Reserve 30 SL Carbon Trail Wheels go Super Light at 1750g w/ i9 Hydra Hubs

Written by Jessie-May Morgan Jun 18, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET

reserve 30 sl trail mtb rims carbon 440g each

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Reserve Wheels have updated their 30mm carbon rims, releasing an all-new Super Light Wheelset for trail riding, weighing a claimed 1750g. Just like the Reserve 28 XC wheels launched last month, the Reserve 30 SL has no rider weight limit, and come with Reserve’s Lifetime Warranty; no questions asked, replaced for free. Here’s the tech.

Reserve 30 SL Wheels

The new Reserve 30 SL rims are redesigned with a flatter profile, now with an asymmetric rim bed, flipped front-to-rear. The rims retain the characteristic offset spoke hole drilling, with 28 spokes lacing the rim to the hub. The lower profile, now 19mm deep, is said to add lateral stiffness while also increasing vertical compliance for a more comfortable ride.

Each rim now weighs a claimed 440g, shaving 50g off the weight of the previous 30mm carbon rims. A complete wheelset with Industry Nine Hydra hubs (boost), plus valves and tape, weighs a claimed 1750g. The Hydra hub is a market leader in terms of speed of engagement, with a mythical 690 POEs, engaging after just a 0.52° turn of the cranks. That’s practically immediate.

The 30mm internal width carbon rims are designed to seat 2.2″ to 2.5″ wide tires. The stepped internal rim bed is designed to make tubeless tire installation easier, and improve bead retention at lower pressures.

Pricing & Availability

The Reserve 30 SL wheelset is available in 29″ only, with both center-lock and 6-bolt hub options. There are two hubset options; the DT 350 setup will set you back $1,599 while the Industry Nine Hydra option is the most expensive at $1,899. Both are available with MicroSpline and XD drivers.

Alternatively, pick up the rim only for $599.

ReserveWheels.com

Jessie-May Morgan

1,362 articles

Jessie-May Morgan is the UK & Ireland Tech Editor of Bikerumor. She has been writing about Mountain Bike Riding and Racing, and all its weird and wonderful technology for 4 years. Prior to that, she was an Intern at the Mountain Bike Center of Scotland, and a Mountain Bike Coach and Leader in the Tweed Valley.

Based in Innerleithen, Scotland, Jessie-May can often be seen riding the Glentress Trail Center, and its neighboring Enduro and Downhill Tracks. She regularly competes in Enduro at a national level, and has recently competed on the World Stage at a handful of Enduro World Series events.

For Bikerumor, Jessie-May is testing the latest mountain bikes, equipment and kit, letting readers know what’s hot and what’s not.

For context, she weighs 60kg and stands at 5ft 4″ tall (163cm).

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18 Comments

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Seraph

2 years ago

I wasn’t aware that 1750g was considered “super light”, even for a trail wheelset. Last set I had was 1500g with an i30 rim.

K-Pop is dangerous to your health

2 years ago

Reply to Seraph

Agree, strange to claim SL. 1750gm is getting into 29’r DH weights.

Mark

2 years ago

Reply to K-Pop is dangerous to your health

Name a few. I’d love to see your list of 1750 gram 29″ DH wheels.

K-Pop is dangerous to your health

2 years ago

Reply to Mark

-Light Bicycle Recon Pro EN932/White Ind 29″ 1780gm (current set)
-Derby DH i30/White Ind 29″ 1805gm (previous set)
-Race Face Next R36 29″ 1790gm (borrowed friend’s set)

Granted my wheels are custom builds, but 1700gm-1900gm is fairly typical for lighter wight custom DH/Enduro sets. Sure, DH pros usually ride factory built 1900-2000gm+ sets, but I’m no pro. You? Back to the post; these Reserve SL’s aren’t super light if we’re just talking about weight. Tough as nails trail wheel sets can be had fairly easy clocking in at the 1400-1600gm range with i30 rims. Not sure why this is so surprising.

Josh

2 years ago

I don’t think I’d call them super light. More like average light.

That said, the 30s I bought last year are still rolling smooth after many stupid mistakes. I wouldn’t be sad if they were 100g lighter, but my Maxxis are stupid heavy so I doubt I’d notice the difference. Good on SC for building a quality rim and standing behind it with that absurd warranty

Woody

2 years ago

Lol! DT Swiss XM 1700 Spline 30 29” wheels weigh the same and cost half the amount as these in DT 350 hub format.

Mark

2 years ago

Reply to Woody

Try again, they are nearly 100 grams heavier.

Woody

2 years ago

Reply to Mark

A whole 100g?!

Seraph

2 years ago

Reply to Woody

100g is roughly a quarter of a pound. When you’re trying to shave off that last 0.25 lbs it counts.

guelfo

2 years ago

how can we address superlight something heavy like this? for me is a commercial fraud.

Justin

2 years ago

240 DH hubs, 32 aerolite spokes and brass nips, allow for 480g rims (carbon obv) and keeps you under 1800g for around $2k, and so saying 1750 is “getting into” that territory doesn’t warrant the snark.

Justin

2 years ago

Reply to Justin

You misunderstand. This was meant to be a reply to Mark’s request that you list examples, which is why you were quoted. The site made it a new comment despite my hitting the reply button. So, you’re welcome.

Willis Reed

2 years ago

These media guys should really do a tiny bit of research before making outlandish warranty claims. They consistently fall for the manure spouted by brands marketing folks. Quote from the warranty statement for these wheels “The warranty for damage arising from accidents, crashes and other impacts is limited to offered replacement at a reduced charge as set forth above.” That is pretty much the same as any other wheel brand which is a long way from the “no questions asked, replaced for free” claimed in this article.

Martini

2 years ago

Reply to Willis Reed

Nah man, they just replace it. They don’t ask how it broke, or charge for shipping. It is literally just an absurd warranty, to quote Josh from an earlier post. I work at a Santa Cruz dealer, and we have/have sold lots of reserve wheels and warrantied a bunch. They are NOT the lightest, even this SL. But man they destroy every other companies procedure for “warranty”.

Willis Reed

2 years ago

Reply to Martini

I have been around this block a few times. They may be lenient with these claims while they are establishing their wheel brand but they will almost certainly retreat to their stated policy. PON will evaluate the cost of warranty returns and then tighten up the enforcement of the warranty policy.

If you want a map to this curve just look back to the customer service path of another carbon wheel brand that rumor previously touted their “no questions asked warranty”. When their parent company started asking questions so did their customer service team.

Tenacious E

2 years ago

1750g is not “superlight” nowadays.

Ant'ney

2 years ago

Ibis internal 35mm rims on I9 Hydras are 1650g for $1800….. Maybe, a better comparo, the internal 28mm wheelset is 1580g. Same price. Ibis is down the road from SC…. you would think they would know…..

Dylan

2 years ago

So many comments and nobody yet pulled you up on “ a mythical 690 POEs, engaging after just a 0.52° turn of the cranks”?
The engagement angle of course relates to freedom of rotation of the free hub, not the cranks, which will rotate more or less depending on which gear you are in.