Wheelset options

i9s easy_

240s, in my opinion. The lightest option, I think. Super reliable hubs. The King hubs are great, but a bit heavy - so if you don't care about the engagement, then why bother? The I9s are meh in my book. Crazy expensive. Proprietary spokes - I view them as a disposable wheelset. You can use the 240s or King hubs in wheelsets for many generations.

Ask your wheelbuilder, but you may be able to use Revolution spokes, if you want to push the limits a bit more.

I9's

The spoke cost is a downside, but you'll notice a difference riding them where as the 240's will be just like any other wheel. The I9's are stiffer and have the best engagement of the options you listed. Their customer service is good and they look nice if that matters.

The 240's are alright nothing that special about them. Engagement is ok, they are pretty reliable and yes you can keep using them down the line, but of course in a few years they'll be nicer parts out that you'll probably want to be using anyway. But they are by no means a bad option.

I've just never been impressed riding any dtswiss based wheels apart from weight. Riding wheels that have really nice engagement has always been a plus in my book especially on technical climbs. I don't worry about proprietary spokes because I don't generally break my wheels. I guess that's why I like I9's and spinergy.

dt engagement points should increase from 18 to 36 points late this summer...

Just been with this indecision lately... CK, I9 or dt...

I have just been down this route myself and actualy endded up building 355's onto xtr hubs.
I picked the 355's cos i had a really good experience using olympics but wanted something wider but not dh wide.
Picked the xtr hubs because they are a respectable weight but will be the most reliable hubs you ever own if your riding is regular and ofter muddy. The fact that they are centerlock was a bonus to me as well.
Built them with dt revolutions and standard brass nips.
They came in at 1520g with a 20mm front axel hub.

I built them myself and have done 6 months of hard riding + a few races.
Bang on for me.
Look understated tho so if bling is your thing th I9 will be a good bet.

Thanks for your replies...

BATAS ,Dt's having more later this summer, do you know when they will be available? I.ve waited this long, maybe I can wait a few more months...nah. My wife has these

Olympic
Dt Swiss 240
Supercomp

I have borrowed them a couple of times and they roll fast...understated. How is the I9 rolling resistance, do they drag a bit, like Kings?

i built up a king/ztr olympic with revo spokes early this year and love them. its my everyday set plus ive done 3 races on them and everytime they have gone in the stand there have been no adjustments made. my second set will be built up for my lefty in the next few weeks.

you may want Specialzed roval xc SL wheels
they have dt swiss hubs (rachect at rear), stright pull spokes
and they re tubeless ready with weight 1385g a pair

got a few mates (who are defo heavier than you)running them XC for like a year now wif no problem, so it should be perfect for you

I9's cant foult mine and you cant get any more bling

darkshadow said:

you may want Specialzed roval xc SL wheels
they have dt swiss hubs (rachect at rear), stright pull spokes
and they re tubeless ready with weight 1385g a pair

got a few mates (who are defo heavier than you)running them XC for like a year now wif no problem, so it should be perfect for you

Click to expand...

You know Specialized is being sued by Stan's/NoTubes for patent infringement, right?

I've had problems with stans products, so i'll put a vote in for DT Swiss. I had an OLD Magura hub that broke a while back, and since it was made by DT Swiss (it was a rebadged onyx hub), i called them looking for parts. They said they could sell me the parts, but they also offered an upgrade program, where you can send in your old part and get an upgrade at their cost (much less than dealer cost). So sent them my broken hub and they sent me a $950 wheelset for 400 shipped. I got the DT Swiss XR 1540's. They've been great for about 4 years now, and i run them pretty hard on my single speed. Only thing i have done to them is replace 1 spoke, because a branch got tangled in my wheels. I havent adjusted spoke tension, greased them, or trued them.

I,ve been talking to Dave Thomas at Speed Dream Wheels...I think he knows what he is doing. He's been very helpful, and I have had him in the back of my mind for a while. He says the I9's would be good as well, but hard to get. I have called around, but nobody has black/black Ultralites? Going on a trip in a few weeks, so I would like them before that. So, I'm leaning towards a Speed Dream Dt 240 build with either Olympics or 355's....at the moment. I think they would be pretty sweet....Olympics? or 355? Dave says the 355's are slightly stronger due to their box section construction.

Le Duke said:

You know Specialized is being sued by Stan's/NoTubes for patent infringement, right?

Click to expand...

yh but"THE ORGINAL" doesnt reli borther me, wht i reli care is who make better stuff and the performance of it
its like shimano tooks ideas from bmx(FLY cranks) for there HT2 cranks, then other company like sram and raceface make similar cranks which base on FLY's idea; and now everyone got a pair of HT2 type cranks

to be fair, the rovals are great wheels and at resonable price

if you re that care abt "the orginal" then you can still use stans rimtape and sealent, or run traditional tubes instead of speclized tubeless stuff

darkshadow said:

yh but"THE ORGINAL" doesnt reli borther me, wht i reli care is who make better stuff and the performance of it
its like shimano tooks ideas from bmx(FLY cranks) for there HT2 cranks, then other company like sram and raceface make similar cranks which base on FLY's idea; and now everyone got a pair of HT2 type cranks

to be fair, the rovals are great wheels and at resonable price

if you re that care abt "the orginal" then you can still use stans rimtape and sealent, or run traditional tubes instead of speclized tubeless stuff

Click to expand...

Those wheels are $1200, @ 1385g, laced 24f/28r.

You can get Stan's Olympic 347s with DT 240s for $810, and they weigh 1370g.

So, you're paying Specialized another 50% more, for a design that they stole, with less spokes and heavier overall weight.

Yeah, that makes sense.

I don't think you can go wrong with a DT 240 build. I have the 190s and they've been bomber- racing the same set for the third season now.

As far as rims, my wheels are built up with Olympics, but for more durability with minimal weight, I would go 355. They are far less prone to denting when you slam your tires into things at low pressure, and they can be built with slightly higher tension which means that a good builder (I've heard good things about Dave Thomas) can build a stiffer, stronger, longer lasting wheel with them.

Not that I've had problems with the Olympics, and despite dents they still hold just fine and run pretty true despite the beating I give them, but they just aren't as stiff or durable as the 355.

If you want to be a climbing deamon, I would take $700-$800 and go to a skills camp or something.