Author Topic: help me find lightweight carbon rim  (Read 7666 times)

lukwy

Re: help me find lightweight carbon rim
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2026, 07:09:17 AM »
I usually buy at their website, not from aliexpress. For my location it is even cheaper and more finish options, for example satin finish.
- Full Susp. (marathon / XC / trail): Carbonda FM936, XT/XTR, 2.4/2.2
- Rigid MTB (gravel / marathon): Pro-Mance FM015, XT, corner-bar
- Road Plus (road / fast gravel): TanTan GR045, GRX820/105, 700x30c

CycOps

Re: help me find lightweight carbon rim
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2026, 08:03:45 AM »
@Tijoe, me personally would always choose a robust version for bike packing, and not the lightest one. Minimal weight rims only for racing. That said even my racing wheel sets are not the lightest one.

@ Everybody: How many spoke holes you're planning for such a light rim, what are your experiences?

Tijoe

Re: help me find lightweight carbon rim
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2026, 04:02:58 PM »
@Tijoe, me personally would always choose a robust version for bike packing, and not the lightest one. Minimal weight rims only for racing. That said even my racing wheel sets are not the lightest one.

@ Everybody: How many spoke holes you're planning for such a light rim, what are your experiences?

For the rim I posted,  https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800282655021.html  I built up this set of wheels that I have been using on my Bikepacker over 3 years ago.  For the front wheel, I went 32 spoke, 3X, using butted 15g/1.8mm spokes and aluminum nipples.  the rear wheel is 3X, 32 spoke, but I used 14G/2.0 mm butted spokes with brass nipples. 
So far, these wheels have held up really well, the front wheel has many rock hits on the side of the rim, but nothing deep into the carbon.   I would guess that these wheels have over 5000 heavy-duty miles on them, probably 40% gravel roads, 30% singletrack, 15% rough downhill terrain, and 15% asphalt.  Most of the time I am running 2.0 tires on these rims with tires, like a Gravel King on the back and a Maxxis Ikon on the front.

I have other heavier duty wider carbon 29er rims/wheel with larger XC tires, or larger knob tires that I mount on this bike when I need more traction climbing and descending when I am not using this bike for Bike camping/bikepacking. (These tires grip better, but roll so much slower.)
« Last Edit: January 11, 2026, 04:06:44 PM by Tijoe »