|   My opinion on this 521 vs. 321 debate | kpb
Jan 9, 2002 6:25 AM | | I own a set of 521's (32h/20mm), a set of Deemax Rims (with the 321 in yellow) and a 321 32h 20mm that I had before I got the deal on the Deemax. I love all of them and have actually had a lot of luck over the past 3 years with a single set of Mavic 517/32h wheels on my XC hardtail and I'm not a light finesse rider either. The 521 is an excellent rim. Strong, light and more dent resistant than the 321 but do not run over a 2.5" tire on it. More below.
This Dent resistance issue:
The 521 is 28mm and the 321 is 36mm wide. Hence the profile of a tire on the two rims is drastically different. The 521 will have a much higher and rounder profile which is good for resisting dents since the rim is further away from the outside perimeter of the tire and it's set in more from the outer edges of the tire. Also the rim brake design of the 521 is stronger in this area since it is perpendicular to the forces applied against it. It's a strong rim period.
The 321 is a stiffer rim laterally due to it's shape and width. Plus it has more material hence the extra 85 grams. The extra 8mm of width gives the tire a much nicer profile, especially on tires 2.6 and up. My Michelin 2.8 DH is a completely different tire on the 321 than it is on the 521 (I'll never use it again on the 521, disappointing traction). Now the shape of the 321 allows it to dent easier than the 521 plus the profile of the tire puts it closer to the outer surface and edges (the tire has less distance to travel before contacting the rim) and it's less protected. But, most dents do not typically impact the performance of this rim, it does not fall out of true easily (for me never on either rim) and if you've got a nice fitting DH tire the dent will not be a problem unless it's massive.
Also, the 321 is often used with larger tires like a 2.7 - 3.0 which a ton of people, including myself, run at ridiculously low air pressures. But the traction is incredible.
Both are great rims, both have their place and I am very pleased with both in 32 and 36 hole versions. |
| Right on brother!!! | monster
Jan 9, 2002 7:19 AM | | I feel the same way. |
| the dent Problem! | Summit
Jan 9, 2002 7:33 AM | | I own 2 Wheelsets with Mavics D321 CD
I never had problems. I use Intense WC 2.4" FRO Tires
I once had an Impact which broke the Axle of the rear hub but no flat tire or dents in the rim. so i can't share this Experience. but maybe it is really only the tires |
| never been said better! | Turner Boy
Jan 9, 2002 8:21 AM | | You hit it right on the nose. This should be printed out and posted in all bike shops! |
| re: My opinion on this 521 vs. 321 debate | ladge
Jan 9, 2002 4:48 PM | | A condensed story about my 321's - my friend ran over my bike in Moab in his jeep. Clipped the wheels. I was able to ride all the way back down on these wheels even with a few busted spokes on each wheel. And I didn't nurse it downhill. I hit the trail as aggressively as I would with perfecty fine wheels. After dishing/truing the wheels - only one has a very little hop. Not like you can even tell about the hop when you are running a three inch tire. So people wonder why I just stick with the 321's - hey, all I care about is strength and durability, not weight.
Additionally. I run 19psi in my front. That's the lowest pressure I've been able to run for being 6-4 and 210ish. At first this scared me because I could actually hear and feel the wheel bouncing off rocks the tire was so mushed out - still I never flat - and it took a jeep running over the wheels to mess them up. I've never knocked them outta true besides this.
My friend wanted some 321's and I told him they would be a waste for him, go with the 521's. Like you kinda alluded, people's weights and riding style will affect which rim is best for them. If you want to run the big daddy's go for the 321's I guess. Oh yeah - I run 36 hole front and rear w/hadleys.
I'm not sure about the dent issue since the only thing I can compare my 321's too is my rhino lites. Not that the rhino's are bad they just aren't any d321's. |
| 321 experience.. | Matrix
Jan 10, 2002 6:03 AM | | Had a 321 set on a Giant atx-1 DH /Monster-T & 2.7" Intense 70dur on front...Nailed this little baby head at like 30mph..Dented the 321 -but didn't flat the tire !..I think the rim is good.....Strong...
I am building a set of Mammoth's/XT disk now {got em pretty cheap}..for my Azonic DS-1 or SLAYER frame ??hmmm choices ! |
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