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Lightweight DH wheelset building - DT revo spokes. Go or no go?

bvegards

Chimp
May 25, 2013
4
0
Bodø, Norway
Hi!

Planning to build a budget lightweight DH wheelset with the following parts:

- Used Hope Pro 2 hubs (20mm front and 12x150mm rear)
- DT Swiss Revolution spokes
- DT Swiss alloy nipples
- DT Swiss EX500 rims

I've already read more than a few threads about people wanting to use DT Revolution spokes on DH wheelsets, ending up not doing it because some people state that they would flex, snap etc. because of how thin they are. As this is a budget build, I cannot afford using Sapim CX-Rays or DT Aerolites which are said to be better alternatives in that weight-range.

Could anybody who has actually tried riding DH with Revo's give me a proper statement about how they actually perform?
 

msaman

Chimp
Dec 6, 2012
64
1
I do have one season(1 year riding every weekend) on them built with Hope Pro 2 and ZTR Flow Ex .Very light combo for sure.I need to true them now and then but if you are a fast rider I would go for DT super comp just 30 grams heavier and I guess a tad stronger.
I rode Fort William on this combo no probs.Also I bash them every single weekend on roots and they stood up the abuse pretty well.
I do not race and do not consider myself as fast.
I can not feel any flexing and dont have snapped a spoke for now :P
Hope this helps
 
Last edited:

dhbrigade

Chimp
Feb 21, 2006
89
2
Can't comment on the Revo/EX500 combination actually, but run revos in one of my XC wheelsets.

When changing between my XTR/SComp/Brass nipple/XR400 and the 240s/Revo/ProLock Alloy/XC717 the difference in stiffeness feels huge, even though im more on the lighter side (140lbs).

Don't know if they would hold up during DH abuse, as I got a lot of snapping spokes from wood getting into the wheel.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
As this is a budget build, I cannot afford using Sapim CX-Rays or DT Aerolites which are said to be better alternatives in that weight-range.
If it's a budget build then it's always preferable to err on the side of strength and stiffness over weight. For anything lighter than a regular DT Comp (2.0/1.8/2.0) I would only consider a CX-Ray or DT Aerolite - revolutions are not really a DH level spoke and will result in greater wheel flex.

Alloy nipples can also cause problems in the long term - I've had them (DT alloy) start cracking at the heads in DH applications after a few truing cycles. It takes a keen eye to spot the cracks, but once it starts it tends to continue -more of an issue on rear wheels.

The hubs and rims work well in my experience, but personally I'd just use DT Comp spokes and DT brass nipples with those hubs and rims. The overall weight difference will be negligible but result in a stiffer wheelset that will better handle both riding and routine maintenance.

On the flipside, if you're a lighter rider and/or don't run low enough pressures to damage rims, your setup will probably work fine.
 

bvegards

Chimp
May 25, 2013
4
0
Bodø, Norway
If it's a budget build then it's always preferable to err on the side of strength and stiffness over weight. For anything lighter than a regular DT Comp (2.0/1.8/2.0) I would only consider a CX-Ray or DT Aerolite - revolutions are not really a DH level spoke and will result in greater wheel flex.

Alloy nipples can also cause problems in the long term - I've had them (DT alloy) start cracking at the heads in DH applications after a few truing cycles. It takes a keen eye to spot the cracks, but once it starts it tends to continue -more of an issue on rear wheels.
I weigh 79kgs/174lbs, and consider myself a bit on the more aggressive side when it comes down to the riding, so I guess the Revos would be a bit on the weak side in the strength- and stiffness-department then. I would have -without a doubt- bought the CX-Rays or the Aerolites if it wasn't for the fact that they cost so much. Just about 200 USD for 64 spokes (!!)

I've used alloy nipples from DT on other wheelsets before, and never experienced any failures of them. I just make sure to lubricate both the head of the nipple and the treads before winding them, and it seems to hold up just fine.

It seems like the spoke of choice will be (as almost always) DT Comps then!
 

Mr Nug

Monkey
Aug 26, 2007
138
1
UK
Take a look at the sapim d-lights. Mtb specific and only a few grams heavier than cx-rays.

The sapim polyax nipples are supposed to be made out of a tougher AL than usual and are supposedly close to brass strength at half the weight.
 

I.van

Monkey
Apr 15, 2007
188
0
Australia
I have a hope 2/Revo/Flow wheelset that I have used on my trail bike and tried on the DH bike, and I felt like there was too much flex. Maybe I need more spoke tension, but I didn't like the feel.
 

bvegards

Chimp
May 25, 2013
4
0
Bodø, Norway
Take a look at the sapim d-lights. Mtb specific and only a few grams heavier than cx-rays.

The sapim polyax nipples are supposed to be made out of a tougher AL than usual and are supposedly close to brass strength at half the weight.
Thanks for the tip! Only about 15 grams heavier pr wheel and half the price of the CX-Ray!
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,635
5,446
I have the Sapim alloy nipples on my DH wheels that I built in 09 and thus far I have had to replace two nipples, one rounded off because I didn't put the spoke key on fully and the other cracked and one side fell off but the threaded end stayed good.
I finally snapped a CX-Ray last week, they seem to be an amazingly strong spoke but I'll be keen to see how the d-lights go.

EDIT- If you do think they will need the occasional true brass nipples will be better, I got lucky I've only had to true mine once, Dice Rims seem brutally strong.
 
Last edited:
Dec 4, 2012
12
0
I'm running Revos on all my wheelsets (Hope Pro 2 and Mavic EN521 for DH) without any issues for 2 seasons now. Also a lot of my friends run similar wheelsets with Revos and I haven't seen a snapped Revo yet...
 

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,541
5,472
UK
I weigh 79kgs/174lbs, and consider myself a bit on the more aggressive side when it comes down to the riding,
At your weight, don't be silly..

DT revs are fine if you're a 10st XC rider.. I used them for XC racing back when I was around your weight, I never broke a spoke but the flex and need to re-true was so hellish I relegated them to race weekend use only..
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Not with ex500 rims. Revs will only work in dh with super stiff rims. 823 work with them well but anything lighter I doubt it. Maybe something like Enve dh rims or e13 dh. They loose tension very fast, even on 823s and I'm 75kg when I'm fat so that shouldn't kill them fast. A wheel on them and ex 500 would be noodly fast.

If you want light weight spokes go for sapim superspokes or pillar mega lite ss (have them but very little ride time yet, suposedly very strong)
 

eater

Monkey
Nov 25, 2005
476
20
Switzerland
dt240 mavic 721 sapim cx-rays, rear left alloy right brass front left brass right alloy 1810gr
 
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frango

Turbo Monkey
Jun 13, 2007
1,454
5
bvegards, you can do something else...
If you can't afford light and strong spokes, at the moment, find cheaper rims with identical ERD.
Spend saved money on better spokes.
Replace rims once you kill them.
 

ritche

Monkey
Dec 3, 2011
311
19
My wheel sets:

Hope pro 2 on 721s,
Dt 440s on 721s,
Dt 440s and syncros DS28

all on Dt revos and this: (long) brass nipples!

No issue.
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,635
5,446
Why would you use long brass nipples using bladed spokes? Seems like a waste of effort.
 

bvegards

Chimp
May 25, 2013
4
0
Bodø, Norway
bvegards, you can do something else...
If you can't afford light and strong spokes, at the moment, find cheaper rims with identical ERD.
Spend saved money on better spokes.
Replace rims once you kill them.
EX500s (in white) are pretty cheap on chainreactioncycles these days.. Found that I'll try the Sapim D-light spokes instead of Revos, as they're said to be a lot stronger. They're just a couple of $$ more expensive and a little bit heavier. Should supposedly make a stiffer and stronger wheel with only a total weight gain of about 15 grams per wheel. :)
 

msaman

Chimp
Dec 6, 2012
64
1
review for DTSwiss Revolution : )
Dont use it for DH :P I bought them 260mm long and now all the left sided spokes are 265 :D
That's amazing yeah :P
Defo I needed much stronger spokes for DH but I guess when u r slow newbie u can get away with them for a season till u pick up some decent speed ;P
 

MinorThreat

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2005
1,630
41
Nine Mile Falls, WA
I revamped my Syncros wheels (older DPS32s) four seasons ago to DS32 rims and Revo spokes and have had no issues with the spokes themselves. The alloy nipples sick though - - I had four snap at the heads from a day at Whistler. Brass nipples to cured that.
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,635
5,446
Man those DS32 rims suck! I went from Arrow FRX or whatever to the Syncros and after four runs they were pretty much dead, cracked in two spots and dinged to ****, they also spit Maxxis tyres off if you like lowppressures.