ENVE's New Carbon Rim and Protective Insert - Crankworx Whistler 2017

Aug 16, 2017
by Mike Levy  
ENVE


There's been rumors and the odd sighting here and there of ENVE carbon rims running what looks to be some sort of integrated strip designed to provide a bit of added protection, but this is our first proper look at what appears to be that system mounted to a new rim design. The strip, which likely also seals the rim bed to make for easy tubeless conversions, looks like it wraps up and over the rim's sidewall, and the intention is probably twofold: first, it insulates the rim from rock strikes; second, it probably lessens the chance of a tire being cut by the rim itself during one of those worst case scenario moments that can happen every so often.

The rim itself is also a new design, with more of a triangular cross-section to it and a bit lower height overall. My guess is that the new shape is designed to be a bit more forgiving than ENVE's current rims, but we'll have to wait for the official word from the Utah-based composites company before knowing the claimed reason for the change in shape. The spoke nipples are, unfortunately, still internal, which makes touching them up a bit of pain in the ass.

There's no word on availability or pricing yet, or if the new design is going to completely replace ENVE's current range of rims, but we'll likely have more information soon.
ENVE
Spot that thin strip at the bead? That is likely an insert that seals the rim bed and adds protection.


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Reviews and Tech Crankworx ENVE


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72 Comments
  • 35 1
 Internal nipples, no deal!!! I've cracked two ENVE's and seen enough LB rims be just fine to believe that this internal nipple crap is in any way important.
  • 133 2
 Tell me about it. My mom had internal nipples so I had to suckle from a bottle of formula.
  • 38 4
 @scottay2hottay: Pics please.
  • 55 4
 @chasejj: dad says no sry
  • 1 10
flag aaronglose (Aug 16, 2017 at 20:28) (Below Threshold)
 @scottay2hottay:
  • 19 0
 Yep. Blah blah blah smaller spoke holes make for stronger rims.....except some other brands use external nipples with no detriment to rim integrity. If you charge the price of a passable hardtail for rims (just rims, not wheels) then science the shit out of this so you can meet your strength/durability/ride quality targets without making each truing an ordeal.


No....wait a minute. These rims are exotic stuff. Like Ferraris they perform really well, but suuuuuuuck to work on. Also like Ferraris, they're made for rich folks who have shop guys do all their service.
  • 1 1
 been riding 2014 fulcrum red heats for a year now,true as a ruler and never had a loosened up spoke!
  • 4 0
 @scottay2hottay: this made my day, you are freakin hilarious. Smile
  • 5 0
 God didn't place our nipples internally for a reason.
  • 2 0
 @peleton7: hence they are finding the Ferrari's owners to own this rims.
  • 20 1
 Spot that thin strip at the bead? Looks like ghetto tubeless, and we've been doing that for 12+ years at least.
  • 5 0
 They have renamed it to "ghetto fabulous" to justify the price increase.
  • 1 0
 This is a hard plastic that is molded to fit the rim perfectly, they've been around for 2 seasons now
  • 15 1
 Work on your pricing enve, then we'll talk.
  • 15 2
 Next thing we know, ENVE releases aluminium rim...
  • 3 1
 Trying to bridge the price gap aswell
  • 13 1
 paging wayne Parsons for a we are one Canadian rim blah blah blahhhh
  • 10 1
 Buddy cracked a rim, a grand Canadian for "crash replacement". They look wicked but not sure if the 3 - 4 grand is worth the cost.
  • 5 2
 Not sure? Not sure? For 1k in U.K. Money I'd want to be able to drop my bike from a cliff onto an upturned anvil and there not be a scratch. How anyone can justify them is completely beyond me and I'm not poor!
  • 3 1
 @cunning-linguist: then , You must be smart Wink
  • 1 0
 Not sure are you?
  • 1 0
 @richierocket: Meow!!!
  • 9 1
 You pro or rich 1%-er? Then ride and break these.

You not pro? Then spend the thou$and$ to travel & ride somewhere new. Enrich your life.

It's ridiculous what people think is important these days.
  • 2 1
 Or know someone how works there!
  • 5 1
 Given what my rims look like after a month of use, you would think a set of $1500 hoops would come with some kind of 3m wrap to prevent rocks from chipping away at them. I know it's mostly cosmetic but that would anger me if I ever felt so compelled to buy such a novelty.
  • 7 3
 I'm seeing less and less of a reason for carbon rims - same weight, more likely to fail, too stiff, more expensive than al. And get a buil in rim strip to try cover some of the lackings. Lol
  • 3 0
 I bought light bycile carbon rims at the end of 2014 , they have seen a lot of abuse and the frontwheel has never been trued to date -the rear once. easy to setup tubeless (btw Hope what were you thinking designing your enduro rims !?) awesome rims awesome price.if your an ews rocksmasher going al is probably the safer route- otherwise the perfect rim
  • 1 0
 @optimumnotmaximum: To be fair I've smashed my LB rims into some horrendous rocks and, whilst the noise is nasty, they have always come out fine. That included a day in Spain where I somehow destroyed a spoke and spent most of the day with only 31 spokes on the rear wheel, and that was close to fill in downhill tracks for some of the day...
  • 4 0
 "probably lessens the chance of a tire being cut by the rim itself during one of those worst case scenario moments that can happen every so often."

You mean, "will only ever happen in your race runs."
  • 8 2
 I could buy 6 Fords for that
  • 6 4
 Been using Flows for years, and always been pleased with them, but just got on my first pair of DT Swiss's, the XM481 that came with my Yeti SB5.5 and I can't tell you enough how impressed I am with the stiffness and stability. 4 months of hammering and they're as true as the day I got them. Wouldn't think twice about getting another pair.
  • 1 0
 What - using experience to judge which you prefer!?!

I couldn't stomach the cost of Enve's but have LB rims - I agree in that the free speed they feel they are giving you is addictive.
  • 1 0
 @slimboyjim: i rode them back to back with the hope wheelset i bought for smashing - botom line is , the lb wheels feel so much faster i sold the hopes (did i mention: Hope what were you thinking designing the inner profile / offset holepositioning on the enduro rims -nightmare to set up tubeless)
  • 5 0
 Specialized has molded rim strips that extend over the bead hook patented: www.google.com/patents/US8544514
  • 1 0
 That says Hutchinson. Here's the Specialized one:

www.freshpatents.com/-dt20170223ptan20170050464.php

It's different in that the rim strip itself acts as the rim's bead hook, and is therefore replaceable after being dinged. The rim itself can be a tubular, technically.
  • 2 0
 Value/performance new may not be there, but a used pair at 1k is maybe the best spend I've ever made in my bike. They absolutely transform the ride..... haters always come out when they want but cant have. Faster and more confident in corners, and instantly transfer the power to the ground without spinup.... cant argue they flat out work. I think the internal spokes help to stiffen the wheel a touch more via shortening the spokes a bit, thus less flex.
  • 1 0
 Internal nips require longer spokes, not shorter, all else being equal. Glad you like your wheels though.
  • 2 0
 with all the advertising enve get's on articles on this site and all the negative comments they get, I have always hoped that enve would come into the comments and show that they are trying to make things right when lots of people are reporting failures of super expensive rims. but you never see them pop in; there are so many great manufacturers of carbon rims nowadays doing it better and cheaper that i dont possibly see a reason to buy enve.
  • 8 3
 Could be worse, you could buy a MAVIC wheelset...
  • 2 0
 Always thought why didn't some one do a removable replaceable aloy rim lip on a carbon rim. Have best of both kind of thing. Not be cheap or easy but gotta make them way more impact resistant
  • 2 0
 It's not that easy. When you put alloy on carbon it will show a chemical reaction. It's a slow Reaktion but the alloy will oxidize
  • 2 1
 Give it up to the dentist who buys this technology. A few years from now I will have something between tire and rim that works, doesn't cost or weigh much. Enve/Magic/Solomon have a few engineers to reinvent the wheel. Maybe a tire maker will save us all.
  • 1 0
 Overpriced Carbon.. Always was, still is. They created the segment sure and thanks! But there are superior products Offshore and domestic that are 1/4-1/3 the price for just as good a quality and as good if not better warranty!

#weareonecomposites @WeAreOne @nextie
  • 1 0
 I have Enves and absolutely love them! I'm a hack rider who likes to try and go fast resulting it a multitude of beat to shit rims. Since I have had Enves I have yet to tru them or need to do anything. I did just recently get cush core because I keep blowing through tires in true desert hack fashion and would rather not crack a rim. As for LB rims I have had three friends blow up four rims...one of which came off Giant carbon rims that he had zero issues with. He went on to blow up two "enduro" LB rims within 2 months so everyone has different experiences. Don't get me wrong Enves are over priced that's why I bought takeoffs for half price and with the competition ramping up and prices coming down they better follow suit but to say they are shit rims is f*cking absurd.
  • 4 0
 they should call that strip the "dental dam"
  • 3 1
 has anybody here seen a mortal MTBer running ENVE, or have i just not been looking hard enough?
  • 8 0
 Come to Southern California
  • 7 0
 Take a quick trip to northern Utah and we ask the same question about people who don't ride Enve.
  • 4 0
 I passed an older couple on a climb once that had His and Hers 5010's w/ enves. They seemed to be having a grand o' time.
  • 2 0
 See kids with them in the Whistler Bike Park from time to time... also see fake ENRE's now and then.
  • 2 0
 Surrey hills! Where 1 in every 3 people is riding a £5k plus Santa Cruz!
  • 2 0
 Heaps in aus too
  • 1 0
 @S3tigoHide: I've ridden with them! Super nice people, I think he's a retired doctor and she's a retired nurse.
  • 1 0
 I have a set and have been tempted to remove the stickers multiple times just to avoid all the opinions people have about them and them thinking i'm a dentist. Believe it or not they perform just as well when people arent looking at you because of the stickers.
  • 5 4
 DERBY RIMS FOR THE WIN!!! Good pricepoint and good warranty. Still can't beat 60-80$ for a decent alloy rim that will take hits and keep on working day in day.
  • 1 0
 Derby Rims if your really need carbon rims that are way heavier than aluminum.
  • 1 0
 I had a pair 2 years ago: the rear lasted exactly 2 runs (in rocky terrain, everything has to be said). Then they replaced the rim and lasted for 3 months before it got cracked and then exploded.

They gave me a new one, sold them and I don't want any carbon rim for DH since then.
  • 4 1
 Flashback to Maxxis rim strips of 2000ish vintage
  • 3 0
 Value:Performance ratio is just not there.
  • 2 0
 weareone is looking good too and made in canada which is rad
  • 4 0
 Nobl cough Nobl
  • 2 0
 I'm so glad I dislike plastic parts.... I'll let some of you support this crazy stuff.
  • 2 0
 Enves are a pain in the ass!!! Period. Never would buy a set
  • 1 0
 "...lower profile...designed to be a bit more forgiving." Uh, you mean like alu rims?
  • 1 0
 Yay, ENVE 'invent' ghetto tubeless and charge us many $$$s for the privilege
  • 1 0
 Enve rims are ok but I really shred on my sets built with Adultere and Gluttone rims.
  • 5 3
 Still way to overpriced!
  • 12 2
 too
  • 1 1
 About tired of this exotic crap. Get a job and save up for a few months. Bam! New $3k wheelset!
  • 1 0
 Luescher Teknik should get some production samples for inspection Wink
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