What's the best retro Mavic MTB rims?

[miles0385]

Any opinions on what the best retro Mavic mtb rims are? i.e. MA40's, M231's etc

 

[big.eck]

for sheer strength it's got to be d521's

but i like 217's as well

 

[utahdog2003]

The 217 has to be one of the best rims ever made by anyone.

 

[FluffyChicken]

231CD's a the early 90's Retro Mavic rim.

They are terrible rims really, the CD coating just makes your brakes worse, the funny tapered and narrow brake surface means you're brake blocks either hit the sidwalls* or run under the rim surface really easily.
987 canti's and similar also do not have enough hight in adjustment to get a good angle into the rim properly. Shimano seem to be fine

*parallel push V's are good to avoid this, but then the era's are missmatched

So The best... but not the best.
Try the newer machined sidwalls of the 117/217 and what has ended up being the 317/717 rims for better.

But there really is nothing like a set of DB spoked 231CD wheel with a fresh amber/skin wall tyre on it for the looks.

 

[legrandefromage]

round ones are always a good start...

 

[Barneyballbags]

217s, purely because that's what I've got on my Kona Kula

 

[feetabix]

round ones are always a good start...

......231 cd for me too...... No other reason than they epitomise the current best rim from smack in the middle of my era.....

 

[gtRTSdh]

Nothing says period like sunsets!

 

[Bike Hoarder]

Nothing says period like sunsets!

Have to agree sir, either that or the irrational mood swings.

 

[Stick Legs]

231CD for the nostalgia.

However as a clydesdale rider I have NEVER had any problems with 117 SUP CD's

Brilliant rims.