I've had a set of Mavic EN321s on ProII's for about 6 years now.
Have had to replace the bearings in them once but never had to go near them with a spoke key.
They've been used with various different axle combinations on a cove stiffee, a meta 5 and a Ti456 they've seen trail centres, natural routes, northshore, drops, uplift days and many a cased landing.
I'd like to replace them with something flash... but there just isn't any point.
Mavic Wheelsets have poor quality freehubs, are a nightmare to get hold of spares for, and though strong for only 24 spoke wheels, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
Go for a set of wheels with standard hubs, rims and 32 spokes per wheel, at least you can always get spares from pretty much any bike shop. Hub wise, well Hopes are reliable (but noisy), DT's are fantastic but pricey, King's same again really, etc etc. You pays your money, you takes your choice!
Rim wise, mid width and weight, I'd look at Mavic's EN521, Stans Flow, or perhaps Sun Ringle's EQ27 or EQ29. Won't pinch a 2.35" tyre like a narrower rim would, but also usefully lighter than a full on DH rim in each case.
cheers mboy
Spokes and nipples also effect strenght and I believe a lot is to do with the quality of the build. I don't know that much about all this but would avoid alloy nipples and, from talking about options with Dan from Goldtec, was told about pro-loc nipples being an option which don't loosen so easily. It's great dealing with them as they will build wheels with their own or hope or whatever hubs etc you want but as they manufacture hubs themselves they know their onions when it comes to the engineering side. Dan also races downhill (and was competing at the worlds at Fort William) so can talk from experience re what to go for for particular usage. They tend to be pretty competitve on price too. Not the absolute cheapest but with the advice, bespoke build and service they certainly offer value for money.
hmmmm
You have to specify a budget.
If it's upto about £400 then really you have hope Huns on stans flow, 1850g for the pair and really strong. Other hubs are available but for the weight there is no stronger rim.
If your budget stretches to about 7/800 then you can look at factory wheels, mavic st/st. However I don't like my deemax, issues with the freehub and the bearing preload continually comes loose to the extent I now carry the tool around with me. You have Easton haven wheels, around £600 strong and light for their strength 1650g or crank brothers iodine, I've had no issues with mine, except I've knocked one out of true but that was after two days uPligt downhill and I'm not the lightest! Strong and stiff but at 1800g not that light.
Then if you budget stretches more your into carbon. Easton haven carbons are going to be my next wheelset. Sxspensive yes, but the rims are stupidly strong and the warrantee really is no questions asked. This is more to do with trying to change people's perspective of carbon rims on a mountain bike. Only 1500g too
Then if you budget stretches more your into carbon. Easton haven carbons are going to be my next wheelset. Sxspensive yes, but the rims are stupidly strong and the warrantee really is no questions asked. This is more to do with trying to change people's perspective of carbon rims on a mountain bike. Only 1500g too
Seriously? At nearly £2,000.00 a set? The phrase more money than sense springs to mind.
bearing preload continually comes loose to the extent I now carry the tool around with me
You're overtightening them - back off on the preload!
black ones 
Mikey74
Unless you a t- totaler who lives in basic accommodation, no tv, no Internet, never eats or goes out and never buys anything that is not absolutely necessary then you can not comment on how I choose to spend my disposable income.
Zulu eleven, I'll try that, cheers. They look excellent and are strong for their weight.
I probably wont bother with Stans rims again. I dont run tubless on them (been a pain for me) so dont see the extra cost being worthwhile. On the other hand I do rum crossmax UST and they are brill so would would definetely consider Mavic 819 and UST tyres. Lot of people I ride with still ride 717's and they ride pretty hard.
I stand by my "more money than sense" comment.
Your right the 819 is an excellent rim, had a pair for 3 years and never went out of true. However, with an internal rim width of 19mm you struggle to run anything wider then 2.25 tubeless due to the tire rolling.
The flow is slightly lighter stronger and is wider, around 21mm and give tires much better profile
mboy - Member
Mavic Wheelsets have poor quality freehubs, are a nightmare to get hold of spares for, and though strong for only 24 spoke wheels, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
I thought that was old news? Neither my mates who run Mavics not I have ever had any real problems apart from the odd spoke & the plastic bushing in the freehub but these are easily sourced these days - whether through the UK service centre or otherwise.
I've failed to damage a set of Crosstrails in two years of continuous (clumsy) use in all conditions.
Custom builds make more sense if you're concerned about spares/servicing but if you fancy a set of Mavics then this is not the issue it was 2 or 3 years ago.
faint - MemberI probably wont bother with Stans rims again. I dont run tubless on them (been a pain for me) so dont see the extra cost being worthwhile. On the other hand I do rum crossmax UST and they are brill so would would definetely consider Mavic 819 and UST tyres.
See, I've got a set of Flows and a set of 819s and fitting tubeless is absolutely identical once the yellow tape's on. What sort of issues were you having? To me the 819s are completely uncompetitive- heavier, less strong, and narrower.
If you buy the stans/ss combo (which is great value) definitely get the rear wheel straight in the jig with someone who knows what they are doing before you ride it (I've seen you ride...).
Even with my jaycore riding the rear was flopping all over the place after 2 rides and needed a full retension....
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