Good wheel upgrade??....

hugh_b
hugh_b Posts: 93
edited October 2008 in MTB buying advice
Hey guy's, i have a trek 6000 08 and ride about 3 times a week, mainly aggressive xc/single track etc. I've so far upgraded the forks, tyres, & pedals i'm now looking to do wheels. Although i like bontrager they seem quite expensive. I have bontrager ranger rims on basic shimano c-lock hubs which aren't amazingly smooth and basic black spokes.
The wheels i've been looking at are mavic crossride 2009 wheels and bontrager select wheels 08, would either of these be a good upgrade? What would be better? What other wheel sets should i look at? thanks-Hugh

Comments

  • strodey
    strodey Posts: 481
    Try looking at mavic 717's, i'mbiased but find them great, i have them with pro 2 hubs
    Carbon is a mans best freind
  • Right guy's, just specced this wheelset from merlins, what do you lot think in terms of weight, strength and performance?:

    Handbuilt Wheels - Rear Disc
    Spoke Upgrades: DT Comp S/S DB Black
    Rim Upgrades: XC717 Disc
    Hub Upgrades: XT Splined Hub
    Pro 11 Hub Colour: Black
    1 72.00
    Handbuilt Wheels - Front Disc
    Spoke Upgrades: DT Comp S/S DB Black
    Rim Upgrades: XC717 Black Disc
    Hub Upgrades: XT Splined Disc
    Pro 11 Hub Colour: Black
    1 65.00
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,503
    prefer xm719 myself, only 50grams or so heavier i think but stronger
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    XT/717 is a classic combo, good value and pretty strong and durable.
  • strodey
    strodey Posts: 481
    719's are stronger but that 50 grams is a lot more than 50 grams when the wheel is turning fast! (centrifugal force)
    Depends on how heavy you are and what riding you do, i'm a measly 10 stone 8 so won't put too much pressure on them even when doing some more hairy rides! Both are great rims though
    Carbon is a mans best freind
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,503
    9 and a bit stone here and i could'nt tell any difference other than the 719's feel a bit better for me, kinda of not so rigid but it's prolly all in my mind. both my 717 and 719 merlin builds have stayed as true as the day they arrived with the same riding.
  • icedmind
    icedmind Posts: 206
    i ll suggest you to look at mavic crosstrial
    Click on my anthem and you ll see it lol (i have a set running on mine)

    1st it have a ust rim that means you can run both tube or tubeless(ust/ stans or any tubeless type)

    2nd it have a sealed bearing hub that you ll not need to service it every 6 month or so

    3rd it have more or less same feature as crossmax, and it is the old crossmax with steel spokes. it have the same freehub system (fts-x ) as crossmax SRL or other model

    lastly i ll say they look really sexy on my bike and that extra 200 grams heavier (compare on wheels build on 717 rims) will add on the strength of rims, which means you ll not catch buckle as easy as 717 rims

    take a look on them and it ll cost abt 200 for new pair and less than 150 for a secondhand set
    but for sure they will be stronger wif more pedal effiiency than the pro2 build on 717or 719, just dont have as loud freehub noice
    08 Swork Stumpy FSR with 3 brains
    "2Brains. A Singletrack Mind ", from specialized <<<suppose if the rider doesnt have one
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    How do wheels of this spec compare with the XT factory wheelset?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    I'd like to add, 717 are fine if you are very smooth and run skinny rubber, but if you're catching air then you really want the 719s, so much stiffer in the end.

    (I have 717 on deore and 719 on proII both from merlin, and you can tell the difference in stiffness, but the weight really isn't noticable.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    XT have two wheelsets - the XC and AM versions.

    Both seem a little overpriced compared to a custom build. As do Mavics factory sets in my opinion.
  • gcwebbyuk
    gcwebbyuk Posts: 1,926
    Supersonic, could you recommend upgrading my current wheelset :

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12588858

    Or is it not worth it for the money?

    Thanks!
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    edited October 2008
    :lol:

    Sonic must have a load of Mavic rims on Shimano XT hubs replies just waiting to get copied and pasted ! :wink:
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Hehe, it is something I can type without thinking ;-)
  • If your doing "mainly aggressive xc/single track etc" then I would go 719 tbh.
    Admitedly I'm only 10st maybe 11 with all the gear on but I can honestly say I have given my Merlin made XT on 719's a right hammering since March and they are just as good as when I first got them.
    Only probs I have had with them is more snake bite punctures than my old wheels but I think a bigger tyres should sort that.
  • gbrnole
    gbrnole Posts: 395
    if you ride aggressive stay away from 717's, I had some on my stumpjumper and raped the rims so bad; they just weren't tough enough.

    I went with 719's after from CRC and never had a problem.
    Ibis Mojo SL-r