My old Deore hub / XC 717 rear wheel has finally given up the ghost and I am looking for some inspiration. I am on a budget and trying to keep the cost under £100 if possible, so a spangly Hope wheel is unfortunately out of the question. Can get XT hub with XC 717 rims within my budget from Merlin. Any alternative suggestions / thoughts.
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I use XT and 717 and recently got a new rear wheel just like that from Merlin. A pretty solid and reliable setup and if you aren’t going to Hope hubs I’d say the Merlin deal is a good wheel at a good price. If you are interested in a secondhand one let me know as I got a new XT hub laced into my existing 717 rim a few months ago and would punt it on and fit my new one !
Iain – I’m looking for a new secondhand back wheel to replace my old Mavic 7C which has an old shimano hub that is about to give up the ghost. How much money you wanting for yours?
Thanks for the feedback Iain. It looks like the XT wheel gets the vote. I have to say the old Deore hub has done me proud lasting for nigh on five years albeit, with a few new freehubs.
Every penny’s a prisoner at the moment so if your wheel is still available would be more than happy to take it off your hands in exchange for the appropriate number of shekels. I can come up to the club this week if you are out.
Stuart – can you mail me on : iain.clow@googlemail.com
and we can sort out.
sunilk65 – I’d best give Stuart first option on it, cheers
Hi Stuart,
Speak to Ali at Alpines St.Georges Cross. Last year, they built a set of Hope Hubs with XC717 Rims from Spares lying around in a few of their shops. I paid £250 with the black spokes but could of got it £30 cheaper if I opted for silver ones.
Your only needing 1 wheel (I know the rear is generally more expensive) but if your not too fussed about colour and they’ve got stuff about, you may get a bargain.
Barry
Cheers Barry.
Talked to the guys at Alpine at the weekend. They do have some Hope wheels in stock but we are still talking £150 ish. Too rich for me at the moment.
Stuart
2 words… Big Al!
Iain’s wheel sounds a good deal.
However, that aside I buy all my wheels from Wheelcraft at Lennoxtown (apart from a nice front mavic 721/hope pro 2 combo from Stuart at Alpine). It is a bit of a 2 wheel shrine up at Big Al’s… For an idea of cheapness my last road wheels were durace back with Ti freehub, Hope pro 3 front and DT spokes on nice Ambrosio rims for less than £230! My rear MTB mavic 729/Hope XC is still 100% true – 5 years on, and fitted to a hardtail that also survived a 4ft drop to flat landing at about 20mph – although Big Al did use 36 tandem gauge spokes.
Hoho, can’t knock the old Deore hub, proper tractor technology that just keeps on going. I’ve a pair of wheels (Mavic rim, 317?) that have 8 years’ continuous use built on those. Look like scrap, but still rolling. Helps if you know how to strip and rebuild every year or so, when it starts to complain, of course ;~) I’ve taken bearings out that look like gravel, without any noticeable degradation to the cones and cups.
Seconds on Big Al. If you can get them, go for the older style XT hubs – larger bearings means longer life as Ryszard has proven! I just picked up an older XTR 960 rear hub from Al for £80 so old XT, if he has any left, will be super cheap.
Thanks for all the feedback. Was going to buy the Merlin wheel but will take a run over to Big Al’s. As I have said, I have given myself a budget to work within. If he can help me out great, it’s always good to be able to use someone local and by all accounts something of a legend. If he can’t then Merlin will still be there.