What are the nicest Araya rims?

[Midorimage]

I thinking of building an all Japanese retro build. Only parts made by a Japanese company that are made in Japan would apply. So a Ritchey that was made by Toyo or a Pansonic tire that was made in Taiwan wouldn't work.

I would build this around a Toyo frame... I believe they made their own labeled frame similar to the Ritchey Plexus in the late 90s.

Anyways.. I don't know much about Araya rims. What are their best rims for a rider??

 

[dbmtb]

IIRC they didn't have any eyeletted rims.

RM17s were very popular. And I think they did a lightweight one called RM395.

I stopped using Arayas though after I kept pretzling them in the Peak district and went over to Mavic.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I prefered them to Mavic, well at least in the 231/230 days I was the opposite to above, kept destroying Mavics and tried Campag then moved to Arary 395 and they where strong and light. Too many a hard hit, the only one I bent after flying down helvellyn and hitting a bike stopping over the bar fly dip, bent it. It straightened and is still running today.

RM-395 Team are my favourite and RM395-XC are probably just as good if not a little heavier but they moved to flat braking surface rather than their nice concave surface.
(though I've been looking for a nice pair and they are not as common as mavic's in fact damn hard to find now.

Don't bother with the rest
P.S. and they are eyeleted.

Models will of course vary with year, so depends how specific you are keeping your years.

Why not get an Araya/Muddy Fox frame ?

A good link for you 1992 starts the 395 and then 1993 they move the the -XC versions
http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/rim/archive.htm

 

[guymuttley21]

Araya

Rm20s with the silver or dark anodised finished are lovely rims.
eBay.com has them sometimes nos condition

 

[makster]

Bronze ano RM20's
My favourite Araya's, and seen fitted here..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80s-JAMIS-DAK ... 500wt_1288

 

[Archemist]

Araya's 395's or 20's or (are they) race 400's? on a mid late 80's 'fox

with suntour / dia compe

all japanese and sweet

(think i've sen something similar round these parts <down arrow> )

And

 

[gibbleking]

had eyeletted rm 400 pros on my shogun...ovalised and polished ...very light and shiny

 

[Antstark]

RM 400s didn't have eyelets......that was the Team RM 395. Both introduced in 92. 395 was the weight, so one of the lightest rims about. There is a guy on ebay US selling both 400s and 395s NOS.....and some grey RM17s

I agree with Makster though....the hard anodized RM20s (in 88/89 vintage with the gold labels) are super cool and bomb proof.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I have a pair of Araya VP-20 rims (without eyelets) on my 503. They're still the same ones that were put on the bike in the factory, and the holes are still perfectly fine after ... ooh ... I guess 40k miles.
True, the sides are a bit concave, but I reckon they'll last another 40k miles at least.

Give me the choice between an Araya and a Mavic, and I'll pick the Araya every single time.

 

[MADJEZ]

Nice pair of Araya TM820s on my Tequesta.

Still perfectly straight.