Stan’s NoTubes has combined the best features from two of their best rims to create new, better, and stronger rims and wheels for the enduro and downhill crowd. The all-new Flow EX3 rims take the wide 29mm internal width and stronger 6069 alloy of the original Flow MK3, then combines them with the TieBeam rim extrusion of the Flow EX to create a rim that’s fully modern and strong enough to today’s aggressive descending.
So, what makes them special? Here’s their explanation:
“More than just strong, the Flow EX3 rim is designed to prevent air loss. Even when used with a tire insert, huge impacts can cause the sidewall of most rims to fold, causing air loss and eventual failure, but the Tiebeam internal brace and patented low-profile sidewalls of the Flow EX3 resist this folding, maintaining air pressure and structural integrity better than any other rim, even under the most severe impacts.”
All of which is illustrated in this video:
They’re also available as complete wheels, built with their Neo OS front and rear hubs. The front hub is compatible with 15mm and 20mm thru axles and includes the end caps to work with the new, wider 20×110 Boost spacing. The rear comes in Boost 148mm, 150mm, and Super Boost Plus 157mm options with Shimano or SRAM XD freehub bodies.
Here’s all the specs:
- Uses: Enduro & Downhill
- Internal Rim Width: 29.0 mm
- External Rim Width: 32.6 mm
- Rim Depth: 17.9 mm
- Optimal Tire Sizes: 2.35” to 2.8”
- Hubs: Stan’s Neo OS with Durasync
- Spokes: Sapim D-Light Black 2.0/1.65/2.0mm
- Nipples: Sapim Secure Lock Alloy Black
- Hole Count: 32-hole
- Drilling Style: Symmetrical
- Rim Material: 6069 Aluminum Alloy
- Rim Color: Black Bead Blasted Finish (BBQ)
- Hub Color: Black
- Brakes: Disc only
- Wheelset Weight: 2,018 g (27.5″) / 2,115 g (29″)
- Rim Weight: 580 g (27.5″) / 618,g (29″)
- Front Wheel Weight: 932 g (27.5″) / 981 g (29″)
- Rear Wheel Weight: 1,085 g (27.5″) / 1,134 g (29″)
- ERD: 564 mm (27.5″) / 602 mm (29″)
- ETRTO: 584×29.0 (27.5″) / 622×29.0 (29″)
- ISO: 27.5″x32.6 mm / 29″x32.6 mm
- Tape: 30 mm
- Valve: 35 mm Presta
- Max Pressure Tire Pressure: 37 psi (2.4”), 26 psi (2.8”)
- Max Rider Weight: 250 lb (113 kilo)
- Max Spoke Tension: 125 kgf (1,225 N)
- Wheelset MSRP: $699
- Rim MSRP: $115
For 2019, Flow EX3 rims and wheels will be on the bikes of the GT Factory Racing team, Atherton Bikes team and the Propain Factory team. Here’s Martin Maes talking about them:
And here’s Kyle Warner testing them out in Bootleg Canyon:
Available now, the Flow EX3 rims come with a two-year warranty and one year of no-fault crash replacement.
