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Who has the widest downhill rim

D

Dh builder

Chimp
Sep 30, 2013
54
2
I'm trying to research what the widest downhill rims are.

Can anyone help me out and point to some rims which are the widest. Also, what rim is probably the strongest?

Weight is not an issue. I am looking first for the widest, and out of curiosity what the strongest is.


Thanks.
 
Nick

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,063
14,705
where the trails are
I just built a set of wheels with Spank EVO 35 rims. The quality seems very good.
Those are as wide as I've used/seen.

edit to echo verskis below: just build on 729s. those are bulletproof.
 
Last edited:
D

Dh builder

Chimp
Sep 30, 2013
54
2
Hmm, thanks. I'm actually using the MTX 39 rim. Which is 39mm outer 30mm inner.

This rim has been bullet proof. But they are hard to find and may be discontinued soon. I am trying to decide if I should stock up on a couple of them or if there is a better rim.
 
kickstand

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Nick said:
I just built a set of wheels with Spank EVO 35 rims. The quality seems very good.
Those are as wide as I've used/seen.

edit to echo verskis below: just build on 729s. those are bulletproof.
Click to expand...
729's are not bulletproof. I've been able to flatspot and or mangle 2 or 3 of them beyond repair.

I'm also not that big or hard of a rider, so if average old me can ruin multiples, they aren't bulletproof.

I do like them though, and continue to replace them with the same 729 hoops.
 
Verskis

Verskis

Monkey
May 14, 2010
458
8
Tampere, Finland
kickstand said:
729's are not bulletproof. I've been able to flatspot and or mangle 2 or 3 of them beyond repair.

I'm also not that big or hard of a rider, so if average old me can ruin multiples, they aren't bulletproof.

I do like them though, and continue to replace them with the same 729 hoops.
Click to expand...
Yeah, not bulletproof, I also managed to put such a big dent on my rear rim that you could see the bead of the tire (amazingly the tube did not puncture!). But my front 729 has been pretty much faultless, very seldom requiring any truing and only one tiny dent. I used to have a Sun MTX33's that were way easier to dent, even the front rim was quite dented after a couple of seasons.
I have now realized that even the more expensive rims are not going to last very long on the rear of a DH bike, so the last time I rebuilt my rear wheel with a very cheap Mavic EX325 rim. It's a bit narrower than the 729, so not the first choice for the OP, but my initial impressions are really good, it handled a week long vacation at a real mountain without any problems.
 
Nick

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,063
14,705
where the trails are
jeez, you guys are BEASTS! :D

denting is fine, and should be expected, not failing or cracking after multiple dents, flatspots, or near death experiences is what I consider 'bulletproof'.
 
kickstand

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
Nick said:
jeez, you guys are BEASTS! :D

denting is fine, and should be expected, not failing or cracking after multiple dents, flatspots, or near death experiences is what I consider 'bulletproof'.
Click to expand...
My 729's are well dented, I have no issue with that at all, they hold a bead, don't leak and I admittedly should run higher tire pressures.

I feel any rim is going to dent, but they go out of true and flat spot (beyond "repair") far too easily in my opinion. As I said, I'm not a huge guy. (165-175lbs typically)....I'm not a huck to flat specialist, and when it comes to racing I've been a mid pack cat1, podium cat2 rider (30-39) this year, so it's not like I'm smashing rocks like you young bucks or speed demons. Rims should hold up fairly well underneath me.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
kickstand said:
My 729's are well dented, I have no issue with that at all, they hold a bead, don't leak and I admittedly should run higher tire pressures.

I feel any rim is going to dent, but they go out of true and flat spot (beyond "repair") far too easily in my opinion. As I said, I'm not a huge guy. (165-175lbs typically)....I'm not a huck to flat specialist, and when it comes to racing I've been a mid pack cat1, podium cat2 rider (30-39) this year, so it's not like I'm smashing rocks like you young bucks or speed demons. Rims should hold up fairly well underneath me.
Click to expand...

Build them with real spokes. I had a picture up a while ago that I can't find now of a 729 I ran for 3 years with about 15 dings in them (one past the bead). But I've run those rims for about a decade and I've never flatspotted one. I've broken one and dinged them into stupidity but I've never flat spotted one. Use some good straight guage spokes and keep them bitches tight. That pretty much goes for any rim though.
 
HardtailHack

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,745
5,637
Syntace have a 40mm rim and their wheelset is around 1850 so the rims probably wouldn't be bulletproof-

 
kickstand

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
kidwoo said:
Build them with real spokes. I had a picture up a while ago that I can't find now of a 729 I ran for 3 years with about 15 dings in them (one past the bead). But I've run those rims for about a decade and I've never flatspotted one. I've broken one and dinged them into stupidity but I've never flat spotted one. Use some good straight guage spokes and keep them bitches tight. That pretty much goes for any rim though.
Click to expand...
I know exactly the photo that you are talking about, I remember seeing it and being confident that the dents in my rim weren't going to trouble me because of it.

My 729's were built by chain reaction, I'm not sure what spokes were used. I am not "quite" up to wheel building status in my wrenching. I can true them up, I do keep the spokes tensioned, but I haven't gone full wheel builder yet. I hope to on my next wheelset however.
 
Verskis

Verskis

Monkey
May 14, 2010
458
8
Tampere, Finland
If you can true your wheels, you are ready to build them from scratch. Just look at Sheldon Brown's instructions carefully and you will get the spokes laced correctly. When tightening the spokes to initial tension, be super careful to tighten each spoke the equal amount. After that, fix the dish and true it like you are already used to.
 
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