best quality/weight wheels for $400

[louisssss]

Wheels will be used on my 2010 Rockhopper SL Pro and i weigh about 155lbs.

i've heard great things about hand built wheels but i dont know much. i value looks, but put performance/quality first.

i had some interest in these DT 4.2D + PureXCR Hubs + DT Comp 2.0/1.8 Spokes for a total of ~$400 + 15 shipping.

these look really good with the red/black theme and are of pretty good parts, just wondering how the BWW Pure XCR Hubs are. How are these compared to Shimano XT Hubs?

recommendations @ $400?

[poontank]

I've got a set of nearly new Sun Ringle Disc O Fleas that might be a good option for $350. They are pretty light, tough and have a decent amount of points of engagement. Let me know if you are interested.

[louisssss]

can you tell me what "points of engagement" are? i'm pretty new to this sport..

[Mike T.]

The BWW will be great and they will have a warranty. Compared to XT hubs the BWW Pures will be -

• Lighter.
• Have sealed cartridge bearings versus the XT's loose ball bearing.
• Serviceable quickly with two 5mm allen wrenches versus cone wrenches.
• Red, versus the XT's black or silver.

That's about it.

[LuckySomer]

Consider

Hope 2 with Stans ZTR 355 Rim (black on black)

Features:
• Stans ZTR 355 Rim
• DT Swiss double butted spokes
• Brass nipples
• Weight: 813g (front) or 925g (rear)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=40778

or

• Stans ZTR Flow rim
• DT Swiss double butted spokes
• Brass nipples
• Weight: 880g (front), or 1006g (rear)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=40780


I went with the ZTR flows and converted the fronts to 15qrs and the rears to bolt ons for $45 extra.


Love them...fast stiff ligtht and tubeless....... still true like new no issues with hubs.

[stevesbike]

Jenson has the Easton XC One set on sale for $399. I bought a set and am impressed with them so far. Lightish at 1590 grams. They replaced a set of American Classic wheels - instantly noticed the improved stiffness of these wheels. They feel much more precise in handling and cornering, roll smoother, and appear to be built well.

[oldskoolbiker]

Originally Posted by louisssss

can you tell me what "points of engagement" are? i'm pretty new to this sport..

That is how many spots around the freewheel where the it will catch when you pedal forward. Very low end hubs might have only 16 points. This means when you pedal forward the cranks will go forward a little before catching and you start moving. High end hubs can have like 72 points, which means it will catch almost immediately.

I have Hope hubs and they only have 24 points, and I can tell you it is noticeable, but not that big of a deal. Hope hubs are really light, and easy to work on, and a good price, so I can live with it.

At $400 you can get a custom set of wheels from ChainReactionCycles.com with hope hubs, and pretty much any rim and spokes you want.

[louisssss]

one more important question i forgot to ask, Are the wheels i linked in my OP better then my stock DT 445Ds? i haven't weighed mine (stock ones), which will be the lighter set?

also, i know BWW hubs aren't exactly "name brand", can anyone second they quality vs Shimano hubs or Hope Hubs?

i've heard Hope hubs are "loud" does that mean i can hear clicking when i'm riding? i wouldn't want that, i want my ride to be quiet.. kinda like the peacefulness of nature. Also just FYI, i may just do these with my new wheel setup, since I'll then have 2 sets of wheels, i'll use my stock ones for trail riding and off roading, and use these new "light" ones for pavement commuting and getting around town. I only feel the weight of my bike on the pavement since i ride long distances so i'd want the lighter set for pavement, should i be looking at some 700c wheels instead?

[greengreer]

check out the mavic 819's on bicycle wheel warehouse- you can build them up with their hubs front and rear, brass nips and competion spokes for just under 400, they are plenty strong for their weight and are ust so it will take a tubeless tire w/o any sealant or a rim strip for even less weight and rolling resistance. you can opt for the xt hubs and save yourself $100+
i have a few wheels with xt hubs, i think they are a great budget hub. sure they weigh alot but it is weight that is concentrated toward the center of the rotating mass. I have only had to adjust the bearings on a rear hub once that got abused pretty constantly, has been perfect since then. my biggest complaint is the 16 points of engagement, even a 24pt feels like a world of difference, although it hasnt seemed to slow me down yet, just a preference

edit: check out this deal i just stumbled upon... http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...st+Wheels.aspx

[Swerny]

you may want to consider the Hope Hoops available at Wiggle.

I haver a set of the Pro 2 hubs on DT XR4.2d rims and like them a lot.

[louisssss]

what are the pros/cons of the hope pro2 over the BWW Pure hubs?

[ErickKTM]

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=4761&page=4

I have the exact wheels you are asking about. Picture about 3/4 way down the page. They are very good. I weigh 215 and road many miles and raced them 7 times this year. They are very smooth, light and the back wheel is only slightly out of true after a full season, front is still prefect. So, they are also very durable. Mine are all black with red nips and look good.

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by ErickKTM

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=4761&page=4

I have the exact wheels you are asking about. Picture about 3/4 way down the page. They are very good. I weigh 215 and road many miles and raced them 7 times this year. They are very smooth, light and the back wheel is only slightly out of true after a full season, front is still prefect. So, they are also very durable. Mine are all black with red nips and look good.

nice, are your Hubs BWW Pure XCR also? what about spokes?

[poontank]

Originally Posted by oldskoolbiker

I can tell you it is noticeable, but not that big of a deal.

I disagree. I just got rid of my Mavic Crossmax SX's because the feel in going from 36 to whatever the Mavic have (18 maybe) points of engagement was driving me crazy. Technical terrain is easier to navigate with higher POE and I feel more efficient.

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by poontank

I disagree. I just got rid of my Mavic Crossmax SX's because the feel in going from 36 to whatever the Mavic have (18 maybe) points of engagement was driving me crazy. Technical terrain is easier to navigate with higher POE and I feel more efficient.

does anyone know how many POE my stock DT Swiss 445D's have?
http://www.specialized.com/zz/en/bc/...enuItemId=9253
specs here if that helps

[oldskoolbiker]

Originally Posted by poontank

I disagree. I just got rid of my Mavic Crossmax SX's because the feel in going from 36 to whatever the Mavic have (18 maybe) points of engagement was driving me crazy. Technical terrain is easier to navigate with higher POE and I feel more efficient.

I should have said "it's not that big of a deal TO ME".

To some people it's very important. More POE does make ratcheting over technical spots easier, and if you are doing a lot of on and off pedaling. I know if I was a pro DH racer I would want as many POE as possible.

Also Louisss the 455D is a rim, not a hub. The Specialized site doesn't list specifically what hub the bike has, which probably means it's generic, and likely only has like 16 or 18

What you can do is spin the cassette backwards one full rotation and count how many times it "clicks"

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by oldskoolbiker

I should have said "it's not that big of a deal TO ME".

To some people it's very important. More POE does make ratcheting over technical spots easier, and if you are doing a lot of on and off pedaling. I know if I was a pro DH racer I would want as many POE as possible.

Also Louisss the 455D is a rim, not a hub. The Specialized site doesn't list specifically what hub the bike has, which probably means it's generic, and likely only has like 16 or 18

What you can do is spin the cassette backwards one full rotation and count how many times it "clicks"

i see, thats what i meant, "wheelset". Are the hubs on my bike that come from Specialized even competitive with Shimano XT hubs? POE/Weight? are Hope Pro2's the gold standard these days? should i just forget about the BWW Pure XCR Hubs?

[ErickKTM]

Originally Posted by louisssss

nice, are your Hubs BWW Pure XCR also? what about spokes?

Yes in black and the comp spokes.

[poontank]

Originally Posted by louisssss

i see, thats what i meant, "wheelset". Are the hubs on my bike that come from Specialized even competitive with Shimano XT hubs? POE/Weight? are Hope Pro2's the gold standard these days? should i just forget about the BWW Pure XCR Hubs?

I wouldn't say they are the golden standard. The Sun Ringle hubs have more POE and are at least comparable in weight and while not quiet are not nearly as loud as the Hope Pro 2's. A lot of it will come down to rider preference. For many, it's weight, for some it's POE, others reliability and easy of maint., while for others sound is important, but for most it's a combination of those things. Whatever combination you chose will help you decide the best hub for you and would also determine what hub would be considered the golden standard for each.

[louisssss]

how many POE does the BWW Pure XCR hubs have?

[poontank]

Originally Posted by louisssss

how many POE does the BWW Pure XCR hubs have?

IDK. You may want to search these forums to see if you can find out. If it's not on these forums somewhere chances are that info in not published. When I searched awhile back, there wasn't much info on the BWW hubs out there. I think they are still fairly new hubs, so there was nothing on the long term performance of the hubs. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[the sloth]

30 POE.

I've been riding on a set of BWW hubs and 4.2d's laced with Supercomps for six months now and I'm extremely happy with them. More often than not my rides are muddy and wet and I haven't had to service the bearings yet and I've only regreased the freehub once. The wheels came really well built from BWW and have only needed one minor truing since. They're a nice set of wheels, and as soon as I can find the money in my budget I'm going to spring for a set for my hardtail as well...

[tailwaters]

I believe 30 POE. If I'm lucky my new set of Mavic 819 with BWW Hubs tomorrow. So I can count them at that point. But if memory serves me correct it was 30-32 POE

[poontank]

Originally Posted by the sloth

30 POE.

I've been riding on a set of BWW hubs and 4.2d's laced with Supercomps for six months now and I'm extremely happy with them. More often than not my rides are muddy and wet and I haven't had to service the bearings yet and I've only regreased the freehub once. The wheels came really well built from BWW and have only needed one minor truing since. They're a nice set of wheels, and as soon as I can find the money in my budget I'm going to spring for a set for my hardtail as well...

Good to know the POE on the BWW hubs. Thanks Sloth.

Difference of opinion here, but if I have a set of wheels that I have to regrease and true within the first six months of ownership, I wouldn't consider myself extremely happy with a $400 set of wheels. But to each his own. Some guys don't mind working on their bike as much. Again, it just depends on what is important to you as a rider.

[the sloth]

Deep creek crossings and muddy conditions around here tend to destroy my bearings in no time. I've gotten crunchy sealed bearings and an ss freewheel in a long day of wet riding. I'm lucky to get four months out of an external BB without an overhaul.

Freehub regreasing on the BWW's took 20 minutes and required two 5mm allens. By minor truing i mean at most maybe 1/16", which some wouldn't even consider warranted...

But yes, I enjoy working on my bikes... it's not a hobby, it's more of an addiction

[JdoggCanada]

My choice for a $400 set of wheels: shimano 775 factory wheels....durable, cheap, true tubeless.

[One Pivot]

whats wrong with your brand new 2010 wheels?

[DannyBoy1]

Im thinking of getting the Mavic 321 with XT's, should i upgrade them to the XCR for $60 more? I ride aggressive XC/light am, on a 09 DB response sport. Ride in the front San Gab's. 180lbs.
Thanks

[tailwaters]

I just had BWW build me a set of 819 on the Pure XCR Hubs. Very nice setup all in all not to heavy and certainly strong enough to take anything I'll be able to through at them. Best of all UST, easy to mount and hold air better than any other rim I've ever owned.

[louisssss]

Originally Posted by tailwaters

I just had BWW build me a set of 819 on the Pure XCR Hubs. Very nice setup all in all not to heavy and certainly strong enough to take anything I'll be able to through at them. Best of all UST, easy to mount and hold air better than any other rim I've ever owned.

thanks for that, i'm still deciding between a 700c wheelset or a DT4.2D + BWW Hub setup... someone convince me of something