Originally Posted by
Tunnelrat81
I recently went the custom route and built them myself. As long as you get trustworthy advice on spec's you'll likely never regret your choice. Looking back, the only thing I would have done differently is my choice of rims. Many here have had excellent success with the Kinlin rims, which is what I built mine with (xr-270 front/xr-300 rear), but mine are annoyingly REALLY pulsey while braking. I don't know if this is typical for them since I hadn't heard any reports of it during my research, but when I rebuild these wheels (if I ever do) I'll go with a different brand.
Not normal for Kinlin but I have had 2 customers (out of a few hundred riding kinlins) bring it to my attention. Every time i have run into "real" pulsing it has been caused by over tensioning the rim. you can tell because you will see alternating light and dark patches on the sidewall. They will be "light" right above every spoke all along the outside. if this is the case then take the tension down on your spokes and you'll be fine unless you have already damaged the rim beyond it's elasticity.
One of those customers sent one back for me to investigate and i found the rim was bent in one location from a strike - accounting for the pulsing.
Pulsing is not normal nor indicative of anything other than damage done to the rim by the rider or over tensioning by the builder. Period.