TESTED: Reynolds 27.5 AM Carbon Wheels

It may come as a surprise that Reynolds Cycling actually debuted their very first carbon mountain bike wheel set way back in 2007. Called the Topo, the complete wheel set came in at just 1350 grams at a time when the idea of employing a composite rim for off-road use was mind-blowing. The Topo’s ride quality and durability proved their worth though, and Reynolds has been growing consumer confidence in carbon wheels ever since.

Addressing the needs of todays long-travel superbikes, the AM Carbon Wheels are Reynolds’ strongest and widest mountain bike offering yet. This 27.5” wheel set has been designed and engineered to handle the rigours of Enduro racing and hardcore trail thrashing, with 31mm wide tubeless-compatible rims, adaptable hubs and a user-serviceable design.

Coming in at a confirmed weight of 1.75kg, the AM Carbon wheels aren’t blisteringly light, but as I’ve found over a season of hard riding, this wheel set has got more to offer than just a number on the scales.

Bold & Beefy

Strapping the AM Carbon wheels to any bike immediately gives it presence. The bold white graphics and 30mm deep profile appear purposeful, and the red anodised hubs and matching red nipples look trick without being gaudy.

The CNC machined alloy hubs are Reynolds’ own design, featuring hollow alloy axles and oversized sealed cartridge bearings. The front hub is adaptable for 9/15/20mm axles, and the rear hub can be setup for 135mm or 142x12mm dropouts. All end caps are included in the box, although a SRAM XD driver is available separately for $179.

The AM Carbons receive Reynolds’ latest MR5 construction technique, which specifies different carbon fibres and lay-up patterns for each of the 5 key parts of the rim. Reynolds source the raw material from Mitsubishi in Japan, and the resin comes from the US. The carbon cloth is then compressed in the molds under incredibly high pressure to create a dense and void-free structure.

While each rim is claimed to weigh just 440 grams each, Reynolds have put the emphasis on strength and stiffness. Fat, 4mm thick sidewalls boost the rim’s impact strength, while reducing the likelihood of a snakebite.

Tubeless tape and valves are included in the box, and the pronounced bead hooks provide a satisfying “snap” as the tyre beads lock into place during inflation. No compressor needed either.

On The Trail

The majority of the AM Carbon’s trail time was spent aboard our longterm Avanti Torrent test bike, where they’ve been used and abused on some very ugly terrain.

Acceleration is prompt, and the AM Carbons are easy to keep ticking along at speed. The smooth hub bearings must also be given credit here. Compared to Reynolds’ previous design, the new rear hub features double the pawls, and double the engagement points (54). The freehub isn’t obnoxiously loud while you’re coasting down the trail, and pickup at the pedals is excellent.

Despite running tyre pressures in the sub-20psi region, the AM Carbon’s have remained stable and composed, shrugging off many direct rock strikes and aggressive side loading. On the kind of heavy landings that I’d typically expect some ‘pinging’ noises to emanate from the wheels, the AM Carbon’s remained silent. That’s the result of a well-balanced wheel build, and the high spoke tensions that are possible with carbon rims and the DT Swiss Revolution straight-pull spokes.

Lateral rigidity is awesome. This was most apparent on the back end of the Torrent, where tyre clearance is extremely limited with 2.35” rubber. Despite the tight fit, I had no untoward rubbing between tyre and chainstays.

The AM Carbon’s give the bike a flighty feel once in the air, making whips and last-minute directional changes easier. Their responsiveness does take a little getting used to though, and you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got tyre pressure and suspension setup dialled in. Otherwise you run the risk of getting pin-balled off line through rock gardens.

Our Take

After many miles of testing, I can conclude that the Reynolds AM Carbon wheels are quite possibly the strongest wheels I have ever ridden. I’ve had no broken spokes, no damage to the rims, and the bearings are spinning beautifully smooth with no detectable play anywhere. The rims also offer a very secure tubeless setup, with their 23mm internal width and generous bead hooks providing a stable base for rubber up to 2.4” wide. While I’ve been testing much wider rims lately, I’m not totally convinced that they’re necessary, and particularly when the AM Carbons already provide a great profile with the 2.2-2.3” tyres I’ve tested.

The AM Carbons aren’t crazy light or wide, but they’re a significant performance enhancer for any trail bike. It may be a big investment initially, but in the long run you can be guaranteed that you’ll have a strong and serviceable wheel set, which rides damn well too.

Hits: – Strong and reliable

• Adaptable, smooth rolling hubs

• They improve the ride of your bike

Misses: – They are still a big investment

RRP: $2500

From: bikesportz.com.au