As per title, any experience with Merlins handbuilt wheel sets?

never heard a bad word about them.

I had a pair of hope/mavic’s off them that lasted 7 years without a spoke key touching them (I sold them so they’re probably still going strong)

Wife’s are nine years old, mine seven – never touched apart from bearings.
Hope/Mavic.

never heard a bad word about them.

Had a couple of pairs over the years, build my own now, couldn’t see the point of having to retension theirs, and that was before they’d been used, finger tight nipples don’t cut it.

Not had any recently but wheel building is where they built their reputation.

All the ones I’ve had have been very good. In fact, I’ve still got a 717 on an XT hub sat in the garage from 11 years ago that’s straight and true.

I’m still using a set of Hope xc/Mavic 317s from 2002.
They’ve been through various bikes had a few spokes replaced due to crashing and other than that have been great and still performing on juniors bike.

Had a few wheels from them, all of which were fine. The customer service on the other hand, on the one occasion when all was not well… non-existent (literally). So I also build my own now.

I still have a set of Shimano LX / Mavic wheels they built in 1995

No problems with the ones I’ve had.

Been a few years since I last bought a custom wheel from them, but all the ones that I’ve had have been good solid wheels that have required minimal attention over years of (ab)use

If your in the north west then I hear Dave Hinde also builds a good wheel 😈

If your in the north west then I hear Dave Hinde also builds a good wheel

Yes i’ve heard he’s got a reputation…….

a reputation

That’s putting it mildly…

Very good. Mavic/hope hubs mtb superb wheels…..

Its taking ages to get a quote out of them!!!!

I’ve had a few sets and they’ve been great.

I’ve had my best set of wheels from them and my worst set of wheels from them. Make of that what you will.

Ive just sold a set of 26inch flows on hopes, 3 years old and still ran true and as sweet as the day I bought them, just bought a set of arch on hopes last week from them, hopefully these will be the same 😀

Well there seems to be far more positives than negatives.

Had a pair when I was younger 14 or so xt m737 on mavic 517 rims that lasted about 3 years (all weather training killed them).

My brother got a set to wind me up December last year hope stans crest 26″ and I had to rebuild them not good so back fire on him really lol as I made him wait.

It’s a while ago now but they sent a mate a set that were out of true and slightly out of dish, spoke tension wasn’t awful but it wasn’t good. When he queried it they more or less went, you’re wrong, we’re the experts, goodbye.

Mine were fine though.

2 perfect sets for me. One Mavic 317 Rims on shimano XT hubs (4-5 years old) and the other set Mavic 719 on Hope hubs (5-6 years old). Both sets still running sweet and true several sets of bearings later. Not had any wheels off them since then, but always found their customer service to be great.