MTB Trail Wheels Carbon Vs Alu

[Stevief]

I am considering buying carbon wheels for my trail bike. I mostly ride very rocky rooty terrain and do a lot of climbing.  Basically all the trails at Table mountain, Signal Hill, Jonkers, Tokai etc.  I have damaged quite a few Alu rims over the years.

 

Are Carbon rims worth the extra cost?

Are they reliable or do they break easily?

IS the acceleration really noticable?

 

Thanks Guys

 

Any info will help.

 

If Carbon is the way to go which brand do you recommend for Trail riding.

 

[Dirkitech]

I'm also interested in OP's question and people's experience with carbon rims offroad!

[PhilipV]

A mate of mine has broken two carbon rims on his trailbike.

They are not the magic bullet ito strength.

 

Stiffness to weight ratio is where they win though.

[zeepee]

The biggest benefit I find is that you can get a nice wide rim that weighs very little compared to similar alu rim. They very stiff as-well and you definitely notice it under power.  

 

Check out Csixx, they based in Cape Town and produce great wheels and some other components. Their products are trail orientated and they have a replacement warrantee.

 

I'm 95kgs and havent been able to break one yet, so I'm pretty confident in their strength. 

 

http://www.csixx.co.za

[Yo-Yo]

Only carbon rims I'd get are ones with a great replacement or lifetime guarantee. I've seen a lot of people damage carbon rims and alu rims and TBH it's a lot cheaper to replace alu rims. 

Alu vs Carbon though It does all come down to the rims and the kind of riding (XC, Trail, AM, Enduro). I know that sounds obvious but I've had a few carbon rims as testers and the flex and compliance from rim and build is vital. Super stiff carbon bike and stiff carbon rims can be very harsh and end up pin balling around the trail making it hard to put the bike where you want to especially on rocks n' roots. Alu bike and carbon rims can stiffen things up nicely and still have some useful flex in the bike as a whole. Personally I like alu rims with carbon frames. You get good stiffness from the layup for the frame and often the alu rims can offer excellent weight, stiffness but enough 'give' to make places like jonkers, tokai etc a better riding experience. I've read a couple of reports about those EWS riders who are made to use carbon rims from sponsors get them laced up with extra give in them so they are a better ride. Most of my riding is aimed at getting to a down and going for that so I can't really comment on the climbing and acceleration. If I was worried at about that I'd lay off the next beer or that yummy post ride burger. 

Carbon frame and stiff carbon wheels on Pats track / signal. Ouch.

 

Edit: If I was rich I would get rims from these Canadians. Lifetime warranty, hand made, tough and tested in burly locations in can-ay-dah. Santa Cruz and Reynolds are now offering lifetime warranties as well. 

 

https://weareonecomposites.com 

[Yo-Yo]

The biggest benefit I find is that you can get a nice wide rim that weighs very little compared to similar alu rim. They very stiff as-well and you definitely notice it under power.  

 

Check out Csixx, they based in Cape Town and produce great wheels and some other components. Their products are trail orientated and they have a replacement warrantee.

 

I'm 95kgs and havent been able to break one yet, so I'm pretty confident in their strength. 

 

http://www.csixx.co.za

 

I know Chris @ the Bike Park in Uitsig has Csixx and the way he rides on that slash you have to be impressed with their build. 

[cadenceblur]

Go wide and go carbon. Get some inserts if you're worried for added piece of mind. The stiffness is noticeable and feels very stable.

[Baracuda]

Wish I could test drive a pair to feel the difference.

I am in a similar situation - looking at a set of DT Swiss wheels or just the rims from bike discount. There is little weight benefit, the top end alu weigh more or less the same as the carbon. Half the reviews and interviews with pros I see reckon the carbon rims are too stiff, the other half love them. Really not sure.

But they do break.

[SlowManiac]

I upgraded the wheels on my Fuel EX to the Bontrager carbon wheels. They are really nice, very stiff and direct. I really, really like them.

 

BUT

 

I am not a very heavy rider (72kg odd) and I managed to crack a rear rim. Trek warrantied them no fuss and I've had no problems since. 

 

So I recommend carbon hoops but I'd only buy with a good reputation for warranty behind them. Pay extra attention to tire pressure too!

[GrahamS2]

Got a set of these from XM Carbonspeed. Order with extra wall thickness and no nipple holes - you won't break them in a hurry! Cost was around R10k landed, built on DT Swiss 350S hubs

[duanelr]

there's a thread similar to this one, might be worth a read. 

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/177112-best-lightest-non-carbon-mtb-rims/

[River Rat]

I'm 95kgs and I prefer enduro riding as opposed to XC. A while back at a try out day at Hakahana a top rider who was showing us some lines described my riding style as "Like a bulldog fighting with his porridge". So there's nothing subtle about the way I approach a trail and my lack of talent means that I get it wrong more often than I tell my mates. I have Roval Carbons that are now 4 years old and they have taken some heavy hits. To date my only let down has been corroded nipples and a complete wheel rebuild. I recently helped two mates who are also 95kgs + riders to upgrade to carbon ( they both destroyed their aluminium rears on their tallboys). The route we went  was www.lightbicyle.com rims, Hope Hubs and a David Marshall build this equated to a set of carbons for under R20k.  Their verdict was it was by far the best upgrade ever.

[Schnavel]

The route we went  was www.lightbicyle.com rims, Hope Hubs and a David Marshall build this equated to a set of carbons for under R20k.  Their verdict was it was by far the best upgrade ever.

 

You will never go wrong with this build, great rims, great hubs and an excellent wheel builder.