[Closed] What MTB wheels? £400 ish.

What can you buy might be a better question…

Yeah I have noticed things are quite limited at the moment.

On the plus side I don’t need them urgently, I’m going to see if I can straighten it up a bit tomorrow and if not the tube can stay in for now 🙂

I've always been happy with superstar components. Decent build of decent parts.

The other company I always shortlis is justridingalong. Was really impressed with the wheels I had from them. Lasted longer than the standards.

Have been impressed with my Hunt trail wides.

I personally think you can’t go wrong with DT Swiss. Currently have DT rims on hope hubs and have had the M1700 complete wheels too, they put up with my lack of skill. On my other bike I have a set of hunt trail wide V2’s, early impressions are good. E13 and hope rims are crap in my opinion.

DT Swiss are quite quiet hubs, I would look to get some 350 hubs and also DT rims built up.

If you don't mind more noise then the Superstar V6/Stans build is very nice, I've had the MK3 flow wheelset going for a few years and it's still working perfectly and never needed truing plus it's really quite light

I used the configurator on Ryan Builds wheels and nearly bought some DT XM481 rims on Bitex hubs. £420 iirc. The rims are good and Bitex get some good reviews.

In the end I have taken some what of a gamble by going with a full DT build from fitwheels.eu as I don't need these that quickly, the price was great and I am told by paying VAT with the sale, I won't get stung by UK customs.

However they now seem not to want to answer emails now they have my money !

Dt swiss xm481 on whatever hubs you like.
I had a pair of xm481 on hope hubs for 3 years. Not a single ding and only trued once by 18bikes.

I got XM481 on DT350 for that, albeit last year from Fitwheels.eu which have been perfect for 18 months. Had Hunt before that and these are head and shoulders above in terms of longevity.

Another 481 rim on 350 hub fan here. You’ll be just over £400 from Fitwheels at the moment iirc, a little more if you take advantage of the cheap ratchet upgrade too

If you're replacing a wheel because you've dinged it then I'd say to avoid the Hunts.  Nice and light, and with a very quick ratchet, but they were too soft for me.  I ended up with an air-leaking ding nearly every time I used them.  Since replaced with some DT wheels from Fitwheels which have been fine.

27.5 boost or non boost?

Did you have the V1 or V2 hunt wheels?

I’d look at DT Swiss rims - probably XM481 or XM421 depending on the inner width you want (30/25mm respectively).

I’ve built one set on Hope hubs which seems to be going well still after a few years - but they’re pretty noisy.

The other set on Erase Conponents hubs - I would not recommend these hubs as I’ve found the front wheels have no seals other then the ones on the bearings.

DT Swiss 350 is a good reliable hub and it’s not that noisy at all. If you can upgrade to the 36t star ratchet rather than the 18 it has decent pickup then.

Bitex are also supposed to be reliable hubs - I think they’re noisier than 350’s bu quieter than Hope Pro 4. Also cheaper than both of those options.

I think all of the above come in 6 bolt or centrelock.

I've just got the Nukeproof and wow that rear hub is noisy.

https://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/dcr-components/dcr-alloy-rims/

DCR Also use Bitex hubs; I've got one of his wheelsets for in the 25mm rim for my Trek Procaliber but he also does a 30mm internal 'Big Boy' rim now. Mine were 3x with SAPIM D-light spokes in silver and were £370, September last year. The Bitex hubs have a silly low engagement angle, almost instantaneous!

I’m a big fan of Hope hubs, ever since they started making them.
If you get Hope hubs you’ll be guaranteed they’ll be compatible with whatever crazy axle system a manufacturer comes up with for the next decade. My Pro 2 hubs got some new adapters for my most recent frame and they are ancient!

Thanks all, some great options to look at. I'll have a search based on recommendations and see what's available.

To answer a couple of questions, boost and 30mm 🙂

Another vote for XM481 on Bitex hubs. Damaged my Stan's Flow MK3 rim so got 18 Bikes to build up wheels using my existing Bitex hubs with XM481 rims and Competition spokes. Been absolutely fine so far, seem more robust than the Flow MK3's.

Another alternative is the crank brothers synthesis wheels.

I had a set of the emtb models on my bike and couldn't fault them.

Will be getting another set when I can afford them.

Spank are worth a look, they fare well in reviews and i haven't heard a bad word about their fast pick up hex hubs, I'm running spank rims and they've been spot on so far, Hope hubs are my go to but not their rims.

This is a minefield. I was all set to just order something, and then couldn't make a decision.

Another alternative is the crank brothers synthesis wheels.

Unless I'm missing something they start at about 3 x my £400 ish budget (which is already looking like a leap up to £500....)

Id look at Hope, yes they are heavier than most, the Fortus 30 i have on the e-mtb have been bullet proof and im not kind to wheels, plus Hope's warranty and service is 2nd to none if there ever is an issue

Hunt's get good reviews and customer service but they just dont feel like a premium brand to me and seeing the Hunt rim on the cracked rim thread would put me off them even though i know they will sort it

DT Swiss are great, Ive a set of EX1501 on the hardtail, they even had spell on the e-mtb and survived, only problem with DT Swiss is spares seem to be in short supply at the moment and if your wheels are straight pull then if you break one spoke your normally have to buy one online as most local bike shops wont stock them which isn't a major problem unless your in hurry

I wouldn't be put off hunt rims by that sample of one.

I wouldn’t be put off hunt rims by that sample of one.

For everything with great reviews you can always find a bad one 🙂

TBH I was put off Hunt originally because I emailed them and asked how noisy their hubs are.

Having done a bit more googling and looking around.... Ryan Builds Wheels MTB Bomber, with Bitex hubs look a good option.

Bitex seem to get good reviews and quieter than Hope.

Now just need to decide between XM481 & EX511 rims.

https://www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/product/mtb-bomber/

Crank brothers do an alloy synthesis wheelset.

https://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/wheelsets/crank-brothers-synthesis-enduro-alloy

I wouldn’t be put off hunt rims by that sample of one.

My experience (both Trail Wide and Eduro Wide) was similar. They're fine, but you can do better/lighter/stronger for the money.

Hunt rims are shocking - avoid like the plague. I'm 10 stone - was running a 1.3kg DH tyre with a Rimpact at just under 30psi and was still dinging them every other ride. It was noticeable when spannering the bigger ones out quite how fragile they are.

I've gone Hope hubs DT rims in the end. A hair heavier (offset with lighter tyres, lower pressures and no rimpacts), but not a mark on them yet . If you want 30mm wide, then XM481 is the way forward and pick hubs & spokes to fit the rest of your budget.

I’m in the process of getting some dt 240’s built with dt comp spokes and some duke alloy rims.
Only 27.5 and 25.5 inner width but they do wider ones, just didn’t look at them
Come in just over your budget (circa £500) and weigh in around 1430g for the pair, should be pretty tough too. Hubs are bombproof too
All got quickly and in stock from r2 bikes

Shame I now don’t need them for a while 🤣🤣🤣

I’ve had Hunt trailwides on my T130 for a year now, decent but I’ve dinged the rear loads so I’d recommend inserts or going for the enduro wides.

Now just need to decide between XM481 & EX511 rims.

Bitex and ex471 rims

Bitex and ex471 rims

Don’t give me another option 🤣

Isn’t that just a narrower EX511?

Isn’t that just a narrower EX511?

yip - got them on all my bikes. my tyres are too square on wide rims.

My current rims are 29mm, I don’t really want to go narrower

511 rear and 481 front in my opinion works well, or 471 rear if running 2.3 tyres.

DT rims on either DT or hope hubs. That's the rule.

That being said I broke the rule recently and got a rear hope pro4 on hope Fortus 30 rim. Was a part warranty replacement for a bontrager wheel and it was all I could get at short notice. It's been rock solid so far on the ebike still die true and zero dings. I tend to be hard on wheels

a friend needs a recommendation, looking at fitwheels, with a ex511 would you worry about 4 spokes (28 vs 32) for a e-bike? Is straight pull or normal spokes worth loosing sleep over?

My current rims are 29mm, I don’t really want to go narrower

What tyres are you using?

I'm not hugely convinced by the wide rim fad. They need to be wide enough, but too wide is just as bad as too narrow.

a friend needs a recommendation, looking at fitwheels, with a ex511 would you worry about 4 spokes (28 vs 32) for a e-bike? Is straight pull or normal spokes worth loosing sleep over?

I'd go 32 spokes, just because it's then fixable in the future. 28h hubs and rims aren't exactly rare, but can be irritating when the one you want isn't available. Spokes weigh about 5.5g each, TBH if 36h was a more common option I'd go for that!

And I'd go with conventional hubs/spokes for the same reason.

@z1ppy Think I’d want 32 in the rear wheel for an ebike. More resilience to the torque, although I’ve nothing figures wise to back that thought up.

With fitbikes.eu I’d be more concerned about getting my wheels at all.

They were very good, helpful and quick when I asked about wheels. Said the bits were in stock and I paid them nearly £700.

Now 4 weeks later, no emails, no wheels and no answers to direct questions about when I can expect them.

Not in a great rush and understand they are no doubt busy and waiting for stock like everybody else (despite saying in stock) but some courtesy wouldn’t be too hard.

hmmm, I was hoping you'd come back with a better update about your delivery @twonks, but they've been around a while & get regulalr recommendation... and mainly they 'look' to have stock (or do they??), unlike everywhere else..

I replaced my Levo's 28 spoken twangy special with a Hope fortus 32spoke wheels, but wondered if the better ex511 rim would survive, but it's probably not worth the risk.

I replaced my Levo’s 28 spoken twangy special with a Hope fortus 32spoke wheels, but wondered if the better ex511 rim would survive, but it’s probably not worth the risk.

Ive got Hope Fortus 30's on my Levo, have been bomb proof so far

Before that i had DT Swiss EX1501 wheels on the Levo (EX511 rim on a 240 straight pull hub iirc) on the Levo and they held up well but the Fortus feel much stiffer and the weight difference for me is un noticable

Done.

Ordered an XM481 32H on Bitex for front and EX511 for rear.

The 511 is available sooner which swayed me so I can have a new rear wheel before my holiday and wait for the front.

I’d go 32 spokes, just because it’s then fixable in the future. 28h hubs and rims aren’t exactly rare, but can be irritating when the one you want isn’t available.

Yeah, this. I have a nice DT Swiss 24h straight pull hub that's basically unusable since you can't get 24h rims for it (at least, not in the Enduro flavour). 28h rims do exist but they're not as common as 32h.