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I need to finish off wifey's new bike build. It's a Kinesis Maxlight X frame with RS SID Worldcup forks and 1x11 XT. At the moment i have fitted some Fulcrum Red Power wheels with Continental Race King tyres. These are fine, but pretty heavy.
Looking around, I have come up with the following options (with Boost spacing):-
Stans Crest Mk3 wheelset - CRC - £360 - will require new rotors (as i have XT centrelocks at the moment) - claimed weight 1,526g
Mavic Crossmax Pro - CRC - £360 - will require new rotors, but comes with tyres and sealant etc - claimed weight 1,595g
Mavic Crossmax Pro Carbon - bikecomponents.de - approx £475 - will require new rotors, but comes with tyres and sealant etc - claimed weight 1,470g
JRA Crest Mk3 wheelset - £400 - weight approx 1,400g
The Just Riding Along wheels appear to be the lightest by a fair margin, but they appear to use fairly cheap Bitex hubs. The Crossmax Pro Carbon wheels are very appealing as they are massively pimp, and well... carbon.
hmmmm... what to do.
btw... wifey can't ride a bike for toffee... this is just me having fun building ultra-light bikes in the hope that she may join me and satan out on the train from time to time.
Not those versions (I have the heavier duty trail wheels) , but I have been well impressed with two pairs of Mavic factory built wheels recently. Really nice quality, and they come well packed, lots of little bits and pieces, valves, sealant, end caps etc that make a difference. The freehub is nice and quick too.
If I was building a racier XC bike I wouldn't look any further than whatever Mavic wheels fitted my budget.
Id go crests from CRC personally. The crossmax pros use zircal spokes dont they?
Ive got the same frame and forks id avoid the carbon its a stiff enough frame as it is. SID’s and carbon wheels are going to make it very stiff and racey and she might not thank you for that.
Something to consider when comparing weights - centrelock hubs always look lighter on paper but the rotors are heavier, cos the same metal that's on the hub with a 6 bolt rotor setup is on the rotor with centrelock.
Have you considered DT Swiss?
From my experience they're far superior to any of the wheels you've listed. I had a set of Stans Crest/Hope Pro4 wheels (built by CRC) and had to spend more time with the spoke key trying to true them than I did riding them.
The Mavic wheel hubs aren't particularly well sealed and bearing replacement was a regular chore - especially the Freehub bearings.
I've not had any experience of the JRA Crest set you mention but after the experiences I've had with Crest rims I wouldn't have much faith in them, they're just too flimsy.
I've gone to DT Swiss on both my XC bikes - XC 1501 on the hardtail and just got some XRC1350 for the full sus. I also run some Specialized Roval Carbon wheels (which are just rebadged DT Swiss) for the winter. I've given them all a good beasting and they've never missed a beat.
I've got some 1373g Ryde Trace XC/ Tune Kong/ Tune Princess CX-Ray wheels (weight including Stans tape) I've used about 5 times you could have for those pennies. All black/ XD/ 15mm/ 142x12. These are from my 8.5kg droppered hardtail that I just don't use anymore...
cheers for the replies and the offer of the Rydes... I need Boost spacing though.
I did some more research this morning before taking the plunge.
I looked at the Actionsports options and almost went for their Funnworks/Crest wheelset which worked out at approx £365 delivered and should be approx 1,450g.
Merlin have a pair of DT Swiss XM1501 Spline One 25's for £450 which is a fantastic price as they have the DT Swiss 240s hubs. This is probably the most sensible option although a little heavier. I have the EX1501 Spline wheels on my own bike (Radon Slide 160 Carbon) and they just work....
Ultimately, this is my wife's bike, so I let her choose. The lady wanted carbon, so that's what she gets. I now have a paid of Mavic Crossmax Pro Carbons enroute...
Watch out for an 'unused' super-high-spec Maxlight X coming to the classifieds soon after she realises that she really can't be bothered to ride it! lol
I found this thread whilst looking at XC wheel options, so I'll jump in rather than starting another thread. I've got a 2018 Anthem 29er 2 and have already replaced the rear wheel with a Hope / Crest custom build (dented the original Giant rim so it is demoted to a heavy winter wheel) . I want to save a bit of weight from the standard wheels, so will be doing similar for the front.
I've used Hope hubs for years and they are not the lightest but seem fairly reliable and serviceable (bearings seem to last better than a Stans Ironcross wheel set I have too). Hope hubs are therefore virtually certain, but should I consider anything else before getting a Crest to match the rear?
Hope / Crest is a sensible mid-price, mid-weight all round XC option for me, but should I consider things like a Light Bicycle carbon rim for the front?
Watch out for an ‘unused’ super-high-spec Maxlight X coming to the classifieds soon after she realises that she really can’t be bothered to ride it! lol
I fancy one of these to replace an old FF29 (and I can then use my 2 x Boost wheelsets on the hardtail too). How are you finding the frame? If it is a medium frame and you need to sell it, let me know! 😉
molgrips
Subscriber
Something to consider when comparing weights – centrelock hubs always look lighter on paper but the rotors are heavier, cos the same metal that’s on the hub with a 6 bolt rotor setup is on the rotor with centrelock.
True, but lightweight adaptor + normal 6 bolt rotors usually works out lighter when all the parts of the assembly are considered.
XT RT86 6-bolt rotors inc bolts are heavier than XT RT81 CL rotors inc lockring.
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/deorext-t8000/SM-RT81.html
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/component/deorext-t8000/SM-RT86.html
DT for me too.
Another vote here for DT XM1501s (what I have, of course!).
For £400 I'd be tempted to get some crest rims and build them myself. It's not all that difficult and if there's no time pressure and they're not going to have a hard life then it seems an ideal set to learn with!
I've had crests on bikes for years and even at 100+ kg I've not managed to damage them even riding fairly hard.
Bitex hubs are fine. I've got them on my fat bike and I think my road hubs are bitex too, and despite the miniscule bearings have been faultless.
As an alternative stick with novatec.
Why are lightweight rotors not in consideration here? I've been using 6 bolt Quaxar rotors for years at 86g - and those are the heavier alloy spider "AM" rotor.
Fulcrum are worth looking at - though they seem to have gone up mahoosively in price.....I bought a set of Red Passion’s for about £450 & now they are about £700! Weight is a sniff under 1400g.
I realise this is now a month old and it's likely pretty moot, but those Crossmaxes are not carbon. The £360 should be a clue...!
Why are lightweight rotors not in consideration here? I’ve been using 6 bolt Quaxar rotors for years at 86g – and those are the heavier alloy spider “AM” rotor.
I used them (well, the similar alligator ones) on all my bikes for years, convincing myself that GCSE physics was right and coefficient of friction was independent of surface area. But they just lacked power in the real word even if you went up a rotor size.
On the plus side they ran very hot and cleared mud/water quickly so pads lasted forever.
I have no issues with Power Quaxar vs Shimano that my numpty level of skills can detect 🙂
Those JRA Crest wheels are good value, £431 for a 1375g set of 27.5 wheels.
Bookmarked for a set of light commuting wheels to go with some conti race kings 🙂