Help, need advice on choosing MTB wheels!!

[TheGreenMamba]

Given the vast knowledge out there on all things bicycle, I thought I would pose the question to you MTB wheel techno-gurus!!

I would like to buy 26" MTB UST tubeless wheels.

Given that I weigh 60kg, I want the lightest wheels that will be durable enough to support my hard-core technical riding habit!

Of course, I would love to be able to buy the absolute top of the range wheels, but that is simply not going to happen at this point in time.

I have been looking at Shimano XT M775 and Mavic Crosstrail, but don't know if these are the best options.

 

Soo, what wheels would you recommend?

[Underachiever]

Search for this and you will see that this is discussed quite frequently....

 

BTW I have the XT and XTR wheelsets. XT completed many races incl. Epic. NO ISSUES. Replacement spokes are very expense - I only bought a few as pre-caution before the Epic.

 

XT relative cheap but many Hubbers will tell u that there are quite a few altenatives.

 

Mavic's comes with alu spokes which I do not trust!!

Edited May 26, 2011 by Underachiever

[StevieL]

Mavic Crosstrail

 

Had mine for 3 yrs now and have put them thru hell and back, no issues at all. I weigh 88kgs...

[dirtrider]

XT .

[TheGreenMamba]

Which XT wheels, model?

[Thumper]

Go with the XT's you wont be sorry.

[MoreTrails]

Neither. Mavic Freehub's are luss to service all the time (bushing at the back wears out) and I have heard the XT's just don't hold shape.

 

have a set hand built and you will not look back. Hope Pro 2's with ZTR or Mavic Rims and DT Swiss double butted spokes...easy!

 

Otherwise Chris Kings if you have a bit of tom to lash out...

[Gnarly]

DT Swiss Tricon, nothing comes close.

[nigelhicks]

i will unfortunately have to disagree with Underachiever on this one - I bought a set of XT's which siezed on me 3rd ride (Bearing collapsed). Put a new axle and bearing kit in but it has never been the same!

 

I have just got a set of XT hubs on my new trail bike and the module has been stuffed from the word go!

 

I would definately say go Mavics!

 

In the XT's defense though ... although i am a light weight (70kg) I ride my bike flipping hard and the XT's are a SUPER STRONG wheelset - if you are looking for a stiff and strong wheelset you cant beat them - to gove you and example .. I cased a square edge concrete causeway once where the one side was washed away - so i tried to jump onto the concrete over the stream and didnt make it! Any other wheelset would have snapped in 2 .. the XT's just flatspotted (Didnt even puncture!)

 

BUT although they are strong ... the **** i have had with the hubs puts paid to those wheels - needless to say i'm building a new wheelset for my new bike and they will be mavics with superstar (ZTR) sealed bearing hubs!

[Thumper]

Before you get suggestions for wheelsets that cost more than your bike:

- what sort of budget do you have?

- what sort of riding do you do?

[dirtrider]

If you gonna buy new it will have to be the current models .

[pauloc]

So many options out there, each with pro's and con's, but the more popular brands are ZTR and American Classic. I ride some Easton XC One's (which I think are amazing but some people have issue with). Heard the XT wheels are prone to problems with the rear hub.

[zork]

I've been riding XTR for 3 years not one problem so far

[andretraut]

The lightest mtb wheelset in the cheap price bracket is American Classic, weighing only 1486g and you could get them for around R4K. They are great. Moving a bit up the price ladder will get you Easton EA 90 SL at about the same weight, but with a R7K price tag. I ride on both, and the Eastons are far more superior, better hubs and seems to be much stronger. XT is good, but they experience hub failure and is a bit on the heavy side.

[rouxtjie]

Hope Pro II + ZTR whatever...

 

Time and time these wheelsets rank top in MBUK's tests...nuff said

[VincentBikes]

Hope Pro 2 Evo hubs with ZTR Crest rims and given your weight aluminium nipples and DT Swiss Revolution spokes. Ask JB to build you a pair. You will not be sorry!