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WTB PowerBeam Rims

MSRP $
# of Reviews 12
Average Rating 4.17/5
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Description:WTB PowerBeam Rims


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Cambria Bicycle Outfitters


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    Submitted by Tony a Downhiller from Tucson, AZ USA
    Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003
    Favorite Trail:Fantasy Island
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $25.00
    Purchased At:eBay
    Strengths:Extremely LIGHTWEIGHT! Strong for narrow rim width
    Weaknesses:non-eyeleted
    Similar Products Used:Sunringle, Alex, Bontrager, Mavic, Vuelta
    Bike Setup:Home-built hardtail
    Bottom Line:I always build my own wheels as I can then only blame myself for failure.

    Wheel setup:
    XTR Hubs
    DT Competition Spokes (14/15/14)
    Allow nipples
    Lunarlight tubes (95g)
    Kevlar folding tire (26x1.9)

    I actually went against the norm and used allow nipples to see If I can get super feather-weight wheel built. So far so good. I ride hardpack XC and have YET to put a spoke wrench to them. Yea!!!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by ridge a Cross-Country Rider from connecticut
    Date Reviewed: December 7, 1999
    Favorite Trail:
    wilton woods
    Duration Product Used:
    more than 3 years
    Strengths:
    I beam is the smartest design brought to market outside of the OCR system.
    Built over ten pairs without one failure.
    only need to true once-period. you don't need eyelets if center of rim is reinfoced by center beam.
    Weaknesses:
    eyelets would make it easier to obtain high spoke tension.
    Similar Products Used:
    mavic 217,517,221,222,231,223
    sun cr17,ryhno,ryhno lite, etc....
    Bike Setup:
    always radial in front with very stiff hub and usually radial non drive and 3x drive in rear.
    hard tail, soft tail
    Bottom Line:you can't beat them for strength/weight ratio.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by todd a Weekend Warrior from wash dc
    Date Reviewed: April 30, 1999
    Duration Product Used:
    1 Year
    Strengths:
    Light, tough, durable
    Weaknesses:
    Narrow, should use brass nipples due to grommetless eyelets. (All due to light weight)
    Similar Products Used:
    Mavics, Bontrager, Sun
    Bike Setup:
    Heckler, Kona Explosif
    Bottom Line:First time wheel build, and I've abused these rims for close to a year without having to true them much. Brakes feel stronger on wider rims, but that's the price to be paid for such a light rim.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by dave larson a cross-country rider from minneapolis,mn
    Date Reviewed: December 12, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    i build a lot of wheels and these rims are great. for the guy who weights 200 lbs i would not recommend them, but put him on speedmasters or at least lace the rear wheel with 14 gauge straight spokes. i have 2 sets of powerbeams and they rule. i used to live in flagstaff, az where the trails are brutal and your rims' worst nightmare, they stand up!
    Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Greg a racer from Bloomington
    Date Reviewed: September 23, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    I have a friend who trashed one of his PowerBeams but I've had no problems at all with mine. Front is laced to C King, rear to a WTB New Paradigm... it was my first wheelbuild ever and I've been riding the set for 18 months now and have never had to true the front and only trued the rear twice. Could be the hubs, could be the rims, could be the wheelbuild (not likely), or could be my riding style... but these rims have been wonderful to me.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Tigger a cross-country rider from marin, ca
    Date Reviewed: August 2, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    Yo, road kill. Yeah, you.... ummm, perhaps it was the wheel build that caused yer probs, 'cuz I've been beating on power beams for years in all kinds of conditions; extreme XC, DH, DS and the local stairs, and have NEVER toasted one. Eventually the sidewalls wear out from braking, but hey, my hair falls out from old age. Sorry that you crashed, but I have reason to doubt the integrity of your wheel build rather than the rim. All of my buds ride PB's and the also awesome speedmasters (and all kinds of choice WTB goodies too) and we've not had rolled any like you describe.
    Anywhoo, these rims rule. Build 'em up well, and they'll last you a lifetime. Far mo'bettah than those silly ass Mavic hoops. remember, it's a good wheel builder with good rims that'll get you where you wanna go. ask gravy! cinco vegetales para mi. t-eye-gg-e-rrr.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Road Kill a weekend warrior from Newbury Park, California
    Date Reviewed: July 12, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    I own a 1997 Proflex Animal, a Downhill bike. I purchased it from Supergo in May 1997. The rims came as stock on the bike. I have 300 crosscountry miles on the bike and had it serviced less than 100 miles ago. I weigh 220 lbs.
    Traveling to the trail on an asphalt road the rear tire folded turning left at 20 MPH. The rim and spokes were inspected just prior to the ride and was true. I am very discouraged with a $1800 medical bill, two broken fingers, bruised hip socket and more road rash than I can remember. I've owned dozens of bikes all of less quality than this bike and never had such a failure. I could justify the failure if I hit something but to go into a turn and the next thing I know I'm finger painting with my blood on the pavement and wondering what went wrong.
    HOW CAN A RIM FAIL ON ASPHALT WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING?
    Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Shaun Wetzstein a weekend warrior from Rochester, MN
    Date Reviewed: June 15, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    I ride pretty hard and have a set of these on a freeride bike. I have to true then almost every time I ride. I hit a rock last year and put a huge hop in the front rim. Hade it rebuilt. I wasted a my back PowerBeam in Moab this year. Didn't get it rebuilt.I finally stopped wasting money on those rims and bought a pair of Cane Creek Crono Aero Heat wheels. They absolutely rock! If you are a heavy rider of ride really hard or both, check these out. I have some pretty hard miles on them and the front is still perfect and the back is almost perfect.I weigh 180 pounds and am hard on equipment. If you are lighter and/or a less aggressive rider the PowerBeam will probably work good for you. For me they didn't stand up so well to my abuse so I give them 3 stars because they are still good rims.
    Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Dave a cross-country rider from Central Pa. USA
    Date Reviewed: February 16, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    I have these rims Fr./Bk. on XT hubs. I weigh 190, and they are laced w/15-
    16ga.spokes. I tacoed the front, 2nd ride. The build Co.replaced it, and
    re-laced w/14ga.spokes. The back is still 15/16's and I've had no major
    problems since, but they go out of true easily and frequently. Maybe
    they're for lighter riders? Mavic 217's on 14 ga.next time......
    Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by Joe a cross-country rider from Lawrence, KS & WPB, FL
    Date Reviewed: February 15, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    I have had these rims front and rear for 1.5 years and they have held up great. (I weigh 165 lbs.) They are light and responsive. The front is laced to 15/16 db spokes and a TNT Ti hub; the rear has 15ga DT spokes and a Hugi hub. The wheelset has required very little work. My only complaint is the lack of eyelets for the spokes, but the rim does have a thicker profile at the spokes.
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by G a cross-country rider from USA
    Date Reviewed: January 17, 1998
    Bottom Line:

    If there was any rim I would but this one would be it. It kicks ass.
    Pretty light also. Everyone should own a set of these. Only the best
    bikes should have these on. They are also not too expensive. Wtb rules I
    also like there headset it rocks also, Get wtb powerbeams. NIng NIng NIng NIng
    Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Sheila Eaheart a racer from VA
    Date Reviewed: January 16, 1998
    Bottom Line:
    Overall Rating:5






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