My new Wheels Berd and Onyx

[@verymental6999]

Love the vespers. Had them pre-ordered 1 year before release. I h8 noisey bikes… I wanna hear the nature. As for tyres, I recommend the Italian brand Vittoria with Martello on the front and Agarro on the back. I use this combo, as it’s fast rolling / semi light / good grip in wet/dry. Bonus: Not many ride them so they (in my country in EU) are cheaper then the “big dogs”.

[@usurpedliberty9096]

The DHF in a max terra up front is nice and quick with an aggressor out back only issue is they have exo and dd no exo+. If you wanted super fast rolling forkaster upfront and a rekon exo+ out back is a super fun big bike combo for the desert. I just got a pair of the onyx classics on some dt swiss 511s and it’s such a cool wheelset love that soft engagement I totally get what you mean about not throwing your weight off balance.

[@dustybettymtb]

I haven't run a forecaster in a bit. I bet that goes great with a recon 👌

[@robbanks2132]

I ride the Atomic berd ultimate FM 30 on my bike. Took Steve’s idea and run Ground Controls front and rear. Wow- tons of grip and rolls fast! Love to see more videos of you and him riding together!!! Best of luck to both of you!!!

[@dustybettymtb]

Thanks! We have talked about doing his and hers reviews where we both wear our mics and talk about the bikes as we ride. Wouldn't that be fun?! Those ground controls are great!

[@robbanks2132]

@@dustybettymtb Both of your inputs at the same time? That would definitely by awesome! Just a matter of time and Steve will be his old self again!! You both have awesome channels! Hope one day to maybe ride in Sedona! Seems like a beautiful place to live!

[@ctsingletrack]

I also have Ibis S35 hoops with Berd spokes with the Onyx Vesper on my Ripmo, and I have a Berd TR30 wheel set on my Rocker. As I'm sure you already know, it was a much more noticeable upgrade on the hardtail. The Ripmo can make due with whatever. It's got a lot of tire volume, and a lot of suspension under it, but it did benefit bigtime from the increase in hub engagement. The stock Ibis logo hub was pretty sloppy. The soft engagement is fantastic. I'd ditch that rear Assegai, and run an Aggressor back there. The Assegai is just too slow rolling for a rear tire when you're earning your elevation.

[@thezonemtb]

Thanks for the video about the spokes. My wife and I were just talking about going back to Sedona soon and your video makes me miss riding there even more. Some may laugh because it's an easy trail but Big Rock Loop is my absolute favorite for a warmup.

[@dustybettymtb]

That is such a great loop! I love adding the newish little rock/rabbit ears loop to it. It's been a few months since I rode it. I should ride over there soon too!

[@garyharmon5386]

Great video and riding. That Onxy hub looks really good. Steve did a great job building up those wheels. I know about the lightweight thing. I only weigh 135 lbs. Hope Steve is getting better, Pedal safe you guys

[@dustybettymtb]

Yeah, weight really does matter when you're at the lighter end of the spectrum. Thanks! On a good month, Steve is able to ride a couple times which is so nice for him and me. Progress is slow but we are seeing positive chances.

[@michaelparsons1494]

Rad to hear your take on the wheels - I’m getting some wheels built up with Berds and Onyx Vespers for my XC bike - everything you described is what I’m hoping I’ll experience too! On the tire front… I know I’m late to this party, but I’ve been blown away by Victoria Barzo. I threw them on my Enduro bike for a laugh, expecting a sketchy ride around Makara Peak here in Wellington New Zealand. Instead I set several PBs down a variety of trails and by the end had a ton of confidence in their traction. They’re not as tough as a Minion or Assegai, but they’re light and have grip for days. I’ve had great luck with them. I DO ride an insert in the back - but that doesn’t make a difference to side-wall damage so 🤷‍♂️ Maybe worth a shot? I’ve not yet made it to Sedona, so I don’t know your dirt - I’m used to clay/mud, rocks and roots.

[@mikej1348]

Depending on how much you ride the hardtail, I would put the berd spokes/wheelset on that bike. I run plus tires on my hardtail with lower psi and it really helps on small and big hits. I imagine it would do the same as the berd spokes on your bike. For tires I run big knobs on the front (DHR2) and faster rolling (Rekon, Bontrager XR, Specialized, or whatever is on sale😂) I just got back from Sedona. The trails are incredibly fun. I can’t wait to come back next Spring.

[@howlieboy]

Love my onyx vespers with berd spokes laced to noble 36's. They 100% spin up faster. My only complaint is then you really notice the other noises your bike makes.

[@dustybettymtb]

Ha ha, so true! My BB had a creek and it was like a blaring noise without the buzz of a hub to drown it out. 😂

[@stevenr5149]

I now can really tell how dirty/loud my chain is when I stop peddling. The noise just stops when I glide. I never noticed as much when I had a loud hub.

[@ravynx]

I get the appeal of the card-in-spokes olden days but the Onyx hubs are so much nicer riding in nature just hearing the tires on the ground. Don't think I can ride anything else going forward.

[@dustybettymtb]

So peaceful!

[@wx2999]

For tires, Tioga Edge 22 on the front with Schwalbe Nobby Nic rear

[@troyesch6203]

I just got a set of berd spokes with onyx hubs on we are one rims. I think they would be a bigger improvement to the hard tail. Give it a shot

[@spoonage82]

Put the wheel set on the bike you will ride the most and then maybe swap them here and there for specialty rides (BCT, Bikepacking with Steve, etc).

[@dustybettymtb]

Wisdom ✊

[@jeffreyhaas2052]

Those are beautiful hubs. Enjoyed this video. Was neat to hear you talk about the impact these had on your ride and how you could feel the difference going over rocks. Q: do you run inserts? Q: what psi do you run? Parker is same weight as you and runs 19 psi with her bikes. One has inserts one doesn’t. She gets bounced a bit on her XC hardtail which has inserts. Hello to Hardtail and LD

[@dustybettymtb]

I don't run inserts. It's just extra weight I like to avoid. I run 21psi in my rear tire and 18 or 19 in the front tire. I don't any problems with pinch flats at that pressure. Occasionally I'll increase my psi by 2 or so if I'm worried about sharp rock.

[@yoondaman316]

Are those Ibis carbon handlebars? If yes, are they as compliant and vibration-dampening as it looks? And how do you like them? Thanks. Love your channel!

[@dustybettymtb]

Yes, they are Ibis carbon bars. I really loved them on that bike. I kind of wish I had seen how they feel on a hardtaill too. That would have given me a little more feedback on the bar itself!

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

The lack of noise is my favorite part of the Onyx hubs. I had I9's and the sound gets annoying. Engagement was practically the same. The downside to the Onyx is when you catch up to slower riders they don't hear you coming a 1/2 mile away.

[@teddyain]

Can I ask, were you running hydra or 1/1s?

[@PuffinPass]

I am running Bontrager hubs and they are too loud for my liking, and they aren't nearly as loud as I9 hubs lol. I have been looking to pick up a pair of Onyx hubs to have laced onto my hoops, just have to find a local builder for them which seems to be a needle in a haystack right now.

[@martinschwartz7342]

My local bike shop put a grease in my Hydra hubs and they are not noisy. I would love to feel the difference with the soft engagement of the Onyx hubs.

[@martinschwartz7342]

Thank for a great and informative video. How does the soft engagement of the Onyx hud compare to the Hydra hub?

[@dustybettymtb]

So true! I love the engagement and peaceful silence but I have to announce myself a lot... it's worth it though!🤘

[@natethompson6178]

Off topic - but I notice you running the Absolute Black brake pads - curious how you like them?

[@dustybettymtb]

I feel really good. If you like a strong initial bite, these will be right up your alley!

[@mellissanash7517]

Spesh Purgatory t5 or t7 rear and butcher or slaughter t9 2.6 front? Or 2.6 Ground Control on the hardtail with the wheelset.

[@cleejay486]

I’m also a smaller rider, ride an Ibis Mojo. Wonder if those wheels would be good for my bike too.

[@dustybettymtb]

Definitely upgrading to onyx vespers is amazing in techy terrain! I think I'm going to try these wheels on a hardtial next because I think the ride quality of the berdspokes will be even more pronounced than on FS.

[@kayakutah]

It sounds like you need a second wheelset!