Mountain Biking - What MTB wheels do I buy?

I was riding at a favorite trail Monday night and popped some spokes on my rear Bntrgr Race. It was time to upgrade anyway, so I am trying to decide on Crossmax (Mavic) or some 517 or 519 hubs laced to an XT hub.

What do ya'll think?

Any other Recommendations?

I would look into wheels from Mike Garcia at http://www.oddsandendos.com/ . Just search this forum and www.mtbr.com for recommendations regarding his work. I just got a set of WTB LaserDisc Lite hubs w/ Velocity VXC rims and Supercomp spokes. He's friendly, will talk your ear off about wheels, and has great service. I think the care and quality that goes into his wheels make it a really good value. The above was $334 including shipping. I've heard lots of good things about Larry at http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com/ also.

Dave

Although, I think the pre-built Mavics are great wheelsets and killer looking as well. I'd much rather have a traditionally laced wheel.

My comment/question is regarding your budget. If you are willing to spend the money for some Crossmax's why not consider a better hub than XT's?

Your riding style would affect my recommendation on which hubs to use.

However, for example a Mavic rim laced to a Chris King hubset will still be cheaper than a set of CrossMax's.

I referenced Chris King only because they are a great set of hubs, most everyone knows them and they are probably some of the more/most expensive.

L8R

I'd avoid the wtb rims unless you want to get extremely aggrivated with mounting and dismounting ANY tire ever made on them.

Two corrections: I meant Crossland rather than CrossMax, and Im sure you knew what I meant but 517 or 519 rims.
I would like to spend $300 or less. I mainly ride xc, but there are several mountain rides I do that are pretty rocky/tough on rims.

Also, how much heavier are sun ryno lites with say an xt hub. I've had them on a past bike and they seemed pretty strong.

I've got a set of Rhyno Lites and they are heavier than a XC oriented rim, but not as heavy as my DH rims. Good compromise of weight and strength for my 250 lb butt.

My rear is an XT and my front is a Marzocchi 20 mm hub.

Sun-Ringle has a pretty nice lineup of wheels. Their SUV's are a good value they are Ringle hubs laced to Rhyno Lites.

If you want lighter, their RPM's are a very nice yet affordable way to go.

http://www.sun-ringle.com/prods/mtbwheelsets.html

L8R

517's are a really bad idea for long term everday usage. They are designed as race day rims and don't hold up nearly as well as say a 225, 519. I had Rynos on XT's, but the weight really killed me. Then again I'm a small guy and can't generate the sheer power a lot of larger riders can. Right now I've got a set of 317's and 225's. The 317's are great as a lightweight disc rim and the 225's are wonderful. They've been strong and I'm impressed at how light they are for a rather mid-range wheelset. This is a good time to have a set of disc hubs laced up to open up your future options. Note that you CAN NOT use 517's with a disc hub though!

Spokes I like are Swiss DT. Or DT Swiss.

Note that you CAN NOT use 517's with a disc hub though!

Why can't you lace them to a disc hub? I it just a recommendation by Mavic as they aren't designed to take those kinds of forces?

I am riding Rhyno Lites right now with Deore disk hubs. They were a cheap entry into mountain biking for me. I will probably not upgrade any time soon unless the wheels give out on me, but I am curious about what is available.

I run an avid disk on the front, and an XT linear in the rear. I wiegh about 185 and ride agressive cross country trails; no racing, just your average single track, rock and root trail riding.

I like the rhyno lites, because of their reputation for strength, but I was wondering how other rims compare.

517's are a really bad idea for long term everday usage. They are designed as race day rims and don't hold up nearly as well as say a 225, 519. I had Rynos on XT's, but the weight really killed me. Then again I'm a small guy and can't generate the sheer power a lot of larger riders can. Right now I've got a set of 317's and 225's. The 317's are great as a lightweight disc rim and the 225's are wonderful. They've been strong and I'm impressed at how light they are for a rather mid-range wheelset. This is a good time to have a set of disc hubs laced up to open up your future options. Note that you CAN NOT use 517's with a disc hub though!


I have ridden on 517's for a year with no problems other than trueing them. I even finished a race on a flat tire for 1.5 miles and they came out fine. I think the key is being well built and using good spokes. I use the DT Swiss Revolutions.

Also had no problems with Discs on the 517's or 717's.

I currently run the Mavic 819 with a Chris King ISO Dis hub and DT Swiss Revolution spokes and they are really nice. I really enjoy tubeless and you can't beat the freewheel gearing of a king.

Mavic specifically says you are not to use the 517 with discs... I had to call them when we had a customer insisting that we build him a set of 517's with disc hubs, and our wheelbuilder refused. I then called Mavic, and handed the phone to the customer once I explained the situation to Mavic. They made it clear that using a disc hub would void any warranty, and the rim will not withstand the force. Apparently they came out with the 317/717(?) as a disc specific version of the 517. I also can't tell you how many people using 517's as everyday wheels have come to us with eyelets pulled out, taco'd rims, badly warped rims, etc. They are a nice wheel, but save them for race day IMHO.

Jon

Why can't you lace them to a disc hub? I it just a recommendation by Mavic as they aren't designed to take those kinds of forces?

Don't ask me why, but the rim braked Mavic rims have caused a problem when used with Disc Brakes. The explanation I was given is that when rim brakes are used, the force on the interior of the rim is what the rim is designed for. However with the braking effect coming from the Hub, as when disc brakes are used, the force on the rim is different, and this is not what it is designed for. No experience of it happening myself, but I have seen Splits between the spokes on non eyeletted Mavic rims when they were used on Disc eqipped bikes.

i'd go with a xt/517 (assuming rim brakes) over the crosslands because it's easier to service. if not mistaken i believe the crosslands are built different than a traditional wheel (different kinds of spokes, nipples, hubs).