Wheel rim prices

lostboysaint

Any idea why DT Swiss and Stans are twice the price of Mavic?

I currently run two pairs of EN521s but am looking at changing to a Flow or M1700. Can't find either or them below £70 and the Mavic (tried, trusted) is £35!! I've run Flows before and am happy to go back to them, particularly as I'm currently playing with tubeless.

supersonic

Those are budget Mavic rims. A fairer comparison would be Mavic 819.

lostboysaint

That's the first time I've ever heard that. I've been told by everyone (media, lbs, suppliers etc.) that the 521 is the direct comparison to the Flow. Tell me more.

supersonic

It's just how the range works out. Mavic do stuff at various price points. EN521 is similar on width and use, but the 7 and 8 series uses a better grade alloy and construction, and the latter tubeless - so sit at the 'top' of the range.

lostboysaint

Just done the check on the Mavic site and see what you mean. Interesting that the meeja tend to push the 521 against the Flow and it compares quite well (test results etc. - made no difference to me, I've had one set since they were the D521 in the early noughties!). The 819 is lighter, UST etc. Might give that a go instead of the Flow or the DT.

Cheers SS. Good knowledge!

supersonic

For some reason Mavic don't offer more options with the higher end stuff ie an 821 enduro type rim, or a lighter 721. Odd.

njee20

Heavier than a Flow aren't they?

rockmonkeysc

721 is about 30 grammes heavier (actual weights, not claimed) but they are also a fair bit stronger than Flows. The XM819 would be a better comparison and they are lighter than Flows.

lawman

RockmonkeySC wrote:

721 is about 30 grammes heavier (actual weights, not claimed) but they are also a fair bit stronger than Flows. The XM819 would be a better comparison and they are lighter than Flows.

But they are narrower arguably not as versatile. They may be similar weights but I'd say the closest thing to an 819 would be a crest

njee20

And XM819s are heavier than Flows when you include the inserts for the rims that you have to use, let alone Crests!

Is the 519 any stronger than a Flow? WC DH racers have used Flows, never seen one using EN519s...

lostboysaint

njee20 wrote:

And XM819s are heavier than Flows when you include the inserts for the rims that you have to use, let alone Crests!

Is the 519 any stronger than a Flow? WC DH racers have used Flows, never seen one using EN519s...

What inserts for the rims? The threaded eyelets that you use? Are they really going to weigh 60 grams? How much does the rim tape still needed for the Flow weigh that the 819 doesn't need?

What's the 519?

Is the alloy of the Flow superior to the 521 and comparable to the 819?

I get the "width" and versatility thing.

No-one want to/able to offer comments about the DT Swiss?

rockmonkeysc

Never used 521's, they are at the budget end of the range so probably a lower grade of aluminium.
I have seen quite a few destroyed Flows at DH races, most racers use Mavic EX721 or EX729 because they are bombproof. The rims that world cup riders get are not always the same as off the shelf rims and they have a mechanic to re-build wheels after every couple of runs.
I had one set of DT Swiss downhill rims. They will be the last set of DT rims I ever buy. They dent very easily and my front cracked at 5 or 6 spoke holes within 6 months.

Northwind

RockmonkeySC wrote:

The XM819 would be a better comparison and they are lighter than Flows.

As Njee says, this isn't true, the claimed weight on the Mavic website is without the ferrules and so is basically a big honking lie- like quoting the weight of a stem without the bolts. True weight is just over 500g.