Where can I get a Mavic A317 36H black rim?

[I like Skol]

I have been kicking around a plan for a bomb proof wheel set for my disc braked commuter for a while now after some unsatisfactory experiences with the original and then a warranty replacement set of factory built wheels. I have given up chasing the warranty route because it is a hassle and the bike is 15 months old now (but arguably still the selling shops responsibility!) All I want are some reliable wheels like all the ones I have always built for my MTBs since my late teens.

I have finally settled on a spec :-
Shimano XT M756 hubs (black) 32H/Fr and 36H/Rr
32 x DT Competition spokes for the front
36 x DT Alpine III spokes for the rear (thicker at the hub end)
Spokes will be black if I can find a supplier of the Alpine III's in black at a reasonable cost.
Nipples will be standard old reliable plated brass (would be nice in black though, you get the theme here!)
Rims - Mavic A317 sounds ideal and I have a good history with Mavic rims taking my off-road MTB abuse. Here's the problem, I can only find suppliers listing the A317 in 32 hole variety although there are plenty of mentions of it being made in 36 hole drilling as well. Obviously the rims need to be.... you guessed it, BLACK.

Does anyone know where I can source a single Mavic A317 36H rim in black?

 

[YahudaMoon]

Hi

I use Wills Wheels in Heaton Chapel Stockport or Pete Matthews in Liverpool as I get excellent service. I don't know if they stock that particular equipment though ?

 

[I like Skol]

Thanks John. I will be building these wheels myself so can source the parts from anywhere based on price and availability. I think I have answered my own question after yet more time googling. It seems the rims sold as 29ers (latest fad to sweep the MTB world) are one and the same thing and are actually just a 700c rim. The Mavic TN317 appears to be the current version of the A317, identical in profile and weight but is readily available in 32 and 36 hole drillings. Happy days

 

[Aushiker]

Not sure if this is the same model or not but I note "I like Skol" comments so maybe they are. Anyway Starbike.com have the TN 317 in 36h disc in black.

Andrew

 

[ad2002]

Hiya,

I have a pair of complete wheels for sale if your interested - with no more than 100 miles on them...

Mavic A317 disc rims
Shimano deore xt hubs
Swiss dt double butted spokes
Specialised nimbus armadillo tyres.

Any good to you? I'm based in Preston, but work in Manchester so you could view before you commit if you like.

Andy

 

[I like Skol]

Hiya,

I have a pair of complete wheels for sale if your interested - with no more than 100 miles on them...

Mavic A317 disc rims
Shimano deore xt hubs
Swiss dt double butted spokes
Specialised nimbus armadillo tyres.

Any good to you? I'm based in Preston, but work in Manchester so you could view before you commit if you like.

Andy

That is pretty much the spec I am building. Unfortunately I have already received the hubs and rims and the DT swiss Alpine III spokes should be here any day, besides, building them is half the fun!!!! I decided to use the Alpine spokes front and rear in the end just to be sure.

 

[ad2002]

ok, cheers for the quick reply. I'll get them in the classified ads I think. Gonna ask for £150 posted for them, do you thinks thats a fair price if you consider what you've paid for the components?

 

[fossyant]

How's the build coming on ?

 

[I like Skol]

How's the build coming on ?

Wheel build was finished a few weeks ago and they now have a couple of hundred miles on them with no problems. One of the early rides out on them was ColinJ's Wyre 100 miler. I haven't felt the need to check them since fitting them, I don't usually have to tweak my wheels after the initial build so I am reasonably confident I can also leave these alone and just get on with using them. As they are disc braked even if they do move a mm or two out of true it wouldn't be an issue.

It's nice to not worry about my wheels

 

[fossyant]

What wheel jig did you use - or did you improvise like I did - turned the bike upside down !

 

[I like Skol]

What wheel jig did you use - or did you improvise like I did - turned the bike upside down !

Turned my MTB upside down. Didn't want to turn the hybrid upside down because I have heard air can get into the brake system and also if the levers get moved while there is no wheel in that can be a pain. flipped the wheels around to make sure they were centered.

Nearly killed my back tensioning/truing the first one as I was hunched over the wheel for a while and could barely straighten up afterwards. I got something to sit on while I did the second one.....

 

[I like Skol]

Just looking back at this old thread and pleased to report that after around 3000 miles these wheels still haven't been touched since the day I built them. Handbuilt wheels are the way to go.

 

[I like Skol]

Still going round without ANY attention

 

[I like Skol]

Old thread but just thought I would add an update. Had to clean these wheels today for the first time. They were filthy!

I knew there was a label under there somewhere. They are still turning without any attention. Covered about 11k on them now.

 

[fossyant]

There is a bike under that lot.