[Closed] Sapim Laser spokes - too light for mountain biking?

you probably know they're not recommended for disc wheel use but Shona uses them for her 'race' 29er and they've been fine - she's only little though...

Alloy nipples up here in Aberdeen that too would be a bold decision.

Oh yes missed that, alloy nips - just say no!

Sapim D-Lights.15g difference over 1 wheel and designed for disc use.

I'd use them. No lighter than Revolutions, which I use. Never had a problem.

What size, axles etc? If 26" I reckon you could go lighter for not a huge amount more money.

I'm thinking of having a light front wheel built.
Laser spokes, alloy nipples and Crest rims. I can maybe get the weight down to under 680g plus tape and valves. My current front wheel weight is 950g.

If you're light and easy on kit you could also try Podiums

I've also got Revs on my main (disc) wheels, which as Nick says are pretty much the same. In terms of wheel stiffness and strength they're also the same as CX-Rays, which plenty of people seem happy to use.

If its for a light rider, on a race bike thats going to be used just for races and not dragged through the mire week after week, and you consider wheels to be 'disposable' after a season or two, then no reason not to.

I had a set of wheels with the skinny DT Swiss spokes (forget which now) and ally nipples - after 2 years of fairly regular fairly hard use, the nipples started splitting and spokes started snapping. Hubs are still in use with new spokes and rims though!

If its for a light rider, on a race bike thats going to be used just for races and not dragged through the mire week after week, and you consider wheels to be 'disposable' after a season or two, then no reason not to.

Whilst I'm not hugely heavy (67kg presently), I had a set of Podium Rims (with Revolutions) for about 3 years, used at various trail centres - Afan, Dalby, Haldon, Brechfa. They stayed nice and true, and the (alu) nips didn't explode. Never broke a spoke.

Too much concern around this sort of thing IMO.

mocha - Member

you probably know they're not recommended for disc wheel use

Are they not? I know they're not marked as approved for disc on the website, but then most of their other spokes aren't either (cx-rays frinstance), is there another thing?

Am I right- is the Laser the one that's just an unsquashed cx-ray?

Am I right- is the Laser the one that's just an unsquashed cx-ray?

Yep.

Dead on 740g!
Superstar Ultra front hub, Sapim lasers, Crest rim, Red alloy nips. £140 shipped.
I have red alloy valves to fit as well.

Now for the rear. I want a 12x142mm hub that is light and has a quiet freehub ratchet - any suggestions? I will build using Crest rim and alloy nips but with Sapim Race spokes instead (unless anyone can reassure me that lasers are just as strong?). I tend to be heavier on my rear wheel.

They're not as strong, but they're strong enough for most.

Re hub, American Classic? Try AEBike.com for more reasonable pricing than the UK.

I've got them on my 5. I've ridden them all over the place, including lots of rocks and mountains, without mincing, for 7 years, and I've been on average 89kg for most of that time. Never had to true them once.

I just weighed the wheel without the standard Superstar rim tape. 700g! That rimtape is heavy!