The best MTB wheels and hubs?

[Johan Bornman]

Johan, how do the XT wheel set rate on quality vs price vs weight scale?

 

I only weigh myself and occasionally portions of pasta before cooking it.

 

Quality excellent. Price? I dunno, I sell hand-built wheels.

 

However, keep this in mind. A new spoke for that wheel is in the order of R90-00. If your chain overshifts into the spokes, it is 6 x R90-00 before labour. A new rim is in the order of R1000+

 

Further, some people don't deserve Shimano (cup-and-cone bearing) wheels. They're klutzes with mechanical things and can't seem to figure out when a service is due and when not, thereby destroying the races and ultimately, the wheels.

 

Shimano clearly looked at the Mavic Ksyrium/Crosswhatever rim/spoke attachment design and perfected it.

[Mojoman]

Do those SLX hubs have a good seal? I was thinking about replace my Shimano 475 hubs with these. The 475 has no seal.

[nathrix]

If money was not an issue:

 

1) Spokes: DT Revolution (any colour) R16 each.

2) Rims ZTR (noTubes) whatever takes your fancy - choose own shape and colour. R980 each.

3) Hubs: Chris King or Hope. R5000 for set (local) or cheaper (import).

 

 

Johan, what do you think of the American Classic or Blush rims compared to the ZTR rims? I am looking into having a wheelset build for a singlespeed 29er rigid fork in the future, with the light powered directly by a dynamo housed in the front hub and at the rear the Hope Pro II Singlespeed hub. I got the "bright" idea when I read http://www.onegiantride.blogspot.com/, you of course build the wheelset.

 

"To build the wheels, I approached Johan Bornman from Yellow Saddle Cycling. While waiting for the actual parts to arrive, he got busy sourcing the correct spoke lengths and suitable rims and then got stuck into the building as soon as was possible. Thanks Johan, those wheels took an absolute pounding out there but they survived without a single broken spoke and are still running true - a job well done. "

 

What rims did you use?

Ok, i see it's Blunt rims

Edited September 13, 2010 by nathrix

[HowellingWulf]

I only weigh myself and occasionally portions of pasta before cooking it.

 

Quality excellent. Price? I dunno, I sell hand-built wheels.

 

However, keep this in mind. A new spoke for that wheel is in the order of R90-00. If your chain overshifts into the spokes, it is 6 x R90-00 before labour. A new rim is in the order of R1000+

 

Further, some people don't deserve Shimano (cup-and-cone bearing) wheels. They're klutzes with mechanical things and can't seem to figure out when a service is due and when not, thereby destroying the races and ultimately, the wheels.

 

Shimano clearly looked at the Mavic Ksyrium/Crosswhatever rim/spoke attachment design and perfected it.

Thanks. R90 a spoke. That is an expensive biltong hook.

[crasher]

It was my XT wheel

 

Perfect now since Johan fixed it

[Robrider]

However, keep this in mind. A new spoke for that wheel is in the order of R90-00. If your chain overshifts into the spokes, it is 6 x R90-00 before labour.

 

 

Wow, that sounds familiar. I'm still bitter about it.

[Johan Bornman]

Do those SLX hubs have a good seal? I was thinking about replace my Shimano 475 hubs with these. The 475 has no seal.

 

Yes. It has the same seal system as XT and XTR.

[Johan Bornman]

Johan, what do you think of the American Classic rims compared to the ZTR rims? I am looking into having a wheelset build for a singlespeed 29er rigid fork in the future, with the light powered directly by a dynamo housed in the front hub and at the rear the Hope Pro II Singlespeed hub. I got the "bright" idea when I read http://www.onegiantride.blogspot.com/, you of course build the wheelset.

 

"To build the wheels, I approached Johan Bornman from Yellow Saddle Cycling. While waiting for the actual parts to arrive, he got busy sourcing the correct spoke lengths and suitable rims and then got stuck into the building as soon as was possible. Thanks Johan, those wheels took an absolute pounding out there but they survived without a single broken spoke and are still running true - a job well done. "

 

What rims did you use?

 

Material-wise, the two are much of a muchness. Very similar aluminium in both. The AC is deeper in section than the ZTRs and that simply means that there is more aluminium in there and hence it is stronger. That doesn't mean the ZTRs aren't strong enough. Strong enough is strong enough.

 

I used Velocity Blunt rims in Glen's wheels. They seem fine but I wasn't impressed by the finishing on the wheels. The spoke holes still had the drilling burrs. Sis! other than that, they're fine.

 

Glen is such a nice guy. I didn't even see his comment on the blog. Thanks Glen.

[nathrix]

Thanks Johan. I see, it's Blushnt http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mP1scmO6PLc/TBJwsV9Xp_I/AAAAAAAAAAs/py0R2ix7bgM/s1600/P5080004.JPG

[patham]

I have been following a lot of these threads and wheel advice. My new wheelset (from our favourite overseas place) landed at ORTIA at 9.42am this morning. They are ZTR 355's on XT hubs with DT Swiss double butted spokes. Thanks to all you contributor's to threads like these, as firstly you pointed me in the right direction for further research, secondly for the new validation of the hit on my credit card. I look forward to passing on my review of this combo in future posts.

[patches]

I'm running running the following:

 

Spank Spike Rims

Hope Pro II Hubs (150x12mm thru axle on rear. 20mm thru axle on front)

DT Swiss DB spokes

 

and although I know these rims are DH rims and don't meet the criteria originally stated (XC/ enduro use)... I can highly recommend the Hope Pro II hubs!

 

Not only do they make that awesome loud clicking sound (that lets people know you're coming)...

 

...they're pretty adaptable with QR-to-thru axle kits available and such.

... they come on a variety of awesome colours, hahaha!

...and not to forget the sealed bearings.

 

so yeah... if you can... go for Hope hubs... can seem pricey compared to other hubs on the market... but I'm sure many will agree that they perform as well (if not better) than some more expensive hubs.

 

I'm no technical guru... but that's my 2c worth. I love my Hope hubs!

[VincentBikes]

Set of wheels I built with Johan's gracefull atention, patience and a lot of help. Still running true as the day we built them,

 

Hubs : Hope Pro 2

Rims : Not Tubes - ZTR Crest

Spokes : DT swiss Double Butted

Nipples : Brass

 

 

[swoosh1973]

If money was not an issue:

 

1) Spokes: DT Revolution (any colour) R16 each.

2) Rims ZTR (noTubes) whatever takes your fancy - choose own shape and colour. R980 each.

3) Hubs: Chris King or Hope. R5000 for set (local) or cheaper (import).

 

No-nonsense budget wheels without compromise.

 

1) Spokes: DT Swiss double butted. R9-80 each.

3) Rims: DRC MT 19 or 17 (depending if rim or disc brake) R380 each.

4) Hubs: Shimano SLX - R1200 a set.

 

Criteria for building a wheel.

1) Never build a rubbish wheel. I won't even repair a rubbish wheel since my labour often costs more than the wheel.

2) Don't compromise on any one of the components i.e. minimum double butted spokes and quality hubs and rims.

3) never use straight-gauge spokes. These build easy but don't have durability over the long run.

4) Always use standard components that are freely available anywhere.

5) Don't do prohibited things like build radial on certain hubs.

6) Don't build with aluminium nipples unless the customer insists and understands that they don't last.

7) Don't use Loctite to hold the nipples in place. Use proper spoke tension.

8) Stress-relieve each wheel so that it is gauranteed for life against spoke problems.

 

 

Note: Prices are approximate. I've thumbsucked them half from memory, half from experience just so that the two options are placed in perspective.

 

THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE!!