[Closed] New Rim time. Anyone with DT Swiss XM 481s?

Tried to get a wheel set built up with these but they are not in stock until late November iirc.
Opted for the Easton ARC 27. Similar weight at 27mm rather than 30.
Should be wide enough I reckon!

Mate has 471s and they take some hammer. Some American apparently rode quite fast on one without the tyre

Oh really that long to wait for them? Dang

Yea I'm aware of the gwinn run and that the wheel didn't collapse. What I don't know though was whether it was dinged so much you wouldn't be able to seat a tubeless tyre on it afterwards ! I

Might get a 471 then , just fancied wider

I have the XM481's, only ridden on them once so far but so far I'm loving the profile they give my 2.4"s, cleaned a rooty climb I've always dabbed on before, conditions were bang on which probably helped but the new tyre profile can't have hurt.

If you're riding hard enough to knacker a Trace rim, the EX471 may actually be a better bet anyway, they're designed as Enduro race rims but loads of WC DH teams use them because they're tough as hell.

The XM481's are more of a super wide all round trail rim, not as strong but because of that they manage to be slightly lighter than the 471's despite being 5mm wider.

Hi hatter , thanks for that , food for thought . Where did you get them from? Glad to hear you are enjoying them

I destroyed a trace enduro rim (rear on a HT) and replaced it with a 471. It's taken far more abuse than the trace ever did and there's not a mark on it. I can't imagine a better rim.

I've been hovering over these for about a week and this thread is not helping

[url= http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/dt-swiss-rim-ex-471-spline-one-32-hole-26-inch-411125 ]EX 471's[/url]

I still have the trace on the front (these mismatched rims actually make sense) and it's been OK. That 471 out back has taken some stick. Probably the only bike part I'd be precious about, perhaps the reverb too.

Yeah that's the plan for me , the trace up front stays, then probably a 471 rear . Just been to DTs website and they rate the 481 as more all mountain and the 471 for #enduro. So I guess they are saying it stronger (as the DH team use shows)

Will go for one of those then

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

I want these for my YT DH Bike. I think they can take it.

Got them via Madison who are the importers

Any more feedback on the XM481s?
Width sounds great over the EX471, and I've lined up a set for a 155/160mm travel bike, likely running 2.35 tyres mostly in the Peaks. Just wondering if anyone else has tried them.

Was going to get 481's but decided on the 471. €15-20 cheaper, not much in the weight and wanted a tough rim. 481 width did appeal but I think there's a trade off on strength/toughness.

I've been running the 481s for a bit. Seem every bit as tough at the ex series. Absolutely the best rim in town right now in my opinion.

benpinnick, how come the 481s over carbon given you have some choices?

Ahh, well I was meaning best Alu rim, carbon is a different price league though. Interestingly yesterday my bike got dumped off the FLyup lift and ended up being dragged up the hill wedged in the trailer, back wheel on the ground ploughing a furrow. 'Twas a bird carbon rim though so it took it with a couple of scratches only. I think even the impressive XM481 would be a pringle after that little experience.

Interestingly yesterday my bike got dumped off the FLyup lift and ended up being dragged up the hill wedged in the trailer

Thanks for helping out with the hub BTW 🙂

'Twas a bird carbon rim though so it took it with a couple of scratches only. I think even the impressive XM481 would be a pringle after that little experience.

I'd expect carbon to take more force to break in that situation. Not something I would want to test though and sounds like it could potentially have destroyed any wheel.

You think your own carbon rims will stand up to abuse better than one of DT SWISS' alu rims?

Absolutely. Its not just our rims of course, all decent carbon rims would. Deflection wise (side loading) they are way, way stiffer and stronger than alu. Not to say DTs rims aren't great - I love them, but I think Alu simply couldn't withstand that kind of side loading in most cases. The deflection was sufficient that all the spokes in the area (Its straightpull) have wound themselves into odd angles where the rim deflected enough that the spokes when baggy, jiggled around in the hub/rim and then tensioned again randomly as the wheel went back straight.

Cheers Ben, sounds good! I'm giving the 481's a bash. If they don't cut it, they have the same ERD as the EX471 so I can always swap. I like the idea of trying wide though. Coming from a Flow EX, the 481 sounds a bit different.

No worries, I am sure you'll do fine with them. They come with alu squorx nipples. These are good but:

Buy the squorx back of the nipple-driver its worth it.
If you're building them yourself try and build them in one quick hit. The Pro lock on the nipples work well - they start to lock fairly quickly though. Not so quick you need to rush, but dont half build it then leave it for a day!

Yup, I'll be building it, cheers for the tip. Had thought about lacing then borrowing a jig, will plan to do it all in one.

I think I have some etorx bits but any excuse for a new tool!

Minor thread revival but I came across this pic which might alleviate some fears on the strength/durability of the XM481 rims...

[img] [/img]

I think I have some etorx bits but any excuse for a new tool!

Couldn't justify £15 for a screwdriver so made one using a disc rotor bolt (T25) which is a perfect fir on the squorx head.

Ah, nice. Cheers for the photo. I suspect he takes better lines than me, but hits them several times harder.

Top tip, cheers. I take it the rotor bolt fits into the rim eyelet OK?
I might get a fat screwdriver, chop the end off, drill and tap and fit a rotor bolt 🙂

You'll need to reduce the diameter of the bolt head a bit 😉

No problem!
Making a tool even better than buying one...

H1ghland3r - Member

Minor thread revival but I came across this pic which might alleviate some fears on the strength/durability of the XM481 rims...

OTOH, in EWS 2014 there were a bunch of pro riders using Mavic Enduros, and a constant queue at the Mavic truck to rebuild them, or get them replaced with the fake Enduros Mavic were supplying to pros so that punters wouldn't realise the normal ones weren't strong enough.

Not saying it's the same here btw. At least not the fakery, I don't see DT have any reason do to that. But stuff that's ideal for pros might not work well for punters because we want our rims to last years, theirs need to reliably last a day. I trust public reviews more personally...

It's the same with Gwin's rim- yes it's hugely impressive, but it was still ruined. If you're specifically looking for a rim to do one race run on the rim, it's a great recommendation, but that's about it.

I've been running these (albeit in 29" flavour) for a couple of months now. They built up easily even with revs and the pro locks, I was half expecting a lot of wind up but none really occurred.
Went tubeless easily with 1 layer of Gorilla tape and seem just as stiff as my previous LB rims, can't fault them so far, although haven't been anywhere rocky yet, so we'll see!

You can get a set of E4/5/6 sockets on fleabay for £3 if thats easier. Cant imagine they wont fit if you have a 1/4 in drive handle that suits.

Looks like Richie is on EX471s for the season opener
[img] [/img]

As above, not that it's relevant to most of us really!
I'm giving the 481's a go. I tend to hammer back wheels in the Peaks, only one way to find out...

Yep i saw that pic and thought the same. A fair few of the new DH bikes are on 471s too

Speaking of real world user reports I've been running my EX471s for a bit now and am very impressed.

They're built onto Hope hubs, I laced them and my LBS tensioned them up, been on my Covert for 6 months now, although I have been using the HT over the winter for local rides the Covert has been used for all my uplift days and races. In the time I've been running them I've cut through 2 EXO Minions, once at BPW and once at Cwmcarn, and absolutely wrecked a snakeskin HD at 417 and they still run perfectly true.

The most impressive thing though is last Wednesday at 417 one of the rock gardens on the red run gave us all some issues, one lad put several nasty dings in his rim, one bad enough the rim was bent in almost 45 degrees, another managed to ding bad eough his tubeless unseated, then give himself 3 more punctures and another has just had to order a new rim due to the amount of dings(WTB, E13 and Hope respectively)

I was hitting the rocks as hard as them, harder than some and managed to snakebite my tubeless HD, ripped a hole in it just above the bead and a massive tear in the tread. This was towards the end of the day when I was getting to know the lines and getting a bit cocky.

Damage to the rim: I can see the impact area because there is a 1mm chink in the surface of the rim where the rock hit it but it has not dinged in the slightest, it is perfectly straight and still runs true.

I truly am amazed, I will never be buying a different rim again!

Anyone recommend a good wheel builder that can do these at a good price

I'm getting mine from Twelve50 bikes in Frodsham.
18bikes in Hope also good builders, not sure if they stock DT but can build them.

Had a few sets of wheels built up by 18 Bikes. Every set has been first class. They also re spoked Abigales carbon rims after the back one went a bit limp.

Depends what hubs but action bikes in Germany have very good prices on DT hubs. PT cycles will pricematch pretty well too.

Got my EX 481 and 350 wheels from Germany back in October. Holding up well on my Reign in the Lakes. A few scrapes and one good sized dent in the inner dace if the rim.
Not sure the extra width makes a difference I can notice, but absolutely nothing to complain about.

I got my 29er ones here and this is the 650b ones,

[url= https://r2-bike.com/navi.php?jtl_token=b7946d1287c3eeab35bdf280c74f6a60&suchausdruck=Dt+swiss+XM+481+650b ]r2bike 650b XM481[/url]

Now priced at 87.50 Euros.

Awesome. How are people finding the DT 350 hubs. Was trying to decide between these or new Hope Pro 4s. Just had some Mavic XLs. Great wheels but the hubs really took too much looking after

I was sick of Hope free hubs sh!tt!ng themselves, so went DT just a change. Will have a look in the freewheel soon and see how much of winter is inside. ..

How did you guys get on with the 481s after 6 months? I'm about to order a pair of wheels for my Trigger Carbon for trail duties. Debating between the EX471 and the XM481.

As far as a rim can go mine have been great. Besides normal riding they survived a long weekend being smacked around the chatel bike with my 95kg bulk on them completely unscathed. Built by justridingalong fwiw, always had a great experience with their wheels.

A year on 481s in Lakes mostly riding in a clumsy fashion and they are tip top. Like things that work well I am struggling to say much more! Previously had Flows and 321s and generally tough'ish rims and these are wider, as strong and as light. Had a few OEM wheels etc that all got destroyed and I have plenty to comment how crap they were.

How have you damaged a ryde rim. I have been using the same rim for a while now and they fine.

The dt 481 rim is a good one. So is the velocity blunt ss.

I would go with the dt swiss 350 hubs or shimano xtr.

Missed these posts. I wish we could subscribe to threads here. Thanks for the input. If I'd seen it earlier I might have gone with the 481 but I decided to go with the 471 instead due to fears the 481 rims would be too exposed to rocks up here in Scotland, being wider. Hope the 471s are good as they arrive tomorrow!

Ryde rims were lame a low pressures, 481s seem great so far. Got them in 240s and it's a dreamy combo 🙂