What is the worth of building a wheel?

[Journosergio]

Hi guys,

 

I've been looking at my options and it seems that I have an "expensive taste" for wheels.

 

I'm primarily a XC / trail rider, but like to do a bit of all-mountain every now and again. My riding style is aggressive, so even during XC races I'm klapping the downhills like a bit of a mad man and as a result my current rims have taken a major beating, one of which is damaged beyond repair.

 

Here is my question:

 

Considering the prices of wheelsets like the Stans ZTR Arch EX, am I better off just buying whatever I can land at a stockist, or should I buy the rims, spokes and hubs separate and have them assembled?

 

The wheelset is around R7.5k, whereas the rims I can get for R900 each.

 

Will I be saving any money going the long route with assembling the wheels and doing a custom job? And do I perhaps run the risk of getting a badly assembled wheel?

 

Or should I just go for a factory assembled standard wheelset?

 

So many questions...

[Nofearnofun]

Why not consider building up some Dartmoor Raiders or Spank spikes onto your existing hub. When it comes to building I am sure there are a few guys on the hub that can direct you to a good "wheel man"

[Journosergio]

Why not consider building up some Dartmoor Raiders or Spank spikes onto your existing hub. When it comes to building I am sure there are a few guys on the hub that can direct you to a good "wheel man"

 

Hmm, haven't had a look at those brands yet. They allow for XC racing?

 

And yeah, someone I know raised the question that, although my rims are destroyed, why can't I just buy new rims and reuse my existing hubs since they haven't been giving me any trouble.

 

You said it though, I need to find a good wheel man. Probably just as hard as finding a decent mechanic for my car and I've been through a dozen lol

[Nofearnofun]

The two options I mentioned are the way I am going but thats for my AM build, I will however be using the same wheels on my 120mm trail bike for XC. Raiders are setting me back R1900,00 if I use my hubs.

[Clinton - theCOW]

I've found like for like parts, doing a custom build works out more expensive.

 

My comparison is the Hope Hoops 26" with a Crest Rim. Once i'd priced all the parts, add in the labour, it worked out cheaper for me to by the factory wheel.

 

The only thing a customer build would allow you is proper customer, different colour spoke nipples & spokes etc. A really unique set of wheels that few others will have.