Good Wheel set upgrade?

[Crowz]

I'm interested in looking into a wheel upgrade for my Giant XTC 2. I'm wondering if there are any renown wheel sets that are a 'must have' or are known to be good value. Thanks for your help.

[mitzikatzi]

Budget? 26 or 29er

[Crowz]

29er. ~$500. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

[mitzikatzi]

Rear Handbuilt Hope 29er Wheels - Disc with Stans rims of your choice.

Some don't like the free-body on Hope hubs (soft).

[silentbutdeadly]

As Mitz says...anything with a Hope hub is a good place to be. You can get a stainless steel bodied free hub for them rather than the alloy body (cheaper cassettes tend to dig into alloy freehubs).

Another good hubs include DT Swiss and Shimano. The latter can be much cheaper but don't let that put you off as the XT hub is a quite fine thing.

However, I'm with Mitzi...I'd take these with the Mavic XM719 rims. Massive upgrade on the stock wheels for a great price
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... -29er.html
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/w ... -29er.html

[Bentnose]

I've had the Hope hubs on for over a year now and changed the cassette from an SLX to an XT(alloy carrier), there was very little sign of damage to the freehub, maybe some people just aren't tightening them up enough. Hope hubs are a good choice though you get less choice of rims with the 29er these are also worth a look http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=85572

[antipodean]

Another good option.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-mt75-xt ... -wheelset/

[petie]

Torpedo7 has a sale on some Fulcrum 29er wheels at the moment, $299.

[Crowz]

This may be a silly question, but if my current wheels are thru-axle will I be able to swap them for QR?

[Kenzo]

Yes you can.. But then the fork may not like it.