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I9s with 355s

997 Views 15 Replies 13 Participants Last post by 2TurnersNotEnough, Jun 26, 2009

2TurnersNotEnough

Discussion Starter · Jun 25, 2009

I'm thinking of building a new wheelset for my JET9 to use for XC and endurance racing. Right now, I have a set of I9 Enduro hubs laced into Arch rims and they've worked out well for trailbike duty. I'm debating whether I should try to lighten the new wheels by using 355 rims, or if the extra stiffness is worth the extra 100 grams in the wheelset. I'm about 190 lbs and would be using a 9mm RWS on a Reba.

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Enel

· #2 · Jun 25, 2009

At this point I no longer believe you when you say you are slow.

Sandbagger

PS: Man up and put some Flows on that thing.

CRAZY FRED

· #3 · Jun 25, 2009

Peace of mind = priceless

I would so much rather have the confidance and the peace of mind ( and of course the stiffness) that comes with the Arch set-up than to go with the 355s just to only save a few grams....But hey, THAT'S ME..................CF.

2TurnersNotEnough

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 25, 2009

CRAZY FRED said:
I would so much rather have the confidance and the peace of mind ( and of course the stiffness) that comes with the Arch set-up than to go with the 355s just to only save a few grams....But hey, THAT'S ME..................CF.

That's my current thinking too, but I wanted to see if anyone around my size (or bigger) felt confident on I9s w/355s.

Enel said:
At this point I no longer believe you when you say you are slow.

Sandbagger

PS: Man up and put some Flows on that thing.

No, really. I'm slow. I just try to make up for it with expensive wheels.

And yes, you've touched on option C. Build some Flows for the Sultan and use the wheelset I have now on the JET with faster/lighter tires.

flafonta

· #5 · Jun 25, 2009

I have the I9s on 355s on my Jet.

I really like them, and they seam plenty stiff to me, but I am 150lbs.

I did manage a couple of incidents with the 355, but I don't think it was rim specific.

Hit a square edged concrete block at very low PSI (slow leak on a trail) caused a dent in the rim. The shop fixed it.

Also had a bad tire blow-off/sidewall cut on a rough high speed creek crossing with concrete blocks. The rim had to be replaced.

I might be tempted by the Flows (instead of Arch) for the extra width (I like large tires) next time.

CrashCanipe

· #6 · Jun 25, 2009

I'm your weight and have I9s with 355 on a hardtail Van Dessel. The wheels feel stiff enough but I have had trouble keeping them true. On the bike I'm building up now, I'm going with the Arch if that tells you anything.

Don Despacio

· #7 · Jun 25, 2009

I dunno. 355s seem to have a rep for fragility. Rims take an astonishing beating. Take option C.

MendonCycleSmith

· #8 · Jun 25, 2009

I have two sets of I9's, one on an HT, the other FS. On the HT, I destroyed a 355 in about a year, and yeah, keeping it true was a more frequent effort. Went to an Arch on that? No more issues.

355 on the FS, fine for over a year. When I finally destroyed it, I went to an Arch there too, as I never felt the weight, but I sure noticed the stiffness.

I'm 180 ish, ride several days a week, don't race, but love to go fast on varying levels of East Coast terrain from buffed single track, to rock strewn dowhills with lots of techy crap tossed in....

YMMV

Enel

· #9 · Jun 25, 2009

2TurnersNotEnough said:
And yes, you've touched on option C. Build some Flows for the Sultan and use the wheelset I have now on the JET with faster/lighter tires.

That's the ticket. I weigh what you weigh, and could not stand my arches on the rigid bike. Too flexy.

If you are nice on your visit, I might give you my old Arch rims that are gathering dust in the garage.

I9 spokes might magically make Arches acceptable.

cruzthepug

· #10 · Jun 26, 2009 (Edited)

When I first built my Sultan I built my wheel with 355's, they lasted about 3 months then they needed truing every week or so. I go about 190. Rebuilt them with Arches and have been good to go for over a year now. Well worth the 100 grams penalty.

FoShizzle

· #11 · Jun 26, 2009

dude, seriously...wtf are you thinking? 355s? did you have head trauma cuz i thought it was just your neck that was sore...dude, no, period

1-bar

· #12 · Jun 26, 2009

175-180 geared and rockin 355's on my Jet9. I have not need to true these wheels, not even once. I ride San Juan, Chiquita, Rockit, Holly Jim trail... yada yada. These came direct from I9, so maybe the builder has something to do with it. I will be ordering another set when my Ti Frame is ready.

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Dogdude222

· #13 · Jun 26, 2009

My 355's dented quite easily. After seeing the insane abuse that other, heavier rims can take, I wouldn't build with them again. I also won't be building with Stan's again. I found the rims to be of a lower quality and a much higher price point. But hey...to each his own.

Coach417

· #14 · Jun 26, 2009

1-bar said:
175-180 geared and rockin 355's on my Jet9. I have not need to true these wheels, not even once. I ride San Juan, Chiquita, Rockit, Holly Jim trail... yada yada. These came direct from I9, so maybe the builder has something to do with it. I will be ordering another set when my Ti Frame is ready.

If where you ride looks like this pic, then by all means spend the cash and build them. If not, then an endurance event is the wrong time to realize you made a mistake. Personally, if all you are gonna save is 100 grams on the wheel set, then it isn't even remotely worth it. Good luck either way.

Kam

· #15 · Jun 26, 2009

Coach417 said:
If where you ride looks like this pic, then by all means spend the cash and build them. If not, then an endurance event is the wrong time to realize you made a mistake. Personally, if all you are gonna save is 100 grams on the wheel set, then it isn't even remotely worth it. Good luck either way.

naw, he rides trails that look like this;

<img src=https://www.brianlopes.com/albums/2008/7_San_Juan_Trail_1_30_08.jpg>

<img src=https://www.warriorssociety.org/Events_And_Results/images/2007toad-climbing_holy_jim.jpg>

<img src=https://www.socalmtb.com/filler/pixs/Rockit-II.JPG>

<img src=https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/1502861022_57496a542e.jpg>

<img src=https://btrails.com/files/imagecache/342x513/trail_photos/Chiquita_Ryan_Leech_Alan_Davis.jpg>

i ride some i9 ultralights with 355 rims. they have been awesome! i had them for sale locally, but i think i might keep them. i have an arch front i9 enduro as well, that is been great as well. i am only 170 pounds, ride xc and i am a pretty smooth rider.

to the o.p., at 190 pound, i think you are pushing it. maybe race day wheel, ok. but if they are going to see some good use, i'd stick with arches or maybe dusters.

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2TurnersNotEnough

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 26, 2009

FoShizzle said:
dude, seriously...wtf are you thinking? 355s? did you have head trauma cuz i thought it was just your neck that was sore...dude, no, period

Well, it looks like the tribe has spoken, and it looks like the weight benefit of the 355s aren't worth the tradeoffs. I have a set of WTB/355s and they are the opposite of confidence inspiring, but I thought that the extra stiffness of the I9s might compensate for the flimsier rim. Now the question becomes whether or not the new wheels are built with Flows and put on the Sultan and then use the Arch wheels I already have on the JET9.

Or I can just say screw it and look into building a set of DT hubs/Edge rims.

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