Skip to main content

Reynolds Black Label 27.5 AM carbon wheels


With a claimed weight of just 1525g and a 23mm inner rim – big enough to keep 2.35in tyres well supported – these carbon hoops are aimed at the fastest trail bikes.

Reynolds’ MR5 carbon is not just one grade all the way through: the layup and cloth type is tuned according to where it lies on the wheel. The sidewall, for instance, is a different specification to the spoke face.

The hubs are DT Swiss 240 with Centerlock disc fitting, while both hoops get 28 straight-pull DT Swiss spokes and light, alloy nipples.

These are built for trail riding and enduro racing, though if cross-country is more your thing, the Black Label XCs are 2mm narrower and 90g lighter for the same price. If the price is making your jaw drop, then the R27.5 AM alloy wheelset comes in at a more wallet friendly 750$ and only weighs 160g more.

Price 2700$

Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge