Elite Wheels Drive G45 Carbon Spoke Gravel Wheelset Overview

The Drive G45 CS wheels from Elite Wheels could change what you thought you knew about wheels from somewhat recognized model from China.  However these carbon gravel wheels punch manner above their price-class, given the manufacturing worth, top quality end, and all in-house fabrication and construct.  And the value will blow you away.

The wheel enterprise isn’t one I’d usually contemplate filled with alternatives, contemplating what number of selections we customers should “hoopify” our rides.  Let’s be trustworthy and name it a patrons’ market.

Click on Play to observe me unbox these wheels, to see how they’re packed for abroad transport, and a close-up view earlier than I mounted the tires.

So any new model desirous to roll into the wheel sport had higher provide one thing nobody else has.  And lately, that’s getting tougher and tougher to seek out…

Elite makes use of a their very own system of carbon fiber referred to as “UNI” – which is a mix of T800 and T1000 carbon fiber, blended with their very own resin, to create their very own mix of carbon development to cut back weight and improve rigidity. 

Easy methods to Make Higher Wheels

And what that may very well be?  Higher supplies, higher design, higher manufacturing, higher tech?Higher worth?

For the reason that carbon revolution levelled off just a few years in the past, just about everybody now has entry to the identical grades of carbon fibre.  So since we’re all working with the identical supplies, how one can make them higher?

For starters we all know that wheel sizes and shapes are standardized.  Ie: spherical, and 700c for highway & gravel.

Widths have lastly advanced to the place they make sense – wider inside widths have turn into the norm, and eventually tire efficiency and bike dealing with have improved because of this.  Aerodynamic shaping of rims has turn into commonplace throughout the favored depths of 35mm, 45mm, and 60mm.

Resins are one space we see manufacturers cooking up their very own secret sauce, permitting for advances in weight discount and will increase in energy – so stronger and lighter is all-righter.  From the surface it’s exhausting to know the way completely different these resins are throughout manufacturers, however we do know that the outcomes typically ship what we’re all after – much less weight and extra energy.  Partial proof of that is that catastrophic carbon wheel failures are largely a factor of the previous – by which I imply I simply don’t hear about them like I used to.

Spoke counts are fairly commonplace, just because a sure quantity are wanted to safe wheel integrity and stand up to the stresses of excessive efficiency biking.  There are some variations on the market, however principally we’re coping with round 20-21 spokes entrance wheels, 20-24 spokes rear.  There was much more spokes basically, however advances in supplies energy and designs have allowed a discount in spoke counts that cut back weight, however keep energy and rigidity.

So how has ELITE addressed the entire above to supply a wheel they suppose you’ll need?

Design

In case you haven’t heard of ELITE Wheels earlier than, the Chinese language firm has over a decade of expertise manufacturing carbon wheels and dealing with carbon fibre on different parts making gear for a lot of high manufacturers.  They determined to take all their data and launch their very own model, initially taking maintain in Asia and Australia, and now shifting into the market to North America.

They provide a reasonably wide selection of wheels for highway, gravel mtb, and triathlon – all with a efficiency focus in thoughts.

The DRIVE G45 CS wheels are a gravel-specific, U-shaped, mid-depth, huge inside width carbon wheel, constructed with carbon fiber spokes (that’s the “CS” within the title), which might be 45mm deep (within the title once more!)

The 45mm depth and shiny end is simply that, deep, cool, horny even.  This depth has turn into pretty commonplace for gravel as a result of it’s the proper dimension for optimum energy/ weight combo for good cause – it really works and works nicely.

Ending high quality is great. My pre-tire-mount inspection confirmed tape software was high notch, with no gaps or blemishes.  Inner width is 24mm – The 40mm Pirelli tires I’ve been operating match properly right here, however there’s room to go wider.

Proof these are a light-weight gravel wheelset – the entrance wheel weight is 640 grams…

The rear wheel weighed in at 751 grams…

Spokes are excessive tensile carbon fibre – a tad lighter than aluminum, and stronger – Elite claims the wheels are 7% stiffer with these spokes vs the identical with metal spokes.  These run 20 spokes entrance, and 20 spokes within the rear.

Elite’s hubs characteristic ceramic bearings, and the rear makes use of a 4 pawl engagement for the freehub.

 

The Kicker – $1269 USD for Carbon Wheels That Ship

Carbon highway wheels can vary anyplace from $500 to over $4000. And sure, there’s typically reality to the concept that a better worth displays higher high quality—however let’s be trustworthy: most of us can’t inform the distinction.

Why?

• We don’t work within the factories.

• We don’t have the time (or funds) to run a number of wheels over an identical check tracks with the identical tire, stress, and driving situations.

• We’re human—and decoding refined efficiency variations with out bias is sort of unimaginable.

So, when the design, supplies, and manufacturing high quality are comparable throughout manufacturers, what are we actually paying for?

Advertising. Branding. Notion.

Most of us are selecting based mostly on model recognition, not measurable variations. Huge Western manufacturers make investments closely in advertising—and that price is baked into the retail worth. It creates the notion of superiority, even when many of those wheels are made in the identical factories as lesser-known Asian manufacturers.

And that brings us to Elite Wheels.

You could not have heard of them—and that’s as a result of they don’t market like the massive gamers. However don’t let that idiot you. These wheels provide spectacular tech, high quality, and efficiency for simply $1269 USD—a worth that punches nicely above its weight.

What stands out most?
How a lot actual worth you’re getting—with out paying for the title on the decal.

First Impressions

I’ve unboxed loads of wheelsets prior to now couple of a long time, and there’s a sure solution to pack them for lengthy distance transport to reach safely on the vacation spot.  Watch my Youtube video to see for your self how they’re packed for transport.

Elite checks all of the bins within the protected transport department- two wheels share a field, individually wrapped in foam packing liners, no shifting round or inside motion, and in addition consideration paid to eliminating waste by not utilizing an excessive amount of packing materials.

The wheels look nice popping out of the field, irrespective of what number of instances I do that, I nonetheless get somewhat buzz when the massive reveal lastly occurs.

Additionally within the field are additional spokes, and guarantee playing cards.

End high quality is great, stunning excessive gloss floor and QC appears superb.

Key Options and Specs

After many emails, immediate and attentive follow-up from their aspect, one 45 minute video with 4 of Elite’s employees, together with a product supervisor and engineer on the decision, I had a powerful feeling the individuals working for Elite take loads of satisfaction of their work.

They’ve designed and constructed each piece of most of their wheels (though some units are spec’s with aftermarket components like DT Swiss spokes – typically thought of the very best in school.)

The upside with the carbon spoke design, is that the excessive tensile energy of the spokes permits them to make use of 20 spokes (vs 21 on many manufacturers) whereas growing stiffness.  Fewer spokes additionally means much less weight (even when it’s just some grams).

The 45mm depth additionally means spokes may be barely shorter than 35mm deep wheels, which just about means larger stiffness as nicely.

The expansion of gravel driving has led to some developments which have additionally influenced highway designs – on this case its wider rim widths.   

Other than the essential structural benefits of a wider rim (extra energy), this design (which has solely gained widespread help prior to now 2-3 years) additionally permits for higher software and efficiency of wider tires.

As we’ve talked about earlier than, the broader inside width permits the tire to sit down extra securely into the rim mattress, whereas additionally permitting for a extra pure profile form of the tire to do its job of higher highway grip, improved traction and total dealing with and being much less prone to flats and different stress associated injury.

Journey Impressions

Wheels lately are typically so good, that our expectations are naturally excessive, and until a wheelset is admittedly off for some cause, I’m typically going to have an excellent expertise.  I additionally be aware that given the various tire pressures and terrain kinds we experience gravel wheels on, a lot of the particular wheel suggestions will get misplaced in translation.

General I’ve discovered these to be a stiff, responsive, surprisingly quick gravel wheelset. These wheels changed a set of CADEX AR36 wheels I’ve been operating on my Look 765 check bike (which price 3 x extra), and the one discernible distinction for me is that the Elite free hub is loads quieter.  This can be nitpicking – however the freehub sound is good – not too loud, not too quiet.  And for guys like me, Elite even has a web page on their web site the place you possibly can hearken to the hub spin.  And that’s just about the way it sounds.

I even gained a coasting drag race in opposition to a buddy the opposite day, which I chalked as much as the overall aearo-shape of the edges, and the low friction ceramic bearings within the hubs.

 

To sum up what stands out for me:

Function	Rider Takeaways
Velocity & Responsiveness	Distinctive—light-weight construct and stiff construction = fast spin-ups and fast dealing with
Journey Really feel	Crisp and agency; rolls equally nicely on easy gravel / pavement. Consolation is determined by tire stress.
Crosswind Stability	Deep and aerodynamic; no discover of opposed dealing with in breezy situations
Sturdiness	Strong construct with carbon spokes & ceramic bearings; keep true after intensive use on some tough trails
Value-to-Efficiency	Priced below $1300US, that is big worth, particularly in comparison with manufacturers like Cadex, Zipp, and Campagnolo providing comparable specs at a lot larger price

 

Consideration: the ELITE Wheels Summer season sale is on now till Jun. 30, 2025 – with reductions on All wheels providing $69 off $599, Get $159 off $799, Get $239 off $1099

BONUS SALE for PEZ Readers: Discover extra information, order Drive G45 CS wheels on-line and SAVE 20% in case you use the code “PEZ15”.

PEZ receives a small fee on all gross sales of DRIVE G45 CS wheels bought by means of the hyperlink, which might be used to assist maintain PEZ operating.

 

Sum It All Up

The EliteWheels Drive G45 CS gravel wheelset delivers a formidable mixture of sunshine weight, stiffness, and responsiveness that’s exhausting to beat at this worth level. With carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, and a 1,300g weight, they really feel race-ready but sturdy sufficient for any gravel adventures.

At $1269 USD, they simply maintain their very own in opposition to higher-priced opponents, providing critical worth for riders who need pro-level tech with out the luxurious markup. Should you’re pondering to improve your gravel setup with a wheelset that’s quick, environment friendly, and constructed with top-shelf options, the Drive G45 CS is greater than price a glance.