Hi
I'm in the market for a new set of wheels for my Nukeproof Mega 290. Budget is arounf £400.
My choice is either between Hope Tech Enduro Pro 4 at £342 or Mavic Crossmax XL WTS at £400 (with quest tyres).
The bike is being used from everything from local blasts, all mountain peaks loops, trail centres and Enduros (PMBA, Ardrock, etc).
I literally can't decide what to get. I love the look of the crossmax but know they need regular hub care but I have all the parts. The hope appeal purely due to reliability and fit and forget (plus that sound!)
What would be your choice and what experience have you had of these wheels.
Cheers
Hope, the parts are available. Does the mavic have the unique spokes?
I have these for sale if it helps the decision
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/29%e2%80%9d-hope-tech-enduro-straight-pull-pro-4%e2%80%93used-4-times-specialized-roval-fatties ]Hope Pro4 SP - Nearly new[/url]
Can you get adapters for the Mavic wheels to adapt them to next week's random wheel standard?
Well my riding is very similar to yours, and I have the Crossmax XL and they are great wheels.
Someone always pipes up about the spokes, but in about six Mavic factory wheelsets I've never had one break - and the hubs are pretty reliable too IME.
The construction means you get a stiff, solid wheelset for less weight.
I've also ridden the Tech Enduros and they feel really good too, so I'd buy Vortexracing's wheels if I was you.
oldnpastit - Member
Can you get adapters for the Mavic wheels to adapt them to next week's random wheel standard?
Mavics come with all the adapters in the box - 15mm, 20mm, QR, 142 - but I don't know (yet) of a kit to convert them to boost. Even if there was a kit, I'm not sure the special spokes would allow the wheel to be redished.
That aside, you can get certailsall the spares for the hubs, and I was AMAZED just how well my Crossmax SX held up - I rode mine for about three years, took them apart, and there was no sign of dirt inside, they were clean as a whistle. Didn't touch them after that until I came to put an XD drive on after another year or two, still perfect. The newer Mavic hubs aren't at all like the old ones in terms of durability. I'd rate them equal to the hope for reliability - they're essentially the same design internally.
I'd say the Mavic are stiffer & lighter, but narrower, and with the disadvantage of propoetary spokes. I'd happily have either.
If you are going tubeless then Mavic.
The Enduro rim is a total PITA to tublessify.
My vote would be for Hope. They are re build able and easily fixed.
I have had Mavic Crossmax in the past and have nothing but problems with them. I had to have them re-built. I also had issues with the free hub body and snapped an axle.
so I'd buy Vortexracing's wheels if I was you.
commission on it's way 😉
The Enduro rim is a total PITA to tublessify
really, those of mine have been easy
Hmm. I have a Hope 35W wheel at home, I taped it, fitted a DHF to it, and inflated it inside 10 mins, with no tyre levers needed - and then did it a second time when my DoubleDown replacement tyre arrived, I'd have expected the tougher tyre to be hardeer tto fit, but again no tyre levers or hassle.
I suspect any issues are tyre related rather than rim.
Hmm. I have a Hope 35W wheel at home,
Nevermind this tubeless bickering, tell me how you're finding the 35W rims?
Are they tough & stiff enough?
Can't answer, I'm afraid - got the Hope wheelset as a "DH" wheelset for my full suss - have dual plys on it, and they're hanging in the shed unridden, awaiting their first uplift day, which is probably Finale next month.
Hope. It's a no brainer for me. Especially after I saw a magic flange crack and magic turn their nose up as "3 years is a reasonable like for a mountain bike wheel" apparently.
Yes, I've seen Hope stuff fail, the difference is, they stand by it if it does.
Can't answer, I'm afraid - got the Hope wheelset as a "DH" wheelset for my full suss - have dual plys on it, and they're hanging in the shed unridden, awaiting their first uplift day, which is probably Finale next month.
Ah right, better hope they are tough enough then!
🙂
Yep. Will be unimpressed if they explode on my holiday. Pretty sure they'll be good though, I don't seem to be too hard on wheels despite being a big lump
commission on it's way
I mainly want him to buy them so I'm not tempted.
I mainly want him to buy them so I'm not tempted
😀
Roval Traverse 29, the decent DT hubbed version would get my vote.
Or a set of second hand DT EX/XM 1501's.
Or for £400 i'd buy the DT hubs in the FS section, buy a set of new Arch rims & get the wheels built up by an LBS. Should be around £400.
Hope. It's a no brainer for me. Especially after I saw a magic flange crack and magic turn their nose up as "3 years is a reasonable like for a mountain bike wheel" apparently.
Still waiting to hear back about my own Mavic Crossmax hub failure too (cracked flange whilst it was sat in the shed interestingly enough!)... Can't say for sure I fully trust them any more, and though they've been tough (until the flange cracked) they are quite a flexy wheelset compared to others.
The Enduro rim is a total PITA to tublessify.
Hope's own rims are a PITA compared to most out there for running tubeless. They're a lot baggier fit with most tyres than Stans/Easton/DT etc.
Or for £400 i'd buy the DT hubs in the FS section, buy a set of new Arch rims & get the wheels built up by an LBS. Should be around £400.
Something like this...
For £400 budget I'd go for hub of choice (be it DT Swiss, Hope or one of any other worthwhile brands, I'm waiting for my new Rideworks hubs to turn up any day now) built onto your ally rims of choice with DT Swiss Comp spokes and brass nipples. Sounds boring, but will be less of a headache if you break anything, and will perform as well if not better than the alternatives already mentioned!
Mavic do the EN827 rim now which is what I'm eyeing up, 27mm internal, proper UST rim I'm told and 32H to build onto hubs of choice. Or there's the DT EX471 (if it's tough enough for Gwinn!), the Easton/Raceface ARC's, E13 TRS+, Stans Arch or Flow mk3's etc...