I’ve been using Race Face’s wheels for a few years, nonetheless rocking the unique Subsequent SL set on a motorcycle. And so they’re nonetheless going sturdy.
What I like about them is, properly, a variety of issues, however the highlights are combining sturdy reliability with mild weight. However newest rims profiles and layups improve the “trip high quality”, and so they’re even lighter regardless of being rated for longer journey bikes.
If that’s what you’re searching for on your personal path bike, learn no additional as a result of the brand new Race Face Period SL wheels ship. For those who want convincing, learn on for my evaluation…
Gentle Executed Proper
At simply 1,530g (claimed) for a wheelset, they’re respectably mild. That quantity isn’t pushing any boundaries for XC wheels, however after using them for a number of months, I say they trip lighter than that quantity suggests.
And that’s on a on trails starting from native NC cross nation to Bentonville’s groomed movement trails to Flagstaff’s huge mountain descents and Sedona’s exhausting 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 rapidly and switch sharp. So, regardless that some ultralight wheelsets are available in 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 available on the market.
However if you happen to really need lighter wheels, wait till this fall once they launch a Middle Lock model that’ll are available in at a claimed 1480g. They received’t be e-MTB rated like these 6-bolt variations, however if you happen to’re counting 50g on an e-bike, you could must rethink your priorities.
SIDE NOTE: They arrive taped with valve stems put in, however these issues are usually not counted within the claimed weights. I obtained the wheels from Race Face with tires already mounted, so I haven’t pulled them off to get precise weights but…will replace this submit after I do.
Even when I used to be a put XC racer on a *gasp* hardtail, I believe I’d hold these on the bike due to the…
Experience Feels
Experience high quality has turn into a much bigger deal up to now 5 years. With stiffness, toughness, and light-weight all fairly properly 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 will not be an actual science.
However if you happen to’re upgrading from an older carbon wheelset, the smoother trip high quality of the Period SL needs to be instantly obvious. This, mixed with good lateral stiffness, helps the wheels monitor 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. For those who want one thing greater and burlier, final yr’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 possibly can push them fairly exhausting realizing that Race Face’s personal riders are most likely pushing them more durable.
The rim profiles are principally hookless, however there’s a tiny bump inward to create the “anvil” form. That form provides them a broad crash pad to help impacts, with rounded corners to stop pinch flats.
I’ve solely examined them on a short-travel “enjoyable nation” (Ari’s phrases, however I prefer it) bike, however have positively smashed a couple of roots and rocks and brought a couple of exhausting landings on them.
I’m a much bigger rider, about 6’2″ and 200lbs absolutely 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 enormous.
And I believe that’s why these wheels deal with so properly. They supply a taller “flange”, which lets them run shorter spokes. Which allows lighter, shallower rims. Which implies they’ll get good bracing angles while not having a variety of spokes…or utilizing thicker, stiffer spokes.
In my armchair engineering function, all of that provides as much as good radial compliance with good lateral stiffness. Race Face deliberately in-built some lateral compliance, however solely sufficient to assist the wheels deflect sideways impacts with out diminishing steering or monitoring accuracy.
Plus, they appear 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 monitor 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.
RaceFace.com
