Stan's S1 Wheelset - Review
Bored of reading reviews of carbon wheelsets that cost more than six-months' disposable income? Well, one of the longest-standing names in tubeless, Stan's NoTubes, has a new and affordable complete wheelset that won't smash your bank balance to smithereens. The S1 wheels feature the latest evolution of the classic Flow rim and Neo hubs, laced together with Sapim Race double butted spokes.
At $479 USD / £350 GBP per pair, they are less than a price of many single carbon rims. 27.5" or 29" diameters are available, along with hub widths and drivers to meet the latest standards. Weighing in at 2134 grams they're not super-light, but have been specced to get the job done in the toughest conditions at a competitive price.
At $479 USD / £350 GBP per pair, they are less than a price of many single carbon rims. 27.5" or 29" diameters are available, along with hub widths and drivers to meet the latest standards. Weighing in at 2134 grams they're not super-light, but have been specced to get the job done in the toughest conditions at a competitive price.
S1 Wheelset Details
• Intended use: enduro/downhill
• S1 Flow 6061 alloy rims
• 27.5" / 29" options
• Internal rim width: 29mm (33.1mm ext.)
• Rec. tire size: 2.35” - 2.80”
• Stans Neo hubs
• 32h Sapim Race DB spokes
• BST Bead Socket Technology
• Rim weight: 584 grams – 29" (claimed)
• Weight: 2134 grams – 29" (995g front, 1139g rear)
• MSRP: $479 USD / £350 (as shown)
• www.notubes.com
• Intended use: enduro/downhill
• S1 Flow 6061 alloy rims
• 27.5" / 29" options
• Internal rim width: 29mm (33.1mm ext.)
• Rec. tire size: 2.35” - 2.80”
• Stans Neo hubs
• 32h Sapim Race DB spokes
• BST Bead Socket Technology
• Rim weight: 584 grams – 29" (claimed)
• Weight: 2134 grams – 29" (995g front, 1139g rear)
• MSRP: $479 USD / £350 (as shown)
• www.notubes.com
Design
The Flow rim has been around forever and the latest incarnation has been put through its paces by a number of brutal bike bashers like Sam Dale, Brook Macdonald, Wyn Masters and Martin Maes on the DH and EWS circuits. The S1 rim is essentially the same as the Flow MK3 but made from a slightly cheaper 6061 alloy over the 6069 of the latter. The S1 rims also come with steel eyelets and a sleeve joint instead of having no eyelets and being pinned and welded like the MK3. The S1 rim also has a slightly deeper rim section by 1.6mm, adding some extra bulk.
Because of this, the S1 wheelset carries an extra 214 grams over the pricier £520 MK3 wheelset, but that weight saving will cost you £1.25 per gram. Price isn't Stan's only focus with this wheelset, as reliability is prioritized over weight.
The budget S1 wheelset still uses the same tech as high-end Stan's products like Bead Socket Technology.
The internal width of the rim now sits at 29mm, which Stan's recommend for tires between 2.35" and 2.80" to slot into the BST–Bead Socket Technology. The BST is aiming to mirror the shape of standard tire beads, creating a seal around the bead rather than using pressure to force the bead and tire sidewall against the rim wall. This is said to help with tubeless inflation, and reduce the risk of rolling the bead off the rim.
The Neo hubs don't try to sing or dance, using simple flanges and 32 J-bend spokes front and rear. The front hub uses push-in end caps that are held in place with rubber U-cup seals; the maximum front hub diameter is 15mm bolt-thru, so no conversions available for the DH crowd. The rear hub has the classic freewheel option as well as SRAM XD drivers made from alloy, that run on six leaf-sprung pawls and offers 10º engagement. There is also a slim plastic washer that clips on to the inside of the hub to hold the pawls in place when installing the freehub body.
The simple 6-pawl system has 36 points of engagement and an easily removable freehub body.
Performance
Setup: The S1 wheelset arrived taped and with tubeless valves installed as standard, so throwing a couple of Maxxis Minion tires in a DH casing was quick and easy. They both inflated easily with a normal track pump (even without sealant), although I did have an Airshot on standby. The tires popped nicely and accurately into the bead without having to over-inflate them to seat them straight. The 2.5" tires still maintained a good shape without getting squared off, which happens aggressively with the same tires on 35mm and 40mm rims.
Feel: The 10-degrees between engagement points worked well for my needs. I never yearn for an instantly or super-fast engaging hub, due to the fact that I rarely do trials on my big wheeler, and prefer the feel of a hub with a wider range of engagement when heading downhill, especially with some bikes that have a lot of chain growth.
The S1 had a great feel and tracked well in their 29" size. I have yet to find a pair of carbon wheels that I am overly excited about riding, as I prefer the feel of a compliant alloy wheel at my 73kg weight. I'm also typically riding the rough and choppy trails in Liguria, Italy, where grip is needed more than support; if I was riding hardpacked singletracks or bermed park, I might be looking for more stiffness.
The rear wheel spins like a trouper and the bearing are still smooth.
This ding managed to impact the rim bed, but the wheel stayed in one piece and the tire sealed.
Durability: For the riders looking at a wheelset in this price bracket, durability is going to be high on the wish list. Compared to some other wide alloy rims I have tested over the last twelve months that are simply stretched out, soft versions of their narrower predecessors, the Flow rim has stood up to the abuse well – I haven't found a rim yet that can handle ride after ride on Finale Ligure's limestone. The rims are not too hard, and I never suffered a pinch puncture on these rims, although I did get a few dings on the rear wheel. There is always a trade-off in this area, and despite a few dents, including one that impacted the rim-bed, the wheel stayed in one piece with zero air loss.
The rear wheel's spoke tension did need some attention; it survived numerous rides but then needed a tweak of the spoke key after most outings. It was typically only a spoke or two that had loosened, but it's something to keep an eye on - an additional dab of threadlocker would likely have helped here.
After plenty of abuse, the bearings were still spinning smoothly and there was little sign of dirt or water ingress into the hubs. Though, sometimes the front hubs caps could become a little loose when trying to install the front wheel which is a pure first world annoyance.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | Stans have brought an affordable and well-considered wheelset to market that is tough and reliable, but not one for the weight weenies. |
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And have prices increased?? £350 used to get you a pair of hope hoops with flow rims.
Note, you can dent an alloy and continue to ride, carbon could have blown up and taken weeks to get that hoop back on there, even if it is "warrantied."
@TheOriginalTwoTone - no carbon rims don't always need a serious hit to fail. that's a vast generalization considering how big differences there are between carbon rims from one manufacturer over another. Same with alu. No WTB rim will ever take as much beating as corresponding high end DT Swiss rim. All rims fail, the main differences between carbon and alu apart from the price is that carbon comes only in two states: 1. perfectly straight and dent free 2.cracked.
I've heard a lot of stories of the mavic rims being soft but I've only dented mine on that occasion and that was racing in the Yorkshire dales where it was very rocky. I've been pretty impressed with the wheels overall.
That said I'd never buy a similar set again as alu spokes are idiotic.
Also, being an environmental scientist, its difficult to continue throwing away a non-renewable resource( carbon), at least my alloy hoops can go into making beer cans and window frames!
I pinched flatted two tubeless tires on that rear wheel. Eventually low pressures and roots broke the rim bed in several places. Carbon is somewhat less than ideal in this regard.
I guess I am lucky that my fork crown pressfit loosened before my front wheel exploded or my cranks rattled apart...
If smeone wants I have 23mm inner LB in 26" rims for sale. Replacing them with Spank Race 33.Came with second hand wheelset, I was after Hope hubs that came with it. I have now achieved the status of a super cool bloke, Hope hubs. All the Brits love me now.
you will see that as soon as the tire beads pop up onto the rim ledges the spoke tension drops about 20%
when building some MK3 Arches I tested how tire pressure affected spoke tension and found that with beads seated that tire pressure didn't matter; however, while building some Mk3 Crests I had trouble getting a Specialized tire to pop up and seat on the ledges, and with a tube inside inflated to 40psi (but with much of the beads still stuck in the centre channel) spoke tension didn't drop. Then removed the tube and reinstalled the tire tubeless style and sure enough the spoke tension dropped
the drop in spoke tension may affect your dishing too
how many builders finish their work with a seated tire for tensioning?
the several pair of Stan's I have built didn't loosen off
spokes at near max rated tension with bead seated, which means they would be over tensioned without a tire, but if you are still riding your wheel without a seated tire your rim is hooped anyway
So essentially, "though they may look the same, they are a completely different rim".
While I appreciate the review, and candidly saying you prefer aluminum over carbon, the elements you describe as being different are fundamental to rim performance... despite their looking the same, they will perform completely differently... it's a little misleading to say otherwise.
That wheelset is going to have proper tubeless bead and weigh around 1850gr in 29" size.
So basically, it seems to be a 30mm EX1501 with 350 hubs instead of 240 (and their only difference is weight I guess?).
1850g for the set.
@msusic : maybe comparing the Stans to EX511 rims would be more relevant?
It seems like it's hard to beat DT, as even the mentioned custom wheels would come under 500€. Or alternatively, Stans rims on DT hubs and spokes.
www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-portable-air-tank-65594.html
source: live in apt, own exact thing
I'm 6'1 and 260 and need a substantially strong wheel build for a new bike soon.
What rims are on the E1700, is it EX471 for the 25mm and EX511 for the 30mm? If so, should be very strong.
For DH and piece of mind I know I'd still look at the FR570, under 500€ for a complete set with 350 hubs.
Otherwise my E1650 (=30mm E1700 I guess) are good for trail riding and 1850g was the good surprise!
Why would you want more rolling resistance?
Or maybe I am just slow