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After lots of Google work I've come up with the above for a new set of wheels, either will go onto a set of hope pro 4. Both around the same internal width, flow ever so slightly lighter, and the same price for a complete build just not sure what the better option is? Has the ex3 been out long enough to review
To go on a 140mm trail bike, avarage rider, normal xc stuff, usual trail centre stuff, cannock, swinley, trips to Bpw once a year
What’s your riding weight with kit on and do you like to get much air?
If over 13 stone and more than 2 feet then DT Swiss. Flow mk3 less strong.
I can’t comment on the new stan’s rim mentioned but when I was looking to build a similar wheelset around 6 months ago I concluded the XM481 was the best choice for me. I built them onto Pro4’s myself with DT competition spokes (j bend rather than straight pull).
Lovely looking wheels, not too heavy and they built up nicely. They were easier to get true compared to the wtb st-i23/25 rims I’d built as practice previously.
The EX3 is Stans toughest, heaviest rim at 618g for a 29” one.
The XM481 is DT’s mid-weight Trail rim at 525g for a 29”.
The EX511 is a more comparable rim to the EX3 - aimed at Enduro use with crossover into DH. The EX511 is still light at 570g and the one I’d pick - certainly for the rear, with maybe an XM481 on the front.
I'd do the same as SOM above if having some built.
That is what I was going to do until CRC/Wiggle had a crazy deal on E1650 wheels (EX511/350 hubs) and got a set for £160 🙂
Stans flow mk3 rims built into Hope pro 4 hubs here, 6 months old and still running true
I'm 14 stone and ride a 50lb E-MTB and mainly ride drops and jumps and they haven't missed a beat
All Ive had to to do is give them a tension after a few weeks
Never had an issue with Stans rims, the ex3 is basically a mk3 flow with the triple cavity design of the mk1 flow
The EX3 is Stans toughest, heaviest rim at 618g for a 29” one.
The XM481 is DT’s mid-weight Trail rim at 525g for a 29”.
I was also gonna suggest checking your weights OP.
Anyway, Stans make good rims and DT make superb, class-leading rims. I'd go DT every time if paying full whack.
Ref weight I've gone off the spec from the website of the shop who are building the wheels, after the comments on here about the ex3 weight I think there is a typo about the weight shown on the site , both built with pro 4 hub, standard dt spokes, rim weight that are advertised are the same as above, but the total build Weight is 50g lighter than the dt rims which are a lighter rim.
Also can be built with cx Ray spokes for another £100, might be a bit overfill for your average weekend rider?
3 years 6 months on my EX481s riding mostly in the Lakes with no real issues. Also been to Alps, Jura, Ardeche, Cevennes, Germany etc and taken on bigger continental challenges. I am 90kg and known for my finesse. They have a few dings, the worst of which was bent back straight and still seal tubeless.
The rims are scrapped and scratched by rocks and show signs of a hard life. They will not be worth much second-hand and do not look very pretty. I am not planning on changing them until they die.