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How Much Could 23k Gold-Leaf Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Carbon Wheels Really Cost?

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels, on asphalt
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Made entirely in Germany and living up to their name as being lightweight, what is your guess for how much it would cost to buy a set of carbon Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold road, all-road, and gravel bike wheels? Yes, that’s real hand-laid gold leaf. They aren’t exceptionally modern with an 18mm internal width and flat sides. But at least they are tubeless, disc brake with thru-axles, fitted with CeramicSpeed bearings, and truly light…

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO S.E. Gold carbon road wheels

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels, 23k gold-leaf
(Photos/Lightweight)

These limited Signature Edition carbon road bike wheels rolled through my inbox several weeks back. But spotting them again made me ask myself, “how much do these things really cost?” Lightweight has always been the de facto ultra-expensive, ultra-premium, ultralight carbon wheelset in my mind. But as I see more and more wildly expensive bikes and fancy wheels, are they really that much more expensive?

Ahead of this summer’s Paris 2024 games, Lightweight is using these limited edition gold-encrusted wheels to remind us of reigning Olympic road champion Richard Carapaz’s Tokyo 2020 win on Lightweight wheels.

So a tribute set of Meilenstein EVO Signature Gold Edition wheels seemed like an appropriate refresher on how exclusive these are. And to rethink how relevant Lightweight wheels might be?

Tech details

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels, angled pair

These Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels start out as a standard set of Lightweight Meilenstein EVO road wheels. That means they are centerlock disc brake wheels with a 48mm deep hooked tubeless rim that is just 18.2mm wide internal, and full-carbon permanently-bonded spokes. With completely flat sides at 24mm wide outside, they’re probably not exceptionally aero with any modern-width road tires. But at least they are quite light at a claimed 1380g for the pair. Not ultralight, but Lightweight do apparently approve them for some gravel riding, too.

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels, gold logos

What makes these limited edition Meilenstein EVOs so special are the hand-laid 23-carat (95.8% pure) gold leaf logo graphics created for Lightweight by Rie:Sel Design. Big honking real gold logos to show off what number wheels you have.

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Gold – Pricing & availability

Drumroll, please…

Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold carbon road wheels, dark pair

The Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Signature Edition Gold wheels sell for approximately $9850 / 7000€. Officially, Lightweight won’t tell us how much they cost, because “prices are set by the dealers”. But that’s what these are likely to set you back.

Lightweight only made 99 pairs of the Gold-edition wheels. And they’ve split them up with 33 sets for Europe, 33 sets for Asia/Pacific, and the final 33 sets for the Americas. First come, first served.

Snap a pair up if you have almost ten grand burning a hole in your pocket. And if you need the most ostentatious way to show off your disposable income on a not-quite-up-to-date set of uber fancy carbon hoops.

Lightweight.info

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13 Comments
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Collin S
Collin S
8 months ago

Guys, how can we make our wheels even more un-affordable? Can we add gold? Gunther, You’re a Genius! Next up, we’ll bedazzle them with grade A diamonds.

Mike Marino
Mike Marino
8 months ago
Reply to  Collin S

I’m not sure even dentists would go for these.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 months ago
Reply to  Collin S

I sold some Lightweights between 12 and 18yrs ago. Remarkably, they haven’t really gotten more expensive at all since then. That’s without taking inflation into account. Thing is, everyone else’s wheels have gotten better and there’s have not. Of course, the standard Zipps are basically the same price too, only the NSW wheels cost more but they’re understandably not comparable to the old wheels

seraph
seraph
8 months ago
Reply to  Collin S

DT Swiss had a limited edition wheelset with gold-plated spokes many years ago. Just saying. They were as ridiculous back then as these are now.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 months ago

Those sure are heavy for what they are I figured they’d be under 1100g being that narrow. I’d much rather have four 303 wheelsets. Crazy that they’re no lighter than 15yrs ago when they were somewhat special. At least the price hasn’t really moved.

Luis Hernandez
Luis Hernandez
8 months ago

Yes I’m putting in my order for 2 sets right now. They’re pretty ugly and outdated but it will show every one how rich I am! NOT!!!!

Rim Brake enjoyer
Rim Brake enjoyer
8 months ago

Should have charged more.

Andreas
Andreas
8 months ago

bit strange to do a limited edition in gold in the first place, but then to NOT use their top spec obermeyer evo, which would be slightly more modern and lighter too. if you are (note: if) into these kinds of wheels in the first place, the obermeyer evo is where you would go.

one of the largest challenges lightweight has, is that their wheel design is synonymous with their entire brand, so updating to a more modern design would be a huge risk for them. I hope they have something cooking though, because name and looks need to still carry some actual performance creds more than “used to be the lightest but now mostly for instagram”.

not a dentist

Tom
Tom
8 months ago
Reply to  Andreas

gotta wonder if these wheels were left in inventory and they decided to offer these gaudy versions to clear them out.

Andreas
Andreas
8 months ago

bit strange to do a limited edition in gold in the first place, but then to NOT use their top spec obermeyer evo, which would be slightly more modern (but not the rim shape) and lighter too. if you are (note: if) into these kinds of wheels in the first place, the obermeyer evo is where you would go. (1230 grams)

one of the largest challenges lightweight has, is that their wheel design is synonymous with their entire brand, so updating to a more modern design would be a huge risk for them. I hope they have something cooking though, because name and looks need to still carry some actual performance creds more than “used to be the lightest but now mostly for instagram”.

not a dentist

Larry Falk
Larry Falk
8 months ago

Even the Pope wouldn’t want these.

Ed LLorca
Ed LLorca
8 months ago

PPrice? TOO MUCH. aside from that why wold I want a straight sided unrepairable wheel? No thanks.

Doc Sarvis
Doc Sarvis
8 months ago

Think about how much lighter they could be without the graphics.

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