In the not too distant past, Reynolds showed off a 910g full carbon wheelset called the RZR 46. It cost $6,000 and had a 180lb rider weight limit and used this triple spoke mount hub.
The problem was, it cost $6,000, had a 180lb rider weight limit and the UCI didn’t care too much for its UD carbon fiber rim construction.
Enter the new RZR 46 Team wheels, which solves two of those problems…which two we’ll cover after the break. There’s also some hot new carbon rimmed XC and All Mountain wheels, a new 92mm deep aero RZR and all new brake track technology that all of their carbon rims will get for 2011. Make the jump to see it all…
The second generation of the RZR concept was made to be more accessible than the 910g RZR 46. And by more accessible, we mean that the team ones have a 220lb rider weight limit thanks to the different carbon makeup of the rim…they’re still $6,000 per set.
The original RZR 46 (above and below right) had a rim composed only of unidirectional (UD) carbon, which could shatter into pokey edges if wrecked into a square edged bump hard enough.
The Team model (left) has Kevlar woven into the rim, which is the “V” pattern on the sidewalls. The woven carbon fiber on the brake track is merely to make it dissipate heat better than the UD finish on the regular version. The Kevlar weave also makes the Team version UCI compliant by helping not only strengthen the wheel, but by preventing it from shattering and having any sharp protrusions if you hit a big square bump.
The third spoke flange tilts the angle of the spoke to improve torque transfer. All of the spokes mounted to the outer flanges are straight pull. Check out the sweet machining on the freehub body.
The front hub resembles similar treats from Lightweight and Mavic shown in years past.
At just 1,199g for the Team version, they’re still among the lightest wheels out there. If you really think about it, though, how many racers willing to spend $6K are over 180lbs anyway, but the added protection and strength are probably worth the ~300g.
The other new one is the 92.2mm deep aero wheel. It has a very wide 27mm rim, which lets a 23c tire nestle in the groove and puts the sidewall parallel with the brake track, creating a smooth surface. The depth of the rim corresponds as a percentage of the width for aerodymanics purposes, hence the exact 92.2mm depth. The rear wheel is coming out by the first of the year (they were being tested as final prototypes at Kona this year). The front is currently available for $3,000 alone or with a full disc rear wheel for $4,200. 220lb rider weight limit.
All 2011 model carbon road rims get a new CTg brake track. It’s a new resin, laminate and proprietary brake pad that lets their wheels run up to 100 degrees cooler. It also raises their max temp tolerance to about 600 degrees versus 300-400 degrees on the 2010 models. At 600 degrees, Reynolds says you’re in danger of your tire popping, which (jokingly!) takes the issue away from their rims.
Reynold’s new Carbon XC (red, left) mountain bike tubeless wheelsets come in at 1,300g for the pair with 6-bolt disc mounts, pretty good considering a lot of super light MTB wheels use Centerlock mounts to get the weight down.
The High Modulus UD carbon rim is 19.5mm wide and weighs in at 320g, and it will eventually be available separately, which is the rim on the left. The one in the foreground is the wider AM carbon rim. The AM wheelset weighs in at 1,600g with a 25mm wide carbon tubeless rim and full alloy hub. Price is $1,500.
The XC wheelset gets a UD carbon hubshell with bonded on alloy spoke flanges. Itll come with both QR and 15mm thru axles for $1,600.
Both MTB wheels have DT Revolution spokes and a 2-year warranty with no rider weight limits. They’ll be available in November. No 29er versions of these were mentioned.
