Still not sold on carbon fiber rims but looking for something super light? Fulcrum hears you. Their latest mountain bike wheels get the Red Passion treatment which results in some impressively light aluminum rimmed options for both 27.5 and 29″ wheels. The asymmetric wheels include all of the typical Fulcrum details worthy of Campagnolo – only for the dirt.
As light as some carbon options, the Red Passion wheels have our attention…
In order to get the weight down as low as possible, the Red Passion wheels feature an extensively milled aluminum rim designed with a super low profile. Rim widths aren’t yet available, but front the looks of it they should be with the range of current XC/trail rims. To allow for the most balanced wheel build, the rims feature an asymmetric spoke bed as is common with many wheels.
Designed to be tubeless ready, the aluminum rims require a tape and valve kit as well as tire sealant to ditch the tubes.
Campagnolo/Fulcrum wheels are known for their impressively smooth, adjustable ball bearing hubs and the Red Passion wheels are no different. The hubs can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the locking collar on the aluminum axles. As far as the hubs go, they are equipped with an axle system that will allow both QR15 and standard QR forks to be used as well as thru axle and QR setups for the rear.
Even though the rims stick with aluminum, the hubs go the carbon route with a carbon hub shell and aluminum flanges. Riders can choose from the standard Fulcrum Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation treated Shimano/SRAM 9/10/11 speed freehub or SRAM XD compatible models.
Holding the wheels together are 28 stainless steel double butted spokes mated to Fulcrum’s aluminum nipples. The result? A pair of 27.5″ wheels that weigh 1350g and 29″ wheels that come in at 1398g. Not bad for prebuilt wheels with aluminum rims. We will update with pricing and availability as soon as we hear back from Fulcrum.
