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Currently riding 2.35 DHR / Shorty / Minion SS on a 22.5 internal DT XM1501 - about 1700g a pair in 29" flavour. They've been fine, especially with some foam backer rod in.
Been offered a pair of Mavic XA's in 26mm internal for about 40% rrp - 1550g - but is the juice worth the squeeze?
On a road bike the value of a quality pair of deep wheels is evident, especially when racing. The bike is just doing trail riding and big mountain days.
Very subjective I reckon.
How much are they actually being offered for?
If you have the cash, why not.
If you've got the cash , wider rims are better
Lighter wheels are betterer, make a big difference, ime
CR were selling XA carbons at £599 when they had stock, 40% of RRP is about that.
Wiggle are flogging them quite regularly in their eBay store
seems a lot of dough for a circa 150g weight saving, unless you’re a weight weenie
Better value when you consider they are lighter AND wider though.
It really depends on you. In purely practical terms IMO it's not worth it- and that's from a carbon/lightweight fan. It's expensive and the difference isn't massive. But that's not why I like it- I love the feel of light wheels, it's like turning up the mouse sensitivity, every kick of the pedals does more, every hop is that little bit less effort, that doesn't make me better or faster but it makes me want to ride better and faster. And that's worth a lot, the only other thing that can really do that imo is good weather or amazing trails and I can't buy either of those from China
Equally, someone else might just not give a shit. And other people like the feeling of solidity and momentum heavier wheels give. So there's just no right or wrong. (some people will tell you there's massive stiffness or feel or buzz or harshness or damping differences, imo that's no more meaningful than a few grams but if they feel it then it matters even if it doesn't actually exist)
I’d be more inclined to have your wheels relaced with wider DT rims. XM421/XM481 if you want light and aren’t currently dinging your XM rims at the moment, or EX471/EX511 if you want extra rock friendliness. Smaller numbers are 25mm internal, bigger are 30mm. I like to run XM481 front and EX471 rear - 30mm lighter front, 25mm tougher rear.
400 new with tyres although the issue tyres will go straight onto eBay.
I was musing about either turning them into xc wheels to have a bash at a local series, or trying out 2.5's over 2.3's as my 22.5mm rims probably aren't wide enough.
which mavic xa's ? as I don't see anything non-carbon on mavics site below 1675g so it might all be a width only question.
you are right though, 22.5 is a little slim or all but narrow XC rubber and the 421 at 25mm is the narrowest rim that I have that I'll use now at 29x2.4 size. 30mm for anything other than weight weenie/race day duties.
Shame as my 22.5mm XMC's are relegated into the 'save for the kids stock pile along with the 26" 19.5mm tricons
oh, i see now..carbon per the title.. however mavics site says 1715g pair in 29.
No, not worth it for the decrease in reliability over a decent set of alu rims. The weigh difference isn't much any more either.
Looking at the state of my wheels from 2 days riding in Finale Ligure this week, and some of the hits they have had, I'd have wrecked yet more carbon rims.
Great on an XC bike, or even a trail bike, but not for anything more, based on my experience.
OP sounds like a okay deal which if you dont get on with the wheels you could sell them on and not lose much/if any money.
Question from me, I ride a 29er and find the flex in the wheels to be quite annoying, has anyone gone from alu wheels on a 29er to carbon to address this?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/singletrackworld.com/2018/04/review-mavic-xa-pro-carbon-wheels/amp/
The 2017 xa pro carbon - 26id, like 1550 in 29er version.
The new ones are 35 and a lot heavier
I like to keep things light, but unless you're going around the whole bike saving all the weight you can or racing it, it's maybe not that worthwhile IMHO, particularly as if you smash them into a rock they might be more likely to crack. I'd rate Mavic and would hope they would be pretty tough, but it's still a lot of money to save that amount of weight, especially if you've not gone around the rest of the bike looking for cheaper (probably less flashy) ways to save money.
Can't really comment on internal rim width, I run 21mm and 29mm and no huge difference but one's on an HT and one on FS, which I'd hope would make a more significant difference!
Edit - they do look pretty though, I'd be tempted...
like to keep things light, but unless you’re going around the whole bike saving all the weight you can or racing it, it’s maybe not that worthwhile IMHO,
I disagree. Unsprung mass, and particularly perimeter mass on the wheels, is amongst the most useful mass to remove compared to, say, lighter stem or bottle cage. Lighter wheels feel much better (too me) ; quicker to spin up and more "agile" but I appreciate that some people probably prefer something more bulldozer. And it's not just about weight. My carbon wheels feel much stiffer and so since I'm a bit of a biffer and have been known to clatter through things, I do find them much more reassuring because they don't flex and ping back as much. May be (at least partly) confirmation bias, but I'm firmly in the camp that "better" wheels are money well spent on a bike.
From what I've read comparing Light Bicycle with Stan's, there's not a lot of difference with narrow rims but a big difference with wider ones. For plus 30-40mm rims carbon is way lighter, 2-300g each rim IIRC.
Oh well, suck it I bought them.
My bikes are all insured anyway and I'll put some 50mm backer rod in them like my dr's.