I need / want a new set of wheels for my SX. He choices are

Hope Pro II on EN521
Easton Haven in CRC sale
Easton Havoc in CRC sale

The Hopes are the cheapest and the most adaptable but are also the heaviest and there do seem to be a few issues with the bearings. The Havens are the lightest and best looking in my eyes and Dirt rate Thimbu again there does seem to be an issue with poor bearings.

Riding wise, I want something light but tough. The bike is used for bombing around the local woods on short DH runs, jumps and drops, trail centres and rides in the Peaks.

What are people’s experiences with the above wheels?

Thanks

Hope. Freehub is far less likely to implode, and are massively flexible in terms of axle types.

I have Hopes and they’ve been great.

A mate has Eastons and rates them highly too. Comes with tubeless tape fitted means slightly less faff if you’re running tubeless too.

If there is a bearing issue with either then who will be easier to deal with? How much more weight with the Hopes are we talking?

The Hopes are about 400g heavier than the Havens and 300g or so than the Havoc.

The ability to run tubeless is an attraction to the Easton wheels and part of me thinks can a pair of wheels with an RRP of £700 really be that bad?

But the Hopes are a known quantity. I’m still using a pair of five bolt Bulbs on my BFe and I’ve never had any issues with Mavic rims. Hmmmmmm.

I’m running tubeless on both my Crest and Flow EX rim wheelsets. Just needed Stans yellow tape, sealant and using TL ready tyres.

For the cost of the Eastons you could buy two Hope wheelsets and have close to £200 leftover. I got mine in the sales. 300-400g is an appreciable weight difference. What about replacements spokes and so on? Are they easier to source for the Eastons?

The Easton wheels are half price from CRC at the moment, so only a bit more expensive than the Hopes.

The spokes are supposed to be standard Sapim ones so should be easy to source. They Eastons do seem to divide opinions. A lot.

The weight saving is attractive though.

Then get the Eastons. Looks like you’ve subconsciously made up your mind and want the Hive’s stamp of approval! 🙂

Oh, and what’s the rim width on the Eastons? The Flow EX’s are lovely and beefy. Really seem to brutalise everything that’s in the way to make up for shit riders like me.

The Hopes… seem to be a few issues with the bearings.

Eh – compared to what, something Brunel made?

Not sure why you’d choose those rims, when you can have Stans for the same price. And with Eastons you have no real ability to change axles/standards etc.

I had decided on the Hopes until the Eastons were in the sale.

I don’t know too much about the Flow rims. The Eastons are 28mm wide, 23mm internal for the Havocs so a hit wider than the EN521.

I’ve had a set of Havens for a year. I’ve changed the non drive side bearing in the rear wheel and apart from that had no issues with them. They are by far the easiest wheels I’ve had for mounting tubeless tyres as well. Straight up first time, every time with a track pump. They’ve taken a beating in the Alps and Peak district and still going strong. I’ve got the 20mm front and 142×12 rear. You can interchange the axles for whatever you want. Downside, sourcing spokes, only place I could find them was Hibike.de.

Both good but think of getting spares when you need them.

What are these Hope bearing issues you speak of?

Patriot there seems t be a few members on here who have experienced short bearing life which seems t be down to them being a bit smaller than in previous hubs like the Bulb.

I’d probably get the Havens, especially now the hub problem can be sorted for free.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Easton-Cycling-Hub-Upgrade-Kit.html

American classic- blinking brilliant and easy to find cheap.

Very simple to inflate tubeless, very light, brilliant hubs, oh yeah they are wide rims which does wonders for contact patch and grip.

You will not be disappointed !

I’ve gone with a set of Easton Havocs because I don’t think that the magnesium colour of the Havens will go well with my poo brown 36’s and SX Trail.

I’ll get the rear wheel upgrade as soon as possible.

Once I’ve decided if I prefer a Minion front with rear High Roller or High Rollers front and rear I’ll take the plunge and try tubeless.