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.
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.
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.
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.
www.pinkbike.com/news/review-we-are-one-composites-union-wheelset.html
You think im joking..
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.
*sniffs air, stares intesly into the distance*
*speaks in a low, menacing voice*:
"Fresh prey"
Made by Intend, not Trickstuff.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Also, these are made in the USA.
..also, what kind of alloy rims have you been using ? I doubt you would have to replace DT EX series rims every season
You can buy I9's Enduro S wheelset with (Hydra hubs -28 spoke) that weigh only 17 grams more, for $975.
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?
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.
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...
www.intend-bc.com/products/disc-rotors/aero
they made them for intend
But for $1600 I can build a way better set of wheels that I'll likely never need to warranty.
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
*puts hand to earpiece*
Hold on, I'm getting breaking news from my producer.
"Wait, what? Uh huh. Uh huh. Uh huh. I see. CUT TO COMMERCIAL! CUT TO COMMERCIAL!!!"
No thanks
This wheelset with I9 101 hubs = $1600USD or roughly $2236 Canadian...... and for no lifetime warranty ???
We are One wheelset with I9 Hydras.... = $1875 Canadian with lifetime warranty and insane customer service.
Sorry enve but I will choose Weareone all day long. Get in touch with reality
I've seen carbon wheel warranties refused because of self-builds, bike rack being too close to the exhaust, etc.
You saying "no lifetime warranty" = you can't even read the article you're flaming.
And I'd say that the canadian made rim should be cheaper in canada, and the USA made rim be cheaper in the USA, which is pretty close to how it's working out here.
External Nipples- Should have been some from the start.
$1600 - More Money than WR1
I9 Hubs- Good start.
30mm Width - be more specific for each riding segment please.
Overall, a step in the right direction, but a swing and a miss.
External nipples - can only ever be a good thing
$1600 - US made carbon wheels in a time of crisis are good
I9 hubs - k
30mm width - sweet spot for most disciplines from trail to dh