Sun Ringle’ Charger Pro SL Wheels: Out Of The Box- by Guitar Ted
Recently we showed you the newest version of Sun Ringle’s Charger Pro SL 29″er wheels. These are Sun Ringle’s range topping trail wheels for 29″er bikes. The black wheels feature Stan’s NoTubes licensed Bead Socket technology, and so are best suited to tires friendly with Stan’s bead diameter. (Read: UST dimension tires need not apply.) Let’s take a closer look….
Sun Ringle' Charger Pro SL Wheel Set
Tech Specs: From Sun Ringle’s website:
Colors: Black, White
Bike Type: Trail, All-Mountain
Product Specs:
Stan’s NoTubes™ BST Technology (w/Rim Tape)
27mm Rim Width
26″/27.5″(NEW)/29″er
Premium, Cartridge Bearing, Straight-Pull Hubs
Quick Release, QR15, 20mm Thru-Axle Front Axle Options
(All end caps included)
Quick Release, 135×12, 142×12 Rear Axle Options
(12mm axle end caps sold separately)*
Wheelsmith Bladed Spokes
Wheelsmith Alloy Nipples
24/24 (28 / 28 for 29″er) Hole Count
Cro-Moly Skewers
26″-1550g, 27.5″-1650g, 29″er-1700g
*Note: The 29″er wheels, we’re told, do come with the 142mm X 12mm end caps
While the rims do utilize a similar bead seat profile to a Stan’s rim, these are not re-badged Stan’s rims. These are Sun Ringle’s own design, and are especially designed to be laterally stiff and still be reasonably light weight. The rims feature eyelets at the spoke holes, screened on graphics, and pre-installed Stan’s yellow tape. The rims are laced with bladed Wheelsmith spokes, and these are a straight pull type which terminate in a nicely machined aluminum hub shell.
The wheels have tubeless valve stems supplied as well as two bottles of Stan’s sealant, enough to set up a pair of tires tubeless. This makes going tubeless about as easy as it can possibly be done short of having someone else set up the system for you. If you don’t want to run tubeless, the yellow tape functions perfectly as a rim strip for tubes, so either way it is a good benefit.
The hubs feature high quality sealed bearings inside and the rear hub has 48 clicks in there, for those who are concerned about such things. The front hub came out of the box set up with 15mm through axle end caps, but traditional 9mm end caps and 20mm through axle end caps are also supplied. What is more, the set comes with 142 X 12mm through axle end caps for the rear wheel, so you are covered in any eventuality as far as hub compatibility goes. Everything is supplied in the box, even some spare spokes.
The wheels I received weighed in at 810 gms front/ 910 gms rear, so a hair more than claimed, but still quite reasonable for wheels that are aimed at Trail/AM use. MSRP is $925.00USD for the set of wheels, end caps, sealant, valve stems, and spare spokes. (Note- the aftermarket wheels are the only way to get all the extras. OEM wheels won’t have all that stuff.) Stay tuned for tires that will be getting mounted to these trail wheels. Then we’ll get the whole shootin’ match out on the trails to see how everything holds up.
Note: Sun Ringle’ sent these wheels over to Twenty Nine Inches at no charge for test and review. We are not being charged nor bribed for this review and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
We want tires that fit on all rims, tubeless or not. Is that too much to ask?
Or do we want rims on which all ’700c’ bead diameter tires fit? Is that too much to ask?
With some exceptions due to production variance, tires used to fit all rims until Notubes invented BST and upped their bead hook diameter.
Schwalbe tires fit on Stan’s style rims and I can inflate with a floor pump (and maybe some suds) – that’s all I care about.
I am not discounting these wheels. I like the changes Sun has made and their wheels IMO always look great. I guess I keep comparing them to the Specialized carbon wheels for $1200, which is not too much more than the Sun Ringle. I know the Charger is more all mountain, but even the Black Flag is priced near these Chargers. Again, not trying to knock Sun wheels, just wondering what others may think as well.
Cheers!
What is nice, is that the ring drive and free hub fit Charger Pro and Black Flag Pro, so you can upgrade your engagement. Yes, I have done the conversion.
what is the inner rim width?
BF Pro SL inner rim width 19mm, Charger SL is 22.2mm (per their website PDF download). Don’t forget the hubs!!!!! I have the older BF Pro 29s and the difference over OEM hubs is night and day. I also have a HOPE Pro 2 Evo wheelset, I’d say these Sun hubs are smoother!
Are these hubs made by Sun Ringle?
@phs: I can not say for sure. I’ll have to check on this, but it is my impression these are not made in house. I’ll see if I can dig up that answer…….