7 Things to Consider When Upgrading Your MTB Wheels

Looking to upgrade your wheels? To make things less of a headache for some of you who might be looking for some shiny new wheels but aren't sure where to start, we've put together a list of 7 things that you might want to consider before spending some of that hard earned cash of yours!

In recent years, bike wheel technology has evolved very quickly. We've seen multiple new wheel sizes take hold going from 26" MTB wheels to 29" followed by 27.5" and now Mullet or MX which is a combo of both. We've also seen the introduction of Boost (148mm rear) and Super Boost (150mm rear) hub spacing, a growth of carbon used for rims, new spoke materials and shapes, and more. This has all been done to bring better performance, strength, and design freedom for frame manufacturers.

With all this change, it's easy to get lost in the details of which wheel setup is right for you. In this video, we cover 7 key areas to consider when upgrading your wheels. If you are ready to upgrade but still have questions, contact our Gear Advisor Pros who can help walk you through the process of finding the perfect new road, gravel, or mountain bike wheelset for your specific needs and budget.

Timecodes
0:00 - INTRO
0:30 - WHEEL SIZES
2:31 - RIM MATERIAL
3:50 - WEIGHT
4:24 - COST
4:55 - RIM WIDTH AND HEIGHT
5:38 - SPOKE TYPE (J-bend vs. Straight-Pull)
6:05 - SPOKE COUNT
6:41 - FREEHUB TYPE (HG, MS, XD, XDR)
7:04 - POINTS OF ENGAGEMENT (Lets be honest, this is the only thing you actually care about)
10:02 - WHEEL HUB SPACING
10:52 - SUMMARY
11:41 - OUTRO

Some of the items used in this video:

About Us
Jenson USA, JensonUSA.com, is one of the largest, oldest, and most trusted online bike retailers in the US. We sell everything from mountain bikes, road bikes and gravel bikes, to newest selection of eBikes and kids bikes. We not only sell and ship full and ready to ride assembled bikes, but one of the biggest selections of bike components, apparel, footwear, helmets, and everything in between. At Jenson USA, our passion for cycling sprouted back in 1994 and has since taken root and grown into a community of people devoted to living life to its fullest. We're building a culture of people who respect each other, set the pace, and lead through service. We strive daily to better serve our customers, our fellow employees, and our community. Over the years we’ve found that happy people are hardworking people, and that the time we spend on two wheels together builds the greatest profit of all. 
 
 
 
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[SethKendallD]

I need to try that silent Onyx hub on the trail! Definitely drawn to the idea of only hearing nature while flying down the trail.

[trailpimp]

Great video. Jensen USA is such a great bike shop and my go to. Man some of deals you guys have are so good.

[thim]

Man, after carbon wheels came out, aluminum wheels really stepped up their game. Weight has come down and designs are stiffer, I usually go for dt swiss 511 with 350 54 tooth. I'm happy with performance so I never invested into carbon wheels.

[djsonfire]

Great info! .... but I'm not going to lie those hubs are way too loud for my liking. Hey maybe do a follow up on quiet hubs that would be awesome for somebody like me😁

[tmaskaly_]

Only bad thing about this video, “get rid of 26”. If you have 26, keep 26! 26 is sick and not seen a lot these days. Old skool!

[scottpratico]

How does engagement effect ebikes? Is it better to have some play in the system to allow the motor to spool up?

[jamintoday]

Ok and thanks. BUTT my wife and I first son is all motocross super easy to build hubs and rims with my background. Are second son no moto all mountain biking. Down hill racing and xc racing. We picked him up some pivots off pinkbike from some very nice people. A new firebird and a les. Show how to swap out guts of the hup and gear it??