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Velo Orange Voyager builds classic bike looks on wide tubeless gravel & trail rims

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim
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Velo Orange are proud proponents of classic bike style, but by no means are they adverse to new technology. Their latest Voyager polished alloy rims are the perfect example – bringing modern wide tubeless performance to a mirror finish box section alloy rim in 3 wheel sizes. And while you are eliminating flats from your classic ride, why not add a shiny new set of matching polished fenders as well…

Velo Orange Voyager modern box section tubeless rims

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim
c. Velo Orange

You can’t call Velo Orange (VO) luddites with great modern tech like this. It’s hard to argue with the classic good looks of a traditional road or touring bike with a polished aluminum groupset and matching shiny alloy wheels. Now, VO can bring the smoother ride & fewer flats benefits of modern tubeless tires to that old bike while keeping its good looks. Paired with the fact that the most popular all-road & gravel tires now come with a tan/skin/brown wall option, it’s getting easier to mix retro & modern – on or off-road.

Tech details

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim

From the outside the Voyager maintains the looks of a traditional box section alloy rim. But the 19mm deep polished aluminum rim is entirely modern, and built to handle a mix or road & gravel trail conditions.

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim

The Voyager has a modern 27mm external width, 22.1mm internal to fit tires from 38mm up to 2.4″ (61mm) wide, according to VO. You can probably dial it back down to 28mm or 30mm road tires as well as we have seen with most other tubeless wheel producers on similarly wide rims.

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim

The new rims aren’t just wider, but get a proper set of bead shelf locking lips to snap your tubeless tires securely into place. VO also says they kept the center of the rim channel relatively shallow to make an easy seal for simple first inflation of a tubeless setup with a floor pump, while still making it easy enough to get the tire on in the first place.

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim

The disc brake Voyager rim (no machined braking surface, but you can still apparently use rim brakes too since it has flat, parallel sidewalls) is all about versatility and comes in three different rim diameters (ISO), all with the same profile: 26″ (559), 650b/27.5″ (584), and 700c/29″ (622). The rims aren’t intended to build super lightweight wheels, but rather durable mixed-surface road & touring wheels so they all get stainless steel eyelets and come in 32 or 36 hole spoke drilling. Claimed single rim weights are: 576g for 26″, 597g for 650b & 638g for 700c.

Velo Orange Voyager alloy rim, modern box section aluminum tubeless disc brake all-road gravel mountain bike rim

All three diameters or drillings sell for the same $85 price per rim, available direct from Velo Orange.

Velo Orange Enterprise alloy touring rims

Velo Orange Enterprise alloy touring rims

Not nearly as advanced, VO has also updated their classic Enterprise box section alloy touring rims with a move to single eyelets, saving weight & maintaining durability. They say that improvements in alloys, nipples & spokes means they can drop a bunch of weight without performance sacrifice. The new $85 Enterprise rims are 16.3mm internal for 25-38mm tires, and are offered in 700c (622) & 27″ (630) and 32 or 36 hole drilling.

Velo Orange Smooth Fenders for 650b or 700c all-road & gravel

Velo Orange Smooth Fenders for 650b or 700c all-road & gravel

VO makes a number of patterned alloy full-coverage fenders – wavy, fluted, hammered, or even snakeskin. Now by popular demand from all-road gravel riders, they’ve added a simple Smooth look as well.

Velo Orange Smooth Fenders for 650b or 700c all-road & gravel

Available in 650b x 58mm (to fit up to 50mm tires) and 700c x 38mm (to fit 30mm tires) either Smooth Fender pair sells for $76 and comes in either polished Silver or shiny black Noir. Fenders come pre-drilled and include matching (sliver or black) alloy stays & all mounting hardware.

Velo-Orange.com

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AJ
AJ
4 years ago

https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-wide-rims-not-tubeless-compatible.html?m=1

I remember when the owner write he prefer not to tubeless.

Igor
4 years ago
Reply to  AJ

Over two years of intense testing and development, I now fully embrace tubeless. Our preferences can change!

Dockboy
Dockboy
4 years ago

They need to introduce a mountain biking rim called Defiant to complete the Star Trek references.

rekt23
rekt23
4 years ago

they look like the old Matrix and Mustang rims., hopefully they wont be as difficult to mount tires onto…

Frank
Frank
4 years ago

I’d love something like this but with a 28-30mm inner width. That would be the right with for a touring bike wheel set upgrade, and I’d put one on my old mountain bike too.

NATHAN JOSEPH KENSLEY
NATHAN JOSEPH KENSLEY
4 years ago
Reply to  Frank

frank check out the velocitycliff hanger. they make it with machine side walls as well you just have to special order them.

B
B
4 years ago

So a polished, non anodized rim with flat sides that’s marketed as disc only.

Igor
4 years ago
Reply to  B

The description has been updated to reflect the rim’s compatibility with rim brakes!

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