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In the market for some upgrade wheels for my Genesis Datum. Would like to improve on the stock fulcrums.
Of spending on new wheels I would like them to be as much of an improvement as possible. Would like to save as much weight as possible also.
intially I thought to go with some hand build Hope RS4’s with DT Swiss 411’s. Used for mainly road winter training on back roads. I’m guessing these would come in aroun £600 - 650 with new centerlock rotors ice tech. Not sure on weights on this setup?
other hand built options would be Pro 4 hubs - more reliable? Heavier? On slightly wider rims rr421. I’m guessing i’d be improving on quality over my existing wheels but not saving weight?? Better with larger tyres? Slightly cheaper as could use existing rotors but still £500+
Final option - thinking I could get some HUNT 4 seasons which would probably be lightest. I hear they aren’t as good quality but at £299 they are lighter and half price ish . Could get a new set after a few seasons if I had issues for same price as initiall option??
what are your thoughts guys??
is it worth changing my rotors if getting new wheels? centrelock the best option?
ice tech rotors the way to go?
lots of questions sorry!
You probably need to sort out what weightings you’re giving to various options.
Handbuilt isn’t necessarily a plus depending who did the job. It’s a skill that’s worth trying to acquire but while the operations are relatively simple, not everyone is suited to the task.
The reason Pro4’s are so popular in mtb circles is parts availability and the ease of swapping axle formats. The overall pro/con may not make sense for road.
The centrelock system produces a lighter wheel at greater expense and with a more limited choice of rotors and hubs. In terms of rotor staying on wheel there’s no real advantage over 6 bolt. It also needs a tool you won’t find on a multi tool if that’s an issue.
Factory wheels are so good now that you really need to be spending a lot on a wheelbuilder with a name for themselves, fancying DIY or wanting something quite specific and unusual for it to be worthwhile going the build route.
Hope 20Five
I don't have much to compare with but I recently fitted some Hope RS4, straight pull (24 spoke) with their 20five rims (machine built and hand finished according the web site), and centre lock ice tech rotors on my 2015 Kona Jake to replace the noticeable heavy stock wheels. I also replaced the super outboard disk calipers with some lovely low profile TRP spyres and a lighter than the stock cassette.
It is all running lovely, accelerates quicker and the fee hub sounds lovely. Definitely sounds like Hope but a lot more subdued. Also, the look the nuts.
Handbuilt isn’t necessarily a plus depending who did the job. It’s a skill that’s worth trying to acquire but while the operations are relatively simple, not everyone is suited to the task.
It's a skill, but it's not a black art. I'm mechanicaly competent and picked it in a couple of evenings (and yes the first wheel was horrible to ride, but that was partially a stupid error in first time rim choice).
I'm of the opposite opinion to Vincienup, modern rims and hubs are so good they make factory wheels obsolete. It used to be that the choice was open pro's on your choice of shimano or campagnolo hubs, with 32spokes or maybe 28 if you were feeling risky. Or save almost a pound and get some Ksyriums. <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">These days Open Pro's have all the same inter-spoke milling, tubeless bead seats, etc as the factory wheels and there are still lighter and more aero options too.</span>
Dunno what the weight difference between RS4 and Pro4 hubs is, I'd imagine negligible, but if centerlock yields a lighter wheel then may as well go with that (no idea if it does).
Those prices look expensive though.
Hubs (RS4) £200, rims £112 (DT RR411db) , spokes £80 (sapim CX ray 24&28), wheelbuilder £50, comes to about £450.
[edit] by 'handbuilt I'm referring to anything custom built. There's nothing between a good handbuilt wheel and a machine built one that's been hand finished from the same parts. Equally cheap machine built wheels will be horrible, as will badly made handbuilt ones but that's not what's being discussed.
Certainly in DT Swiss land centrelock saves a noticeable amount of weight from the hub. The necessary platform for the 6bolt disc is quite a lump. Other manufacturers may vary, as noted you have much more choice going 6bolt. Any hand built wheel is only as good as the builder. Agree it’s not a black art, but an impatient person or one rushing is unlikely to produce a good wheel.
Novatec CXD's genuinely come in at less than 1500g a set, can be got for just over 300 quid, tubeless ready and I've thrashed them for a whole cx season and they are still perfect, oh and they come with adapters for just about every axle standard there is.
Centrelock gives you lighter hubs but heavier discs .
How heavy are you? I have a Datum and i built it up with the 4 season Hunt wheels. They have been great for me and have enough of an upper weight limit to get bikepacking kit for week olus trips. If you are light this may not bother you. The wheels have been great though.
My gf has some Mavic Ksyrium disc on her Moots Routt. They have been round Llandegla, n wales quarries and the French divide without issue. They are c/l and more money but if i had the money i would buy them.
Do you think you can get on the the Hope freehub soundtrack on a road/gravel bike. Couldn't stand the noise on mine.
Hopes certainly won't be the lightest option, you paying for UK made and their very good warranty (and I won't comment how you'll need that a lot from experience).
The RS4 free hub is not offensive like the Pro hubs. It sounds like a muted Hope. More of a purr if you will.
I was initially looking at the Mavic All road pro's, which are out of my price range but was hoping for some deals to pop up later last year. They did not.
The Hopes came in at half the price of the Mavic's for the same weight wheels.
I also get that warm fuzzy feeling when I buy UK made Hope stuff.
I do like the idea of the Hope - DT Swiss combo buy at over £200 more than the HUNT which get good reviews it’s hard to justify if there isn’t much in it.
Not thought of mavics.
the sensible option of course is to stick with the Fulcrum racing sports that are on it - not sure how they rate??
I bought a frameset and added the Hunts so i cant compare to your original wheelset im afraid