First Look: ENVE Debuts Four New Carbon Wheels

Apr 8, 2014
by Pinkbike Staff  
ENVE is pleased to announce the M Series, a game changing collection of mountain wheels featuring four rim models developed for specific rider profiles. These four models consider a rider’s propensity towards descending versus ascending and are named accordingly.

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Each model in the M Series features a revolutionary design that results in a lighter, stiffer, stronger, and more predictable rim. Fundamental in the design of each new rim is a structure and shape that provides improved vertical compliance without sacrificing lateral stiffness. “As cliché as it may be to speak of vertical compliance and lateral stiffness, the advancements we have made with the M Series rim structures produce that very outcome. The performance benefits are significant in much the same way that dialing in the right tire pressure is,” stated ENVE VP of Research and Development Scott Nielson.

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The new M Series is significantly more impact resistant than its comparable first generation predecessor. Remarkably, the new M Series rims are notably lighter than the previous generation mountain rims even with these improvements in impact toughness. For example, the new 29” M50 tips the scales at 330 grams while the first generation equivalent the 29 XC, weighed a respectable 385 grams. In order to further refine the ride tune of the new M Series, each rim model features a unique depth and width. Rim width is determined by pairing each rim model with the predominant tire widths used for the defined ride application. By optimizing the rim and tire interface, handling predictability and traction are improved.

Additionally, the new M Series features an improved tubeless design that refines the union of tire and rim creating a more reliable seal and reducing the possibility of “burping”. This new level of tubeless performance is made possible in part by a new “hookless” bead design. Lead Engineer Brett Satterthwaite stated, “Our beadless hook design has performance implications that include better tubeless performance, pinch flat resistance, and impact durability. It is a design that truly plays to the strengths of full carbon construction.

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Ride Tuned
Each model in the ENVE M Series is designed with a specific rider profile in mind. In the past we had classified riders into three general categories in a one size fits all XC, AM, and DH designation that worked well for some but left others wondering where they fit. The ENVE M Series features four completely new models that classify riders by the ride style that they most closely identify with. Each rim model is designated by a style ratio that represents a rider’s inclination towards descending vs. ascending. Tuning each rim to a specific application meant creating a rim that is fittingly light, stiff, and durable for its intended application. As such, each rim in our next generation M Series is lighter and stiffer than its comparable first generation predecessor. Developing laminates that cater to a specific ride application is only part of the story. Each rim is optimized to perform within a range of specific tire widths that are most prevalent for the intended application. By refining the interface between rim and tire we create more precise and predictable handling characteristics and thus a more efficient wheel system.

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Impact Resistant Construction
A no compromise requirement of the M Series mountain rims was increased impact toughness. With a reputation built on durability we have worked tirelessly to up the ante in terms of rim durability and are proud to say that we have taken rim strength to the next level. The M Series features a proprietary rim shape and construction that mechanically improves durability and impact resistance across the board.


The Virtues of Vertical Compliance
The efficiencies gained by running appropriate tire pressures for a given trail condition are not insignificant. In much the same way a wheel becomes inefficient if the tire pressure doesn’t match the trail conditions, a rim that is too stiff or soft can cost precious efficiencies in rolling resistance. The new M Series features a unique rim construction that optimizes vertical compliance to match that of the tires and terrain of the intended application. By doing this, the pairing between rim and tire is optimized to foster increased traction and control through rough and variable terrain. Additionally, tuned vertical compliance produces lower rolling resistance and less rider fatigue as the wheel is working more efficiently as a system.


Beadless Tire Retention
The refinement of tubeless mountain tire technology paves the way for rim manufactures to design rims free from the handcuffs of sloppy and imprecise tire fitment. The key to a good tubeless system is a tire and rim that works harmoniously to create a seal at the tire bed of the rim. By eliminating the “hook” from the top of the rim sidewall, we are able to produce rims to more precise dimensions, allowing riders to run lower tire pressures without the risk of unpredictable air loss. Other benefits associated with our beadless rim design include greater pinch flat resistance and rim strength.


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ENVE’s new M Series is now shipping to authorized dealers and distributors around the world. The new M Series will also be available on select complete bike models from ENVE OEM Partners: Cannondale, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Turner, and Intense. All wheel and rim models are the same price: Rim only - $999/rim, wheelset w/ DT 240 - $2718, wheelset w/ Chris King - $2750, wheelset w/ DT 180 - $3298 (M50,60,70 model only)


About ENVE Composites - Located in Ogden, Utah, ENVE Composites is a manufacturer of handmade carbon fiber bicycle rims and components. ENVE is a company made up of passionate cyclists that have created a unique brand and complete product offering based on a riding lifestyle. ENVE employees have designed and innovated some of the world’s most respected products in the bicycle as well as other outdoor industries. ENVE designs and manufactures 100% of their rims in the US.

www.enve.com

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Member since Jul 22, 2013
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225 Comments
  • 157 4
 $999 for a rim? What the hell did I just read?!
  • 54 70
flag Pharphenugen12 (Apr 8, 2014 at 0:29) (Below Threshold)
 no idea why you're surprised about this. It's a high quality rim with great specs, and is made out of material that isn't cheap. As well as being a good rim with good materials, ENVE has tried to make their product visually appealing. Add all those things up and you get something expensive. Apple does the same with their product as well by making their product look good so people buy them. Simple as that.
  • 77 1
 And up to 3300$ for a complete wheelset !? My god that's the price of my Knolly Podium frame with CCDB air , wheels are becoming more expansive than a frame !
  • 16 6
 @Pharphenugen12 : For that price you can get a Mac, and not the entry level. A computer implies more engineering and people than a rim...

I would die for getting a set of those but that new iteration raises me a question : Are they worst the price ? I mean, competitors sell carbon rims for substentially less, so, do the Enve rims outstands them as much as the price let think ? Anybody has already tried and compared Enve and an other carbon wheel ?

I'm asking that because I'm a music gear addict, and for us it is well known that sometimes a nice 1500 / 2000 $ guitar can sound and play better than the abusive 5 / 6000 $ option.
  • 32 3
 1000$ for a rim and there is no 559 option for M50 and M60. It seems that April fools will last longer this year.
  • 10 14
flag brutalpedz (Apr 8, 2014 at 1:21) (Below Threshold)
 And for that price you don't even have fancy hub / spoke interface, just regular J-bend spokes. A least they could have had a partnership with a hub company and study something original in every detail.
  • 24 8
 Why would you use a Mac as a comparison when talking about price? I thought everyone knew that Apple products are a ripoff.
And by not using a specialized spoke, they allow you to build on what ever hubs you have/want.
  • 15 1
 Comparing a high expense and small run product to a computer or anything along those lines is just silly. These are a niche product, not sold in their hundreds of thousands. This incurs far more production cost due to economies of scale.. but I don't need to tell you about that; that's common sense.

Everything in this industry costs a shit tonne. This is nothing new.
  • 6 2
 I didn't compared Enve and Apple, it was just to answer Pharphenugen12 about what he said on it.

Concerning specific spoke, we all know that the J-bend is the weak point. So why going with it while using beautifull King hubs and stiff Enve rims ?
And when you can afford a 3000$ wheelset, 10 or 15$ for a spare spoke is peanut.
  • 13 1
 That's like comparing apples to oranges, I mean rims
  • 27 5
 It is perfectly reasonable to judge those wheels as obscenely expensive. It is a perfectly understandable reaction of a human being, particularly given the comparison with other products: Ibis complete carbon wheels cost 1299 (presented yesterday), quality aluminum wheels like Pacenti cost fraction of ENVE. As with any prejudgment the problem is how far you take it... Here are levels of prejudgment: 1.the first thought - Great! you are able to think critically! 2.One not so aggressive commentt - ugh if you have to, fine. 3.Ranting for two hours - gets weird 4.Making a meme or satirical drawings making it to the PB main page - really you are a troll! You are messed up and you better get it and stop it. Hmmm... 5.Starting an FB group against expensive components - check your head right now, you do need a doctor, start taking vitamin D at least 6.Organizing a protest at Sea Otter or Interbike with transparent full of hate words against "greed of the industry" - you are seriosuly fkd, you really need a doctor! 7.Burning ENVE or Santa Cruz factory 8.Jail, Suicide or world domination

So anyone having trouble wth people having trouble with the price of those rims - I prejudge you as people not understanding human nature and I end it here before I go to step 3.
  • 36 8
 Mavic 729's on Hope hubs. END OF DISCUSSION.
  • 4 1
 overpricing is the normal with the majority of these companies now, some of these companies will need to be carefully from the like of companies like YT Industries producing, much more affordable bikes that have incredible specs and are some of the best performing dh bikes around
  • 19 3
 Light Bicycle rims; that is all
  • 3 1
 For the price of a single rim you could have at least 2 complete sets of wheels. eg. Hope hubs with Mavic 719 and Hope hubs with Mavic 823. I just don't get all this carbon is great milarchy. Even Deemax Ultimate is a LOT cheaper and is only about 100g heavier...
  • 1 0
 Unless we're talking weight.
  • 5 3
 WAKI,i do not under stand,y,do i need to go back and start at A THEN B to know Y,you krazy you think out side the coloring book,i like your style cause you know your krazy,some human do not know so they lose there marbles in the rock garden,that cover you did was like wow,you think they will make wireless tire pressure for trail change on the fly,O one of my friends told TESLA already has made all things,opps i did a #3 my bad,anyways keep pinnin WAKI,YOUR ON FIRE.and don't leave a paper trail.
  • 2 0
 nice rims.

1. are these "optimised" for front and rear? or are front and rear wheels subjected to the same forces?
2. would build quality have as much effect on their ride charactersitics as the "optimising"
  • 3 1
 Martinezorlando - I am touched... you are one of so very few who have looked beyond the boobs... I felt so bad afterwards that I even wrote a draft e-mail to Jeremiah Boobar...
  • 2 1
 I don't like how chubby they look....
  • 1 0
 do not go get softy on us,you a human and if a human can't read the play or art as i saw it,then they need to let a little water out of there glass,and give us some of that black box stuff so we can hit hard put away broke,some day the humans that hold high place might figure it out,then it all b for free ,but thats a smokin pipe they can;t find,sorry i did a #3
  • 2 0
 Correct. It's a product intended for people who can afford it. If you don't have a spare $2000 lying around for a new wheelset, then l suggest you buy some Mavics, nearly all their rims retail for under $100 US.
  • 14 1
 I can imagine 25 things I'd rather do with it if I found 2000 euros under the couch, including giving it to crackhead. If you are fast enough to notice any difference between these and Mavics you should enter the world cup.
  • 5 6
 Stop trolling me bonkywonky - what the hell man?! Big Grin
  • 11 5
 Disagree. Glad to see them use regular spokes. I fucking hate proprietary spoke stuff. Bring on the neg props, but that's partially why I dislike mavic...
  • 5 4
 Everybody says that about proprietary spokes, but I really don't get it. Mavic spokes do not readily break, in fact Ive never broken one. Iv'e bent a couple, including an aluminum spoke on my Crossmax ST's but it didn't break and that rim still runs true!. If you are that worried you could keep an extra around but I see the proprietary spoke argument as moot.
  • 4 3
 I never said they were bad or anything. I just don't like em. It's just my opinion. And that's just your opinion. And my opinion on your opinion is that let's just keep our own opinions
  • 4 3
 What is your definition of 'trolling'? Having some form of common sense left after being exposed to 10+ years of MTB marketing bs?

sdiz - When did Mavic stop making regular rims? Don't you, more than us Europeans, have the choice to either build a wheel or buy a proprietary one in the Land of the Free?
  • 3 2
 I was simply, as you say, offering my opinion. There is no practical reason to dislike proprietary spokes.
  • 2 3
 Wow dude. Trolling? Really?? Who's trolling now. All I said was that I hate proprietary spokes and that I don't care for mavic. When did I ever say they don't make regular rims?? Did I? It was just an opinion. Here in America we are aloud to have those. But clearly you know so much more about bikes than I do.
  • 1 0
 not to fuel this pointless exchange, but what you said was "partially why I dislike Mavic" , which would suggest that proprietary spokes is a reason to dislike them, when they mostly produce standard rims. You seem to be the only one getting panties in a bunch over it though.
  • 1 1
 bonkywonky - chill out man I thought you were refering to our previous conversation - meant no harm
  • 2 0
 No I'm cool dude. No problem with you at all. No problem with anyone.
  • 3 1
 Girls Aloud? Are they still around?

It just doesn't seem logical to dislike a company because they offer an option (!) you don't like, Mavic doesn't force you to buy these by, for example, making their top level rims only in a proprietary version or making the regular versions unnecessarily expensive.
  • 2 1
 it's all good, at the end of the day give me some 721's on a Hope Pro2 and call it a day.
  • 2 1
 Yes they are obscenely expensive. They are the Bugatti of the bicycle world. The Ibis wheels presented the other day are much cheaper, and light bicycle rims/wheels are even cheaper yet. I have a set of light Bicycle rims and they are great. If you don't understand how a carbon wheelset improves the ride of your bike, then you have been living under a rock. How about 2 years of riding and not having to true a wheel? If I didn't make my own frames, I would buy a cheaper frame and put my money into wheels.
  • 1 4
 So you notice a hundred grams in a rim? Is this the undercover account of Nicolas Vouilloz? Or Sam Hill?
  • 6 1
 I'm no Sam Hill but I certainly notice 100 grams at the rim. For sure. When people say that stuff it outs them as not all that experienced.
  • 4 1
 Rather have ethirteen scandium lg1+ Wheels, each hoop cost $200 bucks, and are only around 15 grams heavier then a enve hoop. Or like $1000 for the wheelset and weighs pretty close to the exact weight of a enve wheelset.. Personally I can't justify spending $3000 on wheels when I can pay $1000 for wheels the exact same weight which are still strong as hell!
  • 2 1
 So if someone says something you don't agree with you assume he's unexperienced? That sounds suspiciously similar to 'you either agree with me or you are wrong'..

The fastest guys I ride with could care less about rim weight because they spend their time riding their bike instead of on the internet reading infomercials like these.
  • 6 2
 These are also made in the US. Besides all the engineering and materials, they also pay people a decent wage to do their work, instead of taking advantage of kids in china.
  • 1 0
 Huh...I just had best ride of the year last night on $200 Outlaws... I'm good. But those sure are pretty!
  • 4 1
 bonky - you are right, but still, once you tasted the devils juice, a difference between 400g carbon rim to 675g (Mavic 729) rim will play in the back of your head with every pedal stroke or pump... apart from that Mavic makes whatever rims at high price of which most use medieval widths and sidewalls. Maxtal material gives nothing, the only really strong stuff from them is their complete wheels. Sidewalls of 721s bend like cheese on DH bikes. If they wouldn't make stuff in Europe I would not say a single good word about them.
  • 4 0
 bonky this is not a "difference of opinion" matter. 200 grams on a wheelset, especially at the rim is going to be felt. It's not that I don't agree that some people might not notice, but to me it means they have not ridden different wheels on the same bike. Like "oh ok Sam Hill, I forgot you need light wheels" .... no ... anybody can benefit.
  • 3 0
 I have had 3 friends sell the enve wheels they were on after trying my Derby 40mm wide wheels. Built mine complete front/back with Hope hubs for around $999, they have been flawless and ride amazing. Just sayin...
  • 3 1
 DARKSTAR63, do you know if anyone has ever done a proper double blind test of this? Two identical bikes one with three 33.3 gram weights attached equilaterally to the interior of the rim where neither the observers nor the participants know the difference? Just curious because you are certain you could tell the difference, I am certain I could not. Until someone actually tests it, it is just unsubstantiated belief either way.
  • 2 1
 It is. We agree on the factual side, i.e. them weighing XX grams less but the real question is whether you actually benefit from that weight difference, which indeed is an empiric question as well but as long as you don't have hard evidence in track times it is answered based on feeling of speed. Which is something highly subjective and also susceptible to marketing getting inside your head so I wouldn't base my claim of them being faster purely on this. The remaining question is whether this sensation of speed and the possibility of real speed gains are worth it, which, you guessed it, is an opinion.
  • 2 0
 Yes I'm certain I'd be able to tell you. I'm not saying that to sound superior, please don't take it that way. And I'm not saying that I only ride light wheels. I often choose to run heavier wheels because of durability and or stiffness. But I literally have two sets of wheels 200 grams apart that I run on my Remedy and I can feel a difference. I've also had experience swapping wheels/tires on my DH bike and am very in tune with my machines. I'm not saying it is felt by everyone or that it's even that big of a deal (it's not) but it's not an unsubstantiated belief. You also don't need to be Sam Hill to benefit from lighter wheels that was my main point. I most often "feel" the difference when going back to a lighter wheel as opposed to switching out for heavier. It's like a little turbo boost, and the bike feels different in the air.
  • 4 0
 i tryed a set of these rims on my bronson carbon and i am now ordering a set, i noticed way quicker acceleration from the first pedal, i also noticed that im used to running 30 psi on my wtb i23 frequency rims so i used 30psi in the enves and found you feel every bump due to there stiffness but i countered this problem by going to 27 psi, i found climbs much more easier and enjoyable. in my opinion you should get these if your in the market for the best of the best of wheel sets. I am interested in the e13 wheelset which i may try for a project but i dont expect any rim on the market to match the feel of the enves.
  • 5 1
 Typical aluminum wide rims are AT LEAST 550g, where carbon are often under 400g. That is a huge difference in rotational weight. It is the most noticeable improvement you can make to a bicycle. Between the lighter weight, increased strength, and decreased maintenance, its definitely a worthwhile upgrade. Only you can decide on the price point of entry.
  • 3 0
 Mavic 729 + Hadley hubs.
  • 1 2
 A 2000g wheelset compared to these? LOL!!!!
  • 4 0
 While I can't afford them, people aren't comparing apples to Apples here.

First they aren't made in a sweat shop where people get paid $20 a day. Second the spoke holes aren't drilled, they are molded- that takes a hell of a lot more work to lay up than the Chinese carbon rims that are drilled.

Now whether or not it makes a difference in real life? But it is pretty simple concept that drilling through the fibers of a carbon material weakens it there. Only you can say if they are worth it you- if I had the money I would, but I had to settle for Derby carbon rims instead.
  • 1 0
 go derby. derby rims. cheaper and way better inner rim width for dh. if carbon is your thing.................
  • 4 2
 Bonkywonky, by insisting provenance of the weight/speed claims, you seem to be completely ignoring another few HUGE factors that go into purchasing and ENVE wheel:

- quality
- durability
- warrantee
- production factors (location, handmade, molded, etc)
- niche product

I could individually explain all of these different factors, but I won't waste my time. Instead, I recommend you just stop hating on something you seem to have never tried over a price. Go ride your f*cking bike.
  • 3 2
 Mhm ambatt, aren't you getting ENVE rims as a sponsorship deal? Sure you earned it with your riding skill but that is exactly what makes you appreciate them, isn't it? Being able to tell what they do basing on your actual experience Wink I have quite a decent salary yet I would never be able to afford them. It should be more than clear to all of us here: an average potential buyer of ENVE is nowhere close to be able to recognize the benefits of running carbon rims of any kind, particularly on a downhill bike. He/ she is simply just too busy earning money, to be able to ride bikes well.
If you have money to lash out 3000$ for a wheelset you are more likely to play with Porsche or Corvette than 10 000$ Nomad.

I am afraid that I am on the bonkywonky side especialy when it comes to DH where acceleration is not as important as in for instance XC racing, where tyres and tubes easily weigh 4 pounds. Where risk of destroying a rim is so high, no rim can survive a big hit at speed. I saw several unlaced rims in the Syndicate tent in Hafjell. To be able to feel benefit of lighter rims, obe neds to be able to accelerate on bike, that is pump and pedal - that is a rare sight among owners of expensive bikes. I'm not despising them but just stating a fact.
  • 4 1
 Ambatt - Great, claiming all sorts of things only to say you're not going to substantiate anything because that would be a 'waste of your time.' If your time is that precious, why bother posting at all? Especially when bold claims like yours only waste other people's time..
  • 2 2
 I never pay retail for anything nor do I run out and buy the newest latest and greatest I wait a year buy it used let someone else absord the overhead cost, lights, over paid owner or president of the company. 2k wheels will do nothing for you I can ride better then most on a Wallmart $50 mongoose then most on their 7k bikes.
  • 2 0
 @ Pharphenugen12, Is the statement "Apple does the same with their product as well by making their product look good so people buy them. Simple as that" supposed to be an argument in favor of astronomically over inflated pricing? Apple is about the worst example you could use to justify high price.

Yeah Apple sells a brand. It sells inferior hardware, manufactured by its competitors, some of which they drag through the courts for no reason but to impede the success of those competitors for selling better products for less money & make a quick buck in the process. I guess what you're saying is that it's stupid to blame a company for trying & I can't disagree. What's hella stupid though, are the morons that actually buy the shit.

LMFAO 2 bit riders rollin' on $2k wheels. Pfffft. :/
  • 2 0
 I have to admit, I'm one of "those guys" that doesn't get too upset about pricing, if you got it and want to spend it go ahead, it's yours to do with what you want...I sometimes over pay for things myself. Having said this, I finally have sticker shock, I can never see myself spending this kind of money on a rim no matter how cool or "desirable" it might be, there is just not enough difference to justify it in any way. I don't get it.
  • 2 0
 I can tell you now throw a set of Enves on your bike and you will experience the difference instantly.

Check out the arts cyclery review, they state " don't ride this rims or you will be on the wrong side of the law trying to get the money for a pair" now you hear a lot of shit in reviews and that is not "shit" when they say that, I swear if there's a bike in your LBS with Enves ask just to roll out the door on them and you will know exactly what I mean. You will never want a aluminum rim again.
  • 3 1
 Yes, but compare those Enves to any other carbon rim that is 20-50% the cost and see if you can still "experience the difference instantly".
  • 1 0
 You won't, other carbon rims don't have as much rim depth as the Enves.
  • 1 2
 Thefreney - what is rim depth?
  • 7 0
 rim depth? ...depends on the tongue..
  • 1 0
 Like how thick the rim is compared to other rims, enve are slightly steeper, I asked my LBS for enve decals and they said they would only fit on Enves due to the size of the rims depth that's what makes them so stiff.
  • 2 1
 Do You mean rim profile height? Because LB 33mm rims are just as high.
  • 2 3
 Ye that's what I mean I couldn't word it thanks, to be honest I'll buy these rims over any other carbon rim because my bike is Santa Cruz and they work very close with enve.
  • 3 1
 No, I am NOT an ENVE-sponsored athlete. I spent my hard-earned money on my wheels, and not because of hype, but because they're the best quality and durability I could get at the moment, especially with my particularly destructive style of riding.

Bonkywonky, I could say the same thing about your ignorant claims -- you obviously don't own ENVE wheels, and I'm also certain you've never tested any from the baseless, proof-lessness of your claims. 200g IS a LOT of weight to lose when you're pushing a DH bike out of a rutted-out corner, and durability and dependability both come in might handy when it comes down to barreling through a technical rock garden and you'd really prefer not to blow up and nearly die. My opinion is based off of not only running ENVE wheels, but of racing and riding in insane conditions, as well as formerly replacing an assload of aluminum and carbon alternatives.

I chose ENVE because of what I personally need and require from my equipment, not for the hype, the marketing or because I have tons of cash to throw around (I don't).

If you're going to make any accusations about what these wheels will or will not do for riding, at least attempt to prove them. Are they expensive? f*ck yeah. Have they made a difference in my racing and riding? Also: f*ck yeah. Confidence comes down to preparation and belief in my equipment -- without fail, I believe that my wheels will tolerate the majority of the abuse I throw at them. What they don't tolerate? ENVE covers under their warranty. Because of that, I spent the money.

Ultimately, it's a personal choice about which components to run on one's bike, but making ignorant claims about wheels you've never ridden being 'too expensive' or 'ineffective' or 'overhyped' or 'worthless' is just dumb.
  • 3 3
 Well ambatt do you know 100% where the rims are manufactured? And I hate to tell you there are way more all mountain riders than DH riders and for the average weekend warrior unless they could show me or prove to me some how that there wheels are that much better and worth the dough then they are spreading a bunch of hype. I will just say I used to own a tool franchise that was consider to be the best tools in the world and the reason they cost so much is because of all the fingers that touch them before they finally reach the customer who get there cut. When it comes down to it you can still get the job done with good ol sears craftsmen tools for a 1/3 of the price.
  • 4 2
 lol my stans flow ex rims are 4mm wider, 60g lighter, and $900 cheaper and work great
  • 5 3
 Yes. Here in Utah... In fact, so close that when I have damaged a wheel, I can drive in and drop off my hoops and meet the lovely folks that build these beauties. Obviously, I'm a supporter of ENVE, and my previous statement still stands: if you've never owned them and have never touched one, seen one or ridden the wheels, you don't have any legitimate experience as to whether or not they're actually a 'waste' or 'all hype'. Because you just DON'T KNOW.

Again, I'll say this: their warranty program, the quality and durability and weight savings and stiffness all make for a superior product. If you don't like the prices, guess what? DON'T BUY THEM. But coming into the comments section and ignorantly whining about how uselessly expensive they are and how overhyped ENVE products are and how companies like these are 'ruining the industry' is just lame. They're a niche product built for people who A: want and/or need a performance difference, B: understand the importance of quality and durability, C: want bike bling and can afford to throw money at bikes.

My suggestion? Get on a set. Enjoy the hell out of yourselves and then come tell me that you wasted your time. Or don't. Go ride your own bike. Smile Best of luck.
  • 3 3
 Ambatt - So I'm ignorant because I disagree with you? And I'm not claiming things, I only stated I don't buy into hype talk like yours unless it's supported by facts which is a pretty wise position in a marketing driven sport like MTB.
  • 5 1
 No. You're ignorant because you continue to spew crap about proving ENVE's hype, and yet you can't prove that the hype doesn't exist for a reason, even going so far as to mock me because I didn't want to waste time. You're ignorant because in the above thread, you insist that 200g 'isn't that much weight savings' and yet... It is. You're ignorant because you seem to have a whole lot of bottled up hate for hype over something you've never even bothered to try and instead of actually investigating and testing the product to see if it's hype-worthy, you ignorantly dismiss it as marketing and sales hype instead of actual, applicable excitement over one of the first great carbon products in the MTB industry from a company based out of the US that's doing a LOT of things right.

That is why you are an ignorant man and not a critical thinker. Posing questions and questioning everything isn't ignorant -- critical thinking is important and valuable, especially in a world so inundated with bullshit. However, spewing false statements and misleading queries IS ignorant.

So go ahead and disagree with me and my opinions and experiences with ENVE and their products. Shit, disagree with me about everything. Please! That's awesome, and I welcome it. But disagree based on factual experience and in depth understanding and knowledge, not upon baseless claims and uninformed opinion. Smile
  • 2 2
 You two are talking about two different things: Ambatt talks of special added value like finish quality and supporting neighbours, you talk of subjective riding experience - both are perfectly understandable and hard to measure in performance terms. She may have post purchase rationalization syndrome you may have underdog complex... we all ride different terrains and ride in different way, have different priorities (some of them are objectively messed up). Then I'd argue that for any kind of riding carbon rims are nearly a MUST on 29er whereas 26er barely needs anything better than ZTR or Pacenti, due to stiffness and rotating mass distributed on smaller radius. What are we talking about bonky? 729s are fine for DH or AM or XC/trail? DH - I agree with you, maybe even AM. But XC/Trail? - I'd agree with such opinion if it was expressed by Mark Weir. Ambatt - Quality and warranty heh... I just got Light Bicycle 33mm wide AM rim. It is beatiful and their customer support is by far the kindest I have ever experienced in my whole life with anything. None of my friends has ever had problem with warranty return. I live in Sweden, so not having a single CF rim manufacturer in EU, it makes no moral difference to me if I buy them from China or US. And I want it CF because I can afford one from LB and i will use it for XC/AM. I'd never buy a carbon rim for DH, because I don't ride nor race DH and it is beyond my understanding why would one buy so expensive rim for such banging. And so may be many people who may not understand your argument. I'd say that judging by the price, ENVE rim vs Sunrims or whatever is like travelling with cheap Adidas bag and Louis Vuitton bag, sitting on Ikea sofa or Hans Wegners sofa. Dead fuk function vs definite luxury. Chill guys.
  • 3 3
 WAKI, it actually comes down to far more than my 'quality' assertions -- I mentioned durability and stiffness, both of which bonkywonky has claimed that ENVE is overhyped about.

When it comes to MTB wheels, speed is translated in many different variances; stiffness, rotational speed, and contact size all come into play. I like my ENVE/Chris King setup because of the rigidity (aka, stiffness) in different zones, especially radially -- my carbon, handcrafted, expensive ass wheels enable me to get the most from my suspension because I know exactly my wheels will do on any given day. I never have to adjust my suspension or air pressure because my wheel has been damaged and needs truing; not only is it more exact and precise in technical applications, but it's convenient as hell. I know what my wheels can handle, and I get better feedback and feel from the ground and surrounding terrain.

It's not about having designer wheels or 'bike bling'... It actually does come down to performance. I feel that my wheels give me the type of ride and feedback I need to be the best rider I can personally be, as well as the cornering, the speed and the lightweight agility I require from my bike. So no, WAKI, it's not buyers remorse, nor is it ignorant brand pandering. It was purposefully intentional purchasing on part of an informed rider who needs the best from her components.
  • 2 1
 So, which carbon wheels have you ridden and tested other than ENVE´s, ambatt?
I guess none? Then ignorant brand pandering is pretty much exactly what this is.
Because what you are describing as benefits of ENVE rims are ultimately the benefits of carbon as a material for mtb rims.

@WAKI: The only moral difference between buying them from US or China may be the health obligations of the manufacturer for their workers and the environmental constraints for the production. As far as I know you are quite the Environmentalist, so this may be a considerable criterion. But then the US is not quite known for being very eco-friendly either... in general that is.
  • 2 1
 Interesting... You automatically assume I'm brand pandering and that I haven't tested other brands or wheels, when you're wrong on both counts (both the Roval Traverse and the Easton Havoc). I'm also entitled to like a certain brand, and to defend their products in a comments section that too often swings towards ignorant hate over educated preference and experience. Why would you assume I haven't tried anything else? Because I like one brand more than the other? Or because I'm female and actually have a preference and understand the differences in carbon component construction, energy absorption, vibration dampening and other factors and can intelligently state my opinion? Wink

What's really the issue here, mister anonymous man on the internet? Is it really the fact that I'm a vocal fan of ENVE that you can't stand? Or is it something far more superficial?
  • 2 1
 Well ambatt, I could only find hate in one post of ours and let me tell you it was not mine.
I actually like the fact, that you are a girl that is obviously interested in bikes and technics.
I just pointed out, that what you were describing as the beneftis of ENVE rims (i.e. nondeformable, stiffness, vibration damping etc.) is nothing other than the benefits of carbon as a material for this particular purpose.
So, if you claim your ENVE rims feature those benefits and other carbon rims don't, you are wrong and I would consider that brand pandering. This is also the reason why I assumed (apperently incorrectly) that you haven't tried anything else.
By the way, I don't have any issues with ENVE at all.

Besides, I neither mentioned anything insulting nor did I express any prejudice concerning your gender.
Hell, I didn't even know you were female until you started rubbing it into my face.
After reading some of your comments you don't seem to very much like being reduced to your gender or your appearance.
I can't blame you, PB may not be the most flattering place for a girl, so I totally give you that.

But I really can't get over the fact, that you are playing the feminist card here and insinuate, that I must be criticizing you simply because you are a girl. This very act makes you the superficial one, not me.
I think this may be the real issue here.
  • 2 2
 No, I never once said other brands didn't have identical qualities as ENVE -- I simply listed the reasons I like my wheels and why I bought them.

I never hated on another brand, and I'm not sure where you're pulling that one from... So yes, I am assuming that your inaccurate statements are either because you're delusional or because I'm a girl.

Take your pick. Wink
  • 3 1
 I never stated you were hating against other brands. I just said you were the person who hated in her comment by being offensive and insinuating I would question your competence due to your gender, which I was clearly not.

Also, I just joined the discussion to depict that other brands´ products may have the same assets as ENVEs´, as you were obviously all about the performance difference ENVE wheels give you, whereas you just listed the benefits that carbon wheels provide in general. Oh and yes, above you specificly said that other brands don't match what ENVE has to offer, so you're contradictory on that.
And let me remind you, I started by asking you the simple question what other carbon wheels you have tested besides ENVE. Anything after that was just hypothetical.
I reckoned someone with your arguing capabilities would catch that.

To be honest, I smell a serious superiority complex on you, since everybody who even dared to argue with you was either postulated to be delusional, superficial, uninformed or ignorant so far.
Maybe you manage to find one of those precious assets by looking at yourself? Take your pick. Wink
  • 2 2
 Well, one thing is certain.. you two have absolutely proven that youre both long-winded douche bags who don't actually ride bikes, just like to talk about completely useless shit on the internet.
Bicycle rims. They're just f*cking bicycle rims.

Seriously. How do you think this is going to go? Do either of you REALLY think you're getting your long forgotten point across? Are you going to sway the other over to your way of thinking? At this point in an internet argument it is only about your own egos now. Shut the f*ck up already.
  • 2 1
 Dude, you took the time to read all that and even answered to it, so your loser argument just got invalid right there. But for the second part, you actually have a point. I guess I just didn't want her to get away with those weak insults.
  • 1 1
 Took time to read? No. More like I have a dashboard full of garbage every freaking day because you two won't shut up under the two sentences I typed a week ago.
  • 60 0
 Honey, time to sell the kids...
  • 33 0
 That moment when you realise you still wouldn't be able to afford a set.
  • 61 1
 Honey, time to make more kids...
  • 4 0
 Anyone in need of a kidney??
  • 10 5
 kid-ney
  • 6 15
flag Its-That-Guy (Apr 8, 2014 at 2:53) (Below Threshold)
 Guys stop kidding around, this is serious.
  • 1 1
 @Its-That-Guy: According to your username, YOU are right. Serious Smile
  • 2 4
 Really? Stans weigh the same and are so much cheaper you can aford to trash many of them per season (which won't happen). 487g rim for 1000$ just makes no sense.
  • 1 2
 mountain biking is getting way too expensive. lets tone it down a bit and think about the majority of people who ride who dont have endless thousands of dollars to blow on bikes
  • 1 0
 @treekilla- i don't know if i wanna miss out on these exchanges. it makes my work day tolerable!
  • 2 0
 The moment you notice your kidneys are just commodities.
  • 3 0
 @Treekilla it isn't getting expensive. There fact that now there are some well marketed super high end product doesn't mean that avg. Joe riding products are more expensive. It's like saying cars are getting more expensive because of bugatti veyron.

Right now it's easier to get a really capable dh bike than it was 10 years ago. I remember paying stupid money for a dnm usd fork. Around what a boxxer team costs now.
  • 26 1
 In the first sentence (introduction excluded), I saw the words revolutionary, lighter, stiffer, stronger and predictable.... Just like any other MTB product basically
  • 10 0
 This advert was a needed stark reminder to me that I need to be clear and cut the bs in my marketing for my business. If I truly value and respect my customers and their money then I will value and respect their intelligence in my approach to marketing to them. Thank you Enve for this, I definitely don't ever want my customers of my business to feel the same way I did when I read this advert!
  • 2 2
 I had to check to see if it was a press release. Sadly its scenester MTB writers that are caught up in there own hype.
  • 2 0
 Don't forget 'game changing'! I'm stoked on these as riding uphill on square wheels is a pain in the ass.
  • 2 0
 Fuglio it is a Press Release from Enve........Justifying Marketing gigs I suppose.......I am sure they re-read it 89 times and reveled in it as a kid in a bounce house!
  • 25 0
 Can i just buy the decals Wink
  • 13 2
 I still cannot understand people complaining about the high prices. There are plenty of affordable and durable rims and wheelsets to choose from. Wheels are not becoming more expensive as brutalpedz suggested. There are just more expensive high end products coming out. Some can afford them and some don´t. I can´t and I am happy with the aluminium wheels that I´m running. Do I want a pair of Enve´s? Hell yes! Everybody can´t drive a Murcielago but everybody can lust after one.
  • 5 0
 While I mostly agree with you, some studies show bike prices increasing faster than inflation. As a company if you want to raise your prices on all of your products the strategy is to introduce a very high end product at a very high price. No one can reasonably complain about that. But then you can raise the prices on all the lower end products a bit to close the gap. The industry works in a similar way. If there are $1000 rims, it makes it easier to raise the prices of the cheap rims since they are obviously not 10 times worse. And everything gets expensive that much more quickly.

Though really what I think is going on with most of the reactions here is these are rims people want (I know I felt a moment of lust when I saw them) but can't afford, which causes disappointment and jealousy getting expressed as anger.
  • 4 1
 Lust for the wheelsets yes........Anger about them being so expensive? Not from me. I have bought a FEW sets of Enves from them and from dealers......They are expensive and they are not worth the money in my EXPERIENCE.......chipped rims, spokes pulled through, easily scratched....but I don't ride aluminum wheels on anything but a DJ, and I have even considered Carbon on that (because I can yes), I also have bought Chinese direct Light Bicycles, SRAM, and Easton Carbon Wheels.....Easton are the most rigid, the straight pull spokes/hubs (hubs themselves are the best but you get what I am saying) are money!! The SRAM are holding up good so far, been too wet to really get into them much so far this year. The Light Bicycles will make their debut at the Sea Otter DS and the Enduro on a friends (Pro) rig so we will see about them! Seriously what is going on here is that MTB is just FN Expensive period...........We grow up as kids riding bikes that our parents buy then when we get our own cash we see that this shit is Crazy Expensive and ALOT of the reason for that is the AGE OLD Cause of MARKETING!!!! Someone has to pay for those Pro Deals, Hotels/Dinners at Conventions, Traveling Sprinter Vans, Demo Units, Photographers/Videographers, and ah yes the Proverbial "Pinkbike (insert any media outlet name, I just used PB because that is where I am typing this from) Welcome Event at Interbike...............I hope this long paragraph isn't too hard on the eyes, it was on mine to type it!
  • 8 0
 I am a believer in Enve carbon. Ive been using the 1st gen 27.5 AM rims for an year now. I have cased jumps, burped tires flat and rode thru a rock garden ubknowingly. Theyve held up like a champ. They were handbuilt with Sapim Xrays and I seriously only trued them once and the deflection at that time was barely noticeable. Pricey? Oh hell yes. But worth every penny, even if it means im eating ramen for 6months.
  • 3 0
 I'm glad to read this, I've broken 3 of a different brand carbon rim since November. I've just got Enve rims laced up (bad timing it seems) and am almost too scared to use them seeing as in total it has now cost a small fortune!
  • 6 0
 So what is this new innovation....hookless bead or beadless hook. Seems to me they aren't the same thing, you would think these guy would have the phonics figured out but maybe for a grand a rim I need f@ckin Rossetta stone to understand that logic. Can't wait for the Chinese to bring the price down. Christ!!
  • 7 0
 Not sure if "made in USA" justifies a 700$ difference to these: www.light-bicycle.com/carbon-mountain-bike/carbon-mountain-bike-rim
  • 2 0
 More to it than just American made.
  • 1 0
 Hand made in america
  • 1 0
 It's more about the molded holes vs. drilling.
  • 1 0
 I worked in aerospace, and drilling is not as bad as you guys think. The key to it is to treat the holes with epoxy to stop de-lamination. some 5 minute epoxy, a popsicle stick, and a q-tip are all you need to "wet" the "dry" drilled holes, you don't need much, just enough to "wet" it.
  • 5 0
 I live in SLC and visit friends at Enve every once in a while. I don't mind paying a premium to ride their products (I do get a good deal, but the stuff is still expensive) because it's a great company. Everyone rides, they show up at trail dig days and races, they put in miles and love bikes just like all the rest of us. They support racing at every level. The employees always seem happy and motivated. I don't know outside of my friends there, but turnover is low, that means it's probably a rad place to work and the pay is likely good. They are proud of their products and they do things the expensive way because they feel it's better. They have a huge engineering and testing department filled with guys that are stoked to build bike parts. You can tour the facility and meet the guy that's laying up the carbon for your wheelset.

I am not saying you have to agree with me, and Enve isn't the only company out there doing it this way. This isn't a debate about whether a Subaru is any better or worse than a hand-built Ferrari. They are two different things. But for me, buying a product like this from a company like Enve is worth having to save my money a little longer. I enjoy riding components born from their passion.

Great vid and nice launch, guys.
  • 1 1
 This is the most Enve-encouraging comment I have read... I used to live in Ogden and have hung with a couple dudes from there and I agree.. Solid, nice guys. I don't use their wheels but it's not for any particular reason except I don't really need them. It's not the arrow, it's the Indian.. Right? Wink but good company, and it sounds like they do a solid job backing their warranty, which is always respectable... No matter what the initial durability of the product. Cheers.
  • 7 0
 I'd rather spend the money seducing Kate Upton.
  • 3 0
 Enve makes nice product. Damn expensive but nice....however I wonder if Enve and Ibis are exceeding (aka larger circumference) ETRTO rim standards in order to make the hookless bead work. Hookless designs are actually quite ancient and are of course used in moto and auto..in theory they should work very well but ..if there is any type of malfunction due to tire rim incompatibility then there is a concern with the rims not following international standards...
  • 1 1
 ETRTO says you can only use stiff bead tires on a hookless bicycle rim. Which means no folding tire on those rims, officially. Hopefully someone will stand up and get ETRTO to change their text though because it is pretty outdated now. No reason why this interface couldn't be added.
  • 1 0
 My only issue with "hook-less" rims, is that there are NO "hook-less" tires, creating a compromised fit. I guess we will soon have a THIRD tire bead standard soon.
  • 6 1
 I'll pay the premium for a product like this the moment it does something a $800 wheelset can't. Luckily for my wallet I doubt that will ever happen.
  • 5 0
 "Please keep the following information under embargo until Tuesday April 8th, 2014 at 7AM MST."

Jumping the gun again, eh boys?
  • 1 1
 Well, I'm sure it was 7:00 AM SOMEWHERE when they released it.....
  • 6 0
 Damn. No wheel specific for my 1.75" tire and 80mm of travel? I always seem to get left out.
  • 2 0
 Did anyone really expect Enve to come out with reasonably priced rims? Selling overpriced components is the company's whole business strategy. Thus the name "ENVE". Yes, the price is rediculous, but (rich) people will pay for it because they feel like they are getting an "elite" wheelset.

ENVE is basically the mountain bike equivalent to Apple: They make very good, albeit overpriced, and over-hyped products. The company is not going anywhere in the near future, so don't gripe about it, and just go get a set of reasonably-priced wheels (like Stans with DT or Hope hubs).
  • 3 1
 Caption "First Look: ENVE Debuts Four New Carbon Wheels You Can't Afford"

As someone mentioned earlier this is a "niche" product that very few can afford. However, wouldn't it be nice if the manufacturer reduced the price drastically as to sell more wheels. Perhaps they can spread thier operating/develpomental costs through a wider spread of sales.
  • 5 0
 Enve has their market, lower tier carbon brands have theirs. The nice thing about our world is you can choose one or the other, why would enve focus on competing with guys who aren't even fighting for the same customers?
  • 2 0
 You are absolutley right.
  • 3 1
 I've always been a sucker for silly bike purchases, but this is just too much. $1,000 for a rim? That is absolutely ludicrous!

Ibis just released a wheel set comparable to the 70/30 that retails for $1300 and weighs in at 1650g.

I just bought these wheels:
www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1520349
.... which are also hookless super-wide carbon rims with Hope hubs for $970. They weigh 1550g.

That's an entire carbon rim/Hope hub/Sapim CX Ray wheelset for less than one Enve rim. And they were built by a nice dude in BC.

Neither of those much cheaper options are made in China.

What does an extra $2000 buy? A better warranty, made in the USA, and fancy decals. Even if my new rims shit the bed, I can afford to buy SEVEN new replacements and still come out ahead. I'm not that worried, tho. The rims I got from Trevor at NOBL Wheels are made by Toray, a Japanese company that is one of the biggest producers of high end carbon products in the world.

Enve rims are gorgeous, and I'd love to have a set if they were comparatively priced. Or even comparatively overpriced. But this is just stupid.

Those Ibis wheels are sweet and reasonably priced, and as I mentioned above, there are lots of other options out there.
  • 1 0
 Is my understanding correct that it costs me $1,500 to drop 60 grams on my wheels?

I recently purchased the I9 Enduro Wheelset which appears to be 1620 grams per set. www.industrynine.net/wheels/7/26%22+Enduro - Price $1,195

If I compare this to the wheels above enve.com/products/wheels/m70-thirty-26-m7026c 26" DT 240 15/142 built wheelset, the weight is 1560. Price $2,720

So for twice the price or $1,500, I save 60 grams which is 1/10th a pound?
  • 1 0
 In fairness to Enve, I just realised I9 also has a carbon rim version for roughly the same price of $2,500. But in either case, that seems steep for only saving 60 grams. I would think I would get more savings elsewhere on the bike for less spend.
  • 1 0
 Seems interesting, I really wonder how's this beadless system gonna work out, I'm still looking for enough confidence to go tubeless, but having a rim that wouldn't fold its sidewalls on every ride would be nice. (yes, I do realize I need to improve my riding for my rims to last :-/ )
  • 1 0
 I just bought some hookless rims and love them....they cost way less than these though...ouch!
  • 1 0
 Specialized has done this as well. google their youtube vid.. cranked to 200psi before any explosion off rim.
  • 5 0
 What is the y-axis on that graph???
  • 2 0
 Think its more of a cross section of the terrain each rim is designed for...
  • 1 0
 They were already expensive at $839/rim. Now its ONLY $139 MORE/rim! I thought the bike industry has historically been like computers how the technology catches up and prices come down as improvements are made, not the opposite. What's happening to this industry is just ludicrous.

I think I'll make a super duper, carbon titanium unobtainium saddle and sell it for $500. "It'll save your ass" will be my motto.
  • 2 0
 Anyone getting fed up with or think that the phrase "game changer" is getting overused on this site? Nice rims by the way ENVE, but sorry I'm not a Mug and would never shell out that much money on a set.
  • 4 0
 OMG the price shopper pantie wetters are having a field day today. there may have been a few dozen heart attacks in Pinkland
  • 2 0
 I would like more info on how they improved impact resistance. Last time PB tested Enve DH wheels a rim cracked:

www.pinkbike.com/news/Enve-Composites-DH-Wheels-Tested-2013.html
  • 3 0
 I'm just imagining the collective gasp heard across SLC when Ibis released their wheels yesterday...wider, lighter, cheaper, what's that Bontrager quote again?
  • 1 0
 amen!
  • 3 0
 I can't believe it! A new, top-of-the-line product by a company on the forefront of carbon design! And it's expensive! I never saw that coming!
  • 2 1
 I'm sorry, but as soon as all of you whiners open your eyes and check out the quality of their hoops, matched with their insane 5-year warrantee, I have a feeling y'all will be singing a much different tune.

When you take into account the damage one can do to a cheaper carbon rim on a random ride, without a warrantee program, you'll realize that you're talking about multiple $800 wheel sets here... Over a FIVE YEAR period.

Two years ago, I purchased an ENVE setup on CK hubs. Not only have I never trued a wheel, I've also never purchased another wheelset... And yet, I've mangled my wheels more times that I can count. I mean, beyond the point of where any normal wheel should still be rolling or even recognizable. But what have I spent to replace them? Nothing. Because ENVE backs the quality of their products.

And that, my friends, is priceless. Wink
  • 3 3
 Hmmmm:

superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=702

So 1mm smaller internal width, 2mm less external width, 400g at 32 spoke count and around $450 USD a rim. Are the Enve rims really twice as good?
  • 5 2
 At least the ENVEs are backed up by a reputeable company and won't break the first time you hit a drop. And if they do, there's a five year no questions asled warrenty. You were just riding along....
  • 1 1
 Hmm....

Enve makes a sweet wheel. Is there any way you can Demo them? Sea Otter?


I am looking at getting some wheels this year:

Option one is to go with a set of I9's and a CCDBA. Mojo HD/rp23.

Option two is to go with some Enve's and kings.


Thoughts?
  • 1 0
 I'm not sure about this year's Sea Otter demo setup, but last year, Santa Cruz was offering demos on fully-ENVE'd out bikes... And they were way too fun. I suggest swinging by the syndicate tent, but do it super early to get your name on a bike reservation. Smile Best of luck! See you out there!
  • 1 0
 Wow! $1000 for a rim? Amazing how people are defending the price of these rims. I guess when you have enough people willing to get their asses reamed, why not just keep going bigger?
  • 1 0
 Big prices & then an upcharge for colored decals? Yes they are clearly catering to well to do customers.
All the more room and motivation for credible competition at a lower price point!
  • 1 1
 The five year warranty is nice... But why are some people needing to use it so many times? I ride DH like the rest of you, smash into stuff, get all crazy sometimes but I haven't had to warranty my Deemax's multiple times? I'm glad they stand by it, but I'm either the smoothest operator around or these wheels aren't the leaders in durability that they claim to be? That being said, if you want carbon rims and they replace them for free? Well, who cares? As long as you don't have a catastrophic fail and break your jaw or run over someone's kid... You're out a week to a month or whatever of not being able to ride bc you have to warranty them and some cash for shipping (which is not trivial from Canada)... But perhaps it is worth it if you love them?
  • 1 0
 I want to know how long ENVE will be able to hold the competition (~$1000) carbon sets or be pressured to manufacture in Asia. I appreciate the US made products but there is no arguing that a $3000 price tag is unreasonable.
  • 3 1
 why is there only 29" option for xc rims and only 27.5" and 29" options for the enduro versions
  • 7 5
 Because 26 is going the way of the dodo. Where have you been the past few months?
  • 5 2
 or because you call enduro what other call XC :p
  • 6 3
 Because dentists don't buy 26ers anymore.
  • 2 1
 ^LOL!
  • 2 2
 $3000 wheelset today will cost $500 in 5 years. I doubt they'll sell many now but it's tech that'll trickle down over the next few years and become gradually cheaper to manufacture / buy. I'm fine with that....
  • 2 0
 www.carbonality.com/carbon-bike-rims.html

Anybody tried these ? Seem quite cheap but look a reasonable design. ?
  • 1 0
 Did you look at them, seems gimmicky with the wire in the bead- all that does is make the carbon thinner. It basically does the opposite of what everyone is doing- hookless to get a thicker, more consistent layup on the bead- stronger.
  • 1 0
 Yeah that's the xc ones I was looking at am and dh ones they don't have the the wire inserts I was looking to build some on kings so had to be hooks for me Wink
  • 1 0
 FR600's laced to hope evo 2's for $700 or $1000 for a carbon rim.. I'll stick with "cheap" wheels and upgrade other parts too for the 3 grand it'll cost to save half a pound.
  • 4 1
 As if they weren't already sexy enough!
  • 1 1
 I just remembered that WC run where Rat-boy popped his ENVE Carbon rear wheel and that was enough for me to never look at Carbon wheelset as an option for aggressive riding.
P.S. - The sun makes me happy Smile
  • 3 1
 Then again, Peaty rode all of last year's race season on a single set of wheels, sooo....
  • 2 0
 Remember the pics of Sam Hill's demo after the big crash. Those ALUMINUM rims failed epically!!!! It takes more force to break a carbon wheel than an aluminum one. If carbon broke, Aluminum would have broken too.
  • 2 0
 Bryceland's broken wheel was at MSA last year. The rim was fine, he blew all the nipples & spokes from running the spoke tensions too low. From what I remember reading, the rim was too stiff so the mechanics were experimenting with lower spoke tensions to provide a bit more give to the wheel and make the wheel & tire follow the ground a bit better. Problem when you do that with carbon wheels is that it concentrates stress over fewer spokes since the rims are so damn stiff, and it blew the nipples & spokes apart.
  • 2 0
 Those rim specifications do not justify the price. This I s the mountain world, where a rim last me a whole of 2 weeks.
  • 1 1
 Then you'd probably be stoked on their 5 year warranty... Try some ENVE wheels before you bash the durability of these.
  • 2 0
 Warranty against defects.... I go through any rim. It don't matter on make or model, I will destroy it. I have come to terms with that. I turn wheels into squares and that's not a defect! I don't expect a wheel to take the abuse I dish out on a bike. I'm not the smoothest.
  • 1 1
 Interesting... And no, it's not just against defects. I'm on my third set now just by being brutal on equipment. I race DH, yet every time I've warranteed something through ENVE, they've never hesitated to take care of me. Be it handlebars or wheels, they back their product up to do what they say it will. I can't say that for very many companies these days, inside AND outside of the MTB industry.
  • 1 0
 Oh absolutely. I just have a hard time imagining them covering a thrashed set of carbon rims.
I've never witnessed a warranty like that, and i wouldn't bet 2000$ on it either!
  • 2 0
 Very nice but wouldn't pay 3Gs for a wheelset even if it were made out of Leprechaun shit.
  • 2 0
 Anyways your pretty nice 3k wheelset is going to end up like this : lp1.pinkbike.org/p5pb8921708/p5pb8921708.jpg

Smile
  • 2 0
 If I had a dollar for every "sell my kidney" comment in this section, I could buy these wheels!
  • 1 0
 $3000 rim sets, $2000 Xc forks, $10,000 carbon bikes.. Goddamn bike industry, you really know how much we like this sport eh?
  • 1 0
 hmmm fully customizable well the m50 looks like it says soEnve if you can make the other side, say Much wow. I think they are a steal for 3 thousand.
  • 1 0
 So much yelling on here making my ears ring stop capping words and ending them off with "!!!!!!"
  • 1 0
 Should have published on April 1st with this price.... Nice video. Amazing shots . But who needs rims for 1k $ 200$ no more.
  • 3 1
 For Sale - 2 kidneys , or will trade for M7030 Enve Rims. Enquire within
  • 1 0
 Will they work with normal maxxis ust tires
, or schwalbe? And great Enve, just bought a set of enve am 27.5 wheels.....
  • 1 2
 Like you ride fast enough to actually notice the difference..
  • 2 0
 What has noticing the difference got to do with it? And have you ever ridden enve wheels? Just would have bern nice if they would have given a heads up
  • 2 0
 These look awesome, if only I could afford them.
  • 2 1
 How do i get 28,32 holes?!
A hole is a hole, right? What about 0,32 of a hole?
  • 4 0
 28 or 32 holes
  • 2 1
 For a rider that race or want to achive maxximum performance no bike or part is expencive...
  • 1 1
 Agreed. And everyone else just has different priorities. Does that mean these wheels shouldn't exist at the price they currently cost? No. It just means that whoever is complaining about them has different priorities when it comes to spending. Smile
  • 1 0
 I wouldn't want to do a dh black run with those wheels on I would be scared of breaking for that eye watering PRICE $$$
  • 1 0
 Www.derbyrims.com ... 35mm x 29 or 40mm x 27.5

Around $400 a rim. Awesome!

Talk to Ray

Sylvain
  • 1 0
 I'd go with i9's and put the rest of the money in new components. Just saying
  • 2 0
 $200-$300 tires are next!
  • 1 0
 Wow. I felt decadent spending 300 bucks on a pair of '11 deemax rims ..... A g note each... jebus. ...
  • 1 0
 Oh and yes the do 26" and 559mm !! Wink
  • 2 1
 Enve just convinced me to go with Ibis rims.
  • 1 1
 Though the angry, paranoid consumer in me suspects both companies of being in this together.
  • 1 1
 And this is why I started skiing... Biking is just getting way too expensive
  • 1 1
 These wheels will help Greg win the WC this year - I am going to ask him for a used set.
  • 2 1
 You know who buy those "Made in USA" products?
  • 1 1
 It would be great to see their original rim offerings go down on price...maybe that would help everyone feel better?
  • 1 0
 More stuff for the 1%! The 99% are SOL!
  • 1 1
 Awesome, more stuff i'll never be able to afford.
  • 2 2
 no M60 in 559 and still silly prices.
  • 5 1
 What did you expect? This is ENVE...
  • 10 1
 No one makes 559 rims and tyres yet. It is a new standard that will hit the market no earlier than 2015. People are just not prepared for that technology yet, internet war is still going on because of 650B, therefore releasing those now would be a PR and economical suicide for any major company. Also it would be a waste of potential of the 559 technology. The 650B is still ascending on it's hype cycle curve, expected to peak by the end of 2014 when nearly everyone tests it. In 2015 it should be going down towards the trough of disillusionment. 2016 will show how much up can it go to the plateu of productivity. Right now 29ers seem to be still going up on the slope of enlightement, mainly thanks to Specialized's efforts. The rumour has it that Jared Graves will be riding proto 559 bike in 2014 Enduro World Series, his results will surely influence the depth of the trough and angle of the slope of enlightement for 650B.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle
  • 1 0
 that graph is the shit, i am gonna use it for my MBA, a product that might take the business to the trough of disillusionment will potentially be the new 650b stumpy, there was no design on that bike whatsoever, it is basically a 29in front triangle with an spacer, let's see how that bike performs
  • 1 0
 You beat me to it by nearly half a day Waki. That chart pretty much sums up the whole 650b thing. I'm curious if it will also apply to the wider rims trend, which for some reason I have an easier time buying into.
  • 1 1
 Mwahahahaha, Pantone coloured stickers. Because thats important!
  • 4 5
 We all love mountain bikes and big wheels
_____o^o_____O^O_____biger is faster______
  • 2 2
 Mavic EX823s laced to Chris Kings = best wheel for the money!!!
  • 1 1
 Not all people are rich guys c'mon!!
  • 1 1
 Still waiting for the ovetstock 26" wheelsets to go on sale..... sigh
  • 1 1
 ENVE bringing some of those road prices to MTB…
  • 1 0
 Bargain.....pfft
  • 1 1
 Fcuk you enve no one can afford your rims
  • 1 0
 ya my shit is worth more
  • 1 3
 You can buy the same rims out of china without the stickers for $170 each and build your own wheels for under 1k
  • 5 1
 Sure, and when you smash your face AND those $1k rims, what will you have? A warranty? A promise by a company that backs their product? A fixed bike, a fixed face, or even a wheelset?

Nope. You'll have a boat, up shit creek, and no paddles.
  • 1 3
 I have been running them for the last six month they work great no problems at all nothing is made in America I put parts on American fighter planes all the time that are assembled in Mexico there are several parts on HD'S are made in asia from the factory stop drinking the kool aid.
  • 1 0
 a guy i knew tried to start a business selling carbon rims like those. shit started delaminating, not able to hold spoke tension longer than one ride, and failing. now people want their money back and he's prity much fucked. don't buy cheap carbon from asia, thinking your getting the same product, you're not
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