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profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
So, my stock of sponsored stuff is finally running out since quitting competitive racing a few years ago. I bought a complete Chromag online and it had Hope Evo 2 hubs laced to Stan's Flow EX. Nice wheelset, but I am used to i9 engagement. A new set of i9s (even used) is out of the question near term, so my wife suggested that I swap wheelsets with her bike, which is a set of j-bend i9s laced to Rhyno Lites.

Cool. However the bike industry has convinced me that the ancient Rhyno Lites are just too narrow and crappy for today's epic riding. Ok, so I looked online to grab a set of Stan's Flow EX. Seems like every mid-spec rim is near the $100 mark now-a-days. Where as the Rhyno Lite can be had for as little as $26.

Is this just another example of the full retard of the bike industry or is there really that much of a difference between the $90 Flow EX and $26 Rhyno Lite? I have both and the only things I can tell are that tubeless seems to be slightly easier on the Flow EX, But once sealed and rolling I can't tell a $64 difference?!?!?!?!?!

Yes, this is another old codger recalling the good ole days thread...
 
slyfink

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,316
5,070
Ottawa, Canada
depends on what you plan on doing with the rims? I used to run rhyno lites. I ditched them because they dented quite easily, were heavy, and I couldn't run them tubeless. (the tubeless part may have changed, I don't know). I've run Flow EXs, WTBi23 and Spank Oozy 295 in the ensuing years (all 26"). I've found the WTBi23 to be a little narrow. The Flow EXs are fine, and the Spanks have been tough.
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
Going on a hardtail that will see mostly trail miles. I had to use Maxxis rims trips to get the tubeless to work. Stan's tape and DHF EXO tires wouldn't work at all. I'll look at the Spank rims.

Edit... the Spank 295 is still a $90 rim...
 
Dogboy

Dogboy

Turbo Monkey
Apr 12, 2004
3,209
584
Durham, NC
Rhyno Lites have always been cheap and good rims have always been expensive. 10 years ago a Mavic 729/823 was $95 and a DT Swiss FR 6.1 was $95.
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
That's what I remember too, but it seems that I can't find that modern equivalent of the $40ish rim.

I wouldn't have thought the Stan's EX to be on par with Mavic $90 rims, but....
 
Fool

Fool

The Thing cannot be described
Sep 10, 2001
2,777
1,493
Brooklyn
Dogboy said:
Rhyno Lites have always been cheap and good rims have always been expensive. 10 years ago a Mavic 729/823 was $95 and a DT Swiss FR 6.1 was $95.
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Came here to say this, and to quote a guy who used to build frames and then sold out to become the industry's first billionaire: "Cheap, light, strong—pick any two."
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
I used to race DH on Rhyno Lites and yes they flat spotted frequently, but at $26/rim it was easily to just relace them. I did a lot of runs at Windrock on those rims....
 
Fool

Fool

The Thing cannot be described
Sep 10, 2001
2,777
1,493
Brooklyn
I had a pair of 321s (321s! That's how old I am talking) that lasted 6 years across 5 bikes under a terrible bike rider, and replaced with a pair of MTXs that lasted a season. Still have the Hadley hubs they were mounted to that also still work but could probably used a rebuild, if only there were a website for Hadley so I could get in touch with them.
 
mrgto

mrgto

Monkey
Aug 4, 2009
295
118
I ran my Rhyno lites getto tubeless with much success if you wanted to go super cheap.
 
mykel

mykel

closer to Periwinkle
Apr 19, 2013
5,098
3,817
sw ontario canada
I picked up a pair of WTB Frequency Team i25's for 60 Cdn a piece a bit back from CRC
.
Decent rims - they are sleeved, not pinned nor welded.
Built up easily
Tubless easily
So far so good; They are on the big bike.
First season, just opened so a little early to tell how they will hold up.

Note - WTB has two i25's Frequency and ST. Frequency is the top model.
 
slimshady

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
Dec 20, 2007
5,409
3,263
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
dump said:
I wouldn't pay $95 for stans. I used stans for a while until a friend put me on to Sun Inferno 27s... great rim, good price:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=49326

They have wider widths if you want it, but 27 has been solid. Stickers also come off easily if you care about that.
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This. Infernos aren't terribly heavy, are decently wide, and can be found online pretty cheap from time to time.

EDIT: A friend is running the WTB Frequency Teams (i25) in his trail bike. After a season and a half, they have held pretty well.
 
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M

marshalolson

Turbo Monkey
May 25, 2006
1,770
519
dump said:
I wouldn't pay $95 for stans. I used stans for a while until a friend put me on to Sun Inferno 27s... great rim, good price:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=49326

They have wider widths if you want it, but 27 has been solid. Stickers also come off easily if you care about that.
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Inferno 27 has same internal width as his rhyno lite, no?

I'd say just buy the rhyno specific stan's rubber rim strip and call it a day. They worked great a decade ago with dh tires back then
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,461
All these WTB recommendations. I'm sure they're decent rims, but I absolutely can not read WTB and not think: Worse Than Bad... :/

Same thing when I see NWA on an airplane!
 
mrgto

mrgto

Monkey
Aug 4, 2009
295
118
Damn, a quick search showed the Stan's rim strip for A rhyno lite cost almost as much as the rim!
 
S.K.C.

S.K.C.

Turbo Monkey
Feb 28, 2005
4,096
25
Pa. / North Jersey
Fro - as an alternative to buying Stan's rim strips for your Rhyno Lites (I used Rhyno Lite XL's on my first DH rig) try experimenting with Gorilla tape. The characteristics I didn't like about the Rhyno XL's were that they dented/flat-spotted easily AND it was a bitch to mount tires due to the lack of a bead channel inside the rim. I anticipate that if you do indeed experiment with Gorilla tape, you may have to make several passes around the circumference to increase the thickness of the tape to the point where the tire will seat properly and hold air.
 
AngryMetalsmith

AngryMetalsmith

Business is good, thanks for asking
Jun 4, 2006
21,210
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profro said:
I used to race DH on Rhyno Lites and yes they flat spotted frequently, but at $26/rim it was easily to just relace them. I did a lot of runs at Windrock on those rims....
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I would be completely terrified to ride Windrock with Rhyno Lites. I've squared off a rear in as few as three rides on terrain far less rough than Windrock.
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,461
AngryMetalsmith said:
I would be completely terrified to ride Windrock with Rhyno Lites. I've squared off a rear in as few as three rides on terrain far less rough than Windrock.
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I thought we were talking about a trail bike here... no?
 
M

marshalolson

Turbo Monkey
May 25, 2006
1,770
519
Can you just re-lace the flows to i9 and hopes to rhyno lites? I bet the spokes are close enough to reuse
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,461
AngryMetalsmith said:
When Rhyno Lites were at their peak, a DH bike only had 6" of travel. So a 5.5" low-slack, dirt ribbon jet fighter is more than capable of crushing a RL rim.
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Yeah, the difference is 90% of the time on your trail bike, you aren't crushing sh*t... you're pedaling in your granny gear up some god awful switchbacks.
 
AngryMetalsmith

AngryMetalsmith

Business is good, thanks for asking
Jun 4, 2006
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I have no idea where I am
dump said:
Yeah, the difference is 90% of the time on your trail bike, you aren't crushing sh*t... you're pedaling in your granny gear up some god awful switchbacks.
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But when you consider rider style, in this case ex-DHr, and local terrain (very rocky), and the fact that Rhyno Lites are made from metal on slightly stronger than frozen butter, the other 10% of the time, the wheels will get flogged, quickly.
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,365
1,602
Warsaw :/
WTB Frequency might be a good choice but since you appreciate cheap, easily dented rims why not go for dartmoor? They are cheap and are exactly the type of rim you don't feel sorry for throwing out after you trash it.
 
dump

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,212
4,461
AngryMetalsmith said:
But when you consider rider style, in this case ex-DHr, and local terrain (very rocky), and the fact that Rhyno Lites are made from metal on slightly stronger than frozen butter, the other 10% of the time, the wheels will get flogged, quickly.
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Good. Then he can get some infernos.
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
Meh, I have empirical data that verifies that Rhyno Lites on a 8" DH bike with my hack ass survived many runs at Windrock. Lasted forever? No. But they didn't wet themselves and die a soft buttery mess at the dropin either.

These are on my hardtail and will stay until I destroy them. I guess then I will pony up some cash for some fancy Flow EXs.

I could relace the wheels to swap rims, but that is a hassle I don't need right now.

FYI, I used Maxxis tubeless rim strips to seal the tires for tubeless. No need for Stans rubber strips, or Gorilla tape. I will see tonight how well they hold air.
 
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Metamorphic

Metamorphic

Monkey
May 12, 2015
274
177
Cackalack
Of course if the Rhynos are mounted, roll them till they detonate, but know that on the web you can regularly find Flow EX rims for cheaper. I've paid as little as $62 and doing a quick search I'm seeing $70-$80. Subscribe to my newsletter for more internet tips and tricks!
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
Well....

They lasted about 2 miles. Landed sideways on a quirky drop and knocked the back seriously out of true. It could be the wheelbuilder (me) or it could be fate. Is it irony? Whatever it is, it's pretty damned funny.

I tried and tired to get back true but I had to pull it so far that it looked like a square when I was done. Ugh.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
profro said:
Well....

They lasted about 2 miles. Landed sideways on a quirky drop and knocked the back seriously out of true. It could be the wheelbuilder (me) or it could be fate. Is it irony? Whatever it is, it's pretty damned funny.

I tried and tired to get back true but I had to pull it so far that it looked like a square when I was done. Ugh.
Click to expand...

Hahhaa!! Awesome. It's crazy how soft those things are.


I just remembered I have some built up in my shed from an old dirtjumper. Want to try again? Maybe it is the builder :D



Please take them. I've had them since the 70s. I'll even pay you.
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
I just can't help thinking I am in the predicament because I keep trying to be cheap. :(

It seems good wheelbuilders are few and far inetween these days.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
profro said:
I just can't help thinking I am in the predicament because I keep trying to be cheap. :(

It seems good wheelbuilders are few and far inetween these days.
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come on man, you've been doing this a long time

Building wheels really isn't that hard. Lining up the valve stem is the toughest part ;)




It's the rims. "frozen butter" really is an apt description
 
profro

profro

Turbo Monkey
Feb 25, 2002
5,617
314
Walden Ridge
All my empirical data was a hoax.

Hahahaha

As soon as I landed and heard the wheel burp I just knew I was tasting foot...


 
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