[Closed] Best enduro wheels for £500?

My bike came with DT Swiss 350s and Flow EX rims. 7 years later and still perfect despite plenty of abuse. Added advantage that DT Hubs compatible with Shimano 1x12 so the only thing I’ve done in that time is change to microspline. I have left the hubs alone completely which I’m sure is very bad and wrong but they still seem completely fine.
Guessing they’d be in the price range, or whatever the up to date version is.

How wide a rim are you after?

CRC have some hope i35s dirt cheap at the moment £305 for the pair with discount code

Haven’t looked recently but Fitwheels.eu got me DT350s on XM481s within your budget

hope/dt swiss hubs

You're reading the wrong reviews! At your price point there's nothing really to beat a Pro4 or DT 350.

I got Hope Pro 4 hubs with ex511 rims when I had that budget.

Some people favour DT 350 hubs.

Either way, it's worth the little extra over Hunt or Nukeproof for me.

Haven’t looked recently but Fitwheels.eu got me DT350s on XM481s within your budget

+1 for this, exactly what I did

If you want something burlier just go EX511 instead of XM481 but I’ve been abusing my 481 for ages and they are plenty good enough for me for now

I wouldn't look beyond DT Swiss personally, they just work.

For that price EX511s on DT350 hubs from Fitwheels would be my choice. I think you can still get them via Ebay.

I have the V1 Hunt Enduro wheels, I was on a budget at the time, they've served me well, bearings are gash mind.

If you've got the extra cash I'd follow the consensus and go the DT Swiss 350 hub route.

I got some 30mm Ex511 with XT microspline hubs and I’m very happy with them. Ok budget wise when I bought mine a year ago but no idea now. I had mine built by lbs.

As a few have said, DT Swiss 350 with EX511 rims. Got mine from Fitwheels also. Very, very happy with them.

I’d use DT Swiss EX511 rims - I don’t think there’s a better alloy enduro rim out there. Dubious whether carbon is any better either.

Hub wise the 2 mid priced options are usually a dt350 or a Hope Pro4. If you want to trim a bit of cost then Bitex are meant to be good too. I’ve not used the rear Bitex hub but a mate has one and rates it - I’ve got a front Bitex hub and it’s fine. So far I can’t see what the Hope front hub on my other bike does better - it’s heavier then the Bitex.

Would just build with dt competition or the ACI / Sapim double butted equivalent spokes.

Hope or DT hubs on EX511 rims. No brainer at that price.

Not used them myself and I'd generally go with the consensus above but if I wanted to save some cash I've read good things about Silt Wheels.

https://siltmtb.co.uk/collections/all-mountain-am/products/all-mountain-29

Went down that rabbit hole after looking at hunts and consensus about their cheese like status regarding dented rims.

Haven't bitten the bullet yet as my current cheap rims are still trucking on and I've just had to buy the dog a new hip 🔥💷🔥💷

Looks like I've read the wrong reviews regarding dt swiss/hope hubs!!

For that price EX511s on DT350 hubs from Fitwheels would be my choice. I think you can still get them via Ebay.

Had a look at these, look great value for money. I assume as these ship from the EU I'll get hit with VAT on top of the £33 shipping?

Another vote for Fitwheels. I have 350s/XM481 and I’ve not touched them in just under two years. Great components and great wheel build.

You can buy direct via Fitwheels website (or sort it via email if you don’t see the exact spec you want) if eBay doesn’t work for you.

Assume you’ll pay tax but many people have been lucky

Give mike at 20/20 a shout rather than someone outside uk

https://20twentystore.com/collections/wheels/products/custom-wheel-build-ex511-hope-pro-4-sram-xd?variant=35427626451096

my 350/ ex511 have been faultless

mike at 20/20 has built all my wheels and half of the riders in NE of Scotland.

Just don't get DTSwiss carbon wheels.

My front one is knackered after 9 months light use ( I use the alloys for proper rides) and madison are whining about what caused the crack.

Horizon V2's are on point for money, strength and weight - hard to see past them TBH.

I have
a front Hope pro 4 on EX511 - it's great
a rear Hope pro 4 on EX 471 - It's great
a rear Hope pro 2 evo on EX471 - again it's great

The pro2 evo was stripped from an old 26" wheel and relaced onto the EX471 rim that was originally on the front pro 4.

all have been abused over teh years and still gong strong. oh and i built them myself and all on DT comps

As above DT Swiss 350 or hope pro 4.
The v1 hunt trail wide ( same rim as the new nukeproof nuetron) were absolutely garbage, soft as brie with bearings that didn't last .
the enduro wide v1 weren't much better .
They can lauded by the MTB press which often a few pages later you'll see a half page add for hunt products so you go figure why they get such good reviews.
Remember they are buying a catalogue product from the far East using novatec hubs yes they spec there own ezo bearings and yes they decided what T Series alloy to make the rims out of but they have absolutely no control other than speccing out of a catalogue so they have no clue if the rim is made out of said material or if the tolerance of the hub is as required.
There only job is to install the rim tape and they can't even get that right .
There lead times are long as they are always relient on the factory in Taiwan and if there busy making a bigger order for someone else hunts leadtime will go on longer .
Hunt have a machine that shows rim impact testing but that's about all the testing they have the capability of doing .
I know they've expressed a desire to be able to do more internal testing but for me there some of the most overrated MTB products that seem to get a default answer when people ask what wheels .
This is one area I'd get a good local wheelbuilder to build you up a pair .you'll get a far superior set of hoops and be supporting people doing a fantastic job in our industry rather than a churned out set of machine made wheels from Taiwan .
You might pay a little more but in the long run it's worth it .

I’ve both and would go DT350 over Hope Pro 4 hubs due to ease of service. The bearings are easier to replace in the DT Swiss hubs and the ratchets don’t wear out anywhere near as quickly as the paws in the Hopes.

For around £350 I think my Nukeproof Horizon v2 are excellent value. Had no issues with mine. Ready taped etc.

They were lighter than I'd imagined too.

Hi @chainbreaker - just sent you a dm

DT swiss rims (ex471 or ex511) on the hub of your choice. I've got ex471 rims on bitex (cheap, light and good), hope (over priced just for bling) and DT swiss 240s hubs. Currently I wouldn't change them for anything.

For factory wheels consider spank. Good hubs and rims.

@jeffl

I’m running silt on the MTB and Scribe on gravel.

The gravel wheels have so far been fine but my silt bearings packed up after 45mls and the ratchet was a complete fokker to get off. So tight it actually snapped their bespoke tool. Sorted that and yesterday, first ride out since swapping bearings and the spokes started pinging and creaking under load mid way through the ride. Settled down after a decent gnarly down but they seem a little high maintenance for me. Imagine trying to undo the ratchet after a year or more of it being tightened if 45mls is bad enough. My hopes were heavy but fit n forget. For now, these are nagging me about longevity.

They’re light, ride well and customer service from silt has been absolutely faultless.

I did want to get some of their lightweight XC wheels for the hardtail but in all honesty I want simple maintenance as well as lightweight & can take a battering.

another for fitwheels
xm481 on dt swiss 350's for well under that price
obviously you can go for the 511's for not much more

Another Bitex hub user here, both hubs have been great. Hardly need to change the bearings and they just work. Got Dt Swiss 481's but depending on your style of riding you can always go 511 on the rear and 481 on the front.

I used PT Cycles for some Hope/ DT Swiss wheels a few months back. Great service, wheels are well built, good range of options

Moonglu in the UK also have a good reputatio:

https://www.moonglu.com/products/handbuilt-hope-pro-4-on-dt-swiss-xm481-wheels

I've also used https://arrow-wheels.com/ recently for some wheel truing. They offer various builds, so give them a try.

I used Funworks (it’s part of actionsports) in Germany for DT 240/ex511. Worked out about £650 after tax and duty.

DT hubs are lighter than Hope. Bearings on 350s aren’t great but you can put higher quality ones in when you replace. If you stretch to 240s you likely make more back if you ever sell as second hand values are silly.

my general go to hub / wheel combo if i need some new enduro type wheels is hope pro 4 on stans flow EX rims.

i'm a heavy and not that gentle a rider, and the above has always been pretty bomb proof and fit and forget. although there are some lighter comparable rims i just go for the stans as i know they will take a beating and being stans will be a doddle to sett up tubeless with pretty much all tyre choices

replaced my rear wheel with a DT E1900 recently. seems good so far, will definitely look at getting the front version to match when i need one. engagement not as quick as id like, but spins really nice, decent weight and ride well. £200 notes!

Just go Hope hubs and whatever dt rim to suit your weight/ riding. And unless you need them tomorrow, you must have a LBS nearby who can build these for you.
I know other hubs are lighter, but spares for Hope are everywhere.

Hope Hubs
DT Rims - EX471 if you want 25mm, EX511 if you want 30mm. Then XM481/421 if you are more gentle
Sapim Spokes
Squorx Nipples

Used that combo on all my bikes and quite a few mates wheelbuilds, its a very reliable combination.

I wonder how many people they even employed? I would’ve guess at around 4

Hi @silasgreenback,

Alan here from SILT/ Scribe. It's great to here you like the wheels. That is very odd re: the bearings as they usually last well up to 1 year in most instances. I'm not sure what your order number is to check but I'm sure we would have sent replacements to you free of charge if you were in touch with them.

@scribecycling

Hi Alan, i did indeed get sorted and customer service was faultless. New bearings and new tool sent out and wheels back running without issues.

Although the tool that got sent out is now 3 pronged as opposed to 4! So i’m keeping fingers crossed on bearings!

I’ma bit of a fan of hunt wheels. If not just buy dt. I would touch hope hubs as they are far too heavy and really slow to engage

Oohh posts disappearing with no reason given is always interesting

For 500 quid, you can get Newmen A 30 or DT EX1700, both will be about 200g lighter than anything mentioned above. and both are brilliant wheelsets.

Yeah….whats going on there?!!

Conspiracy theory’s abound!

Mine's gone an' all.

What's going on?

honourablegeorge
Full Member

For 500 quid, you can get Newmen A 30 or DT EX1700

You realise that the EX1700 are just 350s with EX511s and a new paint job? Nothing wrong with them but no better or lighter than getting the same wheels built elsewhere

You realise that the EX1700 are just 350s with EX511s and a new paint job? Nothing wrong with them but no better or lighter than getting the same wheels built elsewhere

Not wrong, but the hubs on the factory wheels have had more machining done to them so they work out a little lighter.

I'll add another voice to the DTrims on 350s crowd, I've run hope for years, have now swapped everything in the garage to DTswiss (makes keeping spares easier too) I've gone for XM481 front EX511 rear on my current set.

mashr

You realise that the EX1700 are just 350s with EX511s and a new paint job?

They're fancier straight pull hubs, with nice spokes - you can probably spec the same in your build, but will cost more (or you might prefer j-bend)

I’ve got straight pulls 350s, still under £500 (about a year ago admittedly). As I said, nothing wrong with the factory builds (not buying that they’ve machined off 200g extra material though)

That's surprisingly crappy behaviour, wondering what level at Nukeproof it came
from

and we’re a direct threat to Nukeproof due to our specification, technology and price points.

Are you? To their aftermarket wheels dept yes, but not to the brand as a whole

Guys, we (SILT) became aware of this thread earlier today. dhrider was quick to jump on with lots of disinformation about SILT

As ever 2 sides to a story, one side seems to have disappeared. Mighty strange 🤔

No denial of what was said!

Both Scribe/Silt and Nukeproof are based in Belfast so there may be a bit of local rivalry there.

NP are part of Hotlines along with Ragley, Vitus, Blank (BMX), Prime and goodness knows that else. I’d be surprised if (beyond one, possibly, disgruntled person) they are even on the radar

Gotta say i side with Silt/Scribe to some extent but either way, whatevers happened, The original OP asked about best wheels sub £500. Not whats the most ethically run / employee friendly etc etc company that sells wheels. Thats for somewhere else IMHO and something most of us havent got any knowledge of.

Virtually everything comes from the far east be that open platform or bespoke custom and there’s only so many factories making bike stuff. And the ethics. Phone any small brand and they can tell you about all sorts of antics at big companies.

“Best” is subjective but Silt is a fairly small brand. I think the performance of the wheels should do the talking. In that arena mine outshine my Hope pro 4 Tech Enduro and Pro 4 with Halo rims from a ride feel point of view.

i’ve never ridden Nukeproof wheels but the Silt are way lighter so will spin up quicker and i expect feel livelier.

Back it up with top notch customer service……

Nukeproof is 32 years old (I had to look that up)

Suggest you do some more looking, the Nuke Proof of years ago is not the same company that chain reaction revived for it's own brand parts.
As an ex product manager for NP I'm surprised you didn't know that to be honest.

For 500 quid, you can get Newmen A 30 or DT EX1700, both will be about 200g lighter than anything mentioned above. and both are brilliant wheelsets.

Straight pull can get in the sea, pain in the ass to look after with spokes spinning, having to stop them spinning.

Dt 350s on 511 rims

Job done

Dt 350s on 511 rims

Job done

agreed

Looks like the posts on the first page that got taken down have been restored....

Getting the thread back on track slightly… I had great service from Ryan Builds Wheels last year, he was recommended when I was asked on here.

I went for Bitex hubs with EX511 rear and XM481 on the front.

Been very pleased with them so far 👍

Two companies involved in this thread have made requests of us at Singletrack to remove their posts. I've gone through the thread and have agreed that there have been some things said that shouldn't have been said in public so I've removed their posts. The rest of the thread contains useful contributions from users and so I'm not simply deleting the entire thread, which would be the easiest solution. I know some users have responded to the posts that have been removed and as such this thread may not read entirely logically to anyone who comes in to this thread for the first time after the clean up. Apologies for that.

Cheers Mark, think that's the best outcome.

Mark

Two companies involved in this thread have made requests of us at Singletrack to remove their posts

Interesting - one was clearly identifying themselves as the company involved, one was not. Did the company request the latter's post be removed, or the user himself?

this thread may not read entirely logically to anyone who comes in to this thread for the first time

This could be a sticky on any thread.

This could be a sticky on any thread.

I'd probably recommend Shimano XT for that.