[Closed] New XC/Trail 29er wheel musings...?

Newmen X.A 25? 1482g it says here, 30mm ones do me for enduro use and I'm 100kg

https://www.bike-components.de/en/NEWMEN/Evolution-SL-X-A-25-Fade-Boost-Disc-6-bolt-29-Wheelset-p77907/

Bike24 were good for inventory when I ordered some ex511s a couple of weeks back.
Xm481 is the sweet spot at 30mm. 421 if you want to shave some weight and are ok at 25mm

Yep, 28 and 32 in xm481 and 32h 421s are available in stock.

I wouldn't bother with anything but DT for alloy rims.

Stans must make something lightweight.

Newmen X.A 25?

Good shout that man... My mate has the 30mm variants, very light for what they are. My only criticism is that there's a lot of drag from the seals, though potentially not a bad thing for use in UK conditions as it does mean that nothing seems to get past them at least.

Not to be rude but itd be cheaper and more impactful to lose 5kg surely?

Assuming thats possible of course.

Not to be rude but itd be cheaper and more impactful to lose 5kg surely?

Without going into semantics of the English language and how "not to be rude" means exactly the opposite of what it says, that seems a rather arbitrary figure to pluck out of the air no?

Assuming thats possible of course.

Why would you even say it if you don't know whether it's possible...? Aside from it being irrelevant to the question asked, I could be a morbidly obese 5ft tall, or a technically underweight 6ft8! I am neither as it happens, but have already lost 5kg this year after the absolute nightmare that was 2020 that saw me put quite a few kg on, but that's not what's being discussed... I'm well aware that if I want to go faster uphill, losing some timber is the best way to do it. In the meantime though, am I not allowed nice things...?

Stans must make something lightweight.

They do, but try getting hold of anything right now... Aside from the fact that it looks like Stans have cleared out all their mk3 range in preparation for an upcoming mk4 range of rims, the distributors aren't even giving dates on availability! Pretty much nothing DT Swiss available from Madison in 32H and 29er it would seem for some time...

Yep, 28 and 32 in xm481 and 32h 421s are available in stock.

I wouldn’t bother with anything but DT for alloy rims.

I'd be happy if I could get hold of some 32H XM421's... But nowhere outside of the UK will ship to the UK any more (Bike24 especially not), and Madison haven't got them for months and months!

though, am I not allowed nice things…?

Its not for me to tell you how to spend you money. I was just suggesting if you want to lose some weight off your setup a biological improvement could be more efficient.

Can you get some lighter tyres until the wheels you want are stocked?

JRA Monitor XC wheelset?

https://www.justridingalong.com/product/monitor-alu-wheels/#single-or-pair-of-wheels

I’ve had a couple of pairs of their Traildogs and MAPs and am a big fan. Look like they’re in stock as well.

Rich

Big Dt swiss fan here! I have 3 pairs of 481s which are superb. But they are my enduro rims. Too over kill for xc imo. Add part of my down country build I've built myself some xr391 on 240 hubs. Yet to see how tough they are, but it's certainly a light wheelset. 25mm internal

LB flyweights.

Could have a chat with Pacenti wheels as another option.
Their wheel builds are strong and light and if you post them your hubs they'll build their rims onto them for you.
Also easy to deal with!
I have a set of their PI25 rimmed wheelsets.

How about Silt wheels? They popped up on a thread and the web pages says mid July availability (last time I looked). They looked a good bet at around 1550g.

DT240 Hubs
XM421 rims

For spokes, Sapim Laser/D-Lights/Races, if you are on the heavier side on wheels I'd go with D-Lights/Races. I'm 90kg and build with Races.

Nipples, DT Ali Squorx, never had a problem with them, save a bit of weight.

28 vs 32 spokes, I dont think it saves any weight, but more for ride characteristic.

Running XM421/Hope Pro4 on my 'xc bike' and not had any issues at all, 25mm is perfect for a 2.3 tyre.

I’d be happy if I could get hold of some 32H XM421’s… But nowhere outside of the UK will ship to the UK any more (Bike24 especially not), and Madison haven’t got them for months and months!

Managed to get a pair of DT XR391s from StarBike last week, VAT pre-paid on the site and delivered in 6 days.

Are your Mavics too flimsy?

Would a DT alu rim-based build actually be lighter?

Newmen seem the obvious choice anyway, based on feedback that they are very tough for their weight.

If you can get them, DT Swiss XM1700 Spline 30's or 25's, none of this proprietary spoke shit that Mavic do and frankly bomb proof wheels.

Just to add I bought a set of those sale Mavic Crossmax Elites a couple of years ago, 1650g and a 73KG rider although I'm not hard on my bikes, I've had zero issues to date.

I wouldn't do so again because of the spoke issue though.

Have ordered some DT Swiss XM421 rims, was pleasantly surprised to find that Madison should have them back in stock first week of August, previously having been told they'd be months, which isn't too bad... Fingers crossed I should be able to get hold of the correct length spokes relatively easily too.

Are your Mavics too flimsy?

Ironically no... But they are the XA version, not the Crossmax. Despite being only 24 spoke they've dealt with my 90kg+ weight very well. I'll probably set them up with a set of knobblier tyres for winter use on my Geometron.

25mm is perfect for a 2.3 tyre.

Agreed 100%... 30mm internal is fine for a 2.4-2.6" tyre, but 25mm is ideal for a 2.2-2.3 I find.

Could have a chat with Pacenti wheels as another option.

Could have been an option, I do worry looking at their specs that they might be slightly too light for me. That and I am not sold on their etched graphics. Looks a good rim though, and I had positive experiences with their old TL28 rims a few years ago.

How about Silt wheels?

Wasn't aware of these until the other day... I like the idea of the DT Swiss style ratchet. I really don't like the large logos on the rims that can't be removed! Look to be a decent product for the money though. Here's hoping they revise their designs to be a little more subtle in the future.

I'm watching this thread, as I'm in the same boat...

The Newmens look pretty good/light. Tempted.

The Newmens look pretty good/light. Tempted.

They look really good for sure... However, out of stock in my required format (xD drive freehub, 6 bolt rotors, Boost) for the forseeable with the distributor, though I did notice they had centrelock and Shimano Microspline options available.

bike-components.de have them listed as 'in stock'... maybe they are going all Tweeks on us??

(the X.A.25 version)

I have DT XM421's / 240 hubs on my "not quite XC race but not quite full blown trail" Giant Anthem 27.5 build.

The wheelset weights only a couple of grams more than the carbon wheelset the bike came with but has a much nicer ride feel. The 25mm inner rim width has worked fine with tyres up to Schwalbe 2.35 but I personally wouldn't go larger, nor do I need to for the type of riding I do on that bike.

As others have said, DT stuff is bombproof. I've clocked around 3,000 miles on this wheelset and haven't even needed to true them.

If Fitwheels.eu are still shipping to the UK, have a look there. Great build quality and so many options.

I'd avoid the Newman wheels, rims are tough, but the hubs are shocking, go through bearings like nobodies business. A mate had them replaced 5 times in 18 months on the set that came with his Cube, and that's only riding once a week! Several other sets I know of have been problematic also. Shame as they are seriously light for the money!

@devash - do you have a weight for the XM421 & 240 hubs wheelset?

Certainly @reggiegasket - from memory they weighed in around 1550g with valves and tubeless tape. In 29" size they'll weight a tiny bit more.

Mine are 28 spoke straight pull and they've been strong enough although I only weigh 66kg without riding gear.