Reserve's New Aluminum Wheels Come With a Lifetime Warranty

Feb 14, 2023 at 14:06
by Mike Kazimer  

After making their mark in the carbon wheel world, thanks in part to a generous lifetime warranty, Reserve are adding two new aluminum wheelsets to their lineup, the 30|SL AL and the 30|HD AL. And yes, these wheels come with a lifetime warranty too – more on that in a bit.

The rims are made from 6069 aluminum and have a 30mm internal width, a dimension that's become the norm for almost all types of mountain bikes no matter the intended use. The SL rim has 28 holes and weighs 500 grams for the 29” version, while the comparable HD rim has 32 holes and weighs 580 grams.
Reserve 30 AL Details

• SL and HD versions
• Internal rim width: 30mm
• Rim material: 6069 aluminum
• Sapim spokes, DT Swiss 350 hubs
• Weight (mixed wheel 30|HD): 2036 grams (989 g front / 1047 g rear w/ valves)
• Price: $699 USD / Rim only: $150 USD
• Lifetime warranty
• reservewheels.com


The SL rims are designed for XC to all-mountain riding, while the HD rims are intended for trail to enduro riding. Essentially, more aggressive riders who are hard on their equipment should likely go with the HD rims, while lighter or less aggressive riders will can save some weight by going with the SL option.

Sapim spokes are used to lace the wheels to DT Swiss' workhorse 350 hubs with a 36-tooth ratchet ring. The rim profile is asymmetrical, which offsets the spoke holes in order to allow for more equal spoke tension between the drive and non-drive side.

The $699 wheels come pre-taped, and the price includes Reserve's own Fillmore valves. SRAM XD driver or Shimano Microspline options are available, and there's also a version of the HD wheelset with a 157mm Industry Nine 1|1 hub for the SuperBoosters out there. For riders who want to build up their own wheels, the rims are priced at $150 USD each.

The hookless rims have a 30mm inner width, and a 22mm depth.
The asymmetric rim profile allows for a better spoke bracing angle.


Warranty Details

With carbon wheels, they're typically good until they're not – carbon doesn't dent or deform the way aluminum can, which means that if you crack your carbon rims it's time for a new one no matter what. Carbon rims are also much more expensive than aluminum ones, one of the reasons why lifetime warranties have become a popular selling point in recent years. After all, if you're going to shell out over $1,200 or more on a set of wheels it's nice to know you're covered if something happens.

It's a different story with aluminum rims – they're less expensive, and a ding here or a dent there isn't usually the end of the world. It's not a stretch to consider most alloy rims consumable items, something that needs to be replaced after it turns into more of a square than a circle and can no longer be properly trued. That's why Reserve's lifetime warranty is so surprising, and certainly makes these wheels a very attractive proposition. The full terms of the warranty are as follows:

General Warrany Policy
• Lifetime warranty for original owner
• Crash replacement rim or wheel cost at 50% of retail cost
• Ship out complete wheels as first option, rims and service credit as second option

Detail on Issues
• Dented rim, no paint chipping, holding air: crash replacement
• Dented rim, paint chipping, holding or not holding air: warranty
• Dented rim, not holding air: warranty
• Seam separation: warranty
• Crack at spoke hole: warranty

Basically, if the rim becomes dented enough to prevent a tubeless tire from holding air, Reserve will replace it free of charge. It's tough to beat those terms, especially considering that we're talking about a $699 wheelset here.


DT Swiss' 350 hub is equipped with a 36-tooth star ratchet


Ride Impressions

Getting the Reserve wheels up and running was as easy as it gets, thanks in part to those handy Reserve valves. Yes, they're expensive when purchased on their own, but the fact that they come with this wheelset is an added bonus. They allow much more airflow than a Presta valve does, which makes it easier to get tubeless tires seated and sealed with a regular floor pump. I've been running Continental's Krpytotal tires in the DH casing inflated to 20 psi in the front and 22 psi in the rear.

I have a few weeks of riding time on these wheels so far, and many of those rides have been in softer, muddier conditions, so this isn't anywhere near a comprehensive, long-term test. That said, so far I have zero complaints about the feel of these wheels out on the trail – they haven't exhibited any unwanted characteristics during high speed cornering or rough landings, and they're still rolling as straight and true as when I pulled them out of the box.

The weight of the HD|AL wheels feels very reasonable, and even though they took the spot of a fancy carbon wheelset that was 300 grams lighter the extra grams haven't bothered me in the slightest. The DT Swiss 350 hub's 36-tooth ratchet ring creates a 10-degree engagement angle, another number that I don't mind, despite not being the fastest engaging option on the market. My local trails don't have a ton of slow-speed ratcheting maneuvers, but even in those scenarios I've never thought, “If only I had a faster engaging hub...”

I'll keep riding these wheels over the coming months and report back if anything unexpected happens, but so far they're sitting firmly at the top of my 'highly recommended' list. The lifetime rim warranty combined with J-bend spokes laced to DT Swiss' proven 350 hubs is a recipe for success – there aren't many other wheelsets on the market that tick all the boxes the way these ones do.



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259 Comments

  • 458 5
 Hold on a second…did Santa Cruz just make the best value wheel set on the market!?
  • 73 88
flag scott-townes (Feb 15, 2023 at 9:15) (Below Threshold)
 Yes and they're about to get a flood of warranty claims beginning with, "I was just riding along..."
  • 221 3
 The rest of the industries alloy wheel manufacturers just let out a collective: “ooh for f$&ksakes, now we’re going to have to”

Great for us consumers!
  • 40 0
 @brycepiwek: Was thinking the same thing. Been a DT user forever and this offer from SC might sway me the next time i need a set of wheels.
  • 34 85
flag SlavikChris (Feb 15, 2023 at 9:33) (Below Threshold)
 No, that'd be Hunt wheels. Best value out there.
  • 10 3
 Aren't these the same price as EX471s?
  • 53 22
 @SlavikChris: if you like your rims cracking, then yes go for Hunt.
  • 12 2
 @scott-townes: lol. Just minding my own biz when a ROCK of an all things just hit my wheel and tacoed it.
  • 1 0
 @seraph: @seraph: what's your experience with Hunt rims cracking? Are you referring to their alloy or carbon offerings?
  • 4 1
 Riding a set of DT EX471 I can’t totally agry with you. But yes it is a very surprising and good news
  • 16 89
flag usedbikestuff (Feb 15, 2023 at 10:38) (Below Threshold)
 Bontrager Line Comp wheelset is $399 and weighs 1960g with a rapid drive 108 hub. Way better save for the warranty. A new rim is nice and all but you are going to have to pay to replace so it will still cost you.

AND MY GOD SANTA CRUZ NO FREE BEARINGS FOR LIFE ON HUBS. Ya hang your hat on that fact like it means anything for a $5 item that you can buy in bulk for next to nothing and then DONT offer it on the thing that actually spins a full circle on a bike. You had one job to do and you blew it.
  • 2 5
 Afraid not.
  • 42 3
 @usedbikestuff: why would santa cruz offer warranty for something they don't manufacture ? Maybe you should direct your complaint to the actual hub manufacturer like I9 and DT Swiss.
  • 37 0
 With the price of Fillmore valves, it's practically like getting the wheels for free! Sarcasm aside, this seems like a great product.
  • 3 0
 @usedbikestuff: not to mention a two year warranty
  • 9 24
flag suspended-flesh (Feb 15, 2023 at 11:55) (Below Threshold)
 Booooooost only. 142 relics be damned. Too bad.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: 471 is for 100USD here
  • 21 0
 @hamncheez: Not where I live. Here, DT EX471's cost literally half of the retail price of these SC rims. DT Swiss is really cheap here, there's basically no reason to get anything else.
  • 15 1
 @suspended-flesh: Boost is pretty much they standard spacing now with a few outlier exceptions. Want to build up your 142's in a wheel? Pick up their rims and go for it.
  • 12 2
 @usedbikestuff: Well if you buy the whole wheelset, Reserve sends a full replacement pre-built wheel, not just the rim. If you buy just the rim, then it's pretty sweet that you only spend $200 on it ONCE. Unless you build your own wheels, the rebuilding costs are always going to be there no matter the situation.

And as mentioned already, SC/Reserve isn't making the hubs. It's not their responsibility to replace worn out bearings (which are wear items...)

At the end of the day, they will replace the part that they made free of charge, and if you bought a whole wheel, then you recieve a brand new replacement wheel. What's not to love there?
  • 1 0
 @bman33: Yeah understood
  • 1 0
 @baconwhiskey: obviously alloy, like the wheels in this article.
  • 2 35
flag usedbikestuff (Feb 15, 2023 at 13:30) (Below Threshold)
 @leon-forfar: SC and Dt both do not make bearings. You are correct. But SC loves to flog themselves about the warranty they have on bearings. Something that costs almost nothing. Then when it comes to wheels, that spin on bearings, misses the chance to put on that sweet sweet George Michael and make love to themselves about a meaningless warranty and they blew it.
  • 3 1
 @seraph: Maybe on their V1 models. Have thrashed an alu V2 and carbon H impact wheelsets for the better part of a year and they're still running true.
  • 12 0
 @usedbikestuff: The frame bearings add up to about $80-100 CAD msrp if you were buying them like you would for any other frame. That's not nothing. You can easily do 1-2 bearing swaps a year if you ride regularly year-round here on the North shore.

SC chooses to replace the bearings that they use in their products to keep their frames running well all the time. It's up to the hub brands if they want to cover the bearings that they use in the products that they make. At least SC chooses to use one of, if not the most reliable hub on the market.
  • 2 3
 @noodlewitnosteeze: I had a customer with the V2s and he had cracks at almost all of the spoke holes.
  • 8 5
 @usedbikestuff: lol Bontrager wheels are trash
  • 1 1
 @SlavikChris: sun ringles!!
  • 1 0
 @seraph: Not my experience, but it's anecdotal so you never know. Hope he got it covered under warranty at least. Carbon or alu wheels?
  • 3 3
 @SlavikChris: I agree, not sure why all the down votes
  • 2 0
 No. Hunt has been doing that for a while now.
  • 7 2
 @usedbikestuff:
C’mon please be serious…
Bontrager line comp isn’t worth the time setting tubeless…
And the hub will break in one year.
  • 3 1
 @SlavikChris: £400 on a set of enduro wide v2 29” last me 4 months. Moved to dt ex511 £370 not missed a beat. Also hunt warranty team made no effort to help. This reserve wheelset is gonna be a game changer and surely will make other manufacturers stand up and notice the need for more efficient warranty procedures. Like if you have spent all your hard earned money on a wheelset sold as “big hitting” “enduro” “downhill” then surely if that wheelset then faults in those intended uses you should be covered. I think that’s fair
  • 3 4
 No. They are really heavy compared to a full DT wheel. Its easy to offer a lifetime warranty when you make overly heavy rims.
  • 3 2
 @ATXZJ: Why? DT are still cheaper and lighter so why pay more for heavier rims?
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: As a wheelset with DT 350 hubs are $100 more expensive and the rims are 100g heavier so why bother
  • 2 0
 @mhoshal: I’ve had Sun Ringles and they are the only wheels I’ve ever destroyed. Wouldn’t have them again. DT Swiss for me. They roll amazingly and the rims are well made.
  • 2 0
 @Ozak42: I've ridden sun ringle since the mid 2000's and the only reason I've ever wrecked a rim was because of my own bad judgment!! Still have a par of double tracks and mtx rims both going strong!!
  • 3 0
 @usedbikestuff: Yes, Bontrager is cheaper. But considering I weigh 120lbs and have broken 3 bontrager rims in 2 years? I’ll pass if I can get a lifetime warranty.
  • 2 1
 @SlavikChris: Ive ran a pair of hunt wheels for 3 years and they have been amazing. I run fairly low pressure with rimpacts and had a few nasty cases and theyre havent even dented or become untrue.

Broke 1 spoke on a snag but they came with spares.

Bearing have held up to the uk slop great too.
  • 2 1
 If you didn’t know Santa Cruz also sold the replacement for their OEM rims for $30.
The WTB ones.
No question asked.
I found out because I was trying to buy the exact same rim and could not find it.
Turns out that they buy the whole production run.
  • 2 1
 @TyBronder: I’m twice your size and have never had any issues with any rims. Running 28psi on everything from 2.3-2.6” tires on bikes 120-200mm. Sometimes it isn’t the rims fault
  • 1 0
 @baconwhiskey: I have been riding their old carbon all mountain wheels for 2 years now in the pnw and have never had to touch them. I have tannus inserts which help but have ridden these at whistler a fair amount amd have had 0 issues. Highly recommend
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: I know a lot of locals on Treks, and just about every one of them has had their rims fail on them. Whether it be carbon or alloy, they are crap.
  • 1 1
 @gnarnaimo: you make it seem like everyone isn’t sourcing everything from formula and somehow because they have different stickers they are some how superior and so vastly different.
  • 127 0
 Basically DT Swiss 1700 series wheels without straightpull, without centerlock and with better warranty.

Nice one Reserve, this is what riders want! Smile
  • 16 1
 I just priced out a set of those yesterday at my LBS. the 1700’s were $1400 CAD. These will come in significantly less. SC FTW.
  • 17 1
 @BermJunky: The trick with DT Swiss wheels is that you don't buy them in Canada... Paid around $ 800 CAD for my set of 1700s...
  • 3 0
 @HeyBaumeister: smoking deal. Great wheels.
  • 4 0
 @BermJunky: if this is correct, MSRP for the full 30 HD AL wheelset is $915 CAD on HLC's website.

Definitely a good deal, less than $1000 CAD for a Alloy wheelset with lifetime warranty.
  • 10 0
 What remains to be seen is the quality of the wheelbuild. DT complete wheels are consistenly good in that respect. It'll be interesting to see how the SC wheels do.
  • 2 0
 @Ttimer: Agree 100%. Did I miss where and how they are built up? Also, is it a welded or sleeved rim?
  • 2 0
 @BermJunky: I got a set of new EXC1501's for $700USD. If you're into carbon. They sailed thru customs with zero duty.
  • 1 0
 @gb8561: where you get a set that price. DM me.
  • 1 0
 @gb8561: that’s crazy.
  • 1 0
 @gb8561: also curious where you got these for that price - can you DM me?
  • 110 0
 Is this the best combo? reliable dt swiss hubs, good rims, relatively not too expensive and fillmore valves?
  • 19 1
 ya this seems like a smokin deal
  • 15 1
 For sure, never cared about having carbon itself but the lifetime warranty is probably enough to sway me to buying complete wheels for the first time. So many complete wheels have a weak link in the spec somewhere, but these seem ideal and the high price seems justifiable with a lifetime warranty. Just hope they don't get massively more expensive by the time they're sold in UK.
  • 5 1
 Not the best but a surprisingly good value, especially for this brand. Probably the only Santa Cruz product I would recommend to a friend. They're heavy, but good warranty.
  • 3 0
 The mullet, 29, and 27.5 are all listed as the same weight on their site, which I assume is an error
  • 1 1
 It would be if you swapped out the rims for DT 481 / 471 instead. You would save weight and money and still have a reliable set of wheels
  • 4 3
 Is this such an amazing deal then? You buy a 150USD rim and, if you break it, you get a 50% discount on a replacement rim. So one could say that you'd buy a 1.5rim for 150USD or 100USD for a rim. Are these rims so much better than the 100USD alternatives (without warranty) out there? The complete wheelset then. I have only bought one of their 350 hybrid hubs which is a bit heavier and stronger than the regular one (I don't ride with pedal assist but I wanted a steel freehub body) and I think I paid less than 150 euro for that one. The regular 350 might be more expensive because it is more popular, but I don't see why it would be much more expensive than what I've got. And obviously front hubs are cheaper too. I'm using other spokes (DT Alpine III) which I think are about 1 euro a piece. All in all, I doubt that even if I'd pay 300USD for these rims, it would cost me another 400USD for the other components to build the wheel. Maybe Santa Cruz wants money for the service of building the actual wheel, which fairly is their call indeed. But when I'd buy a complete wheel from Superstarcomponents, the service of lacing doesn't really seem to cost anything.

Maybe I have not been paying enough attention to recent price increases but to me it seems like this wheel isn't particularly cheap.
  • 1 0
 @wburnes: What would you say is the best value? Nukeproof or something?
  • 3 3
 @vinay: I agree. I think its heavy and expensive compared to DT Swiss full wheel and other options out there. Maybe its better value in the USA but from our side of the pond it looks a poor deal. Im sure all the Steve Peat / SC wannabes will lap them up
  • 2 0
 @chrismac70: At the end of the day, the best deals are for those who just put in a little work and learn how to build and maintain their own wheels. After all that has evolved in mountainbikes over the past decades, this is the one thing that has remained constant. Get a truing stand, it won't go old. My last few wheels I've built using a spoke tension meter and even though I don't think it is more accurate than just listening to the sound of a plucked spoke, actually being able to assign a (relative) number to the tension of the individual spokes and map them in that Park Tool app did help me to focus on the areas that need work and also decide when it's enough. I'm no perfectionist by any means and call it good when all spokes tensions are within a 5% range and I call the wheel straight enough. But I think this is better to do this every now and then rather than buy a "perfect" wheel to then never true them again and ride them into the ground.

As for best value, I haven't ridden Shimano hubs since I moved to thru axles years ago so maybe things have changed but if they're as good as they were back then, they're really good value as long as you're willing to pull out a spanner every now and then. And again, this is cheap service if you compare it to what cartridge bearings cost you. Cone spanners are dirt cheap and I don't think even the cheapest ones will ever get you in trouble.
  • 93 0
 Reserve me a set please
  • 17 0
 DevinciHeckler2023
  • 64 1
 Stickers should be a different colour. How will others know I have splashed out for the carbon set when these cheap ones look the same?
  • 3 59
flag marklangley (Feb 15, 2023 at 10:07) (Below Threshold)
 Did you really buy wheels to impress other people????
  • 50 0
 @marklangley: These are all known as jokes.....
  • 13 0
 @marklangley: yes?
  • 41 0
 So I just need to make sure my already dented rim no longer holds air and the new one is free? Case in point.
  • 35 0
 Case a point(ed rock).
  • 3 0
 Or just make sure the paint is cracked
  • 5 5
 That's what I was thinking. Dinged my rim but still holding air? Time for the sledgehammer! Big Grin

However, the cost of a wheel rebuild each time will probably make me pause.
  • 5 0
 @Aleven: shipping a complete wheel is the first option on warranty if I read correctly, which is also a major plus
  • 35 0
 If the dent is small enough that you're still holding air, then why would you even care to warranty?
  • 2 1
 @dwbaillar: just wait for your wheel to get shipped back with a BMX tyre stretched over the rim, sealed with silicone sealant and a note saying "holding air: $350 please"
  • 1 0
 @dwbaillar: because no dent is better than a small dent so why not?
  • 1 0
 @dwbaillar: because a dent means the rim strength is now compromised in that area. Will it taco on your next big case? Maybe not, but you'd want to fix it eventually, no?
  • 1 0
 @Aleven: personally, I keep running them until there is a real problem. I've even hammered bead shelves back to hold air. I recently did crash replacement on a rim that was to frigged to bend back to working condition and even aside from the ~$80 shipped, spending a couple hours unlacing and relacing isn't my preference.
  • 26 0
 I thought 350 hubs and Fillmore stems alone were $700! Pretty good deal, no?
  • 9 0
 Excellent deal. Unless these aluminum rims have the toughest paint and weakest metal known to man, you can be on a single wheelset brand for a LONG time.
  • 6 1
 DT 350's are not $650 a pair. Maybe $300-350 a pair. But either way, $700 for an alloy wheelset with a lifetime warranty is pretty incredible.
  • 1 0
 @Simann: MSRP on the 28-hole 12x148 XD 350 rear hub is $310, MSRP on the 28-hole 15x110 350 front hub is $113. That makes them $423. Not quite $700 sure, but also not $300-350.
  • 1 2
 @seraph: Dude DT350's never sell for MSRP lol. Right now you can get a pair of I9 Hydra's for $600....
  • 3 1
 @Simann: I never said that they sold for that. I said that was MSRP.

Also that would be "Hydras", not "Hydra's". Apostrophe + S is possessive. Just adding an S makes it plural.
  • 3 0
 @seraph: Props for the grammar lesson! Kids today can't spell, read or write coherently. You should get a free wheelset for your public service.

Now go tear up some trails!!!
  • 3 0
 @danger13: Kids?
  • 1 0
 @Simann: in germany dt350s are selling for 200 euros a pair right now
  • 25 1
 Huh, pretty affordable and Santa Cruz! Those 2 words have never been written in the same sentence before.
  • 30 4
 Better double check your maths there friend
  • 21 0
 Tire Insert manufactures must also be holding their breath.

Cushcore/Tannus? Nah, bro/maam. I got this lifetime replacement policy that covers all the damage I'm going to do to this wheel running 12psi! Send it!
  • 3 2
 I'm still confused by this... probably need to read the fine print. Because as I see it.. I can roll around on 15 PSI and get a new wheel every week?

Realistically though, I've considering going carbon because I'm now at a point that by end of the fall, even with an insert, I've nursed my rear wheel to the end of it's life. So Santa Cruz will just give me a new rear wheel every year?

The current wheels I'm on will send me a crash replacement rim for a great deal, but I still have to get it rebuilt, which also usually means some new spokes and all new nipples.

With this option, I don't see a reason to switch to carbon anymore.
  • 5 0
 Depends how you treat your insert - Cushcore were very specific about them being there to provide sidewall support and tyre compression damping and how that was the primary goal, getting rim protection (which is why most of us buy them) is a byproduct of that.
I'd still run an insert on these, the same as I do on my current lifetime warranty WAO rear rim, because it's far easier to not HAVE to warranty it regularly.
  • 1 0
 @islandforlife: Went with carbon wheels because I’m a total goomba on a bike and usually blow up 4 or 5 wheels a season. Figured the lifetime warranty would actually make them a cheaper option in the long run.
Pleased to discover that carbon wheels are also unbelievably tough. I’ve only broken two. They stay tight and true even after the most disgusting sideways landings and can shrug off some pretty major rock strikes as well.

The aluminum Reserves might be good peace of mind for many riders, but if you’re heavy and like to huck then carbon is actually worth the price in the long run.
  • 21 0
 I did not see this coming
  • 15 1
 My next wheelset!
  • 12 1
 So i can run tubeless at 18psi and not feel bad at pinging off rocks? All I gotta do is keep smashing until they don't hold air?
  • 10 1
 I ride DT Swiss 350s with the uber-beefy Spank rims, because I'm heavy and not very light on my feet, so I've blown up a bunch of hubs (including Hopes) and dented tons of rims even though it's not all that rocky around here. These are priced about what that combo would cost me at my LBS. Going one way or the other, then, would be a matter of the warranty. If this is the real deal and gets turned over quickly, I could see this working out well. If it takes a while - well, that would mean you're off the bike for a while. If you've got an LBS that's on it and not too backlogged, you could get a new rim laced to your hubs in a day or two.

Either way - the smart way to do it is to keep the shitty stock rear wheel that comes with your bike, so you have something to ride while waiting for the replacement/rebuild.

Incidentally, I don't know why anyone would want to deal with anything other than ratchet hubs. Easy maintenance (and no worry about those tiny mini springs and pawls getting lost when you take apart your fancy I9 hub), bullet proof. If you want faster engagement, the 54 tooth ratchet kit is dead easy to install yourself in five minutes with no tools required.
  • 1 5
flag wburnes (Feb 15, 2023 at 12:42) (Below Threshold)
 Well sprang hubs like Onyx certainly have advantages (although the WRP Centrehub is probably a better solution for MTB)
  • 1 1
 Just buy 2 sets. Then you always have a wheel in the rotation.
  • 1 0
 N+1 bikes for me
  • 11 0
 Come on, there's got to be a catch? If something is too good to be true, it usually isn't.
  • 10 1
 Wow this is an incredible deal/offer. Rest of the bike industry is going to be sh*tting their pants. It’s a step in the right direction for customers but it’s going to upset many competitors
  • 4 4
 Why? DT do much better deals on wheels than these. DT are cheaper, lighter and have proven reliability
  • 3 0
 @chrismac70: not in Canada that I have seen regards pricing and DT has system weight constraints on their wheelsets. Not many wheels from them that a bigger rider like myself can ride within those limits.
  • 2 2
 @tiffe: Perhaps its different depending on which side of the Atlantic you live. From the East side of the Atlantic DT are great and these look heavy and expensive in comparison. It will be interesting to see how much the SC wheels are once they have crossed the Atlantic, it rarely improves the deal
  • 7 0
 Is there someone here who can describe their experience with Santa Cruz's warranty system? If I buy these wheels online, what does the process look like for getting a warrantied replacement? Time from claim to wheel being delivered? Shipping costs?
  • 8 0
 I have no experience with the wheels...
But I have two frames warrantied over the years (in Europe) and that's the best warranty experience I've ever had - they replied immediately and I got both frames in two or three days.
Same story with the bearings - two days and they're in your postbox.
  • 9 1
 It's stellar (for frames and wheels). I've had two wheels replaced in the 5ish years I've had Reserves. Submit the claim on their website (takes about 2-3 minutes to fill out the form if you have the invoice, serial # and picture of the damage all ready to go), and they send a prebuilt, pretaped wheel with a valve. They send a return label, and you just slap the old wheel in the box and send it back. I started my claim on a Friday, and my new wheel arrived the following Friday last summer. My first claim (pre-covid) was a 2-3 day turnaround.
  • 9 0
 Oh, and they cover the shipping to and from, at least here in North America.
  • 6 0
 As others have said it’s one of the best in the business. I cracked a reserve rear wheel and I had a brand new complete rear wheel with an upgraded I9 hub for free at my door in 5-7 days. I’ve been riding the same reserve wheels for 5 seasons now. The rear was replaced two seasons ago but I’ve never even touched the front wheel even after 5 seasons of consecutive use (~6-8000k trail miles on this wheel)
  • 6 1
 It comes with super long waiting times here in Germany lately, f.ex 1 year+ for a Nomad frame replacement and months for frame bearings.

A few years back it was great.
  • 4 0
 Customer of a shop I worked at managed to break two Reserve rims. For the first one we got the warranty replacement by the next business day, and the 2nd one he cracked on the other side of the planet in New Zealand and still got it fixed in a few days free of charge.
  • 4 0
 I wanted a set of bearings for my 5010. So I sent a mail to the santa support team, that I need new bearings for my 5010. They answered that I must fill in the online form. So I filled in the online form and 10 min later the same guy from the previous mail wrote me that no bearings are available. To be fair the frame is good but if you advertise free bearings you should be able to deliver them...
  • 9 0
 If we start seeing these on their builds that’ll be way more enticing. They always had shit wheels on non carbon wheel builds.
  • 14 4
 Any indications of where these are made, for those of us who try to avoid Chinese products when possible?
  • 6 0
 @mikekazimer This might be too subjective to answer, but I wonder if you could make any comparisons based on your experience so far. Like, in my experience, RaceFace and Stan's rims that I've owned have been made of butter. They dent and deform and go out of true if you look at them funny. I've had good luck with alloy DT Swiss. I think these are pretty common experiences. So I guess the question is: do you feel like the riding that these have withstood would have been likely to damage some of their competitors, or is it still too early to say?
  • 10 1
 what next? Affordable SC full sus bike in Al? Hold my bear and take my money
  • 14 0
 Grizzly, Black or Polar?
  • 5 0
 @thestreetsofsf: hes from
Canada, so it has to be the spirit bear residing in the Great Bear Rainforest. Look em up, super cute snuggly guys.
  • 1 0
 @thestreetsofsf: oh f*ck... grammar nazi again... I forgot how to internet Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @slayersxc17: yeah I have on my igloo... that is the one for sure
  • 9 0
 Would be sweet to see these wheels on Santa Cruz complete bikes!
  • 9 0
 These will be replacing RF alloy wheels on completes, I bet you $3. these are a fantastic deal, but SC still has a long way to go on value for completes even with these new wheels.
  • 3 1
 @Planetx888: I agree but I'd take these Reserves over RF wheels any day!
  • 1 0
 @Planetx888: literally just bought my Hightower V3 in October with RF AR30s. Now these come out and I find myself pulling out my card immediately.

Good news is I have a hardtail that needs a new set of wheels, so it'll get the RF's. Would have been nice to get these from the factory tho!
  • 10 1
 Well done SC!
  • 8 1
 Pinkbike commenters to @santacruzbicycles : Did we just become best friends?
  • 6 1
 I ride carbon wheels and will continue to because I enjoy how they ride
But when it comes to alloy, I can’t see why you’d ride anything other than these at this point
  • 4 0
 I went from carbon to aluminum and only felt a weight difference on pavement. Never going back..
I have Fillmore valves, would pay $100 not to deal with plain old Presta valves again!
Nice move, SC..
  • 3 0
 @Untgrad - I cringed when I picked up a set of Fillmores just to try them out. VERY happy compared to several other options out there as far as no clogging
  • 3 0
 @bman33:
Only problem is bleeding down to get to your psi.. So fast!
I refill my sealant through the valve, and I’d have to change the valve core every time with typical presta’s.
No more, now I can Fill-More!
..sorry
  • 4 0
 So basically one of the world most expensive mtb brands out there is selling wheelie good wheelsets with a wheelie good dealios.

Man… the aliens are most def here.
But im in!
  • 3 0
 Okay, I guess I'll be the guinea pig; I slapped that buy button. My EX511 rims are haggard, and new rims alone are $300USD. Does anyone know if shipping is free on Reserve wheel warranties and crash replacements? Also, I see no mention of "bent" rims in the warranty details. @mikekazimer
  • 3 2
 EX511’s cost about £60 each. They’re cheaper than tyres.
  • 2 0
 If the warranty mirrors their carbon wheels, shipping is free on warranties. I just grabbed a set of these and initial purchase shipping is also free inside the US.
  • 6 0
 Cool! I can alread “feelmore” money in my wallet
  • 9 7
 Hi Santa Cruz,
what is your experience? Aren't there many more defective rims due to the almost unasked / unlimited „warranty“? Directly half of all those commenting here are now happy to case more and dent rims without thinking. Are there also new hubs and spokes, as with carbon wheels as you mentioned in your FAQ? What happens to all the old spokes and hubs?
Unfortunately, I can't find a FAQ on sustainability on your homepage.

Basically, I think the concept is pretty cool, the wheelset also turns me on, but I would still be interested to know what you think about the incentive to dent the rims and whether the remaining components end up in the rubbish or are recycled?

All the best for you
  • 8 3
 No one has an incentive to dent rims. People want to ride their bikes, not go through continual warranty claims/processing. People are joking here.
  • 2 2
 @DylanH93: of course people want to ride their bikes:-D me too!
It was nevertheless a serious and, above all, interested question.
  • 3 1
 @THFL: I'm sure there's someone out there who would abuse the warranty process but I'll bet they still make more money just by having such a good warranty for aluminum rims.
  • 2 0
 This is backward thinking... Santa Cruz is betting on the fact that 95% of people never dent their rims and the pinkbike blowhards in the comment section will be happy. They'll take care of the small-but-loud crowd and by doing so gain a massive market share.

This won't lead to some increase in dented rims, and even if it did... you can recycle aluminum.
  • 4 1
 Nice deal, esp with lifetime warranty replacement, when I was riding aluminum wheels I'd kill one every year.

I'[d still rather have a good carbon, they last longer, so you avoid wheel failures.
  • 7 5
 So lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects isn't actually that great. It's a legal requirement for 2 to 5 years depending where in Europe you are. So that'll cover 90% of original owners lifecycle of the product. The crash replacement policy is nice but I can buy a ex511 of €70. There is value is Santa Cruz covers the cost of the rebuild but as it stands I really proven reliable rim is half the price what's the upside??
  • 2 0
 DT ($10 more) or Reserve rims will be same cost basically here in Canada. Reserve will have a lifetime warranty whereas DT will only have a 2 year materials/workmanship warranty. Easy choice - Reserve.
  • 4 0
 You clearly didn't read the article. If you dent a rim to the point it doesn't hold air, they replace it for free.
  • 5 0
 Hmm, this or @raceface Turbine R for almost double the price.
  • 4 2
 What are you talking about? A Turbine R wheelset is $200 more at $900 and is a full pound lighter than these.
  • 3 0
 @Zimbaboi: Well, for the HD reserve in 29 its 1920g vs 1853 for the RF turbine R. that's 67g or 0.147 LB.
So I am thinking your Math is off.

When it comes to price I compare the original MSRP, listed here www.pinkbike.com/news/race-face-turbine-r-wheelset-and-vault-hub-2016.html of USD MSRP Front: 479.99, Rear: 639.99. Which has come down significantly from 1200 to the current $900.
So your right, I was looking at outdated pricing. It is interesting to see what the turbine R originally retailed at.
  • 1 0
 @way2manyhobbies2keep: looks like reserves are over 2000g but, still not a pound difference.
  • 5 1
 no hyperglide freehub option? what do they think we're saving enough money that we deserve an xd cassette?
  • 2 1
 you mean microspline? Website lists XD or Microspline, but only 6 bolt. Plus, dt hubs are all super easy to swap freehubs.
  • 6 0
 @Planetx888: He means Hyperglide, for Shimano 11> speed/ Sram NX/SX 12 speed cassettes. DT does offer HG freehubs should people need to swap to that, but surprising that Reserve isn't offering it from the get go.
  • 3 0
 Interesting move. Please do test them with trail tyres as well as DH casing ones though, to see how the rims hold up with the tyres most riders will be using.
  • 13 12
 "which means that if you crack your carbon rims it's time for a new one no matter what"

And if you gave the same impact to an alloy rim, it's very probably time for a new one as well.
  • 4 0
 Not much to complain about here.
  • 5 1
 This is AMAZING. Next wheel set for sure
  • 2 0
 Now bring back mid to high end alloy frame builds with these wheels, proper suspension and brakes. How about an XT alloy Hightower for $7500 CAD?
  • 4 0
 I thought we'd be on hover bikes by now.
  • 5 2
 Is this why their Co-founder left? Couldn’t live with the idea of SC selling a value-focused product????
  • 3 0
 I definitely prefer this direction from manufacturers. Good one Santa Cruz.
  • 4 0
 It would be cool if you could get a set with SL front, HD rear.
  • 3 1
 If you like wider profil rims. I would also go with the Blackbird send wheels from Ibis ! A bit less expensive, and 7 years waranty, pretty much lifetime to me
  • 1 0
 Whilst the rim costs a lot more than a raceface arc hd, when you keep getting the ones you bent replaced for 50% off it will end up much cheaper in the long run.
  • 4 0
 Would buy
  • 3 0
 Well, there they are, my ideal wheelset. Great job SC!
  • 2 0
 Didn't santa cruz also lead the charge when it came to lifetime warranties on carbon rims?
  • 1 0
 Yes. I'd imagine only time is between us and having widespread warranties on alloy rims if this works out.
  • 1 0
 Sounds like you can trash a rim pretty good and as long as it's air tight and not scratched you're hosed. I can't stand wobbly rims
  • 1 0
 Weight for the SL wheelset? Seems like there must be a typo on the website but going off the rim weights I think they'd be 1760g/set. That sound right?
  • 2 0
 if you dent your rim and its under crash replacement why not just break it more to get it under warranty
  • 1 0
 10 degree engagement is too slow if you like goofing around on tech bits, popping wheelies etc….sorry, but I’ll stick with my cheap Hunt Endurowides
  • 2 0
 Now I can run low pressure and bash the crap outta my wheels just like the pros and then get new ones!
  • 2 1
 Maybe they will spec these on their lower and mid range bikes instead of garbage ones that some specs have
  • 2 0
 Maybe? They run alloy wheels up to some XO1 build that are up of $8K. I dont think you are going to see these on any alloy builds for instance. Maybe carbon s-kit and up?
  • 1 0
 Are the rims covered if someone else does the build and the spoke holes crack?
  • 3 0
 There will be blood
  • 2 1
 Did SC make a ton of extras for the bike boom and realize now they'll have waaay too many or what?
  • 8 6
 Are they manufactured in a communist human rights pit like SC's carbon?
  • 1 0
 So basically, shell out $150 and never need to fork out for a rim again, that's friggin sweet.
  • 2 1
 I thought I'd have seen onawalk's take on how bogus these are with the Fillmores by now.
  • 2 0
 Woah. These are my next wheels
  • 2 1
 shots fired at DT swiss EX511. Weight is high for the full wheelset though.
  • 1 0
 Their shipping policy is ‘currently not shipping to Canada’ anyone know more about this?
  • 3 0
 HLC will be distributing them in Canada. Current ETAs look like mid to late March.
  • 2 0
 Are the DT Swiss 350 hubs decent?
  • 8 0
 No, they don't come in a rainbow of different colors. Maybe not the lightest hubs around, but they set the standard for durability.
  • 8 0
 They are my favorite hubs bar none and I have tried a lot. Very high quality, dependable, easily rebuildable and serviceable, and very quiet. The ratcheting system is great because you can change the engagement easily if you want, but just have to purchase the parts.
  • 7 1
 @tacklingdummy: All this is true. About the only potential "downsides" are the lack of bling and a bit heavier than some other options if that matters. About the best hubs around if you want something that just plain works day in and day out.
  • 7 0
 I’ll just repeat - 350s are a solid choice all day long for the reasons noted above
  • 1 0
 @NWBasser: or get the 240
  • 2 0
 @thenotoriousmic: There was a bad run of those, although I think that's been addressed now. The 350 is great for $$ and the 240 is great for $$$$.
  • 1 0
 Thanks all! Sounds like these a good mid range option.
  • 1 0
 If only I could get them in 26 inch. They would 100% be going on my dirt jumper if you could.
  • 9 11
 Warranty against manufacturing defects? Wow, big deal. That is a legal requirement in Europe, so it's not like they have a choice in that matter anyways. The half-price crash replacement policy also quickly loses it shine once you factor in that these are twice as expensive as the proven DT Swiss EX471 or FR560 to begin with.

Looks like a decent set of wheels, but not what I'd call outstanding.
  • 15 1
 But they aren't just covering manufacturing defects. If you smash your alloy rim into a rock to the point where the air won't hold in your tire, you get a new rim or wheel. If you just dent it and it still works, then it doesn't matter, because it is still rideable. Just try to case harder on the next lap haha.

Fair point about DT Swiss being cheaper on that side of the pond. That is due to import costs I guess. In North America, an EX 511 rim is $220 CAD, and rim only pricing for the Reserve AL should be around $200 (I guess the replacements are factored into rim only pricing). The even better value is in the complete wheels. The EX1700 (EX511 on 350 hubs) wheelset is $ 1470 CAD. The Reserve 30 HD AL (with 350 hubs and Fillmore valves) is $915 CAD and comes with crazy (for alloy wheels) warranty. It makes sense that it is reversed over in Europe.
  • 6 0
 @leon-forfar: That's a great explanation.
  • 8 1
 Did you even read the article?
  • 4 1
 Go read again friend. Warranty against crashes too! Smash a rim? Free wheel.
  • 1 0
 Wait.. when does all mountain have became less aggressive than trail riding and something to compare with xc?
  • 1 0
 Dang! Good deal. I just rebuilt my wheels for more than that! Rims spokes and a freehub! Maybe next time!
  • 1 0
 I thought Reserve and Santa Cruz were two different companies? Do they come in Superboost...
  • 2 0
 Got my hammer ready whenever I need a new rim
  • 1 0
 Fair deal. Although I just bought a set of FR 541 on 240s/350 hybrid for 430 euro.
  • 1 0
 First I wan´t to see a test video by Danny MacAskill riding down the stairs.
  • 1 0
 I was looking for a new wheelset for my 2019 Stumpjumper but the Roval Traverse they come with are pretty light 1870g.
  • 1 0
 Id definitely get a set of these for my next bike. And I’d really get a set for my DJ if they were 26
  • 1 0
 Now just give me the option for Hope hubs and I'm set for life. Cheers in advance.
  • 2 1
 Can we have these with I9 hydra?
  • 23 0
 Sure, just buy the rims on their own and lace them to whatever you want.
  • 4 1
 $150 per rim is right on par with DT's best offerings, and with a better warranty this is quickly going to become a wheelbuilder's favorite
  • 1 1
 @mikekazimer: they even have that hub option on their homepage
  • 1 0
 Ah nevermind it is a different i9 hub, sry
  • 2 3
 @mikekazimer: 987 + 1047=2,034 not 2036. where the extra two grams come from?
  • 3 0
 @likeittacky, the front wheel - that should have read 989 grams. Good catch.
  • 2 1
 JFYI, I9 Enduro S Hydra is currently on sale for $746.25 and weigh 1900 grams for the set
  • 1 1
 @mikekazimer: it does now lol
  • 2 0
 Bummer, No HG hub.
  • 4 0
 If you can get an HG freehub, its a tool-less swap
  • 3 0
 @Planetx888: literally pull one off and put the other on.
  • 2 0
 Endcap HWA00100S2192C
Steel hg freehub HWRABX00S6530S
About £70.
  • 2 2
 Probably selling it at a loss considering it comes with the Fillmore valves
  • 1 0
 And the EU price will be?
  • 1 0
 699€ in Germany
  • 2 0
 Helluva deal.
  • 1 0
 Oh sh!t, the Enduro S has competition! We love to see it!
  • 1 0
 This can't be possible.... Someone fact check this and post the source.
  • 1 1
 hold on- lifetime of the wheels - which may be considered 5 years ? or the lifetime of the original owner?
  • 1 0
 Dammit. Just bought some I9 Enduros last month
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer is the warranty for ebike use as well?
  • 1 0
 Santa Cruz CFO: "Reserve? Really? As in 50% warranty Reserve..."
  • 2 1
 One step closer to a disposable world. Cool!
  • 1 1
 DT Swiss hubs aren’t what they used to be. Stop normalizing complicated, low engagement hubs
  • 1 1
 Wow I know my next wheel set and I can ride with with no inserts
  • 1 1
 My next rims
  • 2 3
 £700 for DT Swiss 36T engagement, no thank you.
  • 1 4
 Can someone comment if SC do / provide warranty for non original owners?
  • 4 0
 From the article: "General Warrany Policy
• Lifetime warranty for original owner"
  • 2 3
 @leon-forfar: I don't mean the lifetime warranty. I mean stuff like 1/2 price crash replacement like transition do for example ( for second owners )
  • 3 0
 @alexisalwaysonfire: I believe crash replacement and warranty are for the original owner only.
  • 1 0
 On their WTB OEM rims they offer $30 replacement, no question asked.
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