Hi all,

I am thinking of upgrading the wheels on my hard tail. I have WTB i23 650b, running tubes. I’d like to get something wider and a bit more solid. The only new wheels I can find that have a 135mm QR rear are Hope Fortus. They look like nice wheels, but would like to know if there are other wheelsets out there. My frame is a 2017 Ragley Marley.

Thanks, Col

If the hubs are fairly standard and in good condition, you could get new rims of your choice built onto them.

They’re basic Novatech ones. Had a few issues with the freehub, but have been okay since then.

Most non-boost quality hubs will be adaptable to QR even if they’re sold as 142, weird reversal though!

(all 135 maxle hubs can be adapted with the universal fixes (ie, a big tube) but that’s much less nice)

DT Swiss non boost wheels usually come with qr adaptors.

you can get DT Swiss 350 hubs in QR and built onto XM481 rims for about £350. thats pretty much the go-to tough wide wheelset.

fitwheels on ebay is popular here, but I’ve not used them

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheelset-DT-Swiss-XM-481-27-5-350-Classic-32h-All-Mountain-Enduro-30mm/324185827838?hash=item4b7afb29fe:g:HyUAAOSwV3pe1h3p

Nukeproof Neutron & Horizon v2 wheels can easily be converted to QR with end caps.

15mm x 100mm non boost with QR caps
&
142mm x 12mm with with caps

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-neutron-v2-rear-wheel-36t/rp-prod195303
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-neutron-v2-front-wheel/rp-prod195300
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-neutron-v2-end-caps/rp-prod195651

Or

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-horizon-v2-rear-wheel-102t/rp-prod195301
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-horizon-v2-front-wheel/rp-prod195305
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/nukeproof-horizon-v2-end-caps/rp-prod195649

Get some built, JRA or superstar or various other people will build what you want up.

Don’t Hunt and some others supply MTB wheelsets with adaptors to switch between thru axle and Q/R, like they do with road wheels?

Unless it’s a lot more expensive, something that can adapt to thru axle has to be worth “future-proofing” for.

Bitex bx106 hubs are another that will allow many different axle options. I have three wheel sets with them and it’s been really useful. RyanBuildsWheels has built all my wheels.

Thanks for all the replies. Seems this opens up my options with 142mm hubs and QR caps. Another quick question, are all dropouts in frames either 10mm or 12mm? The Marley is 10mm.

Anyone know a good wheel builder around Manchester?

there’s a good guy near me, I usually supply rims and hubs and he gets the spokes

no decent used options on Pinkbike or eBay though? non-boost stuff was nice and cheap before Covid, I know

Thanks mate. I’m not sure about used wheels, although I haven’t really looked so far. Just buying new rims might be the cheapest option. Then I just need to decide on tyres….