First Look: Enve's $1,600 AM30 Wheels - Pond Beaver 2020

Apr 9, 2020
by Mike Kazimer  
photo

Enve is entering new territory with their brand new AM30 carbon wheelset. The rims are still made in the US, but the $1,600 price tag is much less than what we've come to expect from Enve, and even better, the spoke nipples are now located on the outside of the rim – no more pulling off rim strips to true a wheel or replace a spoke. The wheels are intended for bikes with between 110 – 180mm of travel with 2.3 - 2.6" tires, a range that reflects the breadth of the trail / enduro category these days.

The AM30 wheels use a new rim profile that has a 30mm internal width and a height of just 20 millimeters, 7 millimeters less than Enve's M730 rims. That lower height is intended to provide better damping and impact absorption, reducing the likelihood of a broken rim.

Enve AM30 Details

• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro
• 29" and 27.5" options
• 30mm internal width
• 28 Sapim spokes, brass nipples
• Industry Nine 1/1 hubs
• Lifetime incident protection
• Made in USA
• Weight: 1883g; front: 876g / rear: 1007g (actual, 29")
• MSRP: $1600 USD
• www.enve.com
The lower height is also one of the reasons the spoke nipples are now located outside the rim – otherwise there would have been a chance that a spoke could puncture the rim tape under hard impacts. Enve molds the spoke holes into the rim, rather than drilling the holes after the fact, another step they say helps increase rim strength.


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The AM30 rim has an extra-wide hookless bead to help prevent pinch flats.
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28 holes are molded into the rim, with 3mm of offset to help balance spoke tension between the drive- and non-drive side.

The hookless rim bead is also extra-thick to prevent pinch flats – that additional width helps spread out the impact force when a tire gets pinched against the rim. Enve is confident enough about the rim's ability to prevent flats that they don't recommend running inserts, although the rim's warranty is still valid even if they're used, which isn't always the case with other carbon rims.

The rims are laced to Industry Nine's 1/1 hubs, which are also made in the US, and use a six pawl driver and 45-tooth drive ring to achieve 4-degrees between engagement points. Boost and SuperBoost options are available, although Centerlock is the only rotor mounting option for now – riders who plan on running 6-bolt rotors will need to use an adaptor.

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Mechanics around the world will be happy to see that the spoke nipples are now external instead of internal.
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The rims are laced to Industry Nine's 1/1 hubs.

The wheels are covered by Enve's Lifetime Incident Protection Program, which covers pretty much anything that could feasibly happen to the wheels. Damage from crashes, running into a parking garage with your bike on the roof rack, or close encounters with hot exhaust pipes are all covered, and the damaged product will be replaced at no cost.

On paper, the new AM30 wheels look very promising, but how they handle and hold up out on the trail is what really matters. After all, it's no secret that we've had some durability issues with previous models. I have a set in for review, and I'll be putting them to the test over the next few months before reporting back with a verdict.





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Reviews and Tech First Looks Pond Beaver 2020 Wheels ENVE


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189 Comments
  • 109 1
 Honestly, these look pretty rad.
  • 60 1
 I hope they test as well as they look. They've clearly listened to the market and if they work, they deserve to be rewarded.
  • 31 8
 Enve could’ve done this six years ago and stayed on top of the game; they had at least a couple employees pushing for these changes quite a while back. I don’t get why it took them this long to read the writing on the wall.
  • 89 2
 Finally, wheels for people that go to the Dentist.
  • 41 3
 1600 bones, lifetime warranty, I think this brings them to the realm of a lot more people!
  • 32 5
 1600 wheelset and he put tyres with different colour logos on them. Some people just want to watch the world burn.
  • 10 1
 Without a doubt, Enve has the name recognition to make an impact on We Are One and Revel, but I think generally it is positive for the industry and this market segment. I love seeing real competition happining with North American made goods. It could bring them out of the boutique niche a bit, and cause future product development and manufacturing to return home. They have stiff competition by the numbers from We Are One. WR1 Unions with 1/1 for seven grams less for the wheelset and $200 less.
  • 17 3
 @Planetx888:
WAO Union 29 Rims / Sapim Race Spokes / I9 1/1 Hub = 1880g @ $1399
ENVE AM30 29 Rims / Sapim Race Spokes / I9 1/1 Hub = 1852g @ $1600

All things equal enve's are 28g less on claimed weight.
  • 1 0
 @KevinMcLovin: You're correct. Above is actual weight.
  • 1 1
 @Planetx888: And that's the US market prices. For us Canadians the price difference will be even greater. Unions on 1/1s are only $1650 CAD. The Enves will probably be about $600CAD more.
  • 3 2
 Looks a lot like Ibis' new wheels, the S35. I've been loving them. I9 Hydra build is $1800 and 1650 grams! They ride like a dream with a 7 year warranty!
  • 3 0
 @Planetx888: Couldn't find actual weight for the Union 1/1 but the Union Hydra ended up 1905g. 45g more than the 1860g claimed. Would the 1/1 version end up 45g more also? Hard to say.
www.pinkbike.com/news/review-we-are-one-composites-union-wheelset.html
  • 2 3
 @big-red: Wanna know how much will I have to pay for this wheels? Sooo.. Light Bicycle it is!
  • 1 3
 @BiNARYBiKE: Probably so they could sell the company at top dollar to Amer?
  • 1 2
 @honourablegeorge: under rated comment right here ^^^
  • 1 2
 @sluggo6: Ya.
  • 3 1
 @honourablegeorge: underrated comment right here
  • 2 2
 These look better than other ENVE offerings for sure, but honestly my friends and I have been super happy with e*13 and Reynolds carbon wheels with lifetime warranty at $1299 a set (and can usually be had cheaper online). Carbon prices for the average man. $1600 is better, but still a bit too lofty in my books.
  • 2 1
 @scary1: Man of the match with that comment!! LOL!!!
  • 2 1
 @pakleni: All made in Taiwan, Made in Merica...wan...
  • 2 2
 @scary1: ...and gets porcelain veneers!! Still well out of reach for the regular Joe who cringes at the bill for a check-up these days, but it's nice to dream.
  • 4 0
 @GLOB-2018: i get bike parts instead of going to the dentist.
You think im joking..
  • 1 2
 Until Danny Mac gets a set to test.....
  • 1 1
 youtu.be/A8fsKeQwplg
  • 3 0
 @KevinMcLovin: Yea, always tricky when no one claims whether they are taking weights with valve stems or tape, 6 bolt or CL, or what hub driver. I hate when people make claims, but are not detailed about what the are referring to. It makes the information they provide sort of irrelevant.

I tracked down a few other "actual" weights on Fanatik, mtbr forums- all over the place, because no one says what they are actually weighing. In any case, probably close depending on how consistently things are weighed. I have to be honest that I am Biased towards WR1 simply because I like how ambitious they are for a small outfit. But as I said, regardless of who it is, I'm pumped to see competitive prices and high quality return to North America, bike industry or otherwise.
  • 85 15
 Paul Aston:
*sniffs air, stares intesly into the distance*
*speaks in a low, menacing voice*:
"Fresh prey"
  • 9 8
 Gotta say, I didn't love all of Aston's reviews, but that write up of the last set of Enves was pure poetry.
  • 4 3
 Only the true pinkbike comment section warriors will understand this one
  • 71 0
 ENVE frees the nipple
  • 1 0
 Is that a nipple?
  • 2 0
 ENVE moves away from inverted nipples........no more retapping after a wheel true. That’s good news. Now let’s talk durability!
  • 31 0
 Nipples on the outside, Oh Joy Fab !
  • 10 0
 just how I like my nipples.
  • 2 0
 @irollones: me like them hard and pointing out oi lol !
  • 17 1
 This is the first set of enve wheels I would consider buying.
  • 15 0
 Nice! Glad to see these from Enve
  • 16 1
 Keep the wheels and give me those rotors!
  • 1 0
 Trickstuff , check them out. Crazy German stuff Smile
  • 1 0
 @mate1998: To be honest... I already have a set .
Made by Intend, not Trickstuff.
  • 1 0
 @mate1998: Intend Aero- Discontinued, unfortunately.
  • 14 0
 Pleasantly surprised that $1600 doesn't have the 'per rim' Caveat...
  • 3 0
 $375 price difference, that is a significant inch.
  • 12 1
 First Enves I could realistically get behind especially with the warranty.
  • 11 5
 So wait - for ~$900 I can get the Industry-Nine Enduro S Hydra, with same spoke count, better hubs, aluminum rims with a +0.5mm internal width, and I only pick up 17grams on the entire set. Why? Why would I pay $700 more for no weight advantage and worse hubs?
  • 3 1
 Because of black gold er carbon
  • 20 0
 Durability and ride quality
  • 16 0
 @ybsurf: And Lifetime Warranty
  • 5 4
 @KJP1230 Literally just because you can afford it.
  • 3 6
 @KevinMcLovin @ybsurf for the cost difference I can completely replace the I-9 Enduro S rims each season for 3+ years, and enjoy a better quality hub throughout the life of use. I'll argue that 99.7% of riders will get more performance from a better hub than from a rim material.

I think a carbon rim makes a ton of sense if you are talking about shedding rotational mass and maintaining strength. That said, I cannot fathom how anyone would justify a $700 premium for no performance advantage.
  • 5 2
 How about the ride quality you get out of carbon wheel? I personally think that wheels should be the #1 upgrade anyone makes on a bike... but that's just me. I would rather run a NX drivetrain and a good set of wheels over X01 and soft wheels (price difference is pretty much the same).
  • 7 3
 @frenchlinesandfrenchfries: I'd agree with your logic, but you're making a false equivalency. No one is proposing that you run soft wheels. I am suggesting that for $900 you can have stiff, wide aluminum wheels AND better performing hubs. As I said, I would be willing to bet that 99.7% of riders will get more performance benefit from the better hub, than from a change-up in rim material.

To your example: All things being equal, you'll get better performance (for the same build price) from a bike with Enduro S Hydra or other high-end AL wheelset and X01 or XTR drivetrain, than you will from a ENVE AM30 wheelset and NX drivetrain. You'd have a lighter bike, better hubs, better performing drivetrain and your rims would be nearly identical in function.
  • 3 0
 @KJP1230: but how well will you be taken care of by I9 when you crash them/drive them Into the garage roof or whatever?
  • 2 2
 @RBorek: I cannot tell if you're serious or not - but I would take my $700+ in savings and I can reinvest that money into a whole stack of replacement rims. Oh - and the hubs are still much better, which everyone seems to ignore.
  • 3 0
 @KJP1230: totally serious, imagine you buy a set of the I9, have a savage accident and write off your wheels. Enve... you get them sorted for free. I9, you pay another $900. Of course I'm not saying everyone breaks stuff, but it's good to have the reassurance that whatever happens you are covered?
  • 3 1
 @RBorek: Ok - so assume I have a savage accident. What is broken? Let's say its super-duper gnarly and somehow I manage to break both rims. Cool. For about $280 (probably discounted through my LBS) I can throw a new set of rims on and be on my way. I am still up $400 on these ENVEs, I have brand new rims - and my hubs are still better performers every moment I am on these wheels, forever. (Seriously, why is everyone stuck on carbon rims vs. the hubs they are riding on?)
  • 2 1
 @KJP1230: you are speaking my language. I run enduro s hydras. They’re awesome. I’d much rather have a top tier hub vs a top tier hoop. Well.... realistically I’d rather have both. Lol
  • 2 0
 @KJP1230:

New rims, spokes, nipples, and rebuild (I appreciate you may be able to do this) would likely set you back more than 280?!

I totally understand the point your making, but for a lot of people the knowledge that they can send thier wheel off to get sorted FOC if anything goes wrong is worth the extra initial outlay
  • 7 0
 I'm over aluminum wheels, I've turned too many into squares. I'd rather have the carbon wheels and not as good but still pretty decent hubs.
  • 2 1
 @RBorek: When was the last time you heard of a hub breaking during a crash? When was the last time you heard of 2 rims breaking during a single crash that wasn't at Rampage? Replacement rims from I9 are $120ish per rim (again, probably cheaper/discounted from an LBS).

In this ridiculous, unrealistic scenario, where somehow I have managed to crash my bike so badly that every piece of my wheel has somehow broken to pieces - even in that scenario I am spending another $900 for a fresh set of I-9's. This brings my grand total to $1800, or roughly the same price as these ENVEs.

You are suggesting that 2x the initial price is somehow worth it in the event of some bizarre crash scenario where my entire wheelset blows up.

Oh yea - and did I mention it? The I-9's will have the same weight and performance, with better hubs.
  • 2 2
 @Alvey72: Is the inconvenience of replacing a dented AL rim ever couple of seasons really worth losing $800 and suffering a worse hub? That's nuts.
  • 3 1
 @KJP1230: What do you have against these hubs? It's not like they're a pile of poop and marketed as roses. These hubs are actually pretty awesome for the price. Sure there's a difference in performance, but overall the performance is enough to ultimately just forget about them and just enjoy your bike for seasons on end. Why make such a fuss over relatively marginal performance? It's like you're just looking for something to gripe over.
  • 1 0
 @KJP1230: no way 3 years cost of rim plus time or money to re lace. We are one on hydra is under 1800$ with lifetime warranty I'm 3 years on mine without any maintenance
  • 1 1
 @shkoogy: I am not suggesting the 1/1 hubs are horrible. I am suggesting that if we use the I9 Enduro S Hydra as a benchmark, then these ENVEs make zero sense. They offer no weight benefit, no claimed stiffness benefit, and the hubs are objectively lower-tier - not horrible, but worse.

The only benefit anyone can point out is the theoretical durability and warranty - and my point is that you can afford to fully replace your I9's every 2.5 years for the same money.
  • 2 2
 @ybsurf: Are you suggesting that aluminum rims cannot last 3 seasons? That is simply...well...wrong. And my whole point is that you paid a $900 premium for identical performance and the ability to claim that you've never needed to true your wheels.

Cool. That's a very expensive price for that arbitrary claim. Even if you don't want to true a wheel yourself, ask your shop to do it as part of a routine tune up.
  • 4 1
 ..And a VW will get you to work just as well as a Porsche/Audi/BMW. Why do people buy them???
  • 2 5
 @Beez177: Poor analogy. In this example, a Porsche/Audi/BMW offers both performance and amenity benefit to justify the cash. In the case we are discussing, the ENVE wheelset costs 100% more and offers no performance or amenity benefit.

Actually, I'd argue that the I9's I am using to benchmark here are better performers. Weight is identical, as is spoke count, but rims are a bit wider and the hubs are better.
  • 1 0
 @KJP1230: partially true but a VW R32 is faster than some more expensive other models. Yes, a Golf is no where near the performance of a 911/M3 etc. That being said, a good alloy wheelset ( think DT Swiss) can offer nearly the performance yet much cheaper. There are exceptions to every rule.
  • 5 0
 @KJP1230: Don't forget the cost of rim tape, sealant, and time spent rebuilding the wheel or paying someone to rebuild it. Bottom line for me, I went through at least one alloy rim each season for years, and haven't ruined a carbon rim since I switched six years ago. Granted, I won't buy a carbon wheel set unless I can get my hands on it for less than $1000. But I personally much prefer a solid midrange hub (like a Hope Pro) and a high end rim than vice versa. I don't want to stress about tire pressure and rim strikes, and carbon has basically freed me from that concern. Well worth it to me (if the price is right.)
  • 3 0
 @KJP1230: everyone has confirmatory bias, don't let it get to you
  • 4 0
 @KJP1230: Those are still pretty decent hubs, and yes, it is worth $800 to me to not have to replace a rim every season.
  • 3 1
 @Alvey72: I'll continue to doubt people who claim that they are averaging a broken aluminum rim every season. But hey - everyone is free to spend their $ how they see fit.
  • 1 0
 @KJP1230: I wreck 2 rims in the same season, none in the last 3 years so might be better for some or not but for me it worth every penny to have something that rides better, feel better and last way longer
  • 2 0
 @KJP1230: I think it depends on the rider and terrain. Hit Geronimo trail on Phoenix’s South Mountain regularly and it’s going to happen. That terrain just destroys bikes. I moved to Oregon this year and I’m much less worried about my rims here.
  • 3 0
 Performance, ride quality, durability, the warranty. It all adds up.
  • 2 1
 @KJP1230: I do not agree with this logic but it's just me.

I personally could not care less about having a bike that is 200gr lighter (unless it's rotational weight) but I can tell when I'm riding a bike with wheels that are deforming through the rough which makes it hard to hold a line and do not snap/accelerate out of a corner.

The other thing that bugs the shit out of me is having to work on my bike instead of spending time riding it...
Aluminum rim, in my experience, require way more maintenance if you want to keep them true without having to go to crazy high tire pressure.
  • 2 1
 @frenchlinesandfrenchfries: sorry but this doesn't make sense. If the wheel is deforming it's usually an aid to you going straighter - no deformation means the bike gets deflected
  • 2 1
 @frenchlinesandfrenchfries: Again - you are a case of n=1. I weigh in at 193lbs, and my best riding buddy is about 220. We both ride long-travel Enduro bikes, and we ride pretty damn hard. Neither of us has bent an aluminum rim in the last 2 seasons.

Also, modern all-mountain/wide track aluminum rims are not known for deforming more through rough terrain than carbon. This model, the ENVE AM30, is being marketed for having "compliance" (i.e. engineered deformation) built as a feature of the product!
  • 1 0
 @BiNARYBiKE: Agreed. On smoother trails, it's pretty unlikely to ever trash a rim, but rocky trails are a different story
  • 1 0
 @KJP1230: I have a stack of broken rims at home. I go through a rear wheel about every 3 to 6 months. I don't even get upset when it happens, I just think of it as a regular expense like replacing chains.

I am 140 pounds riding a 35+ pound 170mm 29er.

Some of us ride more aggressive on more aggressive terrain. When my friend owned a bike shop, I just paid at cost for a rim, then build it myself on his stand. $60 and a couple hours at the shop chatting bikes was no big deal. Now I don't have that connection and I am tired of paying full price and having to true on my frame or pay someone else (though I did find a complete wheelset on clearance for $200 last weekend!!!). It would be nice to just send my carbon wheel to Enve/Santa Cruz/etc and have them send me a wheel back. In the meantime, I will keep a spare set of aluminum throw aways. I now have four hubs to choose from (stock, Sram 900 I built as a spare, Hope Pro2 I got cheap second hand, and the new Race Face wheelset I am using now).

So while I totally understand your argument for yourself, your riding experience doesn't carry over to everyone else.

Found this comment as I am looking at my options. These, Santa Cruz DH wheels, WAO Union, and the Zipps are top of my list right now. An American made wheelset would be a bonus.
  • 7 0
 Inching in just below Revel's new 1/1 based American made wheelset. $1600 vs $1975
  • 4 0
 This new round of "budget" carbon wheels is interesting. Some of the benefits are definitely there, but the wheelsets come in at similar or heavier weights than a high quality alloy wheelset. I'm currently riding Reserve 30 wheels on DT 350 hubs and the "upgrade" was heavier.

Obviously weight isn't everything; the lifetime warranty on rims is a huge reason why I went that route (I'm really good at denting alloy rims). That being said, it'd be nice to see things like butted spokes and lower overall weight on wheelsets to really make the upgrade feel worthwhile.
  • 19 13
 Bring back Aston for testing!
  • 2 0
 Why? Just take 10psi out of any tester's tire.
  • 8 4
 We are one on 1/1 are a whole lot cheaper, also lighter, but at least enve's trying to break the price barrier for once.
  • 4 0
 Awesome! Excited to try some of these out!
  • 3 0
 I love nipple innovation. More companies need to consider nipples in design improvements.
  • 3 1
 $1800?? Kinda High....New ibis wheels with I9 hubs-$1200 with bike purchase & $1600 without purchase. And they are 200 grams LIGHTER!!!!!
  • 14 11
 Remind me why carbon rims are better? Weight certainly isn’t a reason...
  • 7 2
 Cause they're organic....man....
  • 10 1
 They ride better, some like it, some doesn't. For mtb it's 50/50 for me, but on the road I'll never ride anything but carbon rims!
  • 8 1
 @schlockinz: non gmo and free range.
  • 2 1
 if you're lucky and your wheels don't come with a lifetime warranty, you get to buy a new set each season!
  • 2 0
 Weight is a reason for many. Not really for this set of wheels :-)
  • 12 16
flag thenotoriousmic (Apr 9, 2020 at 7:22) (Below Threshold)
 They’re not better. They don’t track as well, feel harsh, cost around three times the price and shatter instead of denting.
  • 26 1
 Most carbon rims aren't all that light, but they can be. And more importantly, they can be both light AND stiff. If you look at the lightest aluminum rims out there (i.e. Stans Race Gold 29 - 320g), they have low weight limits (170 lbs), they're skinny (21mm internal), and they have a reputation for having the ride quality of a wet noodle. Compare that to a Nox Skyline, which is 25g heavier, but has a 220 lb weight limit, is 23mm internal, and is a much stiffer rim. Most people could ride that as a daily wheelset, where with the Race Golds, you'd want to save them for race day only. On the DH/enduro side of things, you get a much stiffer rim at the same weight. Some people like that, others don't.

The other major benefit of carbon is its ability to be engineered and shaped. With aluminum, you're starting from a block of raw material with consistent properties, and you're limited to shapes that can be extruded - anything more complex would be cost-prohibitive (CNC). With carbon, you're building the rim piece by piece and have full control over the various materials that go into it. This means you can engineer compliance in one direction and stiffness in another. And because you're building it piece by piece, you can make the rim whatever shape you want, whether for aerodynamics, strength, or simple aesthetics.
  • 11 0
 Carbon lets the designer create better/different rim profiles than you could with a typical extruded aluminum rim at similar or lighter weights. This is especially important for road wheels where you can create an extremely aero efficient wheels with a crazy weight penalty. For mountain, the Zipp Moto rims come to mind as something that probably couldn't have been made from aluminum without a significant weight penalty.

Also, these are made in the USA.
  • 5 0
 @thenotoriousmic: yeah...very astute. You must do product testing
  • 11 0
 I think this question appears beneath every single article involving carbon rims for the last decade! YMMV, but here’s why I think they’re better: durability And feel. In the early days of carbon components, that would’ve seemed like a crazy thought. But with wheels... I used to ruin at least one alloy rim a year. All it took was a little dent in the edge and they could no longer hold air. A huge pain to rebuild my wheel and setup tubeless even if it didn’t cost all that much. (I admit this wasn’t as big a problem before tubeless but I will never use tubes again). I moved to carbon seven or eight years ago, first with Enve and now We Are One, and I haven’t ruined a rim nor trued a wheel since. I have pinged my WAO Agents off so many square edges rocks where I thought for sure I had cracked them, and nothing. I don’t ever even think about it anymore. Especially with all the lifetime warranties, you may not save a whole lot of money over aluminum rims, but I appreciate wheels that feel great (running lower pressures without anxiety), require very little maintenance, and don't need to be rebuilt and remounted all the time. Consider this: why don’t companies offer a lifetime warranty on alloy wheels? Obviously companies are accepting a certain failure rate on carbon rims and are willing to eat the cost of replacing those when necessary. Seems to me they can’t do the same with alloy, either because they don’t charge enough up front, or because the rims aren’t durable enough. I see alloy rims as a disposal product, almost like a tire.
  • 12 12
 @BiNARYBiKE: ironic that you mention "durability" when the article is about Enve rims

..also, what kind of alloy rims have you been using ? I doubt you would have to replace DT EX series rims every season
  • 2 10
flag goldencycle (Apr 9, 2020 at 8:08) (Below Threshold)
 @f00bar: Can I upvote this like a million times for each line?
  • 2 0
 I've only trued mine ~1x a year. When you have many other time commitments, as low of maintenance as possible is also a benefit.
  • 5 3
 @f00bar: here we go again. Paul Aston can destroy an enve rim at Whistler but surely no one has ever hurt a DT EX.
  • 6 2
 Would like to see a head to head test by Pinkbike between something like this and a Stan's flow (which is well less than 1/2 the price, with similar inner width and weight). For people that say they used to destroy aluminum rims all the time, but no problems with carbon since they switched 7 or 8 years ago - well, the aluminum rims have been improving over the last 7 or 8 years as well, so consider that. Also, you've probably gotten better at line selection over the past 8 years. But maybe I'm wrong - are people regularly destroying their Stan's Flow rims?
  • 5 1
 @trillot: stans flow rims are pretty soft. They don’t seem to last long before they’ve got a flat spot or the spoke hole fails.
  • 1 0
 @trillot: True that alloy may be improving, I have no experience with them over the last few years. But line choice doesn't have much to do with it, riding in Phoenix AZ, you're slamming into rocks regardless. Plus I'm a hack. I don't need a rim whose effectiveness depends on me not making any mistakes. Smile
  • 1 0
 If you have to ask, you can't afford them...
  • 5 2
 97% of people fondling themselves over a 1900 gram wheelset for $1600; when maybe 1% of them would actually ever buy them, HAHAHAHA!!!!

You can buy I9's Enduro S wheelset with (Hydra hubs -28 spoke) that weigh only 17 grams more, for $975.
  • 3 0
 @BiNARYBiKE: I actually like your points made about your feelings on carbon rims. I am trying to "benchmark" these wheels against something nearly identical (I-9 Enduro S, Hydra) that cost about 1/2 as much and weigh the same.

Rather than think of it as the net-loss for "what if" you need to replace or true a rim each season, ask the inverse: If offered an $800 payment AND better hub performance, and in exchange you had to true or replace a rim once a year, would you do it?
  • 2 3
 @KJP1230: I understand your argument, but I begin to ask myself if the money savings is worth the waste I am creating. Even if I had to replace my alloy rims every year for 4 years to make up the cost for the Enve Wheelset that I never have to replace, I think I would rather choose the product that, in my hands, creates less waste. I'm not going to dive into the manufacturing processes of alloy and carbon rims. But if I can buy a Wheelset that lasts much longer even if it costs more, I prefer to create less waste.
  • 4 0
 @Spencermon: When you are talking about less waste with carbon, it's a hard argument to make. Aluminum is easily recycled repeatedly. Carbon cannot be recycled. So I don't know if the waste piece is totally fair
  • 2 0
 @KJP1230: I just responded to your comments in another spot. Your points are good too. For me there's a threshold where carbon is worth it. I wouldn't do these wheels at full price. But for example We Are One, or Santa Cruz at a decent discount? Worth it to me. I truly hate replacing rims, setting up tubeless, etc. It's a huge burden on my time, aside from the cost. I feel like carbon is my best bet for a rim that I don't have to worry about, and I really appreciate that. If I can ride a set for three to five years without a problem, I'm stoked.
  • 1 0
 Performance, ride quality, stiffness.
  • 2 0
 @BiNARYBiKE: Zipp moto 30. They're awesome
  • 2 1
 @goldencycle: I understand. I just always get annoyed when people use the price and durability argument to imply that they can replace something 4 times (creating much more waste) for the same price as something that lasts 4 times as long. Even if that alloy rim gets recycled, it still had to be manufactured and that creates it's own waste. Along with everything associated with selling product, transport, packaging etc.
  • 2 0
 @Spencermon: I think that the point many of us would make is that claims that carbon rims are much more durable than aluminum are vastly overstated, and anecdotal at best. When we say: "I can afford to completely replace my wheelset every 2 years and still be cheaper than this set!", I am not arguing that I think I will actually have to do that.

Even if one needs to replace a rim every now and then, let's not pretend that they are somehow harming the environment by swapping out 400 grams of aluminum once a year. You could offset ecological impact by ride sharing to my local trailhead once a year.

No one is saving the environment by choosing carbon rims.
  • 2 0
 @KJP1230: very true. I mostly just play devils advocate on here anyway. I'm not buying ENVE wheels right now. Neither of our arguments are rock solid is all I'm really getting at.
  • 1 1
 @Spencermon: Not to mention the huge amount of energy it takes to reprocess metal
  • 4 5
 I just laced up a set of i9 Hydra hubs on Stans Arch mk3 aluminum rims. 1588 grams with DT revolution spokes (29") and just under $1,000.

Thats 200 grams lighter, $600 cheaper, with TOP of the line hubs.

I struggle with the idea of i9's entry/mid level hubs on a $1,600 wheelset. I just don't see it...
  • 3 0
 What rotors are those?
  • 1 0
 Intend but they're not making them anymore
www.intend-bc.com/products/disc-rotors/aero
  • 1 0
 Pretty sure they are Intend
  • 1 0
 They are Intend Aero rotors. www.intend-bc.com although their website seems to be down at the moment.
  • 1 0
 @KevinMcLovin: yea, a shame as they are rad af
  • 1 0
 you can buy them here. shop.brake-stuff.de/bremsscheiben/6-loch-is2000/75/punch-disc-bremsscheibe-mit-30-mehr-abkuehlflaeche-avid-magura-shimano-kompatibel

they made them for intend
  • 1 0
 @rfchambers: cheers!
  • 1 0
 @PB-J: those rotors excite me more than the wheels do.
  • 2 0
 How much does just a rim weigh? 27.5 and 29
  • 5 0
 29"-510g / 27.5"-470g It's on their website
  • 1 0
 @KevinMcLovin: thanks, I tried the website, it never loaded properly for me.
  • 2 0
 ON a first glance I decide the name of the wheels should be RAMBO .lol.
  • 5 4
 1600 for a wheel with 101 hubs...... wow enve continues to baffle me. You can get cheaper and better imo from i9
  • 6 6
 OK, lifetime all encompassing warranty is worth something.

But for $1600 I can build a way better set of wheels that I'll likely never need to warranty.
  • 5 1
 @BiNARYBiKE: Shit happens. What wheels could you possibly build that you would never break/damage either riding or accidentally?
  • 3 9
flag alexisfire (Apr 9, 2020 at 12:23) (Below Threshold)
 They're enve. You'll need that warranty
  • 2 1
 @RBorek: Didn't say never, I said unlikely. I have several sets of wheels that are 3 - 5 years old that I never cracked a rim. I wouldn't send a wheel out for warranty for a couple spokes or nipples anyway.
  • 7 0
 @alexisfire: I've been riding ENVE wheels for eight years and have yet to need to use the warranty. Nice to know it's there though.
  • 1 0
 Do these wheels have a rider weigth restriction and does it affect the warranty?
  • 1 3
 Writing from personal experience, try Acros Enduro carbon wheels.
Lighter, cheaper, and pretty darn strong wheels.
Doesn't have any relation with the company except using their products.
acros-components.com/products/mountain/laufraeder/409/enduro-carbon-laufradsatz-29?c=86
  • 4 3
 That spoke hole looks drilled, not “molded in.”
  • 9 0
 The access holes to the nipples are drilled, the hole in the spoke face of the rim is what is molded and what matters in terms of maintaining strength and creating a conical seat in which the nipple can articulate with the exit angle of the spoke.
  • 2 2
 @Jakerdude: aah, that explains it. Still, feels a bit misleading, even if it matters less.
  • 2 0
 The spoke holes look molded, the nipple holes look drilled.
  • 1 0
 @Paddock22: Think you’re right, not sure it’s that big of a deal tbh since no one else does it
  • 2 0
 @PB-J: correct. The nipple access holes in all ENVE rims are drilled, it's the spoke hole itself that is moulded. Moulding the nipple access hole would be a huge complication for an area where it doesnt make a difference.
  • 2 0
 No rim only option?
  • 7 6
 So, still at least $500 CAD more than W.A.O., or Noble. Got it.
  • 1 1
 Not keen on the graphics, good to see that the spoke holes are molded and not drilled, according to their website.
  • 11 12
 Who in the world still even considers Enves??? This is a very crowded segment with many superior wheelsets, without all their history of problems, at a much better price!
  • 2 1
 What's not to like about this!
  • 2 1
 PSA: I9 hydra hubs laced to nobl's new rims - $1500
  • 1 1
 The Enve fanboy force is strong here... just look at the downvotes on perfectly legitimate comments.
  • 12 14
 For $1800 you can get We Are One wheels with Onyx hubs. I don’t understand why they would put 1/1 on these wheels. No thank you!
  • 10 9
 You can also get We Are One's with Hydra hubs for the same $1600.
  • 8 0
 @tgent: 1600CAD, so like 3USD.
  • 3 0
 @turco999: Lol excuse me, $1650 'Murican freedome dollars.
  • 1 0
 @tgent: Shit, forgot about that pesky imperial conversion factor.
  • 2 2
 And for 1500 USD you could get NOBL's with Onyx or Hydras
  • 2 2
 @maxmcculloch: hard to argue with that.
  • 3 5
 1,599 CAD for a set of We Are One The Union, their top of the line product... There’s no debate here
  • 2 5
 After they crashed and burned with that pinkbike review they knew it was time for a change.
  • 2 4
 So they’re copying Ibis
  • 3 5
 Dick Pound
  • 2 5
 Still too much for plastic rims
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