Which hub/rim for. .

[IDB1]

a high-ISH end xc wheel. . .

Not out and out bike porn but getting there...

Not sure what a reasonable budget would be so, say... £250 for a pair of wheels??
Would that need to be higher?

Not taking into account cassette or tyres. . .

What would you build (or have built for you) ??

 

[Harryburgundy]

I would be happy enough with Hope Pro2's on 717's.

 

[IDB1]

Rim price aside, from crc that's about £170 for hubs...

Are there any in that sort of price range (say, up to the price of a pair of XTR disc hubs) that should be avoided as overrated/overpriced??

There's LOADS....

Where do XTR hubs fit in with regards to quality vs price?

Only just started looking at wheels (not that I can afford anything for the foreseeable :roll: ) and the options are incredible!!..

 

[hamster]

I think in terms of bangs per buck Shimano are amazing value - easily serviceable, tough and very, very well-sealed. Trick stuff is slightly lighter but more fragile. In particular, Shimano have the freehub patent sewn up, and everyone else has a long length of unsupported axle at the rear underneath the freehub. Shimano have the bearing at the end of the axle.

I'd go with XT - not exotic but probably as good a hub as you can get. I'd then put the cash saved towards some other nice bits.

 

[kaiser]

Have you had a look round merlins wheel builder?

 

[kaiser]

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... xm719.html


http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... -rims.html

 

[tintin40]

Hope Pro 3 (rim only) Pro2 disc with Mavic 717. Don't forget alloy nipples. Also don't just go shop standard spokes. DT's are the only spokes?

 

[IDB1]

It's almost a hypothetical question tbh.. just wondering what is considered 'nice' but not right up there on the top shelf ..
I will be looking for wheels at some point though, so any info isn't going to waste..

If/when I do go a-looking, pretty coloured hubs won't be a must have and I'm not a weight weenie either.. they'll need to be disc hubs, durable, not overly heavy and nice to behold with a little bit of a 'wow' factor....

Something like XT/XTR hubs (is there much difference between them in reality?)
s/steel spokes
red nipples
Mavic rims (don't know enough about rims but Mavic seem pretty well regarded)..

I've scrimped and scraped to get what I have thus far, I'd like to be able to take my time, save a little and splash some cash for a nice build when I begin the next one.... probably based around the Avalanche frame I just got since it's here and I like it

 

[JeRkY]

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-and-road-bike-wheels/special-offer-custom-bike-wheels/hope-pro11-mavic-xc717-xm719.html


http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain- ... -rims.html

Huge thanks! I always forget merlin, I had been pricing up a similar wheel set at crc!

 

[IDB1]

What I really need to do is stop buying for a couple of months and stash some cash (next purchase will be trying to grab some bargaintastic disc rims and brakes for the Wifes Voodoo... that's done then)...