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I tried to search for other threads on this topic but the search tool seems to be a bit ropey for this sort of thing!!
I’ve just ordered some DT Swiss xm481 rims and will shortly be ordering some Hope Pro 4 time to go with them (probably - unless I bottle out and go DT Swiss 350 instead).
Thinking around spokes I used ACI double butted black spokes with the last wheelset I bought. So far so good, no breakages or spokes unwinding so far. Used brass nipples that came with those spokes.
Are these a decent spoke or are Sapim / DT Swiss / any other brand equivalents any / much better or are they all much of a muchness?
The rims come with the washers and squorx nipples (think alloy) to build the wheel with.
ACI are great, they have a long history of spoke manufacturing.
Pay twice the price for DT or Sapim and I'd doubt you'll notice the difference
What price have you been quoted for each?
Not got quotes, but aci from Cycle basket were 45p each last time with nipples (although I don’t need these as some come with the rims). When I went to rose / bike.de they worked out about double I think.
I take it back - Rose are selling black DT competition dB spokes for 0.53 each. No nipples though. I think that’s why last time the aci ones were quite a chunk cheaper. Also not sure how much postage is from Germany.
I like to support uk businesses generally - but for 8p more a spoke are DT Swiss much better quality? As long as I’m not breaking spokes I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to tell the difference!
First proper use of my newly built wheelset (built by me using DT350/M502 and ACI DB spokes) at Fort William/Laggan last weekend. They didn't get an easy time of it, had a new coil shock on the bike and line choice wasn't always optimal. Wheels are still perfect.
I think m502 might be the rims in the e1900 wheelset on my bike now - if so they’ve been great so far. That said , I think the spokes are straight gauge rather than double butted so not as good as the spokes in yours, plus mine will have the 370 hub which has pawls instead of the ratchet and is heavier.
Pretty sure the ACI DB are lighter than DT Comps too.
Great spokes, foolishly went for Sapim D-lights on one of my builds as I was obsessing over the 20g saving per wheel but in all honesty looking back I wouldnt bother. DT Revs are a step too far for me in terms of fragility. I think D-lights are the best weight to strength ratio but ACI the best price to weight value by far.
Sapim Laser are a good option if you want light- it's literally just an unsquashed CX-Ray, they do extra forging which does make the CX stronger but the Laser still ends up a good light strong-enough-for-stuff-you-put-light-spokes-in job.
Otherwise yeah ACI.
It’s a wheelset for a 170f/160r Enduro bike so absolute lightness isn’t the key thing on it, but I don’t think I’m a proper oaf hence going for the xm 481 instead of the ex511.
I understand that double butted spokes are more resilient than straight gauge spokes generally.
So it would be the aci vs DT competition vs Sapim ?
Guessing 2.0 / 1.8 / 2.0 butting.
If you are from Bristol, pop into Ryanbuildswheels and pick up some Sapim Laser spokes. I have used these for a couple of wheel builds and they've been good so far. Butted more than usual so a bit lighter too. Also available in 1mm increments from his eBay store.
DT Competition with brass (black) nipples on pretty much every wheel build I do now. Relatively inexpensive from Rose (i.e. the savings from buying other brands are minimal) and I've never had a problem with them, which is my best measure of success. Most of the wheels in the garage are now built with these and I've never had to put any of them back in the stand after build.
Obviously others will have success elsewhere, but for me, I'll stick to what I know - not desparate to penny pinch if it makes the job harder! Last build (carbon race wheels for CX for my son) were £40 for spokes and nipples, delivered.
Sounds like all 3 would be fine really and not much cost difference between them,
The nipples that come with the rims are more of a concern as they’re sqorx alloy ones. I think I’d like to swap them for brass ones - preferably with a normal screwdriver head but still needs the rounded profile to play nicely with the washers and rim.
I think if Sapim it would be the race rather than the laser having looking at Ryan builds wheels site. Whilst it’s not s huge cost difference the sapims from there are almost 30p more per spoke than aci from Cycle basket and 20p more than dt Swiss from rose.