SpokeX SX310 Carbon Wheel Review - Surprisingly Good

1 year ago
46

Are you looking for a good, yet affordable custom carbon mountain bike wheel? Check out this review of the SpokeX SX310 to see how they help up to months of abuse aboard several different bikes.
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Hand-Built to Order – SpokeX’s website clearly spells out what they’re passionate about and how confident they are in their products. Each will is built by hand, by an expert wheel builder and checked for quality before leaving their shop. Backing up that QC check is a lifetime warranty on the parts as well as the craftsmanship, a nice touch.

Options On Options – Whether you want to customize graphics, spoke colors or hub selection, the SpokeX build process will let you choose the look that’s right for you. SpokeX has in-house powdercoating capabilities and works with a graphic printer to get your wheels ready for show or go. Hub options include Industry Nine Hydra hubs or Onyx Vespers.

Rims – Sporting a 23.5mm depth and internal width of 31mm with a 38mm external width, the rims sit well within the norms of aggressive enduro mountain bike wheels. Rims feature a 2mm offset and are available in 29-inch (505g) or 27.5-inch (485g) diameters. Complete wheelset weights will depend on hub and build options.

Looking at the beefy spokes, tight tension and build quality, I was expecting these wheels to ride a bit like 2008 ENVE wheels, aka not good. I should have paid more attention to that rim profile apparently as the wheels offered a really nice feel overall. I wouldn’t say they’re quite as compliant as CrankBros Synthesis wheels or Zipp 3Zero Motos, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I know riders don’t like those wheels because they’re not stiff enough, so as with all my reviews, I try to put each rider’s personal preferences and local terrain at the forefront. For the record, I regularly ride loose, desert trails where traction is scarce, and speeds are high. I don’t like harsh riding wheels as they cause fatigue and slower descending times so I’m not the one looking for the stiffest wheels to rail G-inducing, blue-grooved bike park berms. I did, however, spend a bit of time riding the bike park with the SX310 wheels and was still happy with how they did.

I mention the above wheels because I really like them, however while I would recommend the Synthesis or Zipp wheels for riders who seek traction and compliance in areas with loose rocks or wet roots, they can be polarizing when stiffness is needed. The SpokeX SX310, being a bit stiffer, are perhaps a bit more neutral and well-rounded in their performance. They offer enough compliance and feel when searching for traction in off-camber corners, but they offered a nice push and pop when it came time to dive into a big berm or quick slap turn.

Hub performance will vary depending on the build you choose; however we’ve spent time on both hubs and find them to be competitive options, so pick whichever makes you happy or fits your budget. Over the course of our six month test period, we haven’t had any spokes come loose or any sort of concern when it comes to quality of the build SX310 wheels, which is pretty great.

Price: Starting at $1,400
Weight: 2,012 grams as tested with valve stems and rim tape
Website: Spokex.com

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#mountainbike #mountainbiking #carbonwheels #enduromtb #emtb #bike #loamwolf
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