I’m looking at replacing my Mavic eX729 rims. They are outstanding rims IMO but they are heavy. I’ve had them 4 years now from second hand and they’ve stayed true (almost)throughout.
So please recommend me a rim as strong but noticeably lighter. Just not the silly money jobbies.
Thanks

Strong, light, cheap – pick any two, you can’t have all three

Spank Subrosa Evo 30? I have some and they are fantastic.

[Strong, light, cheap – pick any two]
I thought that was a myth reserved for men with controversial moustaches. 🙂

not exactly cheap still but… 46% off so almost bogof
Stans ZTR 355

Arch EX aren’t outrageously expensive.

mavic 319 disc, have a look. 😉

Cheap…light…subjective, what sort of price and weight? Mavic EN 521 £37, EN 321 £30

Mavic 319 look ok. I think I might be building my next wheels with them

[list]i’ve got 319’s on my boardman pro ht and im not light at 17 stone + lol i’ve had not trouble with them

How inexpensive? EX721 or Flows but they’re not cheap, just not silly money.

A rim as strong as a 729 but lighter, and it’s got to be cheap? You don’t ask for much do you?

What sort of riding are you doing?

Sorry I should have said, I’m looking at rims up to £100 each.

A quick search on the 721’s sounds promising

My 719s have been excellent over the last 2 1/2 years, theyve withstood all that the north lakes can throw at them, you`ll get a pair for £100.

So please recommend me a rim as strong but noticeably lighter

There isnt one.

riding all over, regular at the Quantocks, Mendips and the Welsh centers with annual Scottish pilgrimage. Roots n Rocks is what I like as opposed to Road gaps and 10ft drops. Got a long-travel-hardtail. XC-Freeride-DH-with added mince? Dunno what you call it…..

Not sure which will be strongest* in each situation but 721s are definitely stiffer than Flows, something you should notice coming from 729s.

*Some have reported Flows to ding less.

flows weigh more than the earths core..
729’s are about as heavy as you want to go on a bike you want to still pedal upwards occasionally.

I’d stick with the 729’s and get some faster rolling rubber.

I know people who use Spank Subrosas on both their DH and XC bikes. I use them for DH although they are significntly lighter than the Sun Singletracks they replaced.

GW – Member
Not sure which will be strongest* in each situation but 721s are definitely stiffer than Flows, something you should notice coming from 729s.

They should be – 721s are 590g to the Flows 470

£100 an end will get you any non cf rim, not too sure about weight but mavic 823? Save a spot of weight going tubeless?

I’m getting the feeling that maybe if it’s not broke blah, blah and that i should man-up

Do you really need that sort of strength? 729s are kinda ridiculous for most folks. (though, I found mine really soft, they didn’t exactly ding, I’d more call them bruises but the rims picked up little dents everywhere).

TBH you’re on a total hiding to nothing trying to find an equivalent, lightweight rim, let alone cheap. But you can probably lose a bit of strength and go to a 521 or 721 or similiar.

angryratio – Member

flows weigh more than the earths core..

The earth’s core weighs under 470g? Flows are astonishingly light for their strength.

Sorry I should have said, I’m looking at rims up to £100 each.

You could buy a pair of Hope Hoops for £300 – sorted.

I have some Salsa Delgardo race rims 32H £25 the pair if you want them my email is in my profile…

flows weigh more than the earths core..
729’s are about as heavy as you want to go on a bike you want to still pedal upwards occasionally.

Flows are more than 200g per rim lighter than 729s 😕

Flows would be what I’d be buying.

I’ve had EN521’s for 3 years and have stayed totally true despite some big square edge impacts and doing a lot of rocky stuff generally. Lighter than your current rims and fairly cheap

I have been riding 721’s for years and they are very good. The only issue I have with them is the wheel was built. However since I have learnt to build wheels myself I have rebuilt with proper spokes and they no longer have any issues. Fantiastic rims.

It’s interesting no other company’s were really mentioned. A couple of cheeky Spanks but other wise Mavic’s all the way

Both the Spanks were mine 8)

But honestly, they are great rims, and only 50g heavier than the Flows @ 520g. Plus they look quite pimpy and you don’t see many of them around.

Sun EQ 29 rims look pretty good and going by the longevity of my Singletracks, they are pretty well made.

I can do pimp…. 🙂

Alex Supra D good alternative to 721!

721 no weaker than 729 in most situations for me

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Can you get rims a strong as 729 but significantly lighter? Some say lighter rims/wheels make little difference anyway 🙂
Does rotational weight make that much difference?