Last wheelset question
 

Hello all,

First of all, I would like to apologize for asking so many questions regarding wheelsets. I'm trying to purchase a new set recently to complete my disc upgrades, but there are a few options I could take and I'd like to get your feedback on this issue.

I went to my LBS today and got some prices. So far, I have bought a set of XT hubs off ebay from a Hong Kong seller with XT rotors for $170 CAD after shipping. I may have to pay some taxes and possible duty on the hubs. Then the DT 4.1d rims will cost $150 CAD and spokes will be another $50 CAD. I'll have to buy the mechanic a 12 pack of beer to build it up. This brings the total cost of this wheelset up to $430 - $450 CAD after taxes and duty, and I'm guaranteed to have a brand new wheelset.

Then I found this deal on a set of Chris Kings on Mavic 717s with XTR rotors and Kenda tires for $500US ($625 CAD). This wheelset was build by Colorado Cyclist a few month ago, and the owner supposingly only has 40 hours on these wheels.

So the deal is, I can probabaly talk the seller down a little bit, and resell the XT hubs and rotors on ebays at a $50 dollar loss. I weigh 190lbs, and ride mostly agressive XC. Which deal would you go with and why?? Forget about the bling bling factor because I dont really want people to drool over my bike. I'd like strength and reliability over anything else.

Weight wise, the Kings are only about 70 grams lighter than the XT center lock hubs.

THanks for all your help

Ming

well the life expectancy of a chris king, or almost any hub with nice sealed bearings at that will be much greater than any XT. I would buy those wheels personally.

I think I'd agree with the others. King hubs are great...assuming the seller only has maintained them and really only has limited time on them. Be sure to check the return policy of the ebay seller. Assuming you can return them, have them checked out at the LBS as soon as you receive them.

From the pictures, they look brand new. Before I buy them, I'm going to ask him to send me a copy of the receipt he has. From the receipt, I can find out when he really bought them. This deal is outside ebay, but he did say he'll take them back if I the wheelset aren't exactly as he described. Also, he says he lives 2 hours away from the trails, so he does more road riding then mountain biking.

I think I'll pick up the Kings and figure out something to do with the XT hubs. Maybe pond them off to someone else that needs to go to discs :D Then he can just relace his rims to those hubs, and get a set of BB7 calipers :D

Ming

Ill take those XT hubs :)

I paid $119 + $20 + possible custom charges from Hong Kong for shipping for those hubs and rotors....How much are you willing to give me ;) They are brand new and very light for the money...

Shamino XT: Front 180g Rear 369g
Chris King: Front 166g Rear 306g
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14g + 57g = 71 grams


Ming