My bike is a 2008 rockhopper comp with the original wheels on it. I'm looking at upgrading the wheels to use for cross country riding/racing. I'd like to keep the price around 300$. I'm not afraid to build my own wheels if it will end up being better in the long run.

As for parts:
The only thing that I've decided on is the Mavic XC 717 Disc rims.
I've heard alot of talk about going XT/XC 717, is that my best option?

I just need help choosing, buying, and building my new wheels. All help is greatly appreciated.

https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=14

Would something like this be a good option?

wheel building & tuning (youtube)


via Bike Forums - Bicycle Mechanics by rekall on 12/8/08

--

TOOLS FOR BUILDING a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQfQKjY1UJ0

MEASURING SPOKE LENGTH when building a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls8UqltOXnc

CALCULATING SPOKE LENGTH when building a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWooLajnqk4

PREPARING SPOKES for a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrGkHbB9ZSQ

placing DRIVE SIDE pulling SPOKES in a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNOCuNLQlj8

placing LEFT SIDE pulling SPOKES in a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-yXJ2Tjy1Q

placing STATIC SPOKES in a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiN-VkjyeUg

--

PREPARING a bicycle wheel for TENSIONING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5hb4iRzALQ

HOW TO TENSION a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXpxmqEaxb0

RELIEVING STRESS in a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeyr-brECm4

how to TRUE a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU2yKPRglaM

how to DISH a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1C2dZnUvuM

FINE TUNING a bicycle wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUVQn1vRB4s

--

Thanks for the information on how to build a wheel, but I need some input on wheel choice. Anyone out there?

An XT/Mavic XC717 combo would be a perfect wheelset for your needs.

Thanks, 2 more questions...

Would I see a difference in the XT and the XTR?
Also, will these wheels be compatible with these brakes https://www.hayesdiscbrake.com/produc...kerTrail.shtml

XTR is a tad bit lighter but almost cost double that of XT. I'd go with the XT hubs.

XT hubs scan still be had with 6 bolt instead of centerlock, so they would work just fine with the strokers.

IMO, unless you're pro and getting it for free, XTR isn't worth it.

Thanks for all of the information. I'll pick up the 717/xt wheelset soon. I'm also looking at getting some new hydraulic brakes while I'm at it. Is the Hayes Stroker Trail a good choice? Or should I go with Juicy 7s?

How much do you like wheel maintanence? If you build your own wheels then you will be using your spoke wrench and wheel truing tool alot. I recommend Spinergy and Mavic prebuilt wheelsets. I have almost no trouble with those wheels. But have had nothing but trouble with all the rest.

What? This ranks right up there with some of the most absurd stuff I have ever read here.

If built correctly, you'll only ever have to touch the wheels for normal maintenance and that is just when the spokes seat themselves and will simply require some retensioning of the spokes. After that the wheels should be rock solid.

Prebuilt mavic or spinergy wheels will come out of tension a well, and the spoke wrenches for them are specialty and cost 2x the price of a normal spoke wrench. Plus in the case you pop a spoke, all you need to do is stop by at your lbs and get the right sized spoke that you need and you'll likely be able to ride again the next day. Where with the prebuilt mavic or spinergy, the lbs will most likely have to order the spokes for it, which will leave a person without a functional bike for 1-2 weeks due to how slow mavic and spinergy are at sending stuff out.

Today I had to do some work on my front wheel which I had built myself for the first time since mid November 2007 because I knocked it a bit out of true from landing a jump a bit awkwardly.

What he said.

^^ eloquence iz you, Ed!

The information on building your own wheels is great, but I can't seem to find a way that, that would be very cost effective. I can't find individual parts that would be cheaper than getting a prebuilt set like https://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...d&productId=14

BWW is amazing in that regard. I'm not quite sure how they get prices so low, not to mention that their customer service is great (give the phone number a call and chances are the owner picks it up.) I've heard that they do a great job building (one guy on MTBR said the biggest deflection on his new ones were the logos on the rims.) Go for it, you won't be sorry.

gah i hate rim logos they always get in the way truing especially the thick lbd style ones grr. At least most of them don't go all the way to the edge so i can find at least some spot to dodge em

but yeah building ur own wheels is costly just cause of the tools you need to do it right (stand spoke wrench tensionmeter and maybe a dish tool, you can ghetto dish but...) Having wheels handbuilt for you is a good way to go