new wheels or new rims?

[SVRACER01]

so this past summer i hit something in the road and bent both rims. they are the stock KTM rims (Behr). im looking to replace them. i was just going to replace the rims (not the whole wheel assembly) with Excel or DID and just reuse my OEM hub and spokes, but i also wanted to get them powder coated, and go tubeless. Ive been looking at getting the Alpina wheel assemblies (then i could just get everything i want in one stop). obviously the Alpinas are more expensive then just "building" my own set.
my questions are: are the Alpinas worth the price tag? are they a sturdy wheel? i dont want to hit something again and be doing this all over next year. i know that the OEM Behr wheels are relatively "soft", so i know i dont want to replace with OEM. i just want to know opinions from you guys about the durability of Alpinas, DID and Excel.
also, does anyone know if the Alpinas are powder coated or anodized?

i posted this on SMJ with no response....as usual

[peterz85]

First off, what the hell did you hit to bend your hoops?

The bi-colored Alpinas are anodized in one color then painted the secondary color over the anodizing. You can buy the Alpina tubeless conversion and use your stock hubs, this will save about 20% of the cost of the complete set up. By far the best tubeless set up out there.

Excels and did hoops are great and if you use heavy duty, (bulldog) spokes, they will be just as sturdy as the Alpina, you just won't have the true tubeless option.

Or option three, the Alpina carbon pro, super pricey, but probably the best SM wheel out there.

Pete

[SVRACER01]

i hit a hidden rock on a dirt road going <30.

really? the alpinas are painted? thats a concern. i dont want the paint to start cracking or start chipping off the first time i change a tire.
the price difference in using my own hubs is only like $300 for alpinas
realistically i can get Excel wheels and use my hubs and spokes, get the wheels powder coated the bi-color and buy a tubeless kit for about $1200
as sexy as carbon wheels would be....i dont need that

[peterz85]

Are you running 17" wheels or dirt stuff? Where can you get a tubeless set up for Excel hoops?

Thanks
Pete

[SVRACER01]

17s
theres a company out of Japan called outex that makes a kit (about $200). ive also read some of the redneck/cheap ass ways some guys on SMJ have done it. at this point theyve pretty much got it down pat. it sounds like they are using a similar material that outex does. i think they are using helicopter leading edge tape, which is more like an epoxy type tape.
you could really redneck it and get some of that spray sealer you see on TV

[SVRACER01]

im going with the alpinas...now i just need to pick colors

[peterz85]

Nice This is the reason I'm selling my Marchesini's, to buy a set of Alpina's.

Pete

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (GS3)

Talk to JC at JCpakbikes.com. hes been awesome to deal with and put up with all my emails and phone calls full of stupid questions. Tell him I sent you.

[peterz85]

Wirelessly posted (GS3)

Talk to JC at JCpakbikes.com. hes been awesome to deal with and put up with all my emails and phone calls full of stupid questions. Tell him I sent you.

Already did

Pete