There is no better performance upgrade for your mountain bike than lighter, faster, better wheels.
Unfortunately, top-of-the-range wheels are not cheap. In fact, some are downright eye-wateringly expensive.
The now-famous Princeton Carbon M30 wheels ridden by Tom Pidcock to Olympic gold in 2024 cost $2800, and weighed in around 1370g for the set.
Other well known brands have really light wheelset options, all sharing a common 30mm inner width carbon rims, straightpull spokes and high-end hubs.
I’ll focus this comparison on the top-tier wheels from 2 of the world’s biggest brands – Trek (Bontrager) and Specialized (Roval)
Specialized’s Roval Control SL 29 CL MS Wheelset comes in at a quoted 1240g and sells for a suggested retail price of R47,000.00.
Trek’s Bontrager Kovee RSL 30 wheels come in at a quoted 1199g and sell for a suggested retail price of R50,600.00.
Of course, these wheels are mass-produced in their respective manufacturing facilities, and thousands are sold worldwide, either direct-to-consumer or via their network of dealers.
You might be wandering if there are any other sensible custom options available when considering wheels of this caliber for your own bike. (In other words – what can I sell you? 😊 )
Great question!
For the ultimate in super lightweight MTB wheels, I have an incredible solution, and here are the highlights:
- 30mm inner width Nextie Alpha 36S carbon rims
- 230g per rim (140kg max system weight limit for XC riding)
- 5-year warranty
- Straightpull centerlockor 6-bolt Endō hubs (HG, xD or MS freehub options)
- Light bladed Pillar spokes and black brass nipples
- Sub-1200g wheelset weight (approx 1170g)
- Hand-assembled with patience, care and precision
The best part is the price.
Only R28 995.00 including tubeless tape and valves, and nationwide delivery.
Of course, all of the wheels I build are completely custom, and can be specified to suit your bike, your riding style and your budget.
Click here to get a free, no-obligation quote for your next set of dream wheels.
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