New MTB "enduro" wheels
Discussion
Hi.
Looking for a bit of advice.
I like the look (and sound) of the hope pro 4 Hubs. Initially I was looking at the enduro wheel but looking online I can have something made up with different rims for a similar price.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a rim? It'll need to be tubeless ready and strong, my current DT swiss has given up following a few dents and bends, one of which in the weld. Probably more down to my weight and poor ability than the rim.
It's a bit of a maze, so thought I'd ask. Stan's seem popular as do Mavic.
Thought I better add, most of my riding is trail center stuff and some cross country treks, not downhill but it'll definitely be taking some bigger hits.
Cheers
Cramman
Looking for a bit of advice.
I like the look (and sound) of the hope pro 4 Hubs. Initially I was looking at the enduro wheel but looking online I can have something made up with different rims for a similar price.
Does anyone have any suggestions on a rim? It'll need to be tubeless ready and strong, my current DT swiss has given up following a few dents and bends, one of which in the weld. Probably more down to my weight and poor ability than the rim.
It's a bit of a maze, so thought I'd ask. Stan's seem popular as do Mavic.
Thought I better add, most of my riding is trail center stuff and some cross country treks, not downhill but it'll definitely be taking some bigger hits.
Cheers
Cramman
Edited by cramman on Friday 21st October 09:27
hope do a set of enduro rims that are worth considering. i had some wheels built up recently around hope pro4 hubs and i used stans ztr flow ex rims.
i had a set of mavic wheels previously (crossmax slr's). whilst they did a good job and looked great, the moment a spoke broke then everything turned to crap and the wheels needed to be rebuilt. you can't just replace a spoke (assuming you have a spare plus the special mavic tool plus a cassette removal tool if it's a spoke on the rear wheel) when you are at the top of a mountain and expect to get to the bottom without at least another 7 spokes breaking meaning that your wheel is completely buckled and you have to end up carrying your bike down the mountain because you can't even push it down without the rear wheel rubbing against the frame. still i'm not bitter about those garlic eating surrender monkeys and their crap wheels. at least the wheels looked good, and that's what counts right?
i had a set of mavic wheels previously (crossmax slr's). whilst they did a good job and looked great, the moment a spoke broke then everything turned to crap and the wheels needed to be rebuilt. you can't just replace a spoke (assuming you have a spare plus the special mavic tool plus a cassette removal tool if it's a spoke on the rear wheel) when you are at the top of a mountain and expect to get to the bottom without at least another 7 spokes breaking meaning that your wheel is completely buckled and you have to end up carrying your bike down the mountain because you can't even push it down without the rear wheel rubbing against the frame. still i'm not bitter about those garlic eating surrender monkeys and their crap wheels. at least the wheels looked good, and that's what counts right?
Highly recommend DCR Wheels, a proper wheelsmith.
http://dcrwheels.co.uk/
Tell David what your budget is and he'll match you up with a set of wheels, they are not as expensive as you may think.
http://dcrwheels.co.uk/
Tell David what your budget is and he'll match you up with a set of wheels, they are not as expensive as you may think.
Whilst I adore Hope Hubs, IMHO their enduro wheelset is off the mark. The rims are just too narrow. Once I'd played about with wide rims, running tubeless, with lower pressures, I don't ever want to go back.
I went with Pro4s laced to Easton Arc 30's. Whilst I haven't smashed through any massive rock gardens with them (worst I've hit is Stile Cop), I've ridden some pretty rooty stuff at low pressures and they're straight and true. They're reasonably light for their width, tubeless went up like a dream (With HR2s) and tyres mount easily. I haven't got bad word to say about them. I had them built by CR. TBH I need to get the spoke tension checked up on them, but I haven't found a recommended local wheel builder yet and it's not a pressing issue as I'm currently laid up with a knackered back. I've heard a few tales of them denting but I've had no such problem.
The other option I'd seriously consider are Stan's Flow Ex MK3s. They're a fraction lighter (about 10g, FWIW) and I've heard very good reports of these as well. They were my other alternative, but I couldn't get hold of them at the time.
There's also the Spank Oozy Trail 345, but they're a bit heavier, and I couldn't stand having that crap written on my wheels
I Discounted DT Swiss EX471s as they were just too narrow, and the Mavic ones that were in the right realm h were too heavy, and too narrow.
Hope are supposed to be bringing out a ~30mm wheelset in the next few months as well.
I went with Pro4s laced to Easton Arc 30's. Whilst I haven't smashed through any massive rock gardens with them (worst I've hit is Stile Cop), I've ridden some pretty rooty stuff at low pressures and they're straight and true. They're reasonably light for their width, tubeless went up like a dream (With HR2s) and tyres mount easily. I haven't got bad word to say about them. I had them built by CR. TBH I need to get the spoke tension checked up on them, but I haven't found a recommended local wheel builder yet and it's not a pressing issue as I'm currently laid up with a knackered back. I've heard a few tales of them denting but I've had no such problem.
The other option I'd seriously consider are Stan's Flow Ex MK3s. They're a fraction lighter (about 10g, FWIW) and I've heard very good reports of these as well. They were my other alternative, but I couldn't get hold of them at the time.
There's also the Spank Oozy Trail 345, but they're a bit heavier, and I couldn't stand having that crap written on my wheels
I Discounted DT Swiss EX471s as they were just too narrow, and the Mavic ones that were in the right realm h were too heavy, and too narrow.
Hope are supposed to be bringing out a ~30mm wheelset in the next few months as well.
Edited by FD3Si on Friday 21st October 11:31
Edited by FD3Si on Friday 21st October 13:15
I went 650b Easton ARC27 on Hope pro2 last year, look good, light, seal up well. Bit soft metal though, I don't remember ever hitting anything but I found cleaning the bike one day 2 big dents in the rear. I was running a 2.35 DD Nobby Nik on the back at 28psi so it really shouldn't have dented, my previous Mavic EX521's never marked. Neither have the Hope Tech Enduros I have on my old 26" hardtail, 23 mm internal really isn't a show stopper, think Graves won year before last on a 23 mm rim.
I have now moved the rear Easton ARC to my 650b hard tail and put a Hope Tech DH on the back of my FS trail bike with a supergravity Magic Mary, to be honest it's a bit heavier for sure but not that bad it's 28mm internal and if you look at a cross section is triple cavity so obviously going to be stronger than the Easton Arc single cavity rim. I rode round Afan and Cwmcarn last week without the weight being an issue, I'd certainly consider them as an all round rim if you are fit and an aggressive rider.
Hope Tech DH, 27.5, 28mm internal, triple cavity, eyeleted, 1186g
Easton ARC27 27.5, 27mm internal, single cavity, 1038g
With hindsight I'd go Hope DH every time.
I have now moved the rear Easton ARC to my 650b hard tail and put a Hope Tech DH on the back of my FS trail bike with a supergravity Magic Mary, to be honest it's a bit heavier for sure but not that bad it's 28mm internal and if you look at a cross section is triple cavity so obviously going to be stronger than the Easton Arc single cavity rim. I rode round Afan and Cwmcarn last week without the weight being an issue, I'd certainly consider them as an all round rim if you are fit and an aggressive rider.
Hope Tech DH, 27.5, 28mm internal, triple cavity, eyeleted, 1186g
Easton ARC27 27.5, 27mm internal, single cavity, 1038g
With hindsight I'd go Hope DH every time.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Friday 21st October 22:51
I have Hope Pro2's built into Hope Enduro rims on my 26" hard tail and can't fault them TBH. Have survived plenty of Calderdale and Peaks trashing just fine.
I also have Pro4's built into DT XM481's on the full suss bike. They're only 3 months old but are holding up well so far. Same Caldedale/Peaks stuff, plus 'Ard Rock and Snowdon last week. No visible dings just yet and I really like the profile the wider rim creates.
Also had Stans in the past and they were the longest lasting of any wheel set I've ever owned. Were still going strong after 10 years abuse before I sold them earlier this year! I wanted a set of Mk3 Flows before plumping for the DT's but couldn't get hold of any.
All the above run tubeless at pretty low pressures.
I should add I'm not the heaviest of riders, so don't tend to give my wheels massive amounts of abuse ;-)
I also have Pro4's built into DT XM481's on the full suss bike. They're only 3 months old but are holding up well so far. Same Caldedale/Peaks stuff, plus 'Ard Rock and Snowdon last week. No visible dings just yet and I really like the profile the wider rim creates.
Also had Stans in the past and they were the longest lasting of any wheel set I've ever owned. Were still going strong after 10 years abuse before I sold them earlier this year! I wanted a set of Mk3 Flows before plumping for the DT's but couldn't get hold of any.
All the above run tubeless at pretty low pressures.
I should add I'm not the heaviest of riders, so don't tend to give my wheels massive amounts of abuse ;-)
I built up some Pacenti TL28 26" rims with Hope XC Pro hubs. I rather liked them, so I put the 27.5" version with Hope Pro 4s on my full susser, and those are great too.
On One do them pretty cheaply in 27.5, or very cheaply if you happen to have the misfortune to own a 29er!
I don't take them off anything more than a couple of feet in drops, but I am subjecting them to 18 stone of me plus kit when I do, and they've not killed me or themselves yet - or even gone out of true at all - despite the fact that I built them myself on my own homemade wheel jig.
On One do them pretty cheaply in 27.5, or very cheaply if you happen to have the misfortune to own a 29er!
I don't take them off anything more than a couple of feet in drops, but I am subjecting them to 18 stone of me plus kit when I do, and they've not killed me or themselves yet - or even gone out of true at all - despite the fact that I built them myself on my own homemade wheel jig.
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