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29" wheelset upgrade: factory take-off or custom

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valheru

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
My primary ride is a 2017 Element 950 RSL which comes with 29" Sunringle Sun Helix SL TR25, 21 mm internal width and BOOST all round.

I weight 95kg (210 lbs) ride on rocky/root filled trails with small jumps, 2 foot drops and my current tires of choice are Maxxis 2.3" DHF and HR2.

This being said, the stock wheels of he 950 RSL are on he narrow side of things and happier with a 72kg (160 lbs) rider, therefore I am looking at upgrading my wheels.

I have been reading and shopping around for the last week and the following wheelsets (all in the $1000 CDN) interest me and are all within the same price range:

1- Brand new take-off wheels consisting of E13 TRS+ rims (IW of 30mm), i9 Torch hubs with DT Swiss J-bend spokes. This wheelset is from a 2018 Santa Cruz Hightower LT CC XX01 build;

2 - Used custom wheelset consisting of Stans Arch MK3 rims (IW of 26mm), Hadley hub with DT Swiss J-bend spokes. These are being sold by a LBS; and

3 - New custom wheelset consisting of DT Swiss EX471 rims (IW of 25mm), DT Swiss 350 hubs (18T ratchet) with DT Swiss J-bend spokes.



My main goals for upgrading wheels are long term reliability and bike control, weight saving being low on the priority list. My only long term experience with hubs (12y) are on Shimano XT (26" 2005 RM Vertex 50 still running strong), so I have little to compare to in this case.

Therefore, what would the collective experience of this forum recommend in the choices above?


Thanks
 
#2 ·
If you are happy with Maxxis 2.3s, the 21mm ID rims are a pretty good match size-wise. In that case I'd probably run them until such time as they give you trouble.

You didn't mention cost on the above choices. If you are looking at a killer deal, that might change things. For example, if the used option #2 is in good shape and was going for $400ish, I'd grab it if I had the scratch.

Another thing to consider is that it's nice to have a backup wheelset if you don't already have one, or a backup bike.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
All wheelsets listed above are in the $1000CDN price range.

The used Arch MK3/Hadley are offered by one of the mechanics from the LBS (asking $950), they were built late last summer, have about 5 rides on them (near mint looking) and were serviced/re-lubed/inspected over winter.

l have a back-up bike, my trusty 2005 Rocky Mountain Vertex 50 (26" hard tail) which I was using in the trails up to early last summer

The plan is to keep the stock wheels from my element 950 RSL as backups.
 
#5 ·
Option 3 seems pretty pricey. I had a similar wheelset built up in the US for under $600 USD last year (Stans MK3 rims and Sapim Race spokes, though).

Options 1 and 2 have nicer hubs, so that price seems more reasonable. Like Jackl said, if you plan on sticking to 2.3 tires, then the Arch MK3 rims would be a better fit.
 
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#9 ·
I just built a set of wheels for a guy last night with Stans Flow Mk3's, Bike Hub Store Boost hubs and Sapim Race spokes and alloy nipples. His cost for these wheels comes in around 550, labor included.
This is the first set of the Mk3's Ive seen. I like em a lot. See what the bike shop would charge you for a build like that with Archs. My customer is light like you but here on Long Island, we tend to run wider rims.
 
#10 ·
OP, I'd say all of your options look decent, anything i25-i30 will be an improvement for you and the hubs will also be an upgrade. Depending on your riding style and preference, if you like rough, rocky, slow vs faster, flowy, berms etc, the amount of sidewall support you might want will be different. Personally, I'd stick to the i30 rims, they offer good support for the sidewalls, yet are not so wide as to cause many if any problem by making the sidewalls too exposed or exposing the rims themselves to easier hits. I'd go for the new take offs knowing that no one has maybe abused them and you can't see it and the Torch hubs are very nice and being the j-bends, you'll be able to get replacement spokes easily, heard the E13 rims are pretty tough and reliable, but no personal experience with them.

Seriously? :eek:ut: Being the size you are, I'm super surprised to hear you say that, because even at my paltry 180-185lbs geared to ride weight, I noticed a huge difference moving to an i25 rim from something around i21 with my 2.3" Maxxis tyres. Gained much better sidewall support, less tyre squirm, could run lower pressures because of the support, less worry about pinch flats at lower pressures.

JACKL said:
If you are happy with Maxxis 2.3s, the 21mm ID rims are a pretty good match size-wise. In that case I'd probably run them until such time as they give you trouble................Another thing to consider is that it's nice to have a backup wheelset if you don't already have one, or a backup bike.
Click to expand...
 
#11 ·
DT350 hubs are about as durable and long lasting as you can get, fairly priced, not that heavy. Built up with a Duroc 40 you’d have a bomber wheelset. I wouldn’t waste my time building wheels with junk hubs.
 
#12 ·
Personally I wouldn’t be spending $1,000 and not be riding away with carbon wheels. You could get a great set of carbon rims for $400 from a reputable Chinese manufacturer, then pair them with a set of DT Swiss 350 or Hope Pro 4 hubs (around $280 for the pair). Find someone local to build them up with your spokes of choice, easily being under you $1,000 budget.

For your style of riding, it sounds like a 26mm-28mm inner width rim would be best, I think you’ll like how the new crop of 2.35” tires feel on a wider rim, lots of traction and cornering grip, and a little more cushion. I think the Element only fits a 2.35” tire so there isn’t reason to go much wider on the rim.
 
#13 ·
LyNx said:
Seriously? :eek:ut: Being the size you are, I'm super surprised to hear you say that, because even at my paltry 180-185lbs geared to ride weight, I noticed a huge difference moving to an i25 rim from something around i21 with my 2.3" Maxxis tyres. Gained much better sidewall support, less tyre squirm, could run lower pressures because of the support, less worry about pinch flats at lower pressures.
Click to expand...
That's fair - if you've had that direct experience I won't argue with it. I said they were a pretty good match, which might be a stretch (get it?). I've run 2.35 Dampfs on 25.5 Flows (and wider rims) and felt the 25.5 width was just about right, and the Dampfs were slightly bigger than my friend's 2.5 Minion, also on a Flow. That was a few years back, maybe the Maxxis tires are measuring up to size better now. Or they just work better with wider rims.
 
#14 ·
Just had Onyx laced to Flow MK3 with spam c-xray's for $1100. Killer wheel set. You should shop around. Email Mikesee or Dave at Speeddream
 
#15 ·
You are of course speaking in CANADIAN DOLLARS right, as that's what the OP is using? :skep: Just for you yanks who don't know there's other countries and currewncies out there, that's roughly $780 US.
The Boz said:
Personally I wouldn't be spending $1,000 and not be riding away with carbon wheels. You could get a great set of carbon rims for $400 from a reputable Chinese manufacturer, then pair them with a set of DT Swiss 350 or Hope Pro 4 hubs (around $280 for the pair). Find someone local to build them up with your spokes of choice, easily being under you $1,000 budget.

For your style of riding, it sounds like a 26mm-28mm inner width rim would be best, I think you'll like how the new crop of 2.35" tires feel on a wider rim, lots of traction and cornering grip, and a little more cushion. I think the Element only fits a 2.35" tire so there isn't reason to go much wider on the rim.
Click to expand...
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
That is correct, all wheels I am currently looking at are in the asking range of $1000 Canadian, therefore a $780 US wheelset, plus shipping, duties, exchange rate, brokerage fees, etc. equates to a minimum $1250 CDN.

On the flip side, a $950 CDN wheelsset from a local seller ends up around $1100 CDN after taxes, which leaves me enough for a new cassette. compared to ordering from the US.
 
#17 ·
The same goes for my Canadian friends, personally wouldn’t spend $1,000 CDN on alloy wheels (used ones at that) when you could have built a decent carbon set for that price, although I don’t know about Canadian import duties. See the other thread about Oxive i26mm rims for $169USD each or $340 total, then add Hope Pro 4 hubs for $260 USD (on sale right now at Jenson), you might be a little over $780USD depending on your spoke choice and labor if you don’t want to lace em up yourself, but not far off. But if you prefer alloy rims for some reason or fancier hubs then go with those local used options....
 
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The Boz
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