 hub with a different axle so it has narrower flange spacing than every other 150 hub. The ones I've felt have a lot of friction/seal drag, they just feel slow. In the front nothing touches the price/weight of Atomlab Pimplite. In back DT240 is the best, light and reliable, but kinda pricy.

Rims in order of weight/burliness: Flow Ex, Spank Subrosa, Spank Spike.

[lowmassmetals]

Industry 9. Bulletproof and light!

[The Grimmer]

Hope hubs are over rated! Yes, they are quality and sealed well but I keep seeing them mentioned as a light hub. They're not very light. Also their 150 rear hub is just a 135 hub with a different axle so it has narrower flange spacing than every other 150 hub. The ones I've felt have a lot of friction/seal drag, they just feel slow. In the front nothing touches the price/weight of Atomlab Pimplite. In back DT240 is the best, light and reliable, but kinda pricy.

Rims in order of weight/burliness: Flow Ex, Spank Subrosa, Spank Spike.

Well living in the UK sealing is one of the most important things to me. I currently have a sun ringle hub and the bearings (even thought they themselves have a rubber seal) are essentialy directly exposed to the elements because one of the cones is replaceable.
I did consider the flow rim, but I had read lots of reviews about it being overpriced for what it is, and that they easily flatspot/dent.

[echo24]

If you're satisfied running boat anchors for rims then more power to you. Building a reliable but reasonable weight wheel is of the best handeling improvements for your money on a DH bike. 823's for example are going to build up about a pound lighter in rim alone than doublewides, not accounting for tubeless weight loss, and I have been on my set for 4 seasons now, racing expert and weighing 240ish pounds.

im on a fundamental and mtx31 right now. had to ditch the doublewides, they have seen better days. also went to single ply tires since in iowa, theres not much for dh for trails out here.

[SHIVER ME TIMBERS]

keep riding the bike

don't piece it together(too expensive)...just look for a complete bike on Ebay...many good deals there

[Barnes10]

I just bought the Mavic EX823 rims i hope they work great

[SHIVER ME TIMBERS]

I just bought the Mavic EX823 rims i hope they work great

been running them since 2004....they are great...stay strait and hold up very well