[surfinguru]

Well, it's not too surprising the rear F219 gave up the ghost Saturday. (I know, a set of 219's don't belong on a FR/DH bike, but with CK hubs front and back for $250 off of eBay say they do-----until they blow up!) Didn't realize how FUBAR'd it was until I went to replace the spokes. So, needless to say, I need a new rim for the rear end. However, I'm having a really tough time trying to decide which way to go. (Yes I've used the search fuction, just looking for CURRENT responses and viewpoints.) I'm about 180-185 with full gear riding a Foes Fly. I wouldn't say I go huge by any stretch of the imagination, but the occational 6'-10' drop isn't out of the question. I'm Bay Area CA, so that's my trail base.

Now with that said, I'm leaning towards the 729's but the 721's don't look to bad. (A little lighter both in weight and in the pocket book.) My friend I usually ride with, goin-medium, is running MAG-30 with pretty good success. What do you guys think?

 

[Curb Hucker]

a sun MTX is the way to go, as strong as a mag 30, lighter, and cheaper, im loving mine ive had zero problems for the 1/2 season ive had em on, compared to my mavic 823s which I trashed in 1/2 a season

 

[surfinguru]

Yeah, unfortunately, I had an 823 built up for the front end right before I found the deal on the CK/F219 combo. I think I only rode 4-5 times. I just can't see the point in having it rebuilt for a rear wheel. I guess I'll keep it around as a spare front?

Sun mTX huh? Time to open a new browser window.

edit: wait a minute.....I just read your sig. I smell spam!

 

[math2014]

I got Sun MTX as well, veeeeery strong, i am a softcore rider though, but i am heavy , and the rims are still true after the initial buildup.... no retensioning or retruing yet after 6months.

 

[Zark]

721's are awesome strength to weight rims. 729's are the multiple season DH rims I'd lean towards the 721's.

 

[kidwoo]

721's are awesome strength to weight rims. 729's are the multiple season DH rims I'd lean towards the 721's.

What he said. I've got the older version of 721s on both my jump bike and my freeride bike. Both get pretty heavily abused. The ones on my freeride bike were my old DH wheels, and saw two heavy summers at northstar (usually twice a week visits). I've got the older versions of the 729s on my DH rig and they too have seen two summers at northstar now. All are built with straight gauge DT 2.0 spokes.

Money aside the main difference in my mind is how the narrower rim affects tire footprint. Using anything bigger than a 2.5 tire seemed cause some lateral rolling in my 721 rims. The 729 fits bigger tires better and helps keep the sidewalls perpendicular to the ground and not tapering in towards the narrower rim. Something to consider at least.

Both are some of the best rims out there.

 

[MikeD]

721, unless you run mongo tires. Then again, I ran a Micchie Comp 32 (2.8") tire on mine and it was just fine as far as I was concerned.

 

[Tarpon]

Have you taken a look at the new DT rims (FR6.1d)? The cross section looks like a Mag30 but it is lighter (~690gm I think) and a little narrower. They are starting to hit the market. I don't know how much they cost yet either.

 

[surfinguru]

What he said. I've got the older version of 721s on both my jump bike and my freeride bike. Both get pretty heavily abused. The ones on my freeride bike were my old DH wheels, and saw two heavy summers at northstar (usually twice a week visits). I've got the older versions of the 729s on my DH rig and they too have seen two summers at northstar now. All are built with straight gauge DT 2.0 spokes.

Money aside the main difference in my mind is how the narrower rim affects tire footprint. Using anything bigger than a 2.5 tire seemed cause some lateral rolling in my 721 rims. The 729 fits bigger tires better and helps keep the sidewalls perpendicular to the ground and not tapering in towards the narrower rim. Something to consider at least.

Both are some of the best rims out there.

Good to know they can withstand the punishment of N* FWIW, I run Maxxis tires in a 2.7/2.5 setup. Now the question is, which 721 are you riding since there are three versions? I'm guessing either that plain jane 721 (silver), or the 721CD (black) as the 721 Ceramic's are like $110 a piece.

 

[MikeD]

Ceramics aren't going to do anything for ya unless you're running rim brakes. It's no stronger; just has a rough coating on the braking surface. The other two finishes are really more cosmetic than anything else. CD is a nice, dark grey and lasts a long time, but I think any assertation that it's stronger than the silver rim is marketing BS.

MD

 

[kidwoo]

Ceramics aren't going to do anything for ya unless you're running rim brakes. It's no stronger; just has a rough coating on the braking surface. The other two finishes are really more cosmetic than anything else. CD is a nice, dark grey and lasts a long time, but I think any assertation that it's stronger than the silver rim is marketing BS.

MD

True true.

SG: The ones I have are the old 521s. Grey ones on my freeride bike, silver on my jump bike. They're the same rim though. They can be used with rim brakes or disc brakes. This fact has led to the debate that they may actually be stronger due to a thicker wall, built to withstand some wear from brake pads. I don't really have an opinion on strength between the two, both have held up great for me over a very significant period of abuse. I would say the smaller ones (721) are just as durable as the 729s.........maybe more so, who knows. I too use a maxxis 2.7 front, 2.5 rear on my DH bike, both minions. The 2.7 is the biggest tire I've ever used but like I said before, that one and a 2.5 and a 2.7 mobster I had felt like it kind of rolled over laterally a bit more when I put it on a 721.

If you're going to be climbing on this bike, you might want to save some rotational weight with the smaller rim.

 

[Curb Hucker]

edit: wait a minute.....I just read your sig. I smell spam!

i didnt say buy mine, theyre a good rim, get em from sun

 

[surfinguru]

i didnt say buy mine, theyre a good rim, get em from sun

I know man....you're a good dude. I was just giving you a bad time. (explicatives deleted due to new rules)

 

[BikeFan84]

have some old 321s (NEW 729s) beat the piss out of them (260lb rider). I think that if you weighed more you should have then gone with the Arrow DHR rims.

 

[erikkellison]

I would recommend either the 729's, 721's, MTX's or the Arrow FRX. All are decent weight wise, and all are strong as well. It's a matter of what width of rim you want and how much you want to pay. Only rim out of the above that I haven't hurt is the 729 (D321 actually).
Anything else is either too heavy or not strong enough (all this coming from a 170'er)

 

[surfinguru]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna go with a 729. Looks like Go-Ride has 'em for $69. Now I just need to find a good wheel builder in Santa Cruz.

 

[punkassean]

Yeah, unfortunately, I had an 823 built up for the front end right before I found the deal on the CK/F219 combo. I think I only rode 4-5 times. I just can't see the point in having it rebuilt for a rear wheel. I guess I'll keep it around as a spare front?

Sun mTX huh? Time to open a new browser window.

edit: wait a minute.....I just read your sig. I smell spam!

Rich,

what kind of hub/spokes are on your front ex823 wheel? I might be interested in it for my Fox 36 I'll need a 20mm wheel.

Go with Mavic EX721's, that's what's on my Stinky and they are light, bomb-proof and trouble free.

 

[punkassean]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna go with a 729. Looks like Go-Ride has 'em for $69. Now I just need to find a good wheel builder in Santa Cruz.

get me a truing stand and I'll help, maybe we could have a building sesh, I need to lace a few up.

 

[surfinguru]

Rich,

what kind of hub/spokes are on your front ex823 wheel? I might be interested in it for my Fox 36 I'll need a 20mm wheel.

Go with Mavic EX721's, that's what's on my Stinky and they are light, bomb-proof and trouble free.

I honestly have no idea what the hub is. There's absolutely no markings on it. My guess is it's some Onyx OEM gig that came with the Fly when I bought it. Spokes are black DT Swiss Comp's, 2.0/1.8.

Not 100% sure if I want to sell it, as it's my only other 20mm wheel. However, I'd hate to keep a good man down in a time of need. Shoot me a PM and we can work something out.

 

[punkassean]

Will do!