XC rim du jour?
 

XC rim du jour?

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Need a new front wheel (for reasons of using a non-boost wheel with a conversion kit at the moment. Current rims are Stan's Arch EX from about 12 years ago.

Need something a bit more modern, 32h due to lack of skill/excess of lard, mainly riding heavy gravel mincecore bridleways rather than anything too technical and happy with 2.2"ish 29er tyres.

Any suggestions?


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 1:08 pm
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DT XM421, or 481 if you must have 30mm internal width - but 25 is fine for a 2.2. 

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 1:17 pm
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DT Swiss XR931 or XM421 maybe?


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 1:19 pm
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Meant to add I was hoping to put some Vittoria Air Liner Lights in - think the minimum width is 25mm. Will the DTs be OK with that?


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 1:24 pm
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Posted by: citizenlee

DT Swiss XR931 or XM421 maybe?

What's the difference between these? Looks like dimensions/weight the same?


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 1:37 pm
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Posted by: ratherbeintobago

Posted by: citizenlee

DT Swiss XR931 or XM421 maybe?

What's the difference between these? Looks like dimensions/weight the same?

Seems the XM421 can take 120kgs (XR391 = 110kgs) has a slightly wider outer dim - 1mm, and slightly deeper rim - 2mm.

I've got XR391 rims I built onto DT 350 hubs on my SolarisMax, I'm 105kgs and I haven't killed them yet....

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 2:06 pm
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Posted by: ratherbeintobago

Posted by: citizenlee

DT Swiss XR931 or XM421 maybe?

What's the difference between these? Looks like dimensions/weight the same?

As above, the XM is beefed up slightly "trail" for purposes.

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 2:10 pm
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Posted by: ratherbeintobago

What's the difference between these? Looks like dimensions/weight the same?

XR391s are lighter, aimed at less rowdy / more XC riding. XM421 slightly heavier, aimed at less XC / more trail riding.

I've got both. XR391s on dropbar Cascade with 2.2 Race Kings for gnar-gravel. XM421s on trail bike with 2.3-2.4s where they excel - been fine with my 89kg and 140/130 travel bikes and I'm not kind to them.

XM481s are wider, tougher than XM421 and overkill for XC (I've got one on the front of my 170/150 ebike...).

Out of those I'd go XR391 for your intended use. 

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 2:11 pm
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Carbon from king bike on eBay 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 3:09 pm
 P20
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I’m happy with XM421 on the hardtail. Running 2.4 Nobby nics

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 4:00 pm
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I really like DT. Absolute doddle to fit tyres to compares to Stans!


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 6:00 pm
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Both the DT rims above are great. Unless you really want the weight saving I'd just go with the xm421.


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 6:59 pm
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Posted by: nixie

Both the DT rims above are great. Unless you really want the weight saving I'd just go with the xm421.

That’s one of the things that’s confusing me - they’re both listed as 440g on the DT website (unless I’ve confused myself, which is always possible)

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 7:10 pm
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Posted by: ratherbeintobago

Posted by: nixie

Both the DT rims above are great. Unless you really want the weight saving I'd just go with the xm421.

That’s one of the things that’s confusing me - they’re both listed as 440g on the DT website (unless I’ve confused myself, which is always possible)

 

Google suggests 380g vs 465g.

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 7:56 pm
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Posted by: citizenlee

Google suggests 380g vs 465g

DT spoke calc gives those numbers as well.

 


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 8:57 pm
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That 440 for the 421 is the 27.5, 29 is 465 (according to dt swiss website). 

I’ve had a 391 for a couple of years and it’s been pleasantly unremarkable.


 
Posted : 25/02/2026 11:11 pm
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XR391 is 440g.  XM421 is 465g.  Only the XRC310s (carbon) are sub 400g and they're €600.  


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 9:43 am
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Yes Daffy is right. I mistakenly selected xr331 which is 380g (and not available anymore). XR391 reported as 440g in spoke calc.


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 10:01 am
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Posted by: Daffy

XR391 is 440g.  XM421 is 465g

For the sake of 15g, I'd be going for (slightly) more robust...


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 11:02 am
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Posted by: ratherbeintobago

Posted by: Daffy

XR391 is 440g.  XM421 is 465g

For the sake of 15g, I'd be going for (slightly) more robust...

 

Basic addition isn't your strong point I see.... 😉 

 


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 11:22 am
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Basic addition isn't your strong point I see.... 😉

Basic English isn't your strong point I see.... 😉

 

It's subtraction, not addition.


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 12:13 pm
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Posted by: TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR

Basic addition isn't your strong point I see.... 😉 

Even still, 25g...

 


 
Posted : 26/02/2026 2:29 pm