he worse thing is probably the weight. It's a beefy rim that city guys like because they hold up to potholes. That's why they use them for demo wheels. But if the wheel is built well it should last a good long while.
I'm not worried about the real wheel at all. It is seriously overbuilt (32 straight-gauge spokes) and that is not at all surprising given its intended use as a rental wheel that would be abused by Lob knows who.
My problem - and we are deep into #firstworldproblems territory here - is that it is
yellow/gold, where the front wheel (a Shimano R500) is black on black. It is totally a looks thing.
So the options are:
1. Deal with it; or
2. Change the rear rim to match the front (and would change spokes to bladed at the same time); or
3. Build a new front wheel that matches the rear - at least in colour (it need not match in section); or
4. Build a new front wheel and change out the rear rim as well.
Changing out the front rim I don't see as an option, as I have a perfectly good matching R500 rear wheel, so why break up the set? It can be sold or kept as a spare.
The most cost-effective COA is probably #3.
Psimet, PM inbound.
DG