Kick-off to the endurance test: How durable are the Roval Traverse SL II carbon wheels?

If you treat yourself to an expensive carbon wheelset, you want to enjoy it for a long time. Specialized is aware of this and is focussing more on durability with the wheels of its in-house brand Roval. The line-up of Traverse SL II wheels starts at 1500 euros. The high-end version with DT Swiss 240 hubs that we tested costs a whopping 2300 euros. Your heart rate will skyrocket without having ridden a single metre on these high-end wheels. Fortunately, Roval offers a lifetime guarantee to buyers who register their wheels within the first 90 days of purchase - this calms the pulse somewhat. But will the wheels, which are worth the equivalent of an average German net monthly wage, last a long time? To answer this question, we took a closer look at the Roval Traverse SL II and put them on a long-term test bike.

This is new with the Roval Traverse SL II

Roval claims to have optimised the new edition of the popular Traverse SL in terms of both weight and durability - two areas that do not always harmonise well, especially on wheels. Our scales measured 750 grams on the 29-inch front wheel including rim tape and tubeless valve. The rear wheel weighed in at 861 grams. Together, this results in a good weight of 1611 grams for a trail wheelset with an inner rim width of 30 millimetres. Our measurement is therefore even slightly below the manufacturer's specification of 1645 grams. For comparison: the predecessor weighed around 1700 grams - a saving that can be quite valuable in terms of rotating mass. The carbon wheels are approved for a system weight of 125 kilos and for tyre widths between 2.3 and 2.6 inches.

Compared to its predecessor, Specialized promises a 15 per cent increase in stability on the front wheel. On the rear wheel, it should even be 25 per cent. The asymmetrical rim profile allows the 28 spokes per wheel to be evenly tensioned, which should also benefit durability. Roval has also revised the rim flange, which, thanks to an enlarged contact surface, should protect the tyre from up to 85 percent higher loads before a puncture occurs. The overall flatter rim profile should also have a positive effect on the riding behaviour. Specialized claims 21 percent more vertical flex and claims to have optimised the carbon layup of both the front and rear wheels. On the trail, this should result in greater riding precision and a more flexible response to rough terrain.

Roval Traverse SL II 240 6B Manufacturer information

• Wheel size: 29 inch only
• Inside width: 30 millimetres
• Permissible round dance widths: 2.3 to 2.6 inches
• Area of application: Trail
• Number of spokes: 28
• Weight: 1611 grams (BIKE measurement)
• Weight clearance: 125 kilos
• RRP front wheel: 925 euros
• RRP rear wheel: 1375 Euro

The new Roval Traverse product family

The Roval Traverse SL II wheelset is available either with DT Swiss 350 hubs for a total of 1500 euros or with the high-quality DT Swiss 240 hubs for 2300 euros. Together with the SL II, Roval has also presented other new wheels in the Traverse family. There is also an aluminium version, which also has 28 spokes per wheel and a rim width of 30 millimetres and goes by the name of Roval Traverse Alloy. Equipped with DT Swiss 350 hubs, Specialized is calling for 850 euros. With the Roval Traverse HD, the Americans also have a new carbon wheelset for enduro and park in their programme. A reinforced carbon layup and the option of a 27.5-inch rear wheel predestine the Traverse HD for gravity use. Depending on the hub quality, the set weighs from 1706 grams and also costs either 1500 or 2300 euros.

Endurance test of the Roval Traverse SL II 240 6B

In typical Roval fashion, Specialized doesn't mess around and sends the Traverse SL II wheels to the customer ready to ride. The tubeless rim tape is already stuck in the rim and a tubeless valve is also screwed in ex works. The latter does not require a lock nut and is aesthetically sleek, peeking out of the matt black carbon. In addition to two spare spokes, two spare nipples and the manuals, the high-quality packaging also contains an assembly protocol. This documents the assembly by hand and the measurement of the tolerances. The first impression is therefore what you would expect from a wheelset costing 2300 euros. Environmentally conscious bikers might only criticise the amount of printed cardboard.

The Traverse SL II has to complete its endurance test in the Merida One-Forty 6000 all-mountain bike. Here it replaces the no-name standard aluminium wheelset, which came without tubeless rim bath and with tubes. Amusingly, Specialized has some of its carbon frames manufactured in the Taiwanese factory of the big player Merida. So it could well be that Merida frames and Roval wheels share the same place of origin. As the Roval wheels are already prepared for riding without a tube, fitting the tyres, filling in the sealant and filling with air is effortless. With the tubeless setup the Roval Traverse SL II has no weaknesses. However, compatibility with the Shimano components of the Meridas requires new brake discs with a 6-hole standard and conversion to a Microspline freehub body. As is usual with DT Swiss 240 hubs, this can be done easily, quickly and without tools. Simply remove, grease, fit and you're done.

In the endurance test, the wheelset has to withstand a lot of trail use and touring kilometres. Its new temporary home on the edge of the Bavarian Forest also suggests a visit or two to the trails of the Geißkopf bike park. As the wheels are also designed to withstand a winter season, the test will show how well they cope with mud and salt water. In the final report, our experts from the BIKE test lab will also assess the concentricity of the rims and the durability of the bearings. You will soon be able to read how the Roval Traverse SL II 240 6B performs in the endurance test here on www.bike-magazin.de.

First ride impression of the Specialized Roval Traverse SL II

The switch to tubeless carbon wheels saves around 300 grams each at the front and rear of the endurance test bike. A weight saving of over half a kilo in rotating mass is considerable and ensures that the all-mountain bike shoots off the line noticeably faster. When it comes to acceleration, nothing beats a lightweight wheelset like the Roval Traverse SL II. The direct comparison between an inexpensive no-name aluminium wheelset and an expensive high-end carbon wheelset is remarkable, but of course it's a bit misleading. As everywhere, there is a grey between black and white. In the world of mountain bike wheels, these are lightweight models with aluminium rims. Bikers can turn to various custom wheel builders to meet the weight of a good 1600 grams for a set and get a combination of Tune King Kong hubs and Newmen SL A 30 rims for less than 800 euros, for example. This means that there is competition in the weight class of the noble Roval for around a third of the price. The Specialized wheelset must be capable of much more - in the best case three times as much.

Even on the first ride, it is noticeable that the bike climbs noticeably better thanks to the change to the lightweight Rovals. While the original wheels heaved themselves up the mountain like steamrollers on trail climbs, the Roval Traverse SL II 240 6B is much lighter and more agile. Overall, the Specialized wheels give the endurance test all-mountain a much sportier ride on undulating terrain. The rider also benefits from the increased grip generated by the low air pressure of the tubeless setup. Especially on loose forest ground, you can carry significantly more speed through the bends.

At the same time, unlike many other carbon models, the Roval wheelset does not appear too stiff. After a few descents on the hard, rutted stages of the Chilli Enduro series around the Geißkopf bike park, the signs of fatigue caused by the impacts passed on remained within limits. The small scratches on the Roval on the rocky trails are a little painful. The wide, flat rim protrudes laterally about as much as the widest part of the tyre sidewall. If the line is not chosen correctly, the rim is therefore not protected by the tyre, but instead comes into contact with the terrain in the event of lateral obstacles. Whether this can have a long-term effect on the durability of the rim cannot yet be said with the current mileage.

While the standard wheelset has already suffered two punctures over 300 kilometres, the Roval has so far remained defect-free over the same distance - this is also largely due to the switch to tubeless. In fact, the Specialized wheels have already had to put up with a few minor punctures. With a rider weight of just under 90 kilos (ready to ride) and a tyre pressure of 1.6 bar at the front and 1.8 bar at the rear, things can get a bit bumpy when riding wildly. So far, the Roval wheelset has been unimpressed: Neither defect nor air loss. It seems that Specialized is right with its promise of puncture resistance. Whether the Roval Traverse SL II is actually worth the money and can keep its promise of durability remains to be seen.