Here are some images of the Fulcrum Red Metal 29 XLR wheel that we saw at Frostbike this past weekend. You can see from this angle that the rim well is not drilled. Yep! Tubeless compatibility.
Here’s a shot of the front wheel to match the rear. These are prototypes and the only ones in existence at the moment. Obviously they will recieve the full on Fulcrum graphic treatment before their official release. This set is one of two models that will become available later this year. This is the “XLR” model, the higher end of the two to be offered. It will feature milled out sections between the spokes on the rim, and flattened, aero-like stainless steel spokes. The hubs have high quality cartridge sealed bearings and they have 28 spokes front and rear. The projected weight for the production sets is 1850 grams. We threw the proto set on a nearby digital scale and it weighed 1850 grams on the nose with valve stems installed.
The second model will be the “Red Metal 29 SL” and will not feature the milled out sections or the tubeless compatible rim well. Traditional round spokes will be used with the same spoke count. This wheel set is projected to weigh between 2200 and 2300 grams. It will feature hubs with sealed cartridge bearings and will be significantly less expensive than the XLR. No retail prices had been set as of this posting though.
Here is how the two models should appear when they are released. Twenty Nine Inches will follow up with more info as it becomes available.
who is the parent company behind Fulcrum?
Will these be high end priced or middle end pricing?
Mark: Fulcrum is a stand alone company, but it is well known that it was started out of Campagnolo, and thus the term “sister company”. The story goes that Campy wanted to be able to have Shimano sponsored teams on their wheels in the Pro peloton, so they came up with Fulcrum. Don’t know how much of that is true or legend, but it makes up for a good story!
The upper end SLR set will be comparable with the new Shimano29″er offering and Mavic’s Cr29max wheels.
thank ya kindly GT!
Any new data on the Fulcrum wheels – specifically, how wide is the rim (inside measurement) of the SL rims?
RacerX.29: We have not reviewed these wheels, but they are listed as only being 19mm wide in Fulcrum’s catalog. (“Nominal rim width”).
Guitar Ted,
Any follow up on the XLR wheelset? I’m trying to choose between the XLR’s and the Mavic Crossmax’s and would like to know your opinion on which one you like better. (I weigh a bit less than you though at 165). I find your reviews to be very helpful.
Thanks!
@Bikelad: Well, again- we haven’t been on the Fulcrums and if you want “different” then I think they would be great. That said, the Mavics are a proven design and for someone at your weight, they should be a winner.
I would go with the “known entity” and choose Mavic, but that’s just me.
That is pretty bad advice considering the Mavic Crossmaxx have had known issues! I did a lot of looking around before deciding. i own Mavic’s on my road bike but the Crossmaxx had reliability issues in most all of the mid – long term reviews. i purchased the Fulcrum SL’s for my training wheels. i was so impressed how well they spun and held up to my beat downs, i ended up buying a set of the XLR’s. i have had no issues with either sets of wheels.
@myke2241: “Bad advice” is relative. I had nothing but good luck with the pre-production demo wheelset we tested for Twenty Nine Inches and they are still being ridden with zero service done to them since 2007. For some of the first Cr29ssmax wheels out, that’s a pretty good track record.
I figure that’s pretty “long term” and reliable info to hand out to folks.
Your mileage may vary.