On its fifth generation, ENVE’s newest M Series wheel line is going big on performance and low(er) on price ($250 lower!). The new ENVE M Series ushers in a simplified naming structure, keeping the specificity for each wheel, but dropping complicated numbers. The new wheel line follows a four-year development project with the world’s top athletes. The line covers the mountain bike spectrum, ranging from cross-country to enduro, e-bike, and gravity.
What is it? ENVE M Series Wheels
The revamped ENVE M Series results from years of research and work with ENVE athletes. The design team focused on finding elegant solutions to minimize flats and get the most out of each wheel. Whether you ride cross-country or downhill, there is something to drool over in the new ENVE lineup.
The updated M Series rims feature unique front and rear rim shapes and new carbon layups. As for the hubs, the new M Series rolls on ENVE’s own INNERDRIVE mountain hubs. The new hub boasts customizable engagement (via engagement rings) and more.
ENVE M Series Wheel Lineup
It appears that if you ride a flat-bar bike (or drop-bar MTB), there’s an ENVE M Series wheel option for you. The range escalates in the gnarly-ness of the terrain by going up in number: M5 denotes cross country and the lightest of the bunch, and M9 is for Enduro/Gravity Race/E-MTB.
ENVE M Series Wheel Line:
M5 Pro: XC Race
- Front and Rear Specific Rim Designs
- Front is wider and more compliant maximizing support, comfort, and tracking
- Rear is optimized for power transfer and toughness
- Locking Alloy External Spoke Nipples
- Ride-test validated and athlete developed
- A New benchmark of speed, durability, and ride quality
- ASTM 3 Classification
- Sizes: 29″ only
- Price: USD $2300
- Weight: 1325g
M6: Trail/E-MTB Light
- Front and Rear Specific Rim Designs
- Front is wider and more compliant maximizing support, comfort, and tracking
- Rear is optimized for power transfer and toughness
- Lightweight, Durable, and Comfortable
- Locking External Spoke Nipples
- Recommended for E-MTB with up to 75nm of torque
- ASTM 4 Classification
- Sizes: 29″ F, 29″ or 27.5″ R
- Price: USD $2300
- Weight: 1589g (29″) 1544g (29/27.5″)
M8: Enduro/Gravity Race/E-MTB
- Front and Rear Specific Rim Designs
- Front is wider and more compliant maximizing support,
- comfort, and tracking
- Rear is optimized for power transfer and toughness
- “No Lost Run” – DH Durability without the weight compromise
- Recommended for all E-MTB
- ASTM 5 Classification
- Sizes: 29″ F, 29″ or 27.5″ R
- Price: USD $2300
- Weight: 1983g (29″) 1961g (29/27.5″)
M9 Pro: Enduro/Gravity Race/E-MTB
- Validated and Developed with World Cup Athletes
- Protective Rim Strip – Patented technology provides
- Unprecedented pinch-flat and race run insurance
- “No Lost Run” in the 2023 & 2024 DH Season during training, qualifying, or racing.
- ASTM 5 Classification
- Recommended for all E-MTB
- Sizes: 29″ F, 29″ or 27.5″ R
- Price: USD $2300
- Weight: 2236g (29″) 2186g (29/27.5″)
“With each new generation of the M Series, we set objectives to improve performance over the previous generation. This new M Series focuses on ride quality without sacrificing reliability and toughness. Every detail has been explored to ensure this latest generation M Series is the best riding wheel on the trail or between the tape.”
Jake Pantone, VP of Product
Why a New Rim Shape?
ENVE sums it up in three words: compliance, durability, and flat-resistance (OK, four words).
The updated rim shape comes directly from athlete input. The in-house design put in time with riders like the downhill World Cup team Commencal/Muc-Off by Riding Addiction, champions Amaury Pierron, and Myriam Nicole.
Did the athlete input pay off? Well, with the rim’s new shapes, layups, and ENVE’s patented Protective Rim Strip, 19 World Cup downhill wins were tallied during the development project. So…yes.
How does this updated rim shape result in fewer flats and better tire performance?
Wide Hookless Bead
- Introduced in 2016 on ENVE’s “Plus” sized M60/40 Plus
- Blunt leading rim edge dissipates impact forces across a broader surface area, reducing the likelihood of pinch-flats by 50% in lab tests
- On the trail, riders report going entire seasons without pinch-flats since introducing this tech to their rides
- Gen. 5 M Series’ more compliant design further aids in pinch-flat reduction
- Featured on: M5, M6, and M8
Protective Rim Strip
- Introduced in 2018 on the M730/735, and M930 wheel models
- Injection molded polyurethane rim strip creates a bumper-type interface between the rim’s leading edge and the tire, eliminating the ability to pinch-flat
- Enhanced Tubeless: The Protective Rim Strip eliminates the need for rim tape, providing added confidence that should a spoke break while riding, the tape won’t be punctured, maintaining the tubeless seal.
- Isolated Air Chamber: If the rim gets damaged, the Protective Rim Strip provides an independent seal between the tire and rim, preventing air loss
- No Need for Tire Inserts: Eliminates the need for tire inserts to prevent pinch-flats, saving weight
- These features make it the world’s most successful wheelset in the World Cup today.
- Ideal for gravity racing and E-MTB
Featured on: M9
Differing Front and Rear Rim Shapes
The new ENVE M series wheel lineup features unique front and rear rim shapes and carbon layups. The front rims are designed to offer more flex for better traction and comfort, while the rear rims are stiffer for power transfer and impact resistance. ENVE says this updated front-to-rear differentiation “optimizes tire shape, traction, and compliance.” Each wheel has its specific front and rear rim shape, helping it perform its best in the intended discipline. Check out the details below.
“They wanted the damped ride feel of alloy rims without sacrificing the durability of carbon. They needed assurance they would never lose a practice or race run to a tire or rim failure.”
Neil Shirley, Sports Marketing Director
ENVE INNERDRIVE Hubs
Every wheel is built using ENVE’s new INNERDRIVE mountain hubs for the new M Series. The hubs feature an oversized ratchet mechanism and customizable engagement. Riders can dial in their options with 40t (9°), 60t (6°), 80t (4.5°), or 100t (3.6°) ratchets.
What about bearings? The ENVE INNERDRIVE hubs feature premium-grade stainless steel bearings for high performance and low maintenance. Build-wise, the M5 and M6 models feature straight-pull center lock hub shells, while the M8 and M9 models use a j-bend hub shell, available in both center lock and 6-bolt.
Still Handmade in Utah
ENVE produces the updated M Series with an improved manufacturing process, resulting in cost reductions that are passed on to the customer. Like all ENVE rims, the new M Series is handmade in Ogden, Utah, but now slightly less expensive.
Still Rocking That Five-Year Warranty
The ENVE five-year warranty covers “manufacturer defects in materials and artistry from the date of purchase for the original owner and from the date of manufacture for second-hand owners.” Pro-rated coverage for everything and anything that may happen during wheel ownership results from living the riding lifestyle. The breakdown looks like this and brings another dimension to the pricing of the wheelset if you’re a rider who is hard on equipment.
- Years 0-3: Free Replacement
- Years 3-4: 50% Off
- Years 4-5: 35% Off
- Years 5+: Coverage expires
ENVE M Series – Availability
The new M Series is now available and shipping worldwide to ENVE retail and distribution partners and ENVE.com. All models will retail in the U.S. for USD $2300.
