I’ve been driving Race Face’s wheels for a few years, nonetheless rocking the unique Subsequent SL set on a motorbike. And so they’re nonetheless going robust.
What I like about them is, nicely, a number of issues, however the highlights are combining sturdy reliability with gentle weight. However newest rims profiles and layups improve the “journey high quality”, they usually’re even lighter regardless of being rated for longer journey bikes.
If that’s what you’re in search of on your personal path bike, learn no additional as a result of the new Race Face Period SL wheels ship. If you happen to want convincing, learn on for my evaluation…
Gentle Completed Proper
At simply 1,530g (claimed) for a wheelset, they’re respectably gentle. That quantity isn’t pushing any boundaries for XC wheels, however after driving them for a number of months, I say they journey lighter than that quantity suggests.
And that’s on a on trails starting from native NC cross nation to Bentonville’s groomed circulate trails to Flagstaff’s huge mountain descents and Sedona’s laborious rock playground. All of this aboard Ari’s newest 110mm-travel Sign Peak with the brand new Fox 34 SL set at 130mm journey, wrapped in 2.4″ Schwalbe tires.
With 385g rims, which is the lightest rim Race Face has ever made, they speed up shortly and switch sharp. So, though some ultralight wheelsets are available 200-ish grams lighter, few have lighter rims (as a result of there’s a restrict to what’s attainable), so these wheels’ outer rotational weight is on par with the lightest choices in the marketplace.
However should you actually need lighter wheels, wait till this fall after they launch a Middle Lock model that’ll are available at a claimed 1480g. They gained’t be e-MTB rated like these 6-bolt variations, however should you’re counting 50g on an e-bike, you might have to rethink your priorities.
SIDE NOTE: They arrive taped with valve stems put in, however these issues should not counted within the claimed weights. I acquired the wheels from Race Face with tires already mounted, so I haven’t pulled them off to get precise weights but…will replace this put up after I do.
Even when I used to be a put XC racer on a *gasp* hardtail, I believe I’d preserve these on the bike due to the…
Trip Feels
Trip high quality has turn into a much bigger deal previously 5 years. With stiffness, toughness, and light-weight all fairly nicely sorted, the magic for any new wheelset (or bike body, for that matter) is available in how they really feel.
As tires have gotten wider and extra supple, and handlebars like Race Face’s personal new Period (amongst others) including intentional compliance, choosing aside the wheel’s affect over traction and luxury just isn’t an actual science.
However should you’re upgrading from an older carbon wheelset, the smoother journey high quality of the Period SL needs to be instantly obvious. This, mixed with good lateral stiffness, helps the wheels observe extra exactly since they’re not ping-ponging off each root and rock.
Toughness
Race Face charges them for bikes as much as 140mm of journey. If you happen to want one thing greater and burlier, final 12 months’s Period Wheels are the ticket.
The Period SL’s rims have a 29mm inner width, they’ll match as much as 2.6″ broad tires to deal with all of that. I believe the candy spot is extra within the downcountry-to-trail bike vary, however with a lifetime guarantee, you’ll be able to push them fairly laborious understanding that Race Face’s personal riders are most likely pushing them more durable.
The rim profiles are mainly hookless, however there’s a tiny bump inward to create the “anvil” form. That form provides them a broad crash pad to assist impacts, with rounded corners to forestall pinch flats.
I’ve solely examined them on a short-travel “enjoyable nation” (Ari’s phrases, however I prefer it) bike, however have undoubtedly smashed a couple of roots and rocks and brought a couple of laborious landings on them.
I’m a much bigger rider, about 6’2″ and 200lbs totally kitted, and I’ve zero complaints. They’ve a 130kg (286lb) system (rider + bike) weight restrict, so I’m not even near their restrict.
The Hubs
Race Face’s Vault Hubs are a giant a part of the image. Actually. They’re big.
And I believe that’s why these wheels deal with so nicely. They supply a taller “flange”, which lets them run shorter spokes. Which permits lighter, shallower rims. Which implies they will get good bracing angles without having a number of spokes…or utilizing thicker, stiffer spokes.
In my armchair engineering position, all of that provides as much as good radial compliance with good lateral stiffness. Race Face deliberately inbuilt some lateral compliance, however solely sufficient to assist the wheels deflect sideways impacts with out diminishing steering or monitoring accuracy.
Plus, they give the impression of being good. And so they’re not too loud. You’ll hear the engagement from 60 tooth and 6 pawls (staggered for a snappy-enough 3º engagement), however it’s not annoyingly loud.
The Takeaway
Ummmm, purchase them?
MSRP is $1,649, which is very aggressive. Perhaps we are able to thank all of the direct-to-consumer manufacturers for driving down the worth factors, however few if any of these manufacturers have the North Shore observe file of abusing their merchandise like Race Face.
Not solely do the specs (with a lifetime guarantee!) add as much as a winner, the efficiency is so good I don’t plan on taking them off my bike any time quickly.