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Hi guys, I'm looking for a new wheelset for my Nomad and am trying to find out what the go to bulletproof combo is now days.
I have a history of cracking rims and being pretty rough on them. My default used to be Hope Pro 4 laced to some Stans Flow MK3 but having cracked the rim at multiple spoke holes I am looking for alternatives.
Given the history with rims I was thinking of some carbon we are one composites rims given the lifetime warranty but the price is putting me off.
I've never had an issue with the 3 sets of hope hubs that I have had in the past so happy to stick with those, although I am finding myself wanting a set of i9 Hydras just to see what the fuss is about.
So lets have it, alu or carbon, ideally under 1k but if its carbon with a lifetime warranty I will consider over 1k.
Cheers
If I had the money I’d be after Santa Cruz Reserve wheels. For an alu rim, the appropriate DT Swiss (like an EX511) rim built on decent hubs is your best bet. Also consider inserts as additional protection.
Bombproof alloy then EX511 as above, but they'll be around 2100g with Hope Pro 4 hubs, so not really lightweight.
If you go carbon then you can have a lighter wheelset (1800g or so) with all the strength and no rim dings.
100% get inserts too, rimpact pro would be my choice.
As above, DT EX511 rims on your hubs of choice are the obvious choice for a Nomad and a rider who breaks wheels.
I got mine on Pro 4s for £500 and it was money very well spent. Would buy again 100%, etc.
Newmen wheels also have a very good rep for durability, they have an unusual angled rim edge design which appears to work well.
I treated myself to some 29er Reserves (30mm) with I9 hubs...
Reet lush they are!! The practically instant engagement really IS noticable (and I had Hunt 3degree ones before that, which are pretty good also..).
I'd not consider carbon nowadays *, however, if it wasn't a decent warranty.
DrP
* I say nowadays, as 'before' you could get a decent set of Chinese rims on Hope hubs for about £500 posted!!! Today,. that would be at least £1100... for teh extra ££ you mayy as well get SC Reserve with a warranty..
I had the same conundrum and in the end got an ex511 laced onto my existing pro4 after re-watching that run by Aaron Gwin. Also added a noodle in the hope that this is my last wheel change for a while
I wouldn't base strength required on your flow mk3s cracking, they do have a history of cracking at the spoke holes, I've had it happen to me too.
EX511 or EX471 are strong enough for most people, most of the time. I've tried FR560s and still managed to put a flat spot in it in not too long.
Carbon, had a couple of sets, the cost versus strength versus weight just doesn't pay off for me. I build my own wheels so happy to re-rim aluminium as needed.
PS, I bet if your flow mk3 were built with nipple washers, they wouldn't have cracked.
My Reserve 27 wheels have been bombproof for about 3+ years with my weight swapping between 15-16 stone over the years.
Going to re-lace mine onto new hubs though as the DT350 have defeated me when I tried to remove the ratchet nut thing.
Despite my weight and fondness of rough/fast trails, I've never been particularly harsh on wheels though. If I had my time again knowing what I know now, I'd have the appropriate DT Swiss rim on some Hope Pro4 hubs.
Thanks all, looks like I will be going for a set of Pro 4s with DT Swiss EX511. My wallet thanks you for not saying carbon is the way to go! I will look into rim protection too, rimpact looks good but I'm not sure I would need it in the front.
Now to find someone good to build them for me!
There's quite a few places that build these as a stock option for around £520 which isn't much more than the parts cost. Seems to be a 2 week lead time on hope hubs at the moment, I managed to find one for my own wheels which I'm going to have a crack at building myself, XM481 rims on a Pro 4 front hub and Pinion H2R rear hub.
Spokes and build quality make a big difference. Do you know if you've been running the wheels with butted or non-butted OP? Factory or hand builds?
Had i9 on Reynolds but found the attachment too quick at slow tech and could feel a kickback through my feet. I got hunt carbons now. Lifetime warranty for 3rd price
Hi Guys,
I'm looking at options for getting the EX511 on Hope Pro 4 built and wanted to know if you have any experience with Evo Cycles who have them for £528.50 or Moonglu who have them for £520.
I got a quote from a local shop hoping I could support them but the quote came out to over £750 and I just cant when there are people doing them for £500ish.
So any experience with the above two shops, is there any reason I should pay the extra £8.50 with Evo?
Moonglu are great.
I will look into rim protection too, rimpact looks good but I’m not sure I would need it in the front.
You don't need it, but it makes a noticeable, positive difference to ride feel with Exo-type tyres. With your history, I'd go for it. Maybe the mixed set they do with the "pro" version in the rear.
Good choice of wheels, I bought from Moonglu - good service and an excellent build.
Can't you reuse the hubs from the cracked stans? I got my rear rebuilt by LBS for something like £140 that way. Significantly less than the £500 for the set!
On rim protection, I got the nukeproof ones. Main observation is that I had to cut a slot in the foam for the valve root to sit in, else I couldn't get the insert to sit flat. Maybe I was doing something wrong though.
A mate has the hope hubs from the stans rims so I can't reuse them.
I think I might go for the rimpact pro on the rear and original on the front. All in this should be ~600 for a great set of wheels which I am happy with.
I've a set of the JRA traildog wheels on my hardtail which have been excellent for the money, their Carbon rimmed enduro wheelset might be worth a look
https://www.justridingalong.com/product/traildog-enduro-carbon/#single-or-pair-of-wheels
Do you really need the pro? Ex511 pretty bomb proof.
Set of wheels from mike link above £499 plus rimpacts from hunt wheels £37.
Paying £600 when I'm costing it at £536 is madness.
I'd have said hope hubs on stans flow 😂
Thanks for that Bruneep, I didnt know I could get rimpact from Hunt. I will be going for that with the link you sent earlier!
Used to swear by EX471/511 rims on hope hubs but I bought some sixth element carbon wheels with hope hubs 2 years ago and they are really good, saved me a few hundred quid already by not having to replace rims every 4 months
So if you kill rims go carbon, if you’re not too hard on stuff EX511 will do
Pros ride the ex511 and do fine on those but they get free replacements and probably rarely plough through stuff without picking lines and probably don’t case jumps as much as the average hero either
Stick some Rimpacts or similar into those DT Swiss rims and you'll be sorted. The Flow EX3 are probably a decent choice too - the Flow EX were really tough (still going strong on my hardtail) but the Mk3 weren't as strong, hence the new EX3 versions (which are heavier).
But after watching what Gwin did on a DT Swiss rim at Leogang they seem the obvious choice!
Flow EX3 are probably a decent choice too
Bit of a tangent, but I got a set of wheels with these rims - they looked really good and sturdy but had a very shallow rim bed.
While that might help with durability, it was very, very difficult to fit a Supergravity tyre, let alone add an insert. And I've had a lot of wheels and tyres in my time.
I'd got them cheap and sold them on a happy buyer, replaced with EX511s and there's no problem fitting the same tyre & a rimpact pro.