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WTB LaserDisc 29er MTB Rear Wheel Update

August 24, 2008 11:02 am

Last week, I got in touch with a WTB contact after I couldn’t get a response through email. He took a look at the video that I posted on the WTB LaserDisc 29er after one ride, and he assured me that the wheel should not have gotten that far out of true in one ride.

WTB sent me a new rear wheel that arrived on Friday, and I am going to box up the old one, send it back and let WTB take a look at it. Today, I am going to mount up the new rear and give it a run over the course of the week. Hopefully, this one holds up much better than the last, but from what the guys at WTB were saying…they haven’t seen one go out like mine. Sometimes it is just luck of the draw.

The only difference on this new LaserDisc Trail 29er wheel from the old one are the stickers. This new wheel came outfitted with the newer styled gray, black and white stickers on the rim. The rest of the hardware is exactly the same.

Stay tuned for the update as I go thrash this wheel around the local trails.

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View Comments

SS
August 24, 2008
5:08 pm
Still 28 spokes? Better not send that box back just yet. I predict that you’ll need to send both back.
Jason Mitchell
August 25, 2008
12:01 pm
I think you’ll be just fine with the new wheel. Just an aberration, I suppose. I’ve pounded my Laser 29′s and they’ve remained straight and true.
Of course, I may not be “pounding” them like you, Robb!
JML
September 9, 2008
10:09 am
How did the new wheel work out? I am having the same issue.
Thanks!
198
September 9, 2008
11:34 am
@JML: A lot better…contact me for some contact info at WTB if you haven’t talked to them already.
Andre
October 9, 2008
2:17 pm
So your first review concluded that they were ‘not made for trail riding’…how would you rate them now?
198
October 9, 2008
2:20 pm
@Andre: While the replacement wheel did perform better than the original…in their current configuration…I still think they are not built strong enough for aggressive trail use.
WTB did inform me that they are switching this wheelset to a 32 spoke for 2009. That should help tremendously in overall wheel stiffness. I would still have a wheel builder/LBS check any machine built wheels prior to riding (no matter who is the manufacturer).