We got our hands on Industry Nine’s new, wallet friendly Trail S wheels that we first saw last August. The Trail S wheels are basically a more affordable boutique wheel than their “standard” uber boutique wheels. They sent us the new un-color way that was announced today to check out.
Roll past the break for a closer look at these Johnny Cash’d out wheels and see some actual weights, as well as a new endcap option…..
For the most part, the Trail “S” wheels, (as opposed to their Trail wheels), use their straight pull Torch hubs and tubeless ready hoops, but with high quality Sapim Race Butted steel spokes and Secure Lock Double Square nipples as opposed to their gorgeously lite CNC, made in house, aluminum spokes that thread directly into their Torch hub.
To reduce costs, the torch hubs come with a 3 pawl driver vs the 6 pawl version in their premium wheels giving you a 6°/60 point engagement rather than 3°/120. Since the hubs use all the same parts, the 6 pawl is offered as an option for an additional cost. The “still premium” Sapim spokes are some of the best you can buy and only come 2nd to I9’s in-house aluminum spokes.
Industry Nine claims the 29er Trail S wheelset weighs in at 1690 without valve stems and rim tape, and my scale shows 1,712 grams WITH rim tape (are you crazy? I wasn’t about to remove the pre-installed rim tape!), and our version came with the 6 pawl free hub body, so their claims seem to be right on the money.
Like all of their wheels, all rim logos are etched on so there is no fading or peeling when things get rough (also no sticker edge to catch on the truing stand). We’ll be putting them through the paces for a more thorough review as soon as things dry up.
Specs are as follows……
- Handmade in Asheville, NC using their Torch S 28 hole straight-pull hubs
- Trail S alloy rim – 28.5mm outer width/24.5mm inner width. Laser etched logos
- Sapim Race butted steel spokes paired with Sapim Secure Lock Double Square nipples
- 3 pawl/6 degree freehub* *(Optional 6 pawl/3 degree freehub + $50)
- Compatible with standard Torch Mountain series Freehub and endcap kits
- Tubeless ready – comes ready to ride with tape and valves installed
- Front axle configurations – QR, 9mm thru, 15×100, 20×110, and 15×110 “Boost” with optional 31mm Rock Shox compatible “Torque Caps”
- Rear axle configurations – QR135, 10×135, 12×135, 12×142, and 12×148 “Boost”
- SRAM XD1 and Shimano HG freehub bodies available
- *1635g 27.5″, 1690 29er
*Weight varies depending on bearing and axle specification and does not include tubeless tape and valves, which are factory-installed
- Rock Shox Boost 110 Torque Caps Available
- MSRP $845
Also, since RockShox’s new 2016 forks using Boost 110mm spacing are in the wild, as always, Industry Nine was ready and has you covered if you desire to run a “Torque Cap-compatible” hub.
