Broken spokes - time for new wheels?

[leftside]

Been getting broken spokes the last little while. Had the bike for a year. Put about 1500km on it. Always ride technical rocky rooty downhill black diamonds and drops. Thinking it might be time to replace the original E13 ESpec+?

For those of you who also ride similar DH trails, which wheels have you gone with?

I've almost replaced or broken everything apart from the frame and front fork (touch wood) now.

 

[lokbot]

If your wheel isn't dented up I would just replace spokes until you need to replace the wheel. I don't ride an eMTB, but I have busted quite a few stock wheels riding DH. When I rebuild wheels that I'm expecting to ride hard I go with DT Swiss ex511 in the front and e532 in the rear. They're on the heavy side, but you can count on them lasting a couple of seasons of abuse.

 

[RickBullotta]

Been getting broken spokes the last little while. Had the bike for a year. Put about 1500km on it. Always ride technical rocky rooty downhill black diamonds and drops. Thinking it might be time to replace the original E13 ESpec+?

For those of you who also ride similar DH trails, which wheels have you gone with?

I've almost replaced or broken everything apart from the frame and front fork (touch wood) now.

I'd try and figure out why you're getting broken spokes - are they too narrow/lightweight? over tightened? wrong length?

If you're running tubeless, it can be a giant and expensive pain in the a$$ to be always breaking spokes - retaping the rim, more sealant, etc...

Maybe it's just an underbuilt wheel for the way you ride. Strong, light cheap - pick any two.

 

[TransAmMan]

Thinking it might be time to replace the original E13 ESpec+?

For those of you who also ride similar DH trails, which wheels have you gone with?

I've almost replaced or broken everything apart from the frame and front fork (touch wood) now.

I am in the same boat (no broken spokes) considering wheels.

Couple areas to note .... make sure your rear HUB is e-bike compatible and your freehub is not aluminum (steel is what you want ... especially if your running an 11sp shimano setup)

My first consideration (if you want to stay carbon) would be weareone wheels (out of Kamloops) as you can contact them and request a "custom mullet" set. I would go with a convert rim 27.5 in the back (35mm ID width) and the union rim 29" out front (30mm ID width).

The HUBS are Industry nine. I contacted I9 and they stated that their "original ---- torch hubs" are e-bike approved (but the new 1/1 are NOT recommended... weareone said they were .. so I would definitely follow up on this discrepancy)

The new DTSwiss Hybrid wheels (1501) are very nice too if your thinking aluminum .. and already set up for e-bike use. This would be my second choice.

Good luck

 

[RickBullotta]

I am in the same boat (no broken spokes) considering wheels.

Couple areas to note .... make sure your rear HUB is e-bike compatible and your freehub is not aluminum (steel is what you want ... especially if your running an 11sp shimano setup)

My first consideration (if you want to stay carbon) would be weareone wheels (out of Kamloops) as you can contact them and request a "custom mullet" set. I would go with a convert rim 27.5 in the back (35mm ID width) and the union rim 29" out front (30mm ID width).

The HUBS are Industry nine. I contacted I9 and they stated that their "original hydra hubs" are e-bike approved (but the new 1/1 are NOT recommended... weareone said they were .. so I would definitely follow up on this discrepancy)

The new DTSwiss Hybrid wheels (1501) are very nice too if your thinking aluminum .. and already set up for e-bike use. This would be my second choice.

Good luck

There are no stainless freehub bodies for the Hydras. I checked with I9 a couple months ago after notching the aluminum HG freehubs on my wheelset. There was a stainless freehub body for the older Torch hubs.

 

[leftside]

If you're running tubeless, it can be a giant and expensive pain in the a$$ to be always breaking spokes - retaping the rim, more sealant, etc...

That's right. Hence time to do some research on stronger wheels.

 

[leftside]

I am in the same boat (no broken spokes) considering wheels.

Couple areas to note .... make sure your rear HUB is e-bike compatible and your freehub is not aluminum (steel is what you want ... especially if your running an 11sp shimano setup)

My first consideration (if you want to stay carbon) would be weareone wheels (out of Kamloops) as you can contact them and request a "custom mullet" set. I would go with a convert rim 27.5 in the back (35mm ID width) and the union rim 29" out front (30mm ID width).

The HUBS are Industry nine. I contacted I9 and they stated that their "original hydra hubs" are e-bike approved (but the new 1/1 are NOT recommended... weareone said they were .. so I would definitely follow up on this discrepancy)

The new DTSwiss Hybrid wheels (1501) are very nice too if your thinking aluminum .. and already set up for e-bike use. This would be my second choice.

Good luck

All good options there. Just to note the existing wheels are not carbon: E*Thirteen

 

[TransAmMan]

There are no stainless freehub bodies for the Hydras. I checked with I9 a couple months ago after notching the aluminum HG freehubs on my wheelset. There was a stainless freehub body for the older Torch hubs.

Correct .. sorry I meant the Torch hubs above (the freehub body is likely the determining factor and if the new 1/1 hubs or hydra hubs don't offer one .. than best to go with the original)

 

[RickBullotta]

Correct .. sorry I meant the Torch hubs above (the freehub body is likely the determining factor and if the new 1/1 hubs or hydra hubs don't offer one .. than best to go with the original)

I've switched to only DT hubs for now on my eMTB and regular MTB for that reason. I have Hydras on my gravel bike and fatbike though. Over time I suspect I'll go with only DT hubs so I can keep fewer spare parts (bearings, freehub bodies) on hand.

 

[leftside]

I ended up going with NOBL wheels. Had them before previously on my Capra, and they do a TR41 for ebikes these days.

TR41 Product Page - NOBL Wheels

Designed for E-Bikes and wide tire enduro applications, the TR41’s wide and burly design brings responsiveness and smooth tracking thanks to the ‘Sine Wave’

noblwheels.com

NOBL used to be local to me, but are now on Vancouver Island, so they'll have to ship the rims. Will post up a picture when I get them installed.

 

[The Hodge]

Have a little rummage in here ..you might find something ..

Someone had a clear out.

Interesting view from where I’m working today.

www.emtbforums.com

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