Submitted by
Sean Mossman
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX , Dallas
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2007
Strengths: I have the RM 18's these are built to last. This rim is awsome. I am new to MTB (18 mo's) but was heavily in to BMX back in the day and no quaility. I am about 200 lbs and have taken 4 ft. drop off on to pavement. The wheel is still true. I was considering buying some Mav's for my bike because of the awsome looks and rep but can not justify the purchase as the Alex rims have impressed me that much.
Weaknesses: Some what heavy as comapares to others but the added benefit of not bending under extreme pressure.
Bottom Line:
I have not really tried any other quality rim but from what I have put this rim through I am not sure if a more expensive rim is worth the money or could take the abuse frankly. Truth be told, I was hoping this rim would suck and could justify an upgrade but really can find no fault. Bike snob's will probably frown on this wheel as it is not that expensive and not the most recognized bet this is a worker wheel and a true value. As I look to the future I see Alex Rim's becoming a price point leader in the market of rims.
Bike Setup: Haro v3 upgraded. The only original part on the bike is the rims.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
christian
a Weekend Warrior
from england
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2007
Strengths: am reviewing alex rm18 wheelset came on scott yz2.must admit am usually lazy at doing this sort of selfless activity but am so impressed with my wheels that i must tell the world.i've done many flat landed jumps(5foot) with these,with 180 degree aerial turns,so getting sideways twist combined with bottoming out forks and they are bomb proof!! i don't know if they are heavy or not but i think they are great.i would buy them for any use.
Favorite Trail: Lakeside doubleus and Bridge Jumps Garfield dirt track
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: Gold Cross Cycles
Similar Products Used: Sun rims they are sh#*. Broke them first big jump
Bike Setup: 2005 Mongoose Thunderball Marzocchi Dirt Jam Pro,Kenda Blue Groove,Truvativ Husselvelt Craks, head stem, peddals and handle bars
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
john narin
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary alberta
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Strengths: any size of drops
Weaknesses: flat land this rim at a height of three ft. or bigger it will bend a little
Bottom Line:
pretty good rim but you dont wanna flat land this rim a whole lot but it only bends a little if you do but this rim is great for five, six, seven foot drops to down hill
Submitted by
Zachary Ohare
a Downhiller
from Co springs CO
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2006
Strengths: Actually im reviewing the alex DM-18...this thing is the bomb!!! ive only had them for like 2 mos but my friend used them for a yr or two...hes a major downhiller and when i received the wheels they were in perfect true...(he swears he never trued them and I believe him cus when something of his is out of true...that means he broke it...)
Weaknesses: NONE!!!!!(maybe a bit heavy but perfect for trail riding yet light enough for XC)
Bottom Line:
The best rim ive used so far...although ive heard that ringle UFO's can match in strength(although they are way lighter than the alex)I guess all i can say is if u find a An ALEX DM-18 wheelset for 120$ or under...BUY IT!!!!!!!!!
I have the DX32 rims and they are by far the heaviest, sturdiest, and strongest rims I have on any of my bikes. They are wider than my other rims by what looks like 2x and allow the tire to open up a bit wider. 2.3 and 2.35 tires look like 2.4 tires on my other bikes. The footing is solid and stable, and worrying about folding the rims is nonexistent. I had been using these rims with Kenda DH tires up until recently, and nailing square edge concrete ledges and stairs had no effect on the rim. In fact, despite doing that several times, I was still running the original tires and tubes. The combination of these rims, DH tires, and DH tubes makes for a practically invincible setup.
But... it's heavy as sand. I hopped on a friend's bike with Rhyno Lites and liter tires and was amazed at the responsiveness. So I swapped to lighter tires and tubes. Now I have a combination of fast tires, and strong wheels. The stability is there, the stiffness is there, and with the tires pumped up, I shouldn't have to worry about flats.
I'd still like a lighter wheel, but shaving weight comes at the cost of sacrificing strength and for what I ride, I think these rims are fine.
Bike Setup: Nuke proof 18" xc frame, Z-1 fork alex DX32 rear wheel with kenda Kinetics 2.35 tire, Araya front wheel with intense 2.35 FRO tire
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Submitted by
tyler robbins
a Weekend Warrior
from madison, WI
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003
Strengths: take abuse, true easily,
Weaknesses: heavy, but who cares
Bottom Line:
i was all drunk one night and I decided to ride up a flight of step at full pace and pinch flatted my front and rear tires... well, first off thornproof tubes and something bigger than a 1.95 would have help.... but anyways.... I made a bit of a flat spot that night, and it was a tad untrue, but it wasn't the rim itself that was flatened, I just bent the side walls, but with a little vice grip action (I know I know, that's bad) and a visit to the trueing stand, they're as good as new, I've taken plenty of drops on them and they have held up perfectly, I'd consider using them on another bike.
Submitted by
Steve
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002
Strengths: Triple Walled. Welded Joint. Strong as all holy hell, can not be beaten. Huge.
Weaknesses: Weight, but for the strength you get, WHO CARES? Bike shops won't see me purchasing any rims for the rest of my life. Doesn't come in 24".
Bottom Line:
The Bottom Line... want a rim that can last forever? You've found it. Don't buy it for a race bike, you'll be super slow. It's not light.
A BMX background brought this rim to the forefront. I saw one built on a Norco Torrent at my LBS, and knew right then it was my next rear rim.
I break rims. I'm not super smooth. This rim... I can not describe. It will take every single thing you throw at it, laugh in your face, spit on you, then say: "Thank you sir, may I have another?"
Planet X stole it, just because they couldn't come up with anything better. It started as a BMX rim, which Alex is also famous for, and now it's been brought in to the MTB world.
All in all, if you want a rim that will be passed down to your children, thier children, and so on for generations, buy it. You will not be disapointed.
My only gripe is that is doesn't come in 24", but for my riding style, I prefer 26" anyway.
Strengths: strong, i never worry about braking them. dont seem to heavy but i a used to them so i cant tell. lots of other people have said they are very strong also.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
good strong rim. great for urban assult. get them if you want strong rims.
