MTB wheels

[Carbon_Kooi]

I am considering buying a Shimano XT M775 wheelset, but have read some nasty comments on the rear hubs.

Now at R2700 a set it is really cheap in comparison with what is available.

So for the guys (and girls) out there that know a lot about wheels, please advise me on alternative products in the price range, or if you feel necessary just advise me not to buy these at all or to buy them fast.

 

Thanks

[patham]

I am considering buying a Shimano XT M775 wheelset, but have read some nasty comments on the rear hubs.

Now at R2700 a set it is really cheap in comparison with what is available.

So for the guys (and girls) out there that know a lot about wheels, please advise me on alternative products in the price range, or if you feel necessary just advise me not to buy these at all or to buy them fast.

 

Thanks

I am no expert, but I did a bit of research when I had my ZTR's built up with an XT hub. In general, if you take a bit of care, and are willing to do your own cup & cone bearing maintenance with them you should be ok. They are not an install and forget type hub with cartidge bearings, although it seems as though even those give trouble. So, if they all can give trouble, why not go with the cheaper option....

[splat]

Spokes are a problem to get hold of if any break.

[Carbon_Kooi]

I am no expert, but I did a bit of research when I had my ZTR's built up with an XT hub. In general, if you take a bit of care, and are willing to do your own cup & cone bearing maintenance with them you should be ok. They are not an install and forget type hub with cartidge bearings, although it seems as though even those give trouble. So, if they all can give trouble, why not go with the cheaper option....

 

I have a set of old XT's, think 2006, and I service the hubs on a regular basis.

Are the spokes hard to get or impossible to get?

[AndreZA]

There is a difference between the stand alone hubs and the wheelset hubs. They are not the same. The wheelset need special spokes at R75 each. The other uses normal J-bend spokes. Apparently the freewheel on the wheelsets are not the best quality according to users here on the hub. I also service my stand alone hubs and they have been fine for year.

[Nobody]

There is a difference between the stand alone hubs and the wheelset hubs. They are not the same. The wheelset need special spokes at R75 each. The other uses normal J-bend spokes. Apparently the freewheel on the wheelsets are not the best quality according to users here on the hub. I also service my stand alone hubs and they have been fine for year.

 

R75 if you lucky. The usual response is "We dont have any XT but do have XTR spokes for R120" and then they have to order them.

Not sure if there is a difference in spokes but have only been able to replace with XTR.

 

Advantages: Totally tubeless, easy to get a tire inflated. Bulletproof according to some people (I broke 3 spokes so they went to a gentler riders bike)

Disadvantage: Expensive to fix.

[rouxtjie]

Save a bit more and get a custom set of Hope Pro 2 with ZTR-whatever-your-flavour

 

I know its not what you want to hear right now, but you wont be sorry.

[banna]

I am considering buying a Shimano XT M775 wheelset, but have read some nasty comments on the rear hubs.

Now at R2700 a set it is really cheap in comparison with what is available.

So for the guys (and girls) out there that know a lot about wheels, please advise me on alternative products in the price range, or if you feel necessary just advise me not to buy these at all or to buy them fast.

 

Thanks

 

Just buy them dude. I have a set of Mavic Crossmax's which are moer expensive, and I have to service the rear hub every 3 months. So even the expensive stuff needs maintenance on a regular basis.

[Just Keep Pedaling]

"Save a bit more and get a custom set of Hope Pro 2 with ZTR-whatever-your-flavour"

 

This is kind of a consensus best buy. It should be about R3500 all in. Shimano also have issues keeping the mud out.

[Johan Bornman]

Horrible hubs.

 

It is not just a case of servicing them often, but a case of the hub itself that gets ruined if water gets in, which as regular as someone on a high-fibre diet.

 

Those hubs are Shimano's worst product by far. Stay away.

[DJR]

@ Johan B

 

Which hubs would you rate as good?

 

Now riding DT Swiss 370 and Hope Pro 2 and have no problems.

 

What to get next that will be reliable, relatively light and strong and reasonably priced? I know you cannot have it all, but what I want to know is where that sweet spot is in the middle of all the above requirements.

 

And since I'm at it, how about rims to go with it? Preferably UST or tubeless ready, for trailriding, reasonably light etc. as for the hubs.

[zonker]

try looking on crc.you can get hope pro2 hubs with whatever rims you want prebuilt.you can mix and match to get the build you want and then just order them,slap them on you bike ,ride and smile!think they were about R1750 per wheel last time i checked

[Johan Bornman]

@ Johan B

 

Which hubs would you rate as good?

 

Hope PRO II, Shimano SLX

 

Now riding DT Swiss 370 and have no problems.

 

 

You have problems, you just don't know about them yet.

 

 

 

What to get next that will be reliable, relatively light and strong and reasonably priced? I know you cannot have it all, but what I want to know is where that sweet spot is in the middle of all the above requirements.

 

 

Choose light or strong, you can't have them both. Aluminium is aluminium. How can you have something as simple as a rim which restricts its designer to size and shape, in one material both strong and light? The more aluminium in there, the stronger. Conversely, the less alu in there, the weaker. There is no holy grail here.

 

If you are a zillionaire, your sweet spot is different from mine.

 

 

 

 

And since I'm at it, how about rims to go with it? Preferably UST or tubeless ready, for trailriding, reasonably light etc. as for the hubs.

 

The only UST rim on the market (that you can build onto a standard hub) is the Mavic X819. Otherwise, just stick some Stan's yello tape over the spoke holes like the rest of us do and ride converted tubeless. Ask Weight Weenie, UST is overrated.

 

Since you already have Hope and the world's users have proved that there are no latent issues with the stuff, why search for something else? Once you've built a set of wheels on Hope hubs, your wheel worries are over and you can forget about wheels forever.

[Carbon_Kooi]

Johan what is the difference between the SLX and XT hubs?

[Johan Bornman]

Johan what is the difference between the SLX and XT hubs?

Today's SLX hubs are the same as yesterday's XT hubs. In other words, they have 9mm steel axles and 1/4 inch balls at the back and 3/16th in front. Their cones have built-in contact seals as well as labyrinth seals.

 

The new XT hubs have oversized aluminium axles. This has the effect of reducing the ball size and thus rear XT hubs as well as front, now have 3 /16th inch balls and 14 of them per size. The seals are made of Swiss cheese - the type with lots of holes ad cavities like you see in the movies.

 

They are supposedly contact seals but the lip is so small and fragile that it is almost non-existent. Further, the lip doesn't run in a groove on the axle but on the axle's nominal diameter....how shall I put it? It doesn't have a special place to run, it sommer just sits on the axle. At the back right, it doesn't have a contact seal but a rubber labyrinth seal that may as well not be there.

 

The result is chronic water damage that most of the times damage the fixed outer bearing cup race, ruining the hub.

 

The SLX hub is also ruined if this happens, but the seals are better and it therefore doesn't happen. In my view, the XT hubs (and XTR) are totally unsuitable for MTB use.

 

SLX hubs are obviously a bit heavier but what do you prefer = carrying a few grams over durability? Not for me.

[Headshot]

Horrible hubs.

 

It is not just a case of servicing them often, but a case of the hub itself that gets ruined if water gets in, which as regular as someone on a high-fibre diet.

 

Those hubs are Shimano's worst product by far. Stay away.

 

Thats bad news - have had mine about a year - still smooth and no freehub probs but thena gain I dont ride 5 times a week or in mud much.... Lovely wheels in other respects and the price is good....