REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Any newer carbon hoops I should look into?

5266 Views 28 Replies 17 Participants Last post by thomcom, Mar 28, 2022

tatchance

Discussion Starter · Dec 13, 2021

I am going to be putting together a new XC 29er wheel set this winter. So far its looking like Nobl might be my best option as of right now. (us communication, warranty, etc)
Just wondering if folks have any other options that I should check into. I could go the light bicycle route as well with my local shop, but the pricing is nearly identical.

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

williamson36

· #2 · Dec 13, 2021

I just went with a pair of the Nobl TR32's with Onyx hubs, CX-Ray spokes and Schwalbe Racing Ray/Racing Ralph tires. I absolutely love them and I would accept a bit of a weight penalty any day in exchange for lower rolling resistance and silence

eb1888

· #3 · Dec 13, 2021

BTLOS has wheelsets from about $750 direct. Like these 18mm shallow asyms 34mm inner.

btlos.com

29er 34mm internal mountain bike downhill shallow carbon wheels - Btlos Bicycle

shallow wheels 27mm internal width combined with shallow, 18 depth and asymmetric design to create a stable, lightweight rim with forgiving ride qualities.

btlos.com

D-Lites are a better mtb choice than Rays. The Rays don't have contact when they cross..
Want more? Berd spoke Atomiks. BERD Wheel Sets - atomikcarbon.com More compliant ride.

Moosedriver

· #4 · Dec 13, 2021 (Edited)

I also went with NOBL and am very happy with them. We Are One also has a great reputation, and if you’re wanting to go weight weenie, they are slightly lighter (WAO Revive 345 grams per hoop versus NOBL TR32s at 360/390 grams). WAO also has a lifetime warranty and are based out of and made in Canada. NOBL is based out of Canada, but their hoops are laid in the Light Bicycle factory in China.

Based on what I’ve read here on MTBR, WAO has a podcast where they announce discount codes. If you decide to go WAO, tracking down their current discount code would be beneficial.

Customwheelbuilder.com out of Colorado Springs also builds wheel sets and offers both NOBL and WAO.

EDIT: I also went with CXRay spokes and that is the only regret I have with my build. I’m in SoCal and ride in dry/dusty conditions almost year round, the dust gets trapped between the bladed spokes and I’m stuck listening to spokes grinding within an hour of starting a ride. I plan on rebuilding with round spokes soon.

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ungod

· #5 · Dec 13, 2021

Lots of cool stuff around these days. I just picked up a pair of made in USA Revel Wheels, but too soon for any impressions. WAO are made in Canada, also a great option. Lots of great stuff on the cheap/China side of things too. And plenty of American companies offering good warranties and support on overseas manufactured wheels

What's your budget?

jimPacNW

· #6 · Dec 13, 2021

Moosedriver said:
... the dust gets trapped between the bladed spokes and I’m stuck listening to spokes grinding within an hour of starting a ride. I plan on rebuilding with round spokes soon.

could you dab a little Permatex RTV silicone on the cross contact points to keep the dust and grit out?

Moosedriver

· #7 · Dec 14, 2021

jimPacNW said:
could you dab a little Permatex RTV silicone on the cross contact points to keep the dust and grit out?

Possibly, I don’t know. I hadn’t heard about this product before now, so I will definitely look into it, thank you! That will definitely be the cheaper option if it works.

834905

· #8 · Dec 14, 2021

I’m on NOX Farlows and couldn’t be happier. Great rims and they’ve held up to a couple thousand miles of rocky AZ riding with no issues so far.

Reactions: 1

drjos

· #9 · Dec 14, 2021

eb1888 said:
BTLOS has wheelsets from about $750 direct. Like these 18mm shallow asyms 34mm inner.

29er 34mm internal mountain bike downhill shallow carbon wheels - Btlos Bicycle

shallow wheels 27mm internal width combined with shallow, 18 depth and asymmetric design to create a stable, lightweight rim with forgiving ride qualities.

btlos.com

D-Lites are a better mtb choice than Rays. The Rays don't have contact when they cross..
Want more? Berd spoke Atomiks. BERD Wheel Sets - atomikcarbon.com More compliant ride.

Disagree on d-light. The ability to control twist is half the magic of the CX-Rays (or any bladed spoke). As for contact, you must be talking 2x. My 32 spoke 3x all have contact on the 3rd cross.

Tainight1985

· #10 · Dec 14, 2021

Perfect timing for me with this thread.

NOBL - seem not too bad on price, but if you've already got hubs ... they don't seem to sell just rims, or am I missing something? And built by light bicycle ... are they using a light bicycle model, or do they have their own rims?

WAO - $450/rim? So with code still >$350?

Light Bicycle look more in the mid to high $200's.

I've got a set of DT350 boost hubs, and am looking to build a poor mans version of the Roval Control SL's on the s-works epic evo ... a $2500 wheelset (with essentially DT 350 straight pull hubs). I'm doing 32 spokes and j-bend, but maybe can find a comparable rim with around 29mm internal. I'll follow this thread closely to see where it goes.

Moosedriver

· #11 · Dec 14, 2021

Tainight1985 said:
Perfect timing for me with this thread.

NOBL - seem not too bad on price, but if you've already got hubs ... they don't seem to sell just rims, or am I missing something? And built by light bicycle ... are they using a light bicycle model, or do they have their own rims?

WAO - $450/rim? So with code still >$350?

Light Bicycle look more in the mid to high $200's.

I've got a set of DT350 boost hubs, and am looking to build a poor mans version of the Roval Control SL's on the s-works epic evo ... a $2500 wheelset (with essentially DT 350 straight pull hubs). I'm doing 32 spokes and j-bend, but maybe can find a comparable rim with around 29mm internal. I'll follow this thread closely to see where it goes.

On your NOBL questions - Yes, they sell just rims, on their website, when you select their pull down menu, there is a “Rims Only” option to choose. They are also $450 just like WAO. Also, yes, they have their own models that NOBL designed, they are not rebranded Light Bicycle models.

WAO - I’m not sure what the discount is.
Revel’s new US made hoops are $699 per rim.
Santa Cruz rims are $599 per rim at Colorado Cyclist.
ENVE is $999 per rim at Colorado Cyclist.
Nox is $479 per rim at Colorado Cyclist.

$450 for carbon with a lifetime warranty seems pretty good to me.

NOBL is Light Bicycle’s North American distributor and warranty claims contact. I don’t know what Light Bicycle’s warranty is like, but you’d be dealing with NOBL if you have any issues.

If you are willing to look at aluminum rims, I would recommend looking at the Raceface ARC30s.

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Tainight1985

· #12 · Dec 14, 2021

WAO (Union 495g?)	$450 (discount codes exist)	lifetime warranty?
Revel	$699	lifetime warranty?
Santa Cruz (341g)	$599	lifetime warranty
Enve	$999	warranty?
Nox (470g)	$479	lifetime?
Light Bicycle (400g for $280 rims)	$280	3 year, 5 year or lifetime warranty?
NOBL (360/390g, but only 26 internal)	$450	Lifetime

I hear you on the $450 with lifetime warranty is nice.

The Santa Cruz (if the lifetime warranty applies when you build them yourself) rims would be my ideal from the list. Resale value would be high (second only to Enve I'd guess). The Nobl are interesting, but in all honesty if I'm spending $450 on a rim, I'd spend the extra $150 for Reserve.

Revel being more than Reserve rules them out for me, and ENVE is just way way beyond my budget.

I'm probably going to build a rear with a notubes arch mk4 first, and then that would give me a semi-matched pair with the front I've already got. Then build either Light Bicycle, NOBL or Reserve complete set.

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, it's good to have a current one and see the current mood.

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Reactions: 1

tatchance

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 14, 2021

NOBL has two different warranties depending on which hoops you choose, so keep that in mind.

Also, I believe any warranty claims on Light Bicycle still need to be done with China based support. It was part of a previous Nobl/Light Bicycle thread I think.

I'll see if I can find it via the search.

Tainight1985

· #14 · Dec 14, 2021

It's amazing that Santa Cruz/Reserve can sell the DT350 version of their wheels for $1599. The rims are $1200, a front and rear DT hub + spokes + build for an extra $400. Really makes it tough to justify their rims only.

ungod

· #15 · Dec 15, 2021

There's a little more to the story than just weights and prices. The ride quality varies quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer. I've seen some comments on here alluding to the Reserves being a very harsh riding wheel, but personally I haven't tried them. The Revel Wheels on the other hand are trying the new "super compliant" route, similar to the Zipp 3zero Moto rims. I think a lot of the other rims fall somewhere in the middle ground and I've heard good things about the WAO ride quality as well.

Jayem

· #16 · Dec 15, 2021

drjos said:
Disagree on d-light. The ability to control twist is half the magic of the CX-Rays (or any bladed spoke). As for contact, you must be talking 2x. My 32 spoke 3x all have contact on the 3rd cross.

If you can't control twist, you need to step back and really think about your wheel-building. It's not anywhere near as hard as people are making it out to be. For MTB wheels, there's no advantage to the bladed laser spokes (CX-rays). There are some possible disadvantages.

Reactions: 1

frank6262

· #17 · Dec 15, 2021

WAO for $450.. Are these prices per rim or for a set?

I have a goal of upgrading my old narrow 21mm inner alum. 29" Stans Arch EX.. just the front to start... to wider inner width (28-30?) to get more grip/confidence. I have no idea where to start

(oh.. and its non Boost)

DeeCount

· #18 · Dec 15, 2021

frank6262 said:
WAO for $450.. Are these prices per rim or for a set?

That's $450 per rim. The prices in the chart Tainight1985 posted are all per rim.👍

ungod

· #19 · Dec 15, 2021

Tainight1985 said:
WAO (Union 495g?) $450 (discount codes exist) lifetime warranty?
Revel $699 lifetime warranty?
Santa Cruz (341g) $599 lifetime warranty
Enve $999 warranty?
Nox (470g) $479 lifetime?
Light Bicycle (400g for $280 rims) $280 3 year, 5 year or lifetime warranty?
NOBL (360/390g, but only 26 internal) $450 Lifetime

I hear you on the $450 with lifetime warranty is nice.

The Santa Cruz (if the lifetime warranty applies when you build them yourself) rims would be my ideal from the list. Resale value would be high (second only to Enve I'd guess). The Nobl are interesting, but in all honesty if I'm spending $450 on a rim, I'd spend the extra $150 for Reserve.

Revel being more than Reserve rules them out for me, and ENVE is just way way beyond my budget.

I'm probably going to build a rear with a notubes arch mk4 first, and then that would give me a semi-matched pair with the front I've already got. Then build either Light Bicycle, NOBL or Reserve complete set.

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread, it's good to have a current one and see the current mood.

Just FYI I think the reserve rim weights are off on your list. They're 470/490g for 27.5/29 like the rest of them.

williamson36

· #20 · Dec 15, 2021

When I was looking for down-country hoops - here is was what I considered:

Font Rectangle Number Parallel Screenshot

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