[Closed] What 29er wheels for XC/trail use?

What's your budget?

Mavic crossmax in the Evans sale worth a look.

I just picked up a pair of the Hunt Trail wheels for the new scandal build. Not ridden in anger yet but seem a good weight and look really smart.

Newmen's are light and strong. I've had 3 sets of the 30s and 35s and had no issues at all. They really are light for an all wheel but they can definitely take a beating.

Bikeradar have the Hope Fortus 30 listed as 2445g, that's very hefty!!!

Budget is key as if it's spendy you may be looking at carbon.

After Hope Pro2 Evo & DT 481's (bulletproof rims) on my 27.5" HT I opted for Bitex 211 hubs on 29er Arch MK4 rims with Sapim CX-Ray spokes (i28mm) on my FS, real weight including rim tapes and valves is 1762g. £576 from Spokesman.

It's tricky getting wideish aluminium rim builds under 1700g, carbon gets you down to 1500g and lower but the price goes up. Roval Control 29er 1450g wheelsets cost around £1150 if its within your budget.

Newman 30 are 1827g according to Bikeradar.

I'm happy with my wheelset but either my rims or tyres (Wolfpack) or both, are bloody tight!

I've been banging around on a set of Stan's Flow Mk3 wheels for nearly two years now.

Been very impressed with them. Not moved a mm and the hubs are still nice and smooth.
Think all in weight is about 1900g, which is not bad for a 30mm internal rim.

Think they're on the MK4 now?

I'm about 90kg + riding kit.

Think they’re on the MK4 now?

Flow, Arch & Crest are all MK4 now.

Can't recommend the Newmen enough, just bought a third set. Brilliant wheels, light, strong, take loads of abuse.

Where are you buying the newmen wheels from?

Thanks for the reply everyone.

No real budget in mind but I'm not thinking carbon, although I'm tempted by the Silt carbon wheels.

I feel drawn to the newmens but have no idea why...

@teadrinker I'm the same weight as you and bought a wheelset from DCR Wheels very soon after getting a new Trek Procaliber cross-country bike almost two years ago. 28h Bitex hubs with his own 25mm 'XC/AM' rims, circa 1600g; they've survived me throwing myself down the Scottish classic Lairig Ghru descent from above the lodge and they're still perfectly straight. I've just taken delivery of an Orbea Laufey and will probably order another set but with his 30mm wide rim.

Thanks @househusband I'll take a look into those

I think most people don't realise that the Hope Fortus 30 has a lot of extra material in it and is designed for DH and heavy duty riding. It's not just a 30mm trail rim.

I have the same requirement and was looking at Hunt wheels as below. Any real world experience? They seem to be light enough given the budget is not big!

HUNT XC WIDE MTB WHEELSET
29" | 25 WIDE INT. | 1647G

The Fortus 30 is a monster.

There is also a Fortus 30SC which is a lot lighter.

Is anyone going to recommend DT EX511s?

chrisdw

Where are you buying the newmen wheels from?

Have had them from various German sites - r2-bike, bike-dicount.de, bike24.com

sharkattack

I think most people don’t realise that the Hope Fortus 30 has a lot of extra material in it and is designed for DH and heavy duty riding. It’s not just a 30mm trail rim.

The newer trail version of the Fortus 30 is lighter, 2nd from left in your pic.

Xm481 would be better as a trail wheel rim.

Cool, I didn't know there was a new Fortus 30. Imagine if you ordered the wrong ones by mistake and were wondering where the extra half kilo came from.

Xm481 would be better as a trail wheel rim.

That's what I had on my posh, and recently stolen, bike. I really liked them.

Alex

Newmen’s are light and strong. I’ve had 3 sets

Yep, having 3 sets of Newmen wheels is the way to go

The 481's are really good. Swapped out my Hope 35W (basically Fortus 35) with them and saved a load of weight per wheel. I never had any issues with the Hopes like some people do, so expecting the 481s to last.

I'll be going that way when I build some 29er wheels for the new frame

Just found 5 cracks in my Hunt rims. Less than a year old. I'd probably avoid.

DT

ex511
Xm481
Xm421

From burliest to lightest.

I've at least one of each and they're great.

If Thetford is your local then I recommend the Cycle Clinic for a local wheel builder. Excellent builds

Light bicycle rims on 240's.

Despite my Hunt issue. On my Xc rocket, I have Bitex bx211s laced to DT Swiss xr391 rims with alloy nipples and cx-ray spokes. 1560g all in. Can recommend excellent wheelbuilder if keen. Cost me 500ish.

DT Swiss

Thread closed.

No seriously, their wheels are so damn good. I think for your budget, 350 hubs laced to XM 481 rims would be perfect. XM 1700 wheelset. 30mm internal rims, 36t star ratchet freehub. Bombproof. £500ish.

I have a set of their last gen XM 1501 aluminium wheels but with 25mm internal rims and the 240 hub. I've never needed to true them in over 3 years and I've put 3,000 miles on those wheels including plenty of trail centre jumps and drops.

Currently running those pricey Roval Carbon Control wheels mentioned above on my Spur. Excellent wheels and silly light, but one of the main reasons I went with those was that they're built using DT Swiss hubs and spokes. The hubs are so easy to service and seemingly indestructible.

i had a set of 481's laced up with quality spokes on 350 ratchet hubs? maybe only the 18t, but still good by fitwheels.eu for a real reasonable price
check em out on ebay or their website, obviously brexit charges to be considered
supposedly a 1850g wheelset which seemed like a good price/weight/durability ratio to me

I got DT XM481's on 350 hubs with 36 tooth ratchet from Fitwheels.eu, but before Brexit.
They cost under 400 quid a the time.
I'm absolutely over the moon with them...

I agree with @devash, you can go ahead and close this thread now... if Brexit hasn't screwed things up for you.