premade VS handmade wheels

[.8down]

Ive been in constant PM with the phat about a wheel set..and these are my options..Im looking to more experienced riders as my riding and wrench turning skills are novice at best.

1. buy a set of Mavic premade wheels: pro's/cons?
2. Rebuild my king wheels set with a more stout rim(819's most likely): hand made > premade?
3. Have the Path build me a wheelset with Hope hubs, and sell the King ones, to pay for part of it.

I like Hope and Im willing to try something new, but I fear that since they are in England it will be a hassle if something goes wrong(read a few reviews on MTBR, where the hubs cracked on the owners)

Lastly sorry if this has been covered but I did a quick search and found nothing really

[denmother]

Originally Posted by .8down

Lastly sorry if this has been covered but I did a quick search and found nothing really

Did you check out this thread: What wheels should I buy??

[Winston]

Path built wheel in a landslide.

My old 2005 7Point came with a factory build DT Swiss FR hub/823 rim wheelset. Had trouble with spokes coming loose on the rear wheel. Eventually I had to get the wheel rebuilt. (I had damaged the rim.)

The Path rebuilt the wheel and after the post build retension things have good to go. True wheel with no spokes or misc crap coming loose.

Good luck.

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by .8down

Ive been in constant PM with the phat about a wheel set..and these are my options..Im looking to more experienced riders as my riding and wrench turning skills are novice at best.

1. buy a set of Mavic premade wheels: pro's/cons?
2. Rebuild my king wheels set with a more stout rim(819's most likely): hand made > premade?
3. Have the Path build me a wheelset with Hope hubs, and sell the King ones, to pay for part of it.

I like Hope and Im willing to try something new, but I fear that since they are in England it will be a hassle if something goes wrong(read a few reviews on MTBR, where the hubs cracked on the owners)

Lastly sorry if this has been covered but I did a quick search and found nothing really

those Kings and call it a day

[tkblazer]

relace to some 819s and you're set dood

[andy aka rut]

I would rebuild at The Path also. My mountain bikes have custom wheels built at The Path. They simply stay true (until I do something stupid.) Even after the stupid move, I bring them in and they true them to perfection.

Whats wrong with rebuilding the King hubs????

[.8down]

Originally Posted by denmother

Did you check out this thread: What wheels should I buy??

Ya but that seemed to be more of a should I spend money on a frame or get a super nice set of wheels, I think I have a different question. maybe I should start a poll.

Originally Posted by Winston

Path built wheel in a landslide.

My old 2005 7Point came with a factory build DT Swiss FR hub/823 rim wheelset. Had trouble with spokes coming loose on the rear wheel. Eventually I had to get the wheel rebuilt. (I had damaged the rim.)

The Path rebuilt the wheel and after the post build retension things have good to go. True wheel with no spokes or misc crap coming loose.

Good luck.

well with the two options its all going though the path

Originally Posted by andy aka rut

I would rebuild at The Path also. My mountain bikes have custom wheels built at The Path. They simply stay true (until I do something stupid.) Even after the stupid move, I bring them in and they true them to perfection.

Whats wrong with rebuilding the King hubs????

Nothing just thought Id try something new, my whole approach to mountain biking is to be open minded.

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by .8down

Ya but that seemed to be more of a should I spend money on a frame or get a super nice set of wheels, I think I have a different question. maybe I should start a poll.



well with the two options its all going though the path

of going bling on the frame and putting lesser wheels on it. All of my build projects start with the wheels. Get the better wheels and a lesser frame.

Example....

Kona + Bling wheels =

Turner + cheap wheels =

Turner + Bling wheels =

What kind of frame are you thinking about?

[mtnbikerdude87]

When I first got my giant nrs it came with machine built XT/Mavic317 wheels. It lasted for a good 2 years before the from spokes started to break. I then rebuilt the wheels with some dt swiss spokes and it has been true and strong to this day.

So if you have a budget id say get some machine built wheels (then again some are as expensive) or if you want to have a little challenge, build your own wheel. Its fun (well sort of...) and you get the satisfaction that you built your own wheels.

[2wheel_lee]

Mavic premade wheels are generally pretty good. I've had a couple sets that have been extremely reliable.

Just the same, most of the wheels I've had built at The Path have also been very reliable.

I'd stronly suggest sticking with the Kings. If you're truly realized the benefits of the King hubs, you will be greatly disappointed going to the Hopes. King hubs are a worthy investment.

[Keith B]

Mavic Crossmax all the way.

[Geronimo]

The path built my wheelset. Hope pro II's and DT 5.1's. I've been hucking, jumping and bombing on them for 2 years now. Their still true and I've never touched, trued, retentioned, or maintained them. I would have those king's laced up with new hoops at the path. .02

[Pato]

If you already have Kings why downgrade to Hopes? Stick with the Kings and lace them up with 819s.

[tbowren]

I'm not a huge fan of the King rear hubs. Sure they engage wonderfully but every few months they start to drag and require service. It gets to the point that if I pedal backwards the top chain sags and hits the chainstay. Then its $30+ dollars for a service. Also, something inside the hub starts to come loose and the wheel will wiggle. They have shown me how to unscrew the hub and retighten it, but it's annoying to have to pay so much attention to them.
I've have lesser XT hubs that I've never had to service, and never get wiggly.
But they dont sound as cool and don't engage nearly as quick.

Tani has recommended the Hope hubs to me a few times and if I ever get a new rear wheel built I will probably try that.

[thephat]

Mavic wheels have great build quality, and they stay true very well. The hubs can be reliable for some, but overall, need more frequent maint and replacement parts compared to your other choices.

Most other prebuilt wheels do not have good build quality, and will not stay true and tight as well.

We deal with Hope USA. We do not ship your Hope Item to England for waranty. We do Maintain Hope hubs and keep some parts around.

King hubs do develop drag in the freehub when they need service. This can be more frequent for some, but for most folks ISOs have a much longer maint interval than Mavic hubs. King hubs often need several bearing tension adjustments during break in, or after a major service. This bothers some more than others.

Personally, I would tend to hang on to any King hubs that I own.

Unless they are really not working out for you, keep the Kings.

[.8down]

Originally Posted by Keith B

Mavic Crossmax all the way.

Why do you say that sir? I think you have had hope hubs, as you just sold a set, any reason why?

Originally Posted by tbowren

I'm not a huge fan of the King rear hubs. Sure they engage wonderfully but every few months they start to drag and require service. It gets to the point that if I pedal backwards the top chain sags and hits the chainstay. Then its $30+ dollars for a service. Also, something inside the hub starts to come loose and the wheel will wiggle. They have shown me how to unscrew the hub and retighten it, but it's annoying to have to pay so much attention to them.
I've have lesser XT hubs that I've never had to service, and never get wiggly.
But they dont sound as cool and don't engage nearly as quick.

Tani has recommended the Hope hubs to me a few times and if I ever get a new rear wheel built I will probably try that.

this is one of the reasons Im leaning towards another set, but my only thinking is if you own a Porsche you know its gonna need to be maintained. so something that engages so nicely is gonna need attention to? Is it worth the effort, is the question.

[autoduel]

Since I do my own work, it saves me cash to build my own wheels. Being the weight weenie that I am, I buy the lightest rims when I find them on closeout, wait for deals on hubs or relace old ones. A set of spokes runs about $35 per wheel. Depending on the hubs, you could build a sub 1500gm wheelset for less than $200. I'd rebuild the kings with the rims you want if you don't need another set.

[DISCO]

The path does a far better job of standing behind their work than any manufacturer possibly could. To put it simply, they are the shit.

[davidB]

did the path get their shipment in from mavic yet?

*stuck at work with no phone to check*

hope pro II + mavic 819's seemed to be really recommended on here and mtbr