New XC/AM rims

[piece]

Hey all,

I've recently picked up a pair of Hope Pro 2 hubs, with the intent of building a new wheelset for my Specialised Pitch Pro.

However, I'm unsure as to the best option for rims. I intend to run this wheelset as a tubeless, and it will be used predominantly for XC, with the occasional (very) light downhill. Hence having reasonably light rims would be desirable, but not to an extreme that affects durability.
For spokes, I was planning to use DT Swiss Competition 2/1.8mm DB spokes.

I weigh ~76kg without gear.

Some of the options I'm considering are:
- Mavic XM819s
- Stans/Notubes Crest
- Stans/Notubes Flow

I'm happy to look at other rims as well. The XM819s seem to be the best option, jsut have to get a Mavic spoke wrench as well.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[maxwolfie]

Shimano XT? I run them and they seem ok

 

[Ivan]

The 819's aren't very light, and they're quite thin. Although, as they are Mavic's, you can expect them to be high quality.
http://www.sicklines.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15509&cat=529

Flows are a good option at 470g, and are wider than the 819's. Durability is probably not as good as Mavic though.

If it's mainly XC your doing, why not try Stan's ZTR Arch (420g) with DT revolution Spokes and aluminium nipples with your Hope 2's. That should be a fairly light (~1600g) and durable build.

 

[outtacontrol]

I have StansZTR 355's on Hope pro II and they have stood up well to similar riding you have described.

 

[boy-who-cried-wolf]

I weigh ruffly 76kg and have been running shimano XT (xc wheelset) for the last 2 years and they have been faultless.
The only real negative i have found is that they are not sealed bearing which means regular hub servicing.
They also come in a All Mountain version which have tuffer rims, but i have honestly found that the XC rims are quite strong and haven't had any major issues. These have been one of the best wheelsets i have run and recommend them.

 

[No Skid Marks]

721 and Ghetto pro rim strip.
XTs look nice though.
Stans are meant to be good(not sure myself).

 

[evObda2]

Im running the Stans Arch rim which is a narrower version of the Flow. It has the same profile etc, just a bit more XC orientated than AM. But is aimed at an aggressive xc i guess you’d call it. Being stronger than the other Stans offerings.
So far ive found them great.. Running tubeless (w/ stans tape) they make up a pretty light wheelset.
I use them for mainly xc but when there’s a down hill section im not scared to ride them pretty as if i was on my dh bike.
If your mainly riding xc id heavily recommend them. Anything heavier, like if you were riding it down dh tracks or if your a pretty sloppy rider then go with the Flows at least for the rear. Great rims, very strong and don’t weigh to much more anyway.

 

[v1llage1d1ot]

Isn't the mavic spoke wrench for mavic wheels with their flash spokes? If you are running normal spokes you shouldn't need it should you?

 

[3viltoast3r]

Considered the sun EQ range? I have a 31 on the front a hardtail DH bike, and after 2 years of abuse I think it has 2 dints in it. I believe they are 546g too, which although isnt light, I can vouch for them being pretty tough

 

[T-Rex]

+ 1 for Stans Flows.

Been using them in DH for the smoother tracks for a bit over a year, (60 KG rider, but he's pretty hard on his equipment) plus a bit of DJ and 4X, they are pretty strong, just a bit of distortion around the spoke holes but no dings or cracks.

The rest of your build, Pro 2s and DT 2.0/1.8 spokes, is solid. With the Flows you would end up with a decent AM wheelset.

EDIT: BTW Flows are not tubeless, you will need a rim strip to seal them up.

 

[piece]

Thanks for the input everyone.

The ZTR Flow and Arch look pretty good. Will probably go with the Flows for the increased strength and the wider profile; it seems to be worth the weight increase over the Arch. Now to calculate spoke length...

I hadn't realised that the XM819's specified weight was without the spoke eyelets; it definitely makes them less appealing.

 

[evObda2]

Good choice.
I use a Pillar PSR2016 spoke (which is similar to the DT Revolution) with my Stans Arch’s and they’ve been great. Still straight as, light weight and nice and stiff.
Use the Stans tape (nice and tight) to make them tubeless.
http://www.notubes.com/product_info.php/products_id/354
You can run any non tubeless tyre with a bit of Stans fluid without any problems. And you’ll have a strong lightweight killer wheel-set.

 

[October26]

Mate I am 100+kg's and have been running Stans Arch for a while now with not a problem, at your weight Flows would be overbuilt for you.

 

[Sumo]

Mate I am 100+kg's and have been running Stans Arch for a while now with not a problem, at your weight Flows would be overbuilt for you.

I've got to agree. I'm running Arch without any problem on my do everything Heckler without any problems.

 

[stacky]

I've got to agree. I'm running Arch without any problem on my do everything Heckler without any problems.

What size tyres/psi are you using? Just wondering how a 2.3 tyre at low pressure feels on the Arch rims.

 

[evObda2]

Im running 2.25 Schwalbe Racing Ralph on the rear and 2.25 Fat Alert on the front if that helps? The tyre width runs great!

 

[stacky]

Yeah that helps! I am using the same size schwalbe tyres on Flow rims although sometimes with a 2.4 FA up front. I went for the flows thinking the bigger tyre might feel a bit squiggly on the skinnier Arch rims but maybe they would've been ok?

 

[plum163]

I have the same bike and i have been running DT 5.1's. They are awesome for this type of bike and your riding style. Reasombly light at 500g per rim. I also use Stans tubless rim strips.