I'm looking at new wheel options and need some feedback, advice, whatever... 1) I have a line on a set of shimano XT hubs that i would build up with Stans Arch rims. I hear good and bad things about the XT hubs. Anyone here running them? 2) Get a set of factory Stans Arch wheels with Stans 3.30 hubs 3) There is a set of WTB Stryker TCS i23 26" Wheels on sale for less than the above two options. Again, I hear good and bad things about these wheels. I'm looking for wheels that will last with proper care, but I have a small budget. My current wheels are Fulcrum Red Medal 10's and are fairly cheap and low quality. But they did last 18 months and over 1500 miles. Don't know if that's good or not, but I'm going with it.
I'm still running a set of Rigida rims laced to XT hubs that I had built up for my old bike when I was still living in Europe back around 2007. They've probably got around 5-6k miles on them and I've never had any problems and haven't done any maintenance on them. Some downsides to them is most (all??) use Centerlock brake rotors which might not be a problem if you also run their brakes but for my BB7s required swapping Shimano for included Avid rotors or buying adapters. If you're someone who likes to do preventative maintenance on your hubs they're supposedly not as fun to service as some other manufacturers. The only other item I've heard mentioned is the sealing on some of the older hubs wasn't the best at keeping water out but I'm not sure about newer versions. I did ride mine through a lot of rain and snow/slush while overseas but wasn't fording streams and was careful to not use high-pressure water around them when cleaning the bike. I don't know that I'd go looking for them and from a service and simple design standpoint like others better such the simple DT Swiss designs but I also wouldn't avoid running the Shimano. They've been okay for me but I wouldn't want to pay a premium for them.
I'm running on XT M785 hubs since 2009. I have not done any maintenance on the hubs since new and are still running smooth. I usually ride dry hard packed stuff but have seen a few river crossings with sandy conditions. It is currently laced with Stans ZTR 355 rims and I ride them pretty rough. A few downsides: -if you try to sell them later, you wouldn't get much for them as you would laced on a Chris King or Hope Hub. -it doesn't make the loud Wu Tang Killer bees sound like the Chris Kings do. -Engagement could be quicker Otherwise, I love the hubs.
XT hubs are good with maintenance. They are are cup and cone type hubs and can come loose. How do I know I had some come loose climbing B* and the rear hub seized. I have never heard anything about the other two hubs. I would guess the complaints about the WTB wheels would be the hubs, the rims are great.
I vote #2, i like stan rims and the hubs are ok for the price. Xt hubs might be alright but there are many and long threads on them at mtbr on their short comings. If you are a gambling man you could get a chinese carbon wheelset.
I vote #2, i like stan rims and the hubs are ok for the price. Xt hubs might be alright but there are many and long threads on them at mtbr on their short comings. If you are a gambling man you could get a chinese carbon wheelset.
I like WTB rims more than stans, though I know nothing of this stryker rim. I'm on WTB KOMs. Both stans and WTB KOMs have no eyelets, but the 4D drilling I think makes for a reliable rim. A lot of WTB rims have eyelets so you really have to do your research and pick what features you want in a rim. I'd probably take an XT hub over a Stans for rebuildability, but really I'm a diehard DT star ratchet fan. Stans hubs use really cheap bearings that I'd replace with Enduro bearings. XT hubs are always out of adjustment and that's what kills them. You should really know how to adjust and maintain your hubs yourself if you own those. Shimano freehub assemblies are fine. I like how you can just swap the whole thing when it breaks. On a Stans, the hub body is part of the ratcheting system so if that breaks or expands over time, you're out a hub. Downside is I think the XT is heavier. I don't think either are that durable, comapared to a Chris King, DT Swiss with Star Ratchet, I9, hope, etc. All my hubs are of the Star Ratchet variety, except one Syntace hub which is pretty awesome.
Well I ended up going with the WTB wheel set. The cost, weight, features all helped time the scale. Plus all the reviews I've read point to bomber, rock solid rims.
