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Wheels needed, £300 tops

parrymanparryman Posts: 153
in MTB buying advice
Hello all,
Speccing a new build and I need wheels.
29" front, 27.5" rear, boost axles, Sram cassette.
For my budget I have found Superstar custom, V6 hubs to WTB i25 rims.
Are superstar any good? are WTB Rims any good?
Something else I should consider?
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Posts

  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,811
    Superstar are good, they had some problems years back but their customer service was good at fixing them, recently (last 6-7 years) I've heard very few issues.

    WTB rims are perfectly good, biased towards strength over weight but perfectly good.

    Also have a look at Merlin cycles as they do individual wheel builds not just sets. If you don't 'have' to have matching wheels then you could look at clearance wheels (CRC, on-one, etc) and possibly get better bang for your buck.

    Or build your own? I've just built up a CX/Gravel front wheel for £55, all new parts, sub 800g.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • parrymanparryman Posts: 153
    Cheers, strength is always my preference over weight, as I am larger than the average.
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    (¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨The Amazing Parryman
  • reaperactualreaperactual Posts: 1,183
    edited August 2020
    Strength over weight? In that case a Hope Fortus 30 wheelset with Pro 4 hubs are worth considering. 👍
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,811
    With a pair of Hope hubs coming it at circa £240, another £60 isn't going to get a wheelset built on them.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • reaperactualreaperactual Posts: 1,183
    edited August 2020
    Just spotted max budget in the title. I bought a Fortus 30 wheelset for £340. I'd stretch the budget by £40 for that kind of quality, strength and bulletproof reliability, all without having to build them myself.

    OP ain't looking for some flimsy 800g gravel wheels either so where's the relevance there Rookie?
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,811
    edited August 2020
    We don't know what he's speccing it for do we? He's mentioned i25 rims so it's not Enduro/Downhill either.

    Gravel wheels are not flimsy either, pretty much the same as an XC29 wheelset apart from axle fitments.

    I was just giving it as an example of what can be achieved. I could use the example of the 1435g MTB wheelset I built for £180 if that makes you feel better.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • reaperactualreaperactual Posts: 1,183
    edited August 2020
    Strength over weight prompted me to post a response with the suggestion for a Hope wheelset and yes it's slightly over budget as you pointed out.

    I am putting forward options and examples as you are. Is one suggestion right and one wrong?

    What you post is of no concern to me and doesn't make me 'feel' anything.
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,811
    Can you link to a 29/27.5 Fortus wheelset for that price?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • reaperactualreaperactual Posts: 1,183
    edited August 2020
    Of course I can, anything for you Rookie.

    Rear 27.5 wheel £229.99
    Front 29er wheel £135.99
    -£20 discount for buying a wheelset = £345.98

    https://bikewheelsdirect.com/hope-275-fortus-30w---pro4---rear-wheel-10000-p.asp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6rbl3PiU5wIVB7LtCh0tdglqEAAYASAAEgKQsfD_BwE

    Oh dear the 29" front made it £6 more compared to my 27.5" £339.98 f & r wheelset. I hang my head in shame.😞
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,811
    Thanks, I couldn't find anyone doing them for less than £400, but that's a better price.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • parrymanparryman Posts: 153
    Think I might stretch the budget for the Hope wheelset.
    Cheers both, think it'll be worth the extra £50 or so.
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    (¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨The Amazing Parryman
  • reaperactualreaperactual Posts: 1,183
    😎👍
  • whyamiherewhyamihere Posts: 7,680
    edited August 2020
    Not relevant any more if you're going for the Hopes, but the 15mm adapters for my Superstar V6 front hub (non-boost) are useless. They're only held in by some o-rings on the edges of the adapter, which means that roughly 90% of the times you try to put the wheel into the fork one of them gets knocked out, meaning you need at least 3 hands to get the wheel in. The other adapters all slide into the hub axle better so don't have this problem. I've relegated my wheelset with V6 hubs to only be used on a road bike with 12mm axles so that I don't have to put up with that frustration.
  • parrymanparryman Posts: 153
    Thanks for the warning, good to know for possible purchases for the other bikes.
    My road bike and the fixed wheel have V Sprint wheels, cannot fault them at all (sadly don't make MTB wheels)
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    (¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨The Amazing Parryman
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