which light weight strong wheels?

Hi there.. I’m considering a new set of wheels for my spicy, I normally run mavic ex721 with pro 2’s.
Any ideas on a set that is as strong but lighter??
Cheers.

Not sure about lighter but my Stans Arch on Superstar switch hubs weigh in at 1900g

arch on switch weigh 1900g?
(arch or arch ex? and black or white?)

what spokes/nipples are they built with?

Not that I have anything proper to go by, but that seems heavy?
Seem to think I read pro 2’s on flows were ~ 1900g? Switch rear should be about the same, front only ~20g more?

Stans crest on stans 3.30 hub

White Arch (vanilla, not EX), can’t remember what spokes – but yes I was a bit disappointed when I weighed them!
It was more like 1890g or something.
900g front, 990 rear

As strong as but lighter than Hope…That’s gotta cost.

If your riding a Spicy, why would you want to go lighter anyway?

I have a set of these if your interested
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=497

Crest rims, super tuff spokes and buzzy hub!
Weigh ~1300g without QRs

patriotpro

As strong as but lighter than Hope…That’s gotta cost.

If your riding a Spicy, why would you want to go lighter anyway?

If he can keep strength then why would he not want to go lighter?

OP might want to take a look a e13 trs rims. XC light and supposed to be super strong, and of course tubless setups. Or if he’s minted, carbon rims such as enve.

muddyfunster – Member

If he can keep strength then why would he not want to go lighter?

Fair one – My thinking is that the weight IS the strength and well Hope Hoops aren’t ‘heavy’ so why pay a lot more for little weight reduction.

OP – is price an issue?

WTB Strykers – seriously light and strong. 🙂

so why pay a lot more for little weight reduction.

Well sure, a little weight reduction on the wheels translates to a lot on the trail. Try sticking some dh tubes in and going for a trail ride, then swap em for some latex xc ones. You will notice a difference. I reckon it’s well worth trying to save weight off the wheels, not necessarily off hubs but certainly on rims/tyres/tubes within reason.

Enve on Tune

Flows on Pro 2s will give you comparable strength (though a little softer- not the same as weaker), and wider rims, and tubeless compatability which IMO is a big plus on a hard-use bike. But that’ll be a fair amount of cost for not an awful lot of difference.

I use Roval Traversee ELs on 2 of my bikes… TBH they’re way out on the weaker end of what’s workable in a big bike, I’d say they’re up for it but only just. But a lot lighter, and good value. For the increase in TLC that mine need I reckon it’s worth it but ymmv.

Mavic cross trail

Crossmax ST’s? 1600g, or the SX’s at 1800g if you want something a bit beefier.

Traversee ELs here too.. I’m not as gnar as I used to think I was but they can still handle dropping off the fun box at GT no problems. Quite light too- agree with above comments, wouldn’t want to go much lighter than just now for my riding..
Got a 2010 set for a bargain price a year ago- think theres a set in the classifieds at the mo?
My front bearings are getting a bit rough after a year though..

Just build some arch ex on stans own hubs
1550g.
But not used them for anything other tha local xc so far

The Pro2 Evo and Stans ZTR Arch Ex I’m selling are just under 1750g. So so tempted to keep them!

DT Swiss 240/DT Swiss Revolution/Stans Arch EX/DT Brass nips = ~1600g.

No much is going to have the outright strength of a well built 721 wheelset, but then they are well into DH territory. Unless you use your Spicy as a DH bike they are needlessly heavy & overbuilt.

muddyfunster – Member

so why pay a lot more for little weight reduction.

Well sure, a little weight reduction on the wheels translates to a lot on the trail. Try sticking some dh tubes in and going for a trail ride, then swap em for some latex xc ones. You will notice a difference. I reckon it’s well worth trying to save weight off the wheels, not necessarily off hubs but certainly on rims/tyres/tubes within reason.

You’re preaching to the converted as I agree but the difference between xc tubes and dh tubes is negligible compared to a ‘light’ wheelset which is strong and a very light wheelset which is as strong.

Hence the ‘cost’ question.

Cost an issue – Hope Hoops and tubeless
Not an issue – Carbon whatever and tubless.

I dont think you can beat the Superstar deal that they have on Stans Flows built onto their hubs, £200 gets you a lighter wheel and you will sell your old ones for more so money in your pocket too!

Thanks for the feed back guys..
£cost isn’t really an issue but I’m not gonna stretch to carbon
As I said I normally run mavics and have no experience
Of any other brands such as stans or DT’s
I wanted to use my spicy for more cross mountain
I.e 6-7 hour rides and the ex721 are hard as nails but heavy..
Anyone used mavic xm 819’s?
Thanks for the feedback.

Crossmax SX would be perfect for you.

Fantastic wheels. Very fond of mine.

I’ve got crossmax ST’s….I’m very pleased with them!!

drewfus – Member

Anyone used mavic xm 819’s?

Very heavy for the job they do, about 510g. A solid but very old design, but absolutely outclassed by Stans.

Mavic crosstrail st. They’ll make you: faster, sexier, richer, more fertile, bigger muscles, longer and fatter genitals, famous, a ferrari in the garage, a house in malibu, fly like a G6, married to beyonce and rihanna, appearing on Ellen degenerate, quoted in rap songs, eating ice cream without fat gain and widely considered a god.

Ok then.

Crossmax ST – 1590g

Strong & light (just not cheap)

So cost is an issue in that you won’t stretch to carbon (can’t say i blame you).

For me if you really want stronger AND lighter than Hope then it sounds like chakaping has you sussed and you should blow you cash on the Mavics.

ST is a little bit skinny… May or may not bother you.

ST is 19mm internal rim width
SX is 21mm and 195g heavier. But looks pimp-er!

Right then, crossmax sound good.. I’ve read some good stuff about them. Carbon rimsi don’t think I could justify the cost really, maybe if I start racing again :/ Are we talking the complete package ie mavic hubs,or does anyone run them with different hubs??

Mavic hubs as well.

Qr/15mm/20mm front
135/qr 142//15mm rear

Example of st’s (excuse the messy garage)

If cost isn’t an issue, then is maintenance an issue?

I have a pair for Roval Controls. Great wheelset, superlight and look great but I’d only ever use them in a race. 1550g is the quoted weight for them which is lighter than what I’ve got on my road bike at the moment.

They need a lot of care, but tubeless seats every time and they’re smooth as butter in a straight line (up and down) and not bad when cornering.

If I had the choice again I’d buy something a little heavier that played nicer with larger tyres. Watch out for narrow rims and high profile tyres with XC light wheels. Clearance is an issue sometimes, and so is how they sit in the fork. Not sure if this is because of dishing or axle design or what.

Stans Crest on Superstar Hubs, £200 and 1650g! No brainer

Here

Cross max make a horrid pinging noise that would drive me mad!

Yet to hear a peep out of my STs.

Although the freehub sounds like a bee rather than the hope agricultural clank.

OP might want to take a look a e13 trs rims. XC light and supposed to be super strong.

They do look pretty interesting. 21mm internal width. 1650g (claimed) for the pair. £900 though. Can’t find many reviews either.

The only ones you need are the Mavic Crossmax SLR. Can pick them up cheeper if you get last years model. I swicthed to them after my hope pro2’s and dt swiss rims. There was a BIG noticable difference in speed and handling. I have had them a year and there are super strong and can handle trail centres and natural jumps on my Pace RC405, and I’m not light and don’t always land smooth! They are the business.

How about Light cycle carbon wheels?

Lengthy threads on MTBR don’t seem to point to any issues with the company’s products. This one is about the wide 26″ rims. I have a vague plan to get a pair of the rims and lace them to the hope xc hubs I have looking for a job.

I am currently using flows on dt 240 and can’t fault them, but I have always had a hankering for a set of crossmax sx. A friend has been using the same pair of crossmax wheels (xl, I think) for years and they just keep on going. I also like the look of the Syntace wheels that should be out soon. Cheaper than carbon, but light, stiff and very wide.

If you can build a wheelset with off the shelf parts that’s as light good as a proprietory wheelset, then I can’t see the point in having something like a Crossmax.

Look great, until you break a spoke or need a hub part when your away for a weekend/week & no-one stocks the parts.

i got both st and sx and they run sweet. only dented 2 rims and that was pilot error on wood to wood gaps 🙂 48hr turnaround for new rim. mp3 😀