FlashBazbo

I'm considering a set of 650b wheels for a bike we're building up. I've never ridden anything but 700c on gravel, but I would like to give the "big tires" a try.

Can anyone recommend a good set of sub-$1500, sub-1600g 650b tubeless wheels for 12mm thru-axles, front and rear? They don't have to be aero. They don't have to be beautiful. They just have to work, be reasonably light, and stand up to big rock abuse.

Any ideas? What are your experiences?

gus6464

Santa Cruz Reserve for gravel bikes. The dt Swiss builds are at that price range.

tangerineowl

Maybe have built up a set of the CarbonFan 'Water Drop' rims (width at the rim edge).

chas58

I have seen a lot of stuff under $500 for 15mm axles. That would require swapping out the end caps though. I would just have Mill City Cycles build (and ship) me some for about $500.

JayNYC

Mill City can do sub-1600g for a lot less than $1500. I paid $480 (plus shipping) for a 650b tubless wheelset (with tape, rotors and nipples) and the weight with those things was 919g front and 1044g rear. That was with 32 spokes on the rear, not 28 (+~50g), and with brass nipples, not alloy. If you subtract just the official weight of the rotors the weight was 1665g. With 28 spokes on the rear and alloy nipples I would have been sub-1600. Now just imagine what he can do with triple my budget…

https://www.facebook.com/millcitycycle/

ericzamora

I had Mill City build me a set of 650b as well. Kinlin asymmetrical rims, Bitex centerlock hubs 12mm thru-axles, 28/28, taped, for about 1600g, and under $500 shipped. So far so good. I'm happy with the wheels.

eric/fresno, ca.

redlude97

Just over $1500 https://boydcycling.com/shop/gravel-...less-wheelset/

chas58

For less than 2x your $480 budget he built me some nice carbon wheels (similar to the $1500 wheels posted above). They spin up real nice!