I just blew up the freehub on my XT M775 wheelset that Iv'e been loving for the past year. However, many people have had trouble w/ this model hub and I cant break down 50 miles from a road. So what would you get thats strong and light for a 180lb rider purely x/c and marathon w/ occasional 3 foot drops. Thanks.
J
My Industry 9 AM set has been really solid for two years and counting. They're really stiff and the engagement is almost instant. They also make a QR15 conversion kit for $50 if you ever decide to go that way, which is nice. The '09 XC replaced the AM set.
The wheelset I want to get but can't afford right now is Hadley hubs and Stan's ZTR Flow rims. The Hadley hubs give you the instant engagement like the CK and I9 hubs but are cheaper. The Flow rims give you a wide rim at a lower weight than the Mavic 819.
I would go with Stans Flow or Arch rims or something with equivalent width. The Flows can go up to a 2.7mm tire while the Arch goes to 2.3mm.
Hubs you can go anywhere from CK to WTB Laser disc lites depending on how much you want to spend. The Industry 9 Sets are nice and you get get them made with Stans rims. The Mavic XM819 rims are on the heavy side, but they're full UST if that's a consideration.
Personally I like the WTB Laser Disc hubs for a good budget build. Tune King and Kong for an exotic high priced build that will be uber light. Hope Pro 2 hubs for longevity and price. Personally I don't like Chris King, they're heavy and very expensive, for their price I would rather get a set of DT 240 for their light weight and excellent quality.
I would stay away from proprietary premade wheels like the Mavic Crossmax etc. Parts and labor to fix them are expensive. You could almost buy a new wheel for what it will cost you to fix them.
Hope Pro II Hubs. My experience is they're industructable and reasonably light. They are loud, so beware. Build them up with a good spoke and rim and you'll have something that last. I'm using a DT 4.2d rim and sapim cx-ray spokes.
i use Flow's with CK hubs - more a XC ride I use to go a decent way off into remote areas so reliability is key for me rather than every last ounce of weigh saving. I weight circa 220lbs.
DT all the way... stupid light , super reliable and durable.. I've got 4.2's with 240 hubs laced with dt spokes and nipples. They are basically the xr1450's ... great components , easy to find replacement parts, dont need special tools to repair, if you have to repair them...
Howdy,
I use DT 340 centerlocks laced to DT 4.2ds. Sub 1800 grams, terrific durability, 18 point DT ratchet (20* per click). Officially good for tires to 2.35, though I use a 2.5 on the front. But, to be clear I don't think a 2.5 with soft sidewalls would be good. My Kendas at 2.35 seem to be a max whereas the WTB 2.5 up front does great. I don't have a single complaint and I push them pretty hard, IMO. For just a bit more AM performance and tire options the 5.1s might be good, but you would add about 200 grams to the set. I have had a set of 240s on my XC for 6 years and they have been stellar - as have the 340s to date. The ratchet is nearly bullet proof, and can be made quieter with a bit more grease. Generally speaking the DT stuff seems really good, and reasonably priced if you buy carefully.
And, they use standard bearings that can be had in just about any level of quality you want to pay for - I can't say the same for my CK stuff - though CK has been very good to me.
If you like doing technical climbs and moves, nothing can beat a quick engaging hub. I am partial to the Chris Kings myself. I have had my set for several years and have absolutely no issues. Not to mention they engage super fast and will last forever.
I too lust after the Hadley Hubs + Stans Flows combo. In addition to being strong hubs, they are also very quiet for the amount of engagement. The rear hub can be run with a 10mm thru-axle as well as a QR.
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