Wheels? Mavic Crossride or XT wheelsets

georgebest
georgebest Posts: 33
edited February 2009 in MTB buying advice
I was hoping you could help.

I'm putting a bike together on a budget & was after some wheels. I was having a look on Merlin & wondered if you you thought Mavic Crossride's were the best for the money (around £130ish).

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=93

I wondered whether these were a better option than the xt wheelset offers:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=99

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=99

I have Hope Mini brakes & wondered whether the XT would be compatible (they seem to specify Shimano brakes)?
Many thanks

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The splined hubs are a fair bit lighter than the old 6 bolt - you'd need to run an adaptor.

    I think they are better than crossrides overall, as use a full compliment of spokes and are easy to get spares for.

    Both are great for the money.
  • I'd go for the XT 6-bolt on EX4.2d - that's a great price!!!!
  • I have a set of Crossrides and a set of XT/717s. The XT/717s are far better.
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    The 6 bolt XT will be compatible with Hope rotors - it's only the centrelock XT's that are Shimano compatible only (or require an adapter). £145 for XT hubs and DT 4.2's seems a bloody steal to me. Not tubeless though like the XT factory wheelset would is.
  • Father Faff
    Father Faff Posts: 1,176
    I've got a front XR4.2D (DT Swiss rims with Hope hubs) on my Meta 5 and they are light and seem pretty strong - not bent yet!
    Commencal Meta 5.5.1
    Scott CR1
  • I have been using a pair of Merlin built XT 6 bolt hubs with 717 rims for about a year or so,now and they have been excellent.
    They are not superlight at just over 1900g the pair,(on a par with Crossrides though)but have been remarkably robust,the hubs run super smooth if you look after them,and the rims have stood up pretty well even when I have pinch flatted.
    Definitley reccomended.
    If you go for the 6 bolt option you get the older m756 hub,but if you go for splined they come with the later style hubs which are lighter.If you are running Shimano brakes,I`d go for the splined option.
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
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  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    XT
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Thanks for that gents. Invaluable advice & I appreciate it.