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I know others have broached this subject before... but carbon rims whats the script?
Baring the big players Enve + Santa Cruz, are the rest just all the same just re branded. I look at the likes of Nextie, Blu Flow , Sixth Element rsp Calavera all offering almost identical rims with spoke profile, rim depth and width. So simply put are they all one in the same ?
Plenty of made in Europe (Germany, mostly) options, but not cheap.
I know one of the ‘all the same’ brands use about 4 different factories, to their spec, so on that front, no they aren’t all the same.
I bought some chinese carbon MTB wheels from king bikes on eBay.
I was so impressed I've bought some gravel/ road rims. These have been good but occasionally a swine to stay up tubeless.
They were a lot less than the brand's above.
They seemed very similar to some brands stuff at a much higher price but based in Europe.
Lightbicycle definitely make their own inhouse. Do they make them for others? No idea.
I've always been extremely happy with them- broken a couple, but then I've broken a couple of alu rims too. And I got discounts on the replacements too. But, I always end up saying the same thing, they were awesome when I first got them because they were cheaper and because alu rims were much less good than they are. I mean, the nearest equivalent to mine was probably a Flow Ex and they were way way less tough.
But now, alu rims have got a shitload better, so I'd really struggle to choose carbon over an XM481 or similar.
Nextie and lightbicycle both have their own factory's and proprietary designs - they may manufacturer for other brands though.
I think at this rate im going to way up what a build costs at the LBS using my pro 4 hubs shame imports are more likely to be snagged by customs these days too 🙁
Hunt?
Northwind +1