Marc Strucken
· 05.02.2024
Tyres, seatposts, cassettes, cranks - components from E-Thirteen are something you come across time and again, and they usually look very stylish too. Now the manufacturer is presenting a new wheel line that has emerged from the cooperation with top athletes such as Aaron Gwin. The MTB wheels are designed to withstand the most demanding rides and trails.
The new E-Thirteen wheels have been designed with the respective area of use in mind: The wheel line Sylvan comes with asymmetrical rims for exceptional manoeuvrability and balance, which Optimus Race is light and dynamic and the Grapplerrims are particularly robust. Added to this is the range of rims specially designed for E-MTBs. e*spec wheels.
The Sylvan Race Line wheels are asymmetrically designed to compensate for the otherwise different spoke tension between the drive and non-drive side of the wheel. This balance is crucial for all-mountain riding, where varying terrain requires strength and manoeuvrability in equal measure. In addition, the asymmetric design is intended to improve lateral stiffness without compromising weight.
Two wheels specially developed for E-MTBs are also new to the range. The E-Thirteen Sylvan Race e*Spec are optimised for Lightweight trail e-bikes with TQ-, Fazua or Bosch SX motors. According to the manufacturer, they combine playful handling with the more robust E-MTB bike design. The Grappler Race e*Spec Enduro Wheels are reinforced once again for heavier e-bikes with full power.
They feature e*Spec rear hubs, oversized hub sleeves, larger bearings, steel axles and 32 spokes to withstand the higher drive torque and bike weight. This is why the Grappler e*Spec Enduro rims weigh 50 to 60 g more than the "normal" Grappler Enduro wheels.
The E-Thirteen Sylvan Race carbon and alloy wheels are designed for all-mountain use. The new wheels are also available in an e*Spec configuration. They are therefore suitable for aggressive trail and all-mountain bikes as well as lightweight e-bikes.
Both model lines - carbon and aluminium - combine an asymmetrical rim profile with a 4 mm offset. It looks slanted, but is intended to equalise the spoke angle and tension. Compared to the Optimus a larger inner width of 30 mm, which provides greater lateral stability for the tyres. In addition, the rim profile of the aluminium models is lower, making the rim more elastic and better able to absorb impacts. This should reduce fatigue and increase the bike's traction.
Made from highly modular carbon fibre with a profile height of 23 millimetres, they weigh 450 grams (29 inches) and are said to have 709% greater impact resistance compared to previous TRS Race carbon rims.
Made from 6069 aluminium and with a low 20-millimetre profile, the aluminium rims weigh 567 grams (29 inches) and, according to E-Thirteen, have a 366% higher impact resistance compared to the previous TRS Plus rims.
Both E-Thirteen Sylvan wheels are available in the Boost 148 x 12 millimetre and Super Boost 157 x 12 millimetre standards.
The Optimus Race wheels are for the trails and trail bikes out there and come in carbon or aluminium versions. According to E-Thirteen, they are characterised by "exceptional durability" and are made for aggressive trail riding.
The Optimus Race carbon rims are made from highly modular carbon fibres. They have a profile height of 22.8 millimetres and weigh 380 grams (29 inches). E-Thirteen is confident in its products and promises a lifetime guarantee on the rim.
Made from 6069 aluminium with welded joints, the Optimus Race aluminium rims from E-Thirteen have a profile height of 19 millimetres and weigh 477 grams (29 inches). According to the manufacturer, they offer up to 166% higher impact resistance than previous generations of XCX aluminium rims.
The E-Thirteen Grappler Race wheels are the result of several seasons of World Cup DH racing and were developed for gravity races and bike park sessions. The Grappler Race wheels are also available in carbon and aluminium. In terms of configurations, this model is split into the Downhill, Enduro and e*Spec Enduro lines. All come with 30 millimetre jaw width.
E-Thirteen has optimised the Grappler carbon fibres for improved impact resistance. The weights range from 515 grams (29 inch) for the Enduro rims to 575 grams (29 inch) for the Downhill and e*Spec Enduro rims. Here too, the Grappler Race Carbon DH and e*Spec Enduro rims achieve 322% better energy absorption in impact tests than the previous version of the LG1 Race DH rims.
Both the Enduro and Downhill/e*Spec models have a rim height of 19 millimetres. Compared to the previous LG1 Plus DH models, the Race Alloy e*Spec and Downhill rims have up to 450% more impact resistance. The Race Alloy Enduro rims have a 228% increase in impact resistance compared to the previous LG1 Plus EN rims. The weight is 576 grams (29 inch) for the Enduro models and 626 grams (29 inch) for DH and e*Spec Enduro.
E-Thirteen has developed the Grappler DH hubs with integrated 7-speed cassette exclusively for DH rear wheels. This combination significantly reduces the weight and number of parts while optimising the compactness of the drive system.
Adaptable from 150 x 12 millimetre installation dimension to 157 x 12 millimetre (adapter end caps included). Rear wheel hubs with 32 spokes and integrated 7-speed cassette (9-24T) for an optimised spoke angle.
Available in Boost 148 x 12 millimetre and Super Boost 157 x 12 millimetre standards. Rear wheel hubs with 28 spokes, precision-manufactured with a lightweight alloy axle system.
Only available in Boost 148 x 12 millimetres. Rear wheel hubs with oversized hub sleeve, an enlarged bearing and steel axle for high-performance e-bikes.
All E-Thirteen Grappler hubs have the following values in common:

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