Evaluate: Race Face Period SL are the Light-weight Path Wheels We Wanted

I’ve been driving Race Face’s wheels for a few years, nonetheless rocking the unique Subsequent SL set on a motorcycle. They usually’re nonetheless going sturdy.

What I like about them is, nicely, loads of issues, however the highlights are combining sturdy reliability with mild weight. However newest rims profiles and layups improve the “journey high quality”, and so they’re even lighter regardless of being rated for longer journey bikes.

If that’s what you’re looking for on your personal path bike, learn no additional as a result of the brand new Race Face Period SL wheels ship. When you want convincing, learn on for my evaluation…

Gentle Performed Proper

At simply 1,530g (claimed) for a wheelset, they’re respectably mild. That quantity isn’t pushing any boundaries for XC wheels, however after driving them for a number of months, I say they journey lighter than that quantity suggests.

And that’s on a on trails starting from native NC cross nation to Bentonville’s groomed movement trails to Flagstaff’s huge mountain descents and Sedona’s onerous rock playground. All of this aboard Ari’s newest 110mm-travel Sign Peak with the brand new Fox 34 SL set at 130mm journey, wrapped in 2.4″ Schwalbe tires.

With 385g rims, which is the lightest rim Race Face has ever made, they speed up shortly and switch sharp. So, regardless that some ultralight wheelsets are available in 200-ish grams lighter, few have lighter rims (as a result of there’s a restrict to what’s attainable), so these wheels’ outer rotational weight is on par with the lightest choices available on the market.

However should you really need lighter wheels, wait till this fall once they launch a Heart Lock model that’ll are available in at a claimed 1480g. They gained’t be e-MTB rated like these 6-bolt variations, however should you’re counting 50g on an e-bike, you could have to rethink your priorities.

SIDE NOTE: They arrive taped with valve stems put in, however these issues usually are not counted within the claimed weights. I obtained the wheels from Race Face with tires already mounted, so I haven’t pulled them off to get precise weights but…will replace this put up after I do.

Even when I used to be a put XC racer on a *gasp* hardtail, I feel I’d maintain these on the bike due to the…

Trip Feels

Trip high quality has turn into a much bigger deal prior to now 5 years. With stiffness, toughness, and light-weight all fairly nicely sorted, the magic for any new wheelset (or bike body, for that matter) is available in how they really feel.

As tires have gotten wider and extra supple, and handlebars like Race Face’s personal new Period (amongst others) including intentional compliance, choosing aside the wheel’s affect over traction and luxury will not be an actual science.

However should you’re upgrading from an older carbon wheelset, the smoother journey high quality of the Period SL must be instantly obvious. This, mixed with good lateral stiffness, helps the wheels observe extra exactly since they’re not ping-ponging off each root and rock.

Toughness

Race Face charges them for bikes as much as 140mm of journey. When you want one thing greater and burlier, final 12 months’s Period Wheels are the ticket.

The Period SL’s rims have a 29mm inside width, they’ll match as much as 2.6″ large tires to deal with all of that. I feel the candy spot is extra within the downcountry-to-trail bike vary, however with a lifetime guarantee, you possibly can push them fairly onerous realizing that Race Face’s personal riders are in all probability pushing them tougher.

The rim profiles are principally hookless, however there’s a tiny bump inward to create the “anvil” form. That form provides them a broad crash pad to assist impacts, with rounded corners to forestall pinch flats.

I’ve solely examined them on a short-travel “enjoyable nation” (Ari’s phrases, however I prefer it) bike, however have positively smashed a number of roots and rocks and brought a number of onerous landings on them.

I’m a much bigger rider, about 6’2″ and 200lbs absolutely kitted, and I’ve zero complaints. They’ve a 130kg (286lb) system (rider + bike) weight restrict, so I’m not even near their restrict.

The Hubs

Race Face’s Vault Hubs are an enormous a part of the image. Actually. They’re enormous.

And I feel that’s why these wheels deal with so nicely. They supply a taller “flange”, which lets them run shorter spokes. Which allows lighter, shallower rims. Which suggests they will get good bracing angles while not having loads of spokes…or utilizing thicker, stiffer spokes.

In my armchair engineering function, all of that provides as much as good radial compliance with good lateral stiffness. Race Face deliberately inbuilt some lateral compliance, however solely sufficient to assist the wheels deflect sideways impacts with out diminishing steering or monitoring accuracy.

Plus, they give the impression of being good. They usually’re not too loud. You’ll hear the engagement from 60 enamel and 6 pawls (staggered for a snappy-enough 3º engagement), nevertheless it’s not annoyingly loud.

The Takeaway

Ummmm, purchase them?

MSRP is $1,649, which is extremely aggressive. Perhaps we are able to thank all of the direct-to-consumer manufacturers for driving down the value factors, however few if any of these manufacturers have the North Shore observe document of abusing their merchandise like Race Face.

Not solely do the specs (with a lifetime guarantee!) add as much as a winner, the efficiency is so good I don’t plan on taking them off my bike any time quickly.

RaceFace.com