[True Blue]

My wonderful 2007 SJ Elite currently has the wheelset it came with - DT Swiss X430 rims and the stock Shimano/Stout hub combo. I'd like to upgrade to something lighter and smoother. I don't race and ride mostly in the Pacific Northwest where climbing is a big factor. What do you think my best bet is?

 

[chauzie]

checkout notubes.com
http://www.notubes.com/home.php

You can get their complete wheelsets, or get only their rims and mix it up with other hub choice (Hope and DT hubs comes to my mind).

But in all honesty, I would keep what you have unless those components have worn out and it's time to replace them.

 

[shopcat_cycles]

For starters, what does your current wheelset weigh? What do you weigh? Budget?

I'll always recommend locally, hand-built wheels.

 

[True Blue]

For starters, what does your current wheelset weigh? What do you weigh? Budget?

I'll always recommend locally, hand-built wheels.

I'm not sure what my current wheels weigh. I weigh about 120. Also I'm not sure about the budget, although the build itself isn't a cost factor since there's a bike mechanic in the family who is very good at wheels.
And Chauzie, thanks for the voice of reason. I really should wait until something actually breaks, since my bike is perfectly good the way it is. I am probably just suffering from a bout of mid-season upgrade-itis

 

[checocc]

ill go with those crossmax st, its compatible with the 15mm TA so when you have the chance to upgrade your fork too, your wheels are ready.
i have the older crossmax xl and never had a problem, these st are even lighter and stiffer, i think they are around 1600 gr.
also those roval wheels look nice and have heard good things about them.

 

[shopcat_cycles]

Tubed up or tubeless? Wide tires or skinny tires? Hub budget? All hubs are not created equal, and there is a wide range on what you can spend on hubs....rims, spokes, and nipples to a lesser extent.

What has the family mechanic suggested? At your weight, you can go with a lightweight set for everyday riding. Definitely going to shave a good bit of weight(+1lb) off the set you are currently running, and to you the difference will be really noticeable.

 

[True Blue]

Thanks for your help and comments. After much back-and-forth-ing, hand-wringing, etc., I have tentatively decided on Chris King hubs and Mavic XC 717 rims laced with DT Comp spokes. What do you think?

 

[johnny the boy]

why not go with 819's instead of the 717?
the 717 has a wider sidwall that's machined for brakes.
an 819/king setup would be dope.

 

[Student Driver]

I have a 2007 SJ Elite, and I put on a set for Crossmax SL wheels the first day I got it. I've weighed from 225-265 on it, and I do what's probably considered trail to all-mountain riding in AZ, but I'm a very smooth descender and rider in general. Great wheelset.

 

[johnny the boy]

I have a 2007 SJ Elite, and I put on a set for Crossmax SL wheels the first day I got it. I've weighed from 225-265 on it, and I do what's probably considered trail to all-mountain riding in AZ, but I'm a very smooth descender and rider in general. Great wheelset.

til they crack at the eyelets, they rule.

 

[Student Driver]

I've had mine for 3 years with no issues, and I've seen many others without issues. In fact, the only problem was with my generation, and that the pawls were so much harder than the rest of the materials. If the oil wasn't properly changed and maintained, the pawl dust could wear out the rest of the internals. Now I've seen many other wheelsets fail in the time I've ridden these, but hey that's just me. The guy that actually owns this wheelset.

 

[johnny the boy]

i've owned 2 sets..first one cracked at the eyelets..pretty common problems with mavic wheels.

 

[True Blue]

why not go with 819's instead of the 717?
the 717 has a wider sidwall that's machined for brakes.
an 819/king setup would be dope.

Aren't the 819's tubeless?

 

[Lambdamaster]

go with dt revo or cx-ray spokes instead of comp

ZTR 355 rims are another worthy consideration, especially at your weight. I have DT4.2d rims laced to hope pro2 hubs with dt revo spokes, weigh about the same as you, and I can do 6ft drops and ram through rockgardens all day long. Still true as day1.

 

[skiwi]

i've owned 2 sets..first one cracked at the eyelets..pretty common problems with mavic wheels.

4 sets so far and not a problem. And I'm 90 kgs, and an aggressive XC-type rider (with races). The SL's aren't as light as some, but they are bomb proof, and well under 1600grams. However they are not a wide rim, so will not work with a tyre wider than 2.1 - although some numpties mount wider tyres on the rims, the shapes are all wrong and *slow*. I have a set of ST's for a wider footprint, wet-weather-specific tyre if required.