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Well these were cheap and light. Let's hope they're strong too! 1360g, and £370. Somehow missed out on import duty and VAT - they had the value decalred, but came via Netherlands. I guess now that we're sovereign and taken back control etc the taxman isn't bothered any more.
I'd planned to build them myself, but couldn't get anywhere near this price for the parts - Novatec D411CB/D412CB hubs, CX Ray hubs and 28w x 45d rims. Have to admit, I'll be riding cautiously the first few times! These are about 400g lighter than anything I've ridden before.
Some people have received the tax bill a couple of weeks after, so don't be too smug yet 🙂
Nice! I'm halfway through lacing up a similar pair, and they'll work out cheaper but nowhere near as light:
60mm 28h rear/38mm 24h front rims = £150 the pair off eBay about a year ago
[url= https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32792184795.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.26484c4dc4aEWL ]Novatec D792 centrelock rear hub[/url] = £46
[url= https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000511392535.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4d6YOXDZ ]ARC centrelock front hub[/url] = £18
Sapim Race rear spokes and D-light front spokes from SpokesfromRyan, all j-bend and cheapo silver = £40.37
Assorted Polyax nipples and washers (including some oval ones I bought and which didn't fit, d'oh) = £20 ish
I've had two sets of wheels direct from China, one set currently on the all road bike with 32mm tyres - cost me less than £200 for the pair with 45mm rims, straight pull spokes and novatech hubs and even discs, this was about two years ago though. Anyway I've had zero issues, have served me well on road and on the Cotswolds 'gravel', they weigh about the same as yours.
I have however, also just purchased some nextie rims - they've a new wavy profile and are significantly cheaper than they will be as they are a brand new design.
Oh and if they arrived via parcel force (EMS shipping) then you would have been charge before receiving them. UPS charge duty after delivery.
Loads of cheap Chinese/Taiwanese gear on the market. Back in the UK you'd only see Brand X as the budget alternative. Without the export/import duties the prices are silly. Perfectly functional, but I do wonder at the average weight and riding style of the riders they were designed for in the local markets.
Novatec DO41SB/DO42SB 32h 9mm QR hubs on 29" Mavic XM319 cost £39 delivered for the set inside China. I see budget hardcore riders in the US buying these hubs then whining the freehubs give up in half a year max.
Novatec DO41SB/DO42SB 32h 9mm QR hubs on 29″ Mavic XM319 cost £39 delivered for the set inside China
£39 😮
Stevelol
Free MemberSome people have received the tax bill a couple of weeks after, so don’t be too smug yet 🙂
I received a tax/handling bill from a courier- I forget which- after delivery a while back, the wording was "we've paid the tax now you have to pay us", I said "pretty sure I don't" and they said "ah you bastard, yep, you're right". TBH I would probably have paid, if the handling fee wasn't such a pisstake but I've had more than enough of that when I've no choice but to pay so screw it.
Mine came via EMS/ParcelForce in January, no tax bill or handling charges to date.
Very happy so far, had them built on 240 EXP
I presume they're not genuinely DT Swiss hubs, are they?
Your mobile/ camera is on the fritz op.
They're Novatec hubs - the stickers look kinda similar, but they're not attempting to be DTs.
Yeah camera is a bit shagged, but it's doing ok for a 6 year old Chinese phone...
I’ve had no issues with any of the 20+ Light Bicycle / Nextie rims that I’ve had. I did have one nextie rim which was supplied 10g over the claimed weight of 365+/-15g at 391g. I contacted them, they asked for photos and serial number and then asked if i wanted a new rim or a full refund for the out of spec rim and I could just keep it. The extra weight was opposite the valve hole, so i could balance it out, so i kept it and got a $175 rim for free...good customer service.
Please do report back on how they ride @Mowgli
I am very tempted by those or something similar, have you removed the stickers from the rims?
I asked them to not put stickers on in the first place. It'll be a few weeks I think till I can ride them, as I'm waiting for rotors and one of these cassettes. Give me a reminder in a few weeks...
I recently received a pair of 1345g wheels from Aliexpress ("Speedsafe") for about that price, 29er, 25mm internal, hookless, with triple butted Pillar spokes and Novatec 791/792 hubs. They are very well made, can't fault them.
Novatec freehubs sometimes don't last long, but that can be replaced with a higher quality one when needed, same for the bearings if they don't last.
I have some old 25mm GP4000s on at the moment just to check them over, and some 25.5mm PX Jack Browns in the post, hopefully. I have a dynamo wheelset with 38mm slick gravelkings on for more gravelly type riding, so these ones are just for road. Planning a few long rides over the summer so wanted to shed as much weight as possible.
I've only done 250km on them so far, mostly XC but also some Surrey Hills trails (Holmbury, etc). For flowing singletrack and blue/red trails (e.g. Swinley) they're frankly brilliant. Spin up fast, maintain momentum, don't leak air, haven't needed to be trued. The bearings and freehub are coping just fine.
BUT...
I discovered their ability to take direct hard knocks is compromised due to how unbelievably light they are; I got a visible ding landing on the corner of a big stone when testing at 17psi (I'm 75Kg) but it's not structural and still runs fine - they sent me a new rim which I'll lace up over winter, but I'll keep the current one on for now as it's not an issue.
Therefore I'd be hesitant to do any properly gnarly stuff on theme such as hard-edged rock gardens with low tyre pressure, as If sketchy downhill is more you bag then I'd get some 100g per rim heavier/stronger and you still have very light wheels that can take more of a battering.