THERE’S ONLY ONE question anyone asks about wheels that cost this much and that’s “are they worth it?” The short answer is, if you can afford them, yes.
At 1,630g (710g front, 920g rear) they’re noticeably light and the five-degree lag of the Chris King hubs underlines their ego boosting responsiveness. The slick, long-lived bearings redefine the concept of smooth spin compared to standard cartridge-bearing hubs too. The 26mm internal width of these HV (High Volume) rims supports high grip, low pressure 2.3-2.4in tyres well, but they’re not so broad that they add rolling or turning drag. They’ve stayed straight and unscathed through an extended boulderinfested test period too, which is lucky because the hidden nipples make adjustment a pain. If you do properly bust them, you’re covered by a five-year warranty or half-price replacement scheme.
What you really need to know, though, is that these wheels put a permanent tailwind into your pedalling, give vividly high-def trail feedback and the authority and accuracy to make the most of it. The pre-sealed tubeless set-up is very secure even at sub-20psi pressures too, which helps offset their sometimes unforgiving big-hit stiffness. For aggressive trail riding these are pretty much perfect.
Exclusively expensive, but they offer a bike-changing balance of precision, responsiveness and surefooted speed
Price 3750$
