New rear wheel - any recommendations??

[pombstard]

Its now time to replace the very weary wheel from my XTC - its had a hard and happy life, but the freewheel's gone west, the hub is still OK but not really worth lacing to a new rim, and the rim can't take any more truing. So, I'm going to donate the Deore/X317 from the Yeti and get me a new spangly wheel for the 575 - but I'm looking for recommendations or experiences.

I'm not the smoothest or lightest of riders, and the Yeti does encourage a certain amount of stright-lining over obstacles, rather than round them. I'm looking at Hope Pro2 hubs with DT 5.1 rims or, should the budget not take that strain, XT hubs with Mavic X717 rims.

Anyone any others worth looking at - I'd consider a factory set, not just custom, just that I've not heard a factory set recommended yet. What about Mavic Crossride/Mark/Max??

[Cerberus90]

Hope Pro2 hubs on Mavic EX721. One of the best combinatiosn you can get. If you want slightly more strenth but more weight then get an EX729. Althought he 721 should do for nearly everything.

[rico]

I'm running the DT Swiss 5.1 rims on my XC bike. Really like them.

Apparently DTSwiss's range is a bit strange. The 5.1 is an excellent rim, but their 6.1 downhill rim is apparently less good. Bit more bling than Mavics too

Hope now do wheels direct and they're very well priced. Well built too.

Hope are the best bet for hubs.

[Neil_Bolton]

pombstard said:

Anyone any others worth looking at - I'd consider a factory set, not just custom, just that I've not heard a factory set recommended yet. What about Mavic Crossride/Mark/Max??

Mavic Crossrides and Crosslands are absolute bargains - I've had great experiences with mine, light, well built and at £110 on ebay, chuffin' cheap.

However PDV6 had some issues with a dodgy freehub on his set, which caused him some grief - but that may just have been a one off - otherwise we both have hammered our wheels and they are still going well.

Certainly a bargain, and look more expensive than they are...

[pdV6]

Neil_Bolton said:

pombstard said:

Anyone any others worth looking at - I'd consider a factory set, not just custom, just that I've not heard a factory set recommended yet. What about Mavic Crossride/Mark/Max??

Mavic Crossrides and Crosslands are absolute bargains - I've had great experiences with mine, light, well built and at £110 on ebay, chuffin' cheap.

However PDV6 had some issues with a dodgy freehub on his set, which caused him some grief - but that may just have been a one off - otherwise we both have hammered our wheels and they are still going well.

Certainly a bargain, and look more expensive than they are...

'Tis true.

Price - you can get them for £110-ish retail online.
Looks - great
Weight - pretty good
Performance - I've had no problems with the front but I've had the freehub "looked at" twice now and its still a bit iffy. Might see about swapping it under warranty if I could be bothered.

[snotrag]

Good wheels means Hope Hubs, Mavic Rims, DT spokes, good build. Easy.

As for the EX721 comment - there what I run on my DH bike, they are plenty strong enough.

[pdV6]

I also have a Mavic F519 on an XT hub that I had built about 8 years ago.
Had it serviced for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago as I found 2 spokes completely undone (wheel was still true tho') and the LBS chap who did it commented on how it was in such good condition. That wheel's been used and abused hard all its life...

[pombstard]

Thanks guys - just went to order a spangly new Pro2/DT combo from Chain Reaction - and they're out of Pro2 hubs. Not sure when the new lot come in, but CR are cheapest by a loooooooooong way. Just need to coax the single rear wheel into life for two bikes for a little while...

[plfrench]

I think that the building of the wheel is THE most important part of this. You could have the best components going but have some monkey at CR put it together for you poorly and it will be next to useless...

I recommend Merlin for very good wheel builds. Never had any problems with their wheels.

www.merlincycles.co.uk/

Paul.

[PomBstard]

Well, after much debate and farting around, realising I really want a pair of Mavic Crossmax but can't afford them, I've plumped for a Chain Reaction deal.

Hope Pro 2 hubs laced with DT spokes to Mavic 717 rims, with an XT cassette, two tubes and a pair of Maxxis High Rollers thrown in. All for GBP245 - add in a new chain and a pair of Hope skewers, and I get free delivery to Oz. Thought I might give 'em a go.

Downsides? Not going tubeless - yet. No choice of colour for the hub. Can't change the tyres - but they're fine for the summer here.