Hope Pro III on DT 4.2 versus DT 240s? Where would your money go?

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Hope Pro III on DT 4.2 versus DT 240s? Where would your money go?

19 posts & 13 voices | Started 2 years ago by crouch_potato | Latest reply from smurf

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crouch_potato - Member

Hi all,
(or all of you with who can muster the interest in this fascinating topic of a Saturday evening)

Looking at potentially getting a pair of new wheels in the near future and have noticed that you can get the Hope factory wheelsets with the new(ish) ProIII hub for around the same price as DT 240s, both built onto DT 4.2 rims.

I have used 240s in the past (on Mavic rims) and rate them. Has anyone got a set of ProIII wheels they'd like to compare? How is the engagement and the weight in real life? Also, has anyone got the DT 4.2 rims? How are they? I have one DT rim at the minute and it's a pain to get tyres on and off.

I'm probably leaning towards the DT240s as I know and like them, though the Hopes are probably pretty excellent too. Both would outlast the rim if that's the weak point in the set up so it's mainly a hub versus hub question, although would appreciate any tales of the rim... Just wondering what the collective singletrack wisdom could offer...

Thanks,

c_p.

Posted 2 years ago #
BadlyWiredDog - Member

The only downside to the DT240, ime, is that you need a heinously expensive splined tool to dismantle the rear hub. Fwiw, I went for a Pro 2 front hub and a DT240S rear. The Pro 2 front works with QRs, 16mm, 20mm and the Maverick hub too, which makes it really versatile. The rear's fine as well, but ridiculously noisy, which may or may not worry you.

Posted 2 years ago #
muffin_the_mule - Member

Hi,

I had a set of 240s and loved them. I haven't used pro3s but do have a set of pro2s at the moment. I think they are rubbish, awful bearing life and wouldn't buy again. Can't see why the pro3 would be much different. I'd buy 240s again, infact may!

Posted 2 years ago #
crouch_potato - Member

Mmm bwd, that tool seems a ridiculously overpriced stickler. I had thought that the 240s were convertable to a thru' axle thingy of some sort but haven't looked into that.

Cheers for the feedback on the proII's muffin, I know a lot of people who use them and are happy, but I may stick with what I know I like... unless a flood of people come up with reasons to switch...

Posted 2 years ago #
Blazin-saddles - Member

on the flip side to muffin, I had a pair of 240's once and they ate bearing for fun. Over our 6 bikes I have 2 pair pro2, 2 pair Pro3 24h and 2 pair 32h pro3 straight pulls and in 6 years for the oldest pair I've swapped 2 bearings in one of the front pro2's and that's all.

The Hope Hoops Pro3 on Stans 355 rims are excellent, wouldn't bother with 4.2 rims though as they are very soft and dent easily.

Posted 2 years ago #
trailmonkey - Member

4.2 rims are very dentable if you're doing anything other than woodsy singletrack.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bushwacked - Member

Rim wise - depends what you are using them for.

I've not had any experience of the hubs, but agree with the Pro11 being crap with bearings - keep changing mine on a regular basis!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
will1 - Member

240's every time. I have had both and the 240's were great lasted 2 yrs before putting bearings in and I ride a lot. The Pro 3's ate bearings the first set lasted 2 weeks!! and I bust loads of spokes. Got a mate having the same trouble. Mavic rims are much tougher than the DT Swiss too.

Posted 2 years ago #
GSI-MAN - Member

Am i right in saying that people think that the Stans 355 rims are better and stronger than the 4.2s.I to am looking at purchasing the Hope Hoops but have not decided on the rims yet.I was going to go for the 4.2s as i didnt like the idea of the Stans 355 not being eyeleted and i thought that may make them weak and i am also not sure if i want to go tubeless.

Posted 2 years ago #
Blazin-saddles - Member

355's are fine without eyelets, they're designed for it. My Olympics rims are 6 years old now and no cracks have appeared, I'm 80kg on they're built very tight.

You don't have to run stans rims tubeless, they'll still take tyres and tubes. I was very underwhelmed with the 4.2d rims as They are very easy to dent and scratch easily. However I was also disappointed with 240s hubs and I appear to be in the minority here. I don't know what people are doing to the bearings on Pro 2/3 hubs to kill them so quickly as like I said I've done plenty of miles on mine and only swapped a couple of bearings ever.

Posted 2 years ago #
on and on - Member

i just swapped from a 2007 Crosmaxx Sl wheel set to ZTR Olympic's on 240's

the SL's were like riding through treacle where as the 240's spin forever.
they look like a quality item but only time will tell

Posted 2 years ago #
crouch_potato - Member

Cheers for the opinions everyone. The only reason I was considering the 4.2 rims was as I've come across seemingly good deals for both hubs ready built onto them. I was considering un-building them new and putting different rims on (then offloading the rims on here), but might just suck it and see.

Posted 2 years ago #
njee20 - Member

That's not really worth the effort!

I'd definitely say the 355s (or Olympics) are better than 4.2s. I've had excellent experiences with 240s too, but I have the tools to service them at my disposal. Pro IIs/IIIs are a safe bet, and they are substantially cheaper.

Posted 2 years ago #
crouch_potato - Member

Yeah njee, but I've seen offers for 240s or proIIIs for the same price built into 4.2s, which is why I was asking (ready built so no option to get alternative rims). As for price, they are both around £80-100 more than proII, so I've got to see what I can afford/justify in the end.

Posted 2 years ago #
njee20 - Member

Well Pro IIIs are just straight pull versions of the Pro II, so I was using them interchangeably.

I'd get Pro IIs on Olympics with Competition or Revolution spokes.

Posted 2 years ago #
roger-m - Member

Pro 3 has a different rear axle design and as supplied, better bearings. If you want a Pro2 with straight pull spokes then it's called the Pro2 SP, but not yet available (will be soon).

Roger

Posted 2 years ago #
bowglie - Member

I'm running DT hubs on my HT, Pro 3 SP-AM (Stans flow rims) on my FS and the wife has 'inherited' my Pro 3 SP-XC (4.2 rims) for her bike. The DT's are 7 years old - still have their original bearings and haven't missed a beat (spares and dedicated tools are expensive tho.) Also been impressed with the Pro 3 hubs, particularly the light weight of the Pro 3 XC hub. The Pro 3 hubs have stainless bearings throughout and seem to have less rolling resistance than my old Hope XC hubs. The Hope's have a much louder freewheel than the DT's, but IMO, the faster you go the better they sound IME, the big advantage of the Hope's over the DT's is the simplicity of servicing, axle compatibility and freely available parts. As far as rims go, the only thing I found with the 4.2's is that they felt a bit flexy when really hooning around (reason I got the Pro 3 SP-AM Flow wheels - awesome wheels btw). Also, the DT rims can also be an absolute b*****d to get tyres on & off - after breaking two plastic tyre levers and bending a steel one, I gave up trying to fit a Bontrager tyre - flow rims much easier in this respect. I reckon Pro 3 SPXC's with Stans 355's would make a very nice wheel for general XC/trail stuff.

Posted 2 years ago #
GSI-MAN - Member

Going by peoples advice i think that i will be more inclined to go for the Stans 355 rims instead of the DT 4.2s.

Posted 2 years ago #
smurf - Member

Ref one of the earlier posts, you can get a 20mm version of the 240s front and adapters to also use a QR.

smurf

Posted 2 years ago #