Lightweight AM wheelset dilemma?

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Lightweight AM wheelset dilemma?

55 posts & 34 voices | Started 6 months ago by butterbean | Latest reply from jedi

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mrblobby - Member

Pro 2 evo SP hubs and crest rims here. Heavier than XC race wheels, lighter than proper AM wheels. For me, just about perfect for British trail riding. Also easy to get spares for and service myself. Easy to convert between wheel standards too. Not too expensive either. Unless you want something that stands out a bit more you really can't go wrong.

Only practical reason not to get them is if you run fat rubber. They're fine with big 2.25 tyres, but if you were running say 2.5 then you might find them a bit narrow. Also find hub engagement can be a little slow compared with some properly expensive hubs.

Though those industry 9 wheelsets are lovely...

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=496

Who in their right mind would buy them over Hope Hoops?

Posted 6 months ago #
Northwind - Member

butterbean - Member

Ride and race a lot of DH, so maybe I push it a bit harder?

Incidentally, looking at my last message I think my tone was accidentally a bit s*** so thanks for taking it as it was meant not as it read.

I'm not the hardest of riders but still, I've had occasions of stupidly letting the pressure drop to unsafe levels and even though the tyre's been pulled miles off to the side of the rim the bead's stayed locked. Maybe variations in the rims or tyres? I know some right fast mad b***ards that get on fine with it too.

Maybe just a ymmv thing but it's definately not the case that everyone should assume their Flows will need rim strips, is probably a fair compromise. Sabrina Jonnier uses yellow tape and tubeless on hers

Posted 6 months ago #
Ming the Merciless - Member

I too am reading with interest, having had disastrous problems with Havens and needing a new rear wheel. The 2012 Crossmax SX looks great but I'm really put off by the stupid hub preload system.

Currently thinking of a Stan's Flow rim with a DT Swiss 440 hub, not the lightest but should be durable. Any thoughts?

Posted 6 months ago #
HarYuken - Member

flow - Member

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=496

Who in their right mind would buy them over Hope Hoops?

I did and they have been fine. They were significantly cheaper and they threw in a free tubeless kit worth £30, which clinched the deal.

What makes the Hopes that much better than these hubs? They are made by Novatec/Joytec, who make good quality hubs.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/superstar-hubs-worth-risking

Posted 6 months ago #
njee20 - Member

I'm a bit underwhelmed by my Hope Hoops, not sure I'd buy another set. Can't really put my finger on why, they feel slow, and it's not just because they're heavier than my race wheels. Cynic-Al tells me I'm not allowed to put it down to bearing drag, even though there is tonnes, and they're starting to go a bit gritty despite having relatively little use.

I'd probably choose the Superstars if I was after another set (and I didn't have access to Hoops at trade!).

Posted 6 months ago #
Northwind - Member

Hoops seem to have come back down in price so the Superstars aren't as tempting an option as they were. If their builds were more consistent they'd be a better option but my mate's had nightmares with his Superstars (including being told that it was all his fault for expecting an all mountain wheelset to survive Glentress red)

The Switch hub feels pretty much exactly as draggy as a Pro2, though I don't think the difference is noticable in use myself (my ancient Shimanos spin forever, at least 10 times longer than either of my Pro2s, but they all feel the same when riding)

Posted 6 months ago #
njee20 - Member

I suspect it is psychological and the difference is the weight, but I know my race wheels will spin better with the brakes dragging slightly than my Hopes will without! Must be some losses there!

Agree on SSC builds, seen some really poor ones. Could get Novatech hubs off eBay and custom build, dunno how the price would compare.

Posted 6 months ago #
wrecker - Member

including being told that it was all his fault for expecting an all mountain wheelset to survive Glentress red

Really?

Posted 6 months ago #
flow - Member

I did and they have been fine. They were significantly cheaper and they threw in a free tubeless kit worth £30, which clinched the deal.

What makes the Hopes that much better than these hubs? They are made by Novatec/Joytec, who make good quality hubs.

They aren't that much difference in price at all. Novatec hubs are cheap as chips, my brother has some on his road bike. Hope hubs are way better quality, and customer service is excellent if anything does go wrong.

Posted 6 months ago #
organic355 - Member

i didnt read all that ^^

but what about american classic AM wheelset?

http://www.amclassic.com/en/products/mtbwheels/allmountaindisc.php

1546g/pair

Posted 6 months ago #
Scamper - Member

I've just bought an Arch/Pro 2 Evo, supercomp, brass nipples and running tubes that is 967g for the rear, so you'd be struggling to break 1800g for the set?

Posted 6 months ago #
neninja - Member

The Sun Ringle Black Flag Expert wheels 1725g and Sun Ringle Charger Expert 1825g on CRC for £185 and £190 respectively are a good buy.

Both use Stans Notubes based rims - the Black Flag are the XC/Trail wheelset with a 24mm rim and the Charger more AM with a wider 28mm rim and come with valves, yellow tape and sealant which normally would cost another £20+ if you buy Hopes.

Posted 6 months ago #
wilko1999 - Member

A cheapish option - Halo 4XRs

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-halo-4xr-wheelset-11-45050/

They're a shade under 1800 grams and won't break the bank

I've recently fitted a set to my 160mm AM bike and first impressions are excellent

Posted 6 months ago #
float - Member

some of these bad boys. only ever seen one pair in the flesh, but god theyre sexy. hub is a superfast noisy engagement that sounds like an angry wasp. cant elaborate any more than that, but i seriously want some.

Posted 6 months ago #
scar4me - Member

For the £/weight/strength I doubt you could beat the Sun Charger Experts on CRC at the moment for £146!:
Charger wheelset

I've already got a set of xm717 on WTB speedlite disc rear, RockyMountain Carbon 20mm front that are uber light (sub 1600), but their just not quite wide enough to the support tyres well under hard cornering. They are plenty strong enough, and have put up with all the abuse I give them tho.

Scar

Posted 5 months ago #
leebaxter - Member

Running bontrager rhythm pros here. under 1700 grams, tubeless, cheapish.
Apart from the palls needing changing a few times, and some tyres not seating properly/easily, excellent wheels.

Posted 5 months ago #
ScottChegg - Member

I think Stan's are the Emperors new rims. Folks always recommend them because they are lighter than Mavic.

I don't trust them after my bad experiences with them. A racing snake mate has white Olympics on his bike. After a ride the other day I noticed they are corroding, especially around the spoke holes. A quick google shows this to be fairly common.

It would be good if DT came out with rims that were not so prone to denting, and there would be a third way.

And Superstars famous aftersales service means it should be Hope all the way.

Posted 5 months ago #
Hob Nob - Member

I built my own wheels recently for similar reasons. Wanted to build them around a set of DT Swiss 240's but the hub prices new were frightening. Managed to find a second hand wheelset for cheap, so bought it, stripped the rims, sold them & was left with the hubs for £100.

Ended up with Flow's (sadly I couldn't find anything more suitable) and DT Revolution spokes. Including my ghetto tubeless setup (electric tape & Mavic UST valves) they came out at a gnat's boll*ck over 1700g.

Saved a good chunk over the default choice of Pro 2/Flow & were cheaper too.

However, at nearly £600 to build new, its an expensive way to save 200g!

Posted 5 months ago #
jedi - Member

mavic crossmax sx for me too

Posted 5 months ago #