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Partington’s New $6,400 R31 Climbing Road Wheels Are Just 1060g Per Pair

Partington MKII R-Series R31 side wall
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For those at MADE this past week, you might have noticed a very cool (very subdued) piece of kit over at the BAUM Bikes and Partington Wheels booth. Australian brand Partington (backed by Cadel Evans) exhibited a set of its new Partington R31 climbing wheels.

What makes these wheels newsworthy? 

Partington MKII R-Series R31 rims
(All Images: Partington)

For those who know Partington wheels, you know they are meticulously designed, lightweight, and expensive. For example, the Partington R-SERIES MKII R39/44 sells for a staggering $6,400.00. 

Partington R31 ultralight carbon road wheels

Partington MKII R-Series R31 on Baum

The all-new Partington MKII R-Series 31/31 offers all the tech from the R-Series as mentioned above, with a 39/44 wheelset but with a 31mm rim depth. Sizing down the rim allows Partington to slim the weight to an impressive 1060g per pair. 

What kind of riding are the Partington MKII R-Series 31/31 for? Though 31mm is a reasonably versatile depth, the stiffness and weight make these super-suited for climbing. 

How about that tech? 

Partington MKII R-Series R31 both

The 31/31 (like the 39/44) includes Partington’s unique hub within a composite carbon shell, its proprietary Dynamic Bearing Architecture, and its InTension spoke technology. Over 8 hours of labor go into each wheel produced, and they have an excellent 2-year crash replacement program.

Partingtons’ InTension spoke technology uses  20 asymmetric bladed, full carbon rim-to-rim spokes that wrap the hub and enhance the wheel’s stiffness.

Foam Core 

Partington MKII R-Series R31 rim foam core

All Partington MKII R-Series wheels (31/31 and 39/44) utilize a low-density, high-performance aerospace-grade foam core optimized for stiffness and lightness. Partington MKII R-Series wheels (31/31 and 39/44) are disc brake only, featuring 21mm internal width hooked rims.

Partington MKII R-Series R31 Wheels Details 

Partington MKII R-Series R31 foam core
  • Hubs: Hybrid composite hub shell, CeramicSpeed bearings
  • Spokes: Asymmetric bladed full carbon, rim-to-rim design – ‘20-hole rim’
  • Rim: (external): 26mm
  • Rim width: (internal): 21mm 
  • Rim depth: 31mm 
  • Weight: 1060g
  • Price: $6,400
Partington MKII R-Series R31 Baum side

“We are delighted to add the 31 wheelsets to our range. All our wheels are designed as an integrated system, with all components designed to work together and optimize the wheel’s performance. The 31’s lower profile further reduces what is already an exceptionally light wheel, so it really sings going uphill. Other wheels ask you to accept trade-offs: stiffness for comfort or weight for cornering performance. With the MKII R-Series, we have managed to unify all these aspects for a ride like no other.”

Jon Partington, PartingtonFounder and CTO

If you want to purchase a set of MKII R-Series 31/31 wheels, they are available from select dealers worldwide or at:

Partington.cc

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22 Comments
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seraph
seraph
3 months ago

TBH that weight really isn’t that impressive. It’s easily attainable with steel spokes on a regular low spoke count wheel if you play your cards right. Maybe the stiffness is worth the price?

David
David
3 months ago
Reply to  seraph

Ok, name those components. Needs to be disc, comparably wide/deep, and tubeless ready.

Will
Will
3 months ago
Reply to  David

Seraph is probably stretching it with the word easily, but LB AR35/Extralite/CX-Super would get you pretty close.

David
David
3 months ago
Reply to  Will

That will still be over 1200 (420+420+68+133+240)

chainbang
chainbang
3 months ago
Reply to  David

Relax, David.

Track
Track
3 months ago
Reply to  David

The AR35s come in at 410g standard or 360g at flyweight.

Craig
Craig
3 months ago
Reply to  David

Extralite have several models of wheelset under 1000grams that meet that definition. Having briefly ridden a bike with some though they are best suited for light riders (under 70kg) with low power output. Stiff they are not.

SteveT
SteveT
3 months ago

$6,400? LOL

Collin S
3 months ago
Reply to  SteveT

In 5 years, we’ll find out that this wheel business is just a front for laundering money.

Andreas
Andreas
3 months ago

Last time I researched partington, I found that they are not repairable, so crash replacement means exactly that. Send them to Australia for a new one. Break one spoke. New wheel. On a trip and damage something? Though luck. My conclusion still stands. Nice wheels but not user friendly in any way shape or form.

Last edited 3 months ago by Andreas
Craig
Craig
3 months ago
Reply to  Andreas

Most people who front up with the $6500 to buy them probably aren’t concerned about that. How many people who buy supercars are concerned that they can’t be repaired at any local garage if there’s a minor problem? None.

Andreas
Andreas
3 months ago
Reply to  Craig

I was but I agree on not being part of any majority =)

Oliver
Oliver
3 months ago

21/26mm ID/OD for over $6k … how many people are running 23mm tires these days?

Costanza
Costanza
3 months ago
Reply to  Oliver

How many other have no clue what ID/OD are referring to? Inner Diameter – 21mm , outer diameter – 26mm. There’s no other use for ID/OD, in the real world.

Bumscag
Bumscag
3 months ago
Reply to  Costanza

Even better, neither is actually a diameter. They’re inner width/outer width.

That said, literally every o-ring in the world has an ID/OD measurement. And those are actually diameters, not mislabeled widths.

Oliver
Oliver
3 months ago
Reply to  Costanza

Yeah because I guess in your world, when a road tire muffin tops it doesn’t lose a significant amount of grip (including suddenly letting go because sidewalls aren’t supported), increase rolling resistance and the more recognized aero loss.

Grillis
Grillis
3 months ago

The CRW 4045’s are only 120g more, deeper, wider, have replaceable spokes, and are nearly 1/4 the price.

Tom
Tom
3 months ago

glad to see people taking shots at each other over a $6400 wheel set. If they can’t be meaningfully better than alternatives, at least they are polarizing.

zscss
zscss
3 months ago

ONE-K Ultimate Carbon Clincher wheelset with Duke Baccara 36 Ultra Rims and NONPLUS hubs, carbon spokes is ~3100 EUR and claimed weight is only 935g for the pair. 😉

nooner
nooner
3 months ago

I can’t afford them so insert derogatory comments here…

Rob
Rob
3 months ago

They would’ve had me at $5995. A shame and pure greed wanting that extra $405.

E x
E x
3 months ago

Buy 3 sets of extralite 327c at the same price as one of these sets… LOL. And they are 100g lighter!

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