Mountain Biking - rims

which of the following rims would be a good choice for an XC-All Mountain wheel set (tight budget).....with XT disc hubs....

Mavic XM317

Sun Rhyno Lite

Sun Single Track

WTB LaserDisc

Thanks for your help.

mavic

I personally have been very pleased with Rhynolites for builds of that nature; and the XT/Rhynolite build is one of the most economical strong builds out there. But the other combos are, admittedly, probably sexier.

pricepoint has a great deal on the XT/Rhynolite set.

If you need a 20mm front T/A, fullcycles has the same set but with a quando 20mm front hub for about $20 less.

Is building them yourself an option?

Am I secrificing any strength if I chose the XM 317 as oppose to the Rhyno Lite......weight is not a factor for me....

Also, if I remember correctly (and I am relatively inexperienced in this area), the Sun website mentioned that the Rhyno Lite as Pinned as opposed to welded......Now, are welded rims stronger?....and Is the XM317 welded?..

thanks for your help dminor and mcoine......

Sorry, I know nothing about the Mavics.

Rhynolites, however, come in two varieties: the regular Rhynolite (pinned); and the Rhynolite XL (welded and machined). Yes, welded is stronger. For XC/AM it may not be as important but there is not a huge amount of price difference between the two RLs.

Sun Rhyno Lites

Sun Rhyno Lites

any reason why? thanks

Is building them yourself an option?

yes, I am going to build it myself. got the XT hubs with standard XT skewers, now trying to figure out which rims to get....

Am I secrificing any strength if I chose the XM 317 as oppose to the Rhyno Lite......weight is not a factor for me....

Also, if I remember correctly (and I am relatively inexperienced in this area), the Sun website mentioned that the Rhyno Lite as Pinned as opposed to welded......Now, are welded rims stronger?....and Is the XM317 welded?..

thanks for your help dminor and mcoine......

All other things being equal, welded rims will be stronger. However, the amount of force that is put on that specific area of the frame is really pretty minimal. Would I spend the extra (I think it's) $10 to get rhynolite XLs as opposed to the pinned ones? Absolutely.

So I don't know what I'm saying here. I don't think the 317 is welded - my 521 is pinned, and I can't find any mention of the 317 being welded. If it was, that wouldn't necessarily make it stronger than the rhyno lite.

Either rim is plenty strong at this price point - go with the sexier one is my advice.

thanks for your time. its really strange that Mavic does not have information about the construction easily available. anybody has mavic's phone number where I can call and ask them this question...

sun!

The Sun rhyno lite will be stronger, but nearly 100g heavier than the Mavic.

Mavic XM317 rims are pinned and then machined. The welded rims have the SUP designation.

thank you. now, I think (I may be totally wrong) the Mavics are made in France.....what about the Rhyno Lites....

I heart Rhynolites. I run them on my SSMTB, and my commuter.

Asia.

To quote the Sun-Ringle web site:
"Sun Metal Products dates back to 1946 when Ken-Jen Metal Products started production
of tricycle seats. In 1948, Ken-Jen became Sun Metal Products and started a wire-spoke
wheel line. In 1954, it developed wheels for lawnmowers, garden utility vehicles and
stationary bicycles. In 1974, Sun Products began production of alloy rims for high
performance, off-road motorcycle racing. By the early 1980s, half of the world’s professional
racers were using Sun’s aluminum rims. In the 1980s, Sun also began developing high-end
alloy bicycle rims. In the 1990s, Sun expanded production facilities in Indiana for high-end
alloy rims, and built manufacturing plants in China to provide products for the growing Asian
bicycle manufacturing industry. In 1996, Sun Products was recognized as one of the world’s
best rim makers with numerous victories in the World Cup, NORBA Nationals and a silver
medal at the Olympic Games held in Atlanta. In 1997, Sun Products purchased Ringlé Racing
Components and increased product development for the Ringlé brand."

FYI - - Sun-Ringle is now owned by Hayes, which also recently acquired Manitou.

Another note: Sun got into M/C rims in '74. I think they were the one of the first of the new generation of "shoulderless" alloy rims for dirt bikes. Before that Akront ruled the alloy rim roost with a rim that had big shoulders (ribs) like a Sun Mammoth has.

mavic

Velocity.
http://www.spinlitecycling.com/mountain_wheels.htm

I second the plug for Velocity.