Duke wheelset recommendations

[screw]

Hi, I am planning on purchasing a new MTB wheelset.
I have landed on Duke Lucky Jack Ultra SLS4 rims with DT Swiss 180exp hubs and Sapim CX Ray spokes.

Duke recommends the '6TERS' combination of 30mm front and 28mm rear rim. I currently have DT Swiss XRC 1501 (which are 30mm both front and rear) and I am very satisfied.

Does anybody have experience with the 'asymmetric' rims width combination?

Also, I am under 70kg, does it make sense to use stronger spokes (such as Sapim CX Sprint)?

Thanks for your comments.

[snaxez]

Wheel-tec has some good deals on handbuilt Duke wheels, and they also do Berd spokes.
https://www.wheel-tec.nl/en-gb/wheelbui ... iel-advies

For the rim width they said "We only recommend a 28mm in the rear if you are very light (<65kg) and/or ride a narrower tire in the rear (57mm). When you ride 2.4/60mm tires and are 80+ kg, we recommend 30.5 mm font + rear. "

[js]

I'm not on Duke wheels, but definitely considered them. In the end, the price was just too high compared to other options for me (in Canada at least) for them to make sense.

I ended up using BTLOS rims for my build and have been riding that wheelset with i30 front and i27 rear for the last two seasons. It's been great. I can't say I notice the difference in tire profiles or ride quality between the two wheels. The reason for going with the narrower rim for me was to save a bit of weight and I recalled some claims (from Mavic I think) that a narrower rim could help with impact strength. Whether that would be the case for these rims I couldn't say, but ~40g savings seemed good enough bonus already.

Fair to say that I've ever noticed that 40g savings on the trail either, but there certainly haven't been any downsides to it either. As such, I'm not sure you'll notice the 2mm reduction in internal width versus your current wheelset either.

[jemima]

60kg rider. I have the 28mmInner rear with carbon-ti hubs. Front, I later purchased a 300gm CarbonFan 30mmInner rim for a little cheaper.

[screw]

Thank you both. I have filled the form on wheel-tec page.

Interesting that they do not recommend 28mm if you are heavier since I thought and as 'js' mentions it should help with impact strength.

I probably won't notice the 2mm difference anyway.
Thanks again for your responses.

[zscs]

I'm using Duke SLS4 6Ters (30/28mm rims front/rear), laced with CX-Ray spokes on 240 EXP hubs. Made by R2bike: https://r2-bike.com/R2BIKE-Wheelset-29- ... ms-SRAM-XD
Of course, weight could be even better (lower) with SLS4 Ultra rims and e.g. Berd spokes but I often go to bike parks and was an important requirement for the wheelset to survive at least some smaller/medium drops and small/moderate jumps. R2Bike claims 110kg as maximum system weight.

Front wheel is 594 g, rear is 670 g with tubeless tape + tubeless valves included. (Rotor is SRAM XD)

[snaxez]

If you want more budget options:
https://www.nextie.com/carbon-mountain- ... NXTWSOM36U
1152g : NXT29VM36U (280g) Rims + DT240 hubs + Sapim CX-Ray + Alloy Nipples - 1248.75 €+shipping
or 1112g with 260g rims (+extra 37€)
They also offer an option where, there are no nipple holes in rim bead, so no tape needed (+extra 37€)
Max System Weight: 143Kg (260g XC) / 150Kg (280g XC) and Warranty: 5 Years

With Nextie Rollingstar II hubs (DT ratchet clone) it`s eaven cheaper at 1017.50€+shipping (~1126g with 280g rims or ~1086g with 260g rims)
DT 240 EXP hubs are 15x110mm front 118g and 12x148 mm XD 207g (front + rear=325g)
DT 180 EXP hubs are 15x110mm front 97g and 12x148 mm XD 193g (front + rear=290g)
Nextie Rollingstar II hubs are 15x110mm front 96g and 12x148 mm XD 203g (front + rear=299g)

They also offer carbon spokes, but I would not spec carbon spokes on MTB wheels.

[screw]

People, you're not helping!
I was pretty much decided, now I went the rabbit hole of Berd spokes and reading mostly positive reviews, only one local wheel builder replied that he would not use it for an XC performance-oriented bike because of lack of stiffness and acceleration. This is funny concerning that both current gold Olympic medalists ridden wheels with Berd spokes.

Now you come with Nextie options. Difficult decisions!

zscs: Nice wheels! Thanks for the photos and weights.

Seriously, thank you all for your input!

[screw]

I'm using Duke SLS4 6Ters (30/28mm rims front/rear), laced with CX-Ray spokes on 240 EXP hubs. Made by R2bike: https://r2-bike.com/R2BIKE-Wheelset-29- ... ms-SRAM-XD
Of course, weight could be even better (lower) with SLS4 Ultra rims and e.g. Berd spokes but I often go to bike parks and was an important requirement for the wheelset to survive at least some smaller/medium drops and small/moderate jumps. R2Bike claims 110kg as maximum system weight.

Front wheel is 594 g, rear is 670 g with tubeless tape + tubeless valves included. (Rotor is SRAM XD)

Great weight!

I ended up with Duke Lucky Jack Ultra SLS4 30mm (both front and rear), DT Swiss 180 SP with microspline, Berd "spokes" coloured black and red and Sapim nipples.
Here they are, but without tape and valves (also removed rotor/free-hub body to get the sub1kg on the scale

In case you can't read it it should be:
- 1025g without tape and valves
- 964g without free hub/rotor (and also without tape and valves)
- 564g rear wheel
- 462g front wheel

[eribj]

@ screw, really great looking wheels, and the weight!!!
Have you had some chance to try them on the bike?
Have you built them yourself, or any concerns when building them with Berd spokes?