The front and rear wheels perform different tasks on the bike, so they must also have different properties. With this in mind, Crankbrothers trims the rear wheel for stiffness. This should guarantee direct cornering behaviour and snappy acceleration. The front wheel is somewhat softer and is designed to save power and provide comfort on rough terrain. In fact, the Synthesis E11 is one of the gentler representatives among carbon wheels. Quite a few competitor products stand out on the trail with an unpleasantly harsh ride feel. Our lab results confirm that the positive impression is not placebo-induced. The test bench in the BIKE lab certifies that the front wheel is around seven per cent less stiff than the rear wheel.
In practice, another detail is even more noticeable: the very low engagement angle of the freewheel of 2.5 degrees. When pedalling, the rear wheel reacts with strikingly direct propulsion. Another special feature: the freewheel is pleasantly quiet, which sets it apart from many competitors with a similar number of pawls. The inner rim widths of 29 millimetres at the rear and 31 at the front are ideal for tyres from 2.3 inches. The weight of 1836 grams for the 29-inch Enduro wheelset won't knock the socks off those who love grams, but the Americans focus on durability and offer a lifetime guarantee. The wheels are also available with cheaper hubs and in a lighter cross-country version.
Weight 1836 grammes
Price 2399 Euro
PLUS Pleasant ride compared to very stiff carbon wheels, lifetime warranty and crash replacement
MINUS No weight record, expensive
You can find this article in BIKE 5/2019. You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
