Mavic 717's and other Wheels

baccaman21

I've been running a pair of 717's (XT hubs) for a while now and after a ride the other weekend I had a good shufties at them and noticed a number of dings and stuff on the rims and thought I'd take em to the LBS for a checkup...

turns out the rear's buggered and I'll no doubt need to replace it.

So, I'm thinking about wheels. The LBS reckon that the state of the wheels suggest that I ride quite heavy and would/should consider something a bit more substantial than the 717's - I've been looking at the 719's but can't make my mind up.

I ride fairly hard - I know that - and the 717's really aren't up to it... (XC race wheels apparently [which I didn't know until recently] ;S ) I used to have a pair of Suns Singletracks but they were far too heavy for my liking.

So any suggestions on rims...? I'm probably gonna upgrade the Hub to either Kings or Hopes too... spokes I know nothing about what difference they make...

Any advice welcome.

cheers

Splasher

I always advise XM819s because they give you option to run tubed or tubeless without the extra cost and weight of a kit. They weigh about 60g per rim more than the XC717s but are an XM rim rather than an XC rim.

As for spokes, DT comp or Sapim Race are good quality double butted spokes. If you want to push the boat out and get a bling wheel, Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes shave about 100g off the weight and look great whilst not reducing the strength. They do add £100 to the cost of the wheelset though.

One final bling tip, DT Swiss do nipples in all kinds of colours. If you choose a coloured hub, matching nipples can look very special.

dunker

don't forget about DT hubs, expensive but fit and forget really. for something bomb proof maybe a dt440+ex721 or somehing not quite so heavy a dt340+xm719. dt340+xm719 rear with a dt240s+xm719 front would be very nice and very pricey though.

just looking on merlin you can get a custom set of hope2+xm719 front and rear disc for about £230.

The Big Cheese

I run Xm719s and they are more than enough for the riding that you are describing... I run them on Pro IIs and they are a sweet build. From Merlin. Of course

baccaman21

Thanks fellas

ok... so there's not much in the 719's and 819's (xm*) other than the option to not run or run tubeless respectively?

as for those bladed spokes... sound groovy but I doubt my budget can stretch that far. I like the idea of bling nipples though

Dt Swiss are the guys that have taken ove Pace right?

*that's cross mountain right?

The Big Cheese

dunker wrote:

just looking on merlin you can get a custom set of hope2+xm719 front and rear disc for about £230.

Exactly the set I purchased - they truly have been superb!

The Big Cheese

baccaman21 wrote:

*that's cross mountain right?

Correctamundo!

ride_whenever

merlin xm719 on hope pro II are fantastic, so strong and utterly bombproof

dunker

Cheesey wrote:

dunker wrote:

just looking on merlin you can get a custom set of hope2+xm719 front and rear disc for about £230.

Exactly the set I purchased - they truly have been superb!

i've got a bit of money coming my way after xmas and i've got my eye on those, did you use merlin rim tape? or the 19mm velox? stuff at crc? no skewers included with hope2 at merlin right?

The Big Cheese

Just the bog standard acrylic stuff they provide. As I wasn't interested in weight saving they are perfectly fine.

The Big Cheese

Oh and Pro II's don't come with skewers - only XTR

Splasher

baccaman21 wrote:

Thanks fellas

ok... so there's not much in the 719's and 819's (xm*) other than the option to not run or run tubeless respectively?

Correct. The thing about a descent set of wheels is that you'll have them for a good few years. With XM819s you may never run tubeless tyres but the option's always there. With 719s you don't have the option without adding a kit to the price/weight.

ride_whenever

splasher has a good idea, but i'd recommend the velox rim tape, the plastic one from merlin is ghastly!

Splasher

No rim-tape to worry about with 819s

schmako

I've got xm719's on pro II's too (crc built). They have been excellent, unlike my mates (who isn't as smooth at me) 717's on XT hubs which are cracked in two places next to the spoke nipples and has a rather nasty dent.