FIRST LOOK: ZLV-IND MAXGOAT Carbon Wheelset
ZLV-IND's MAXGOAT Carbon Wheels claim to be a jack of all trades wheelset at a very competitive price. Here are our initial thoughts.
Words and photos: Will Shaw
Toowoomba based ZLV-IND have a deep history in carbon wheels. Their ethos of ‘Quality Products, No Gimmicks, Sold direct to You’ sounds good to me, so I was excited to get hold of their 29” MAXGOAT Carbon Wheelset.
ZLV-IND are running a pretty limited range of products, and the MAXGOAT wheels come in a 28 spoke, 29”, Boost, 6-bolt rotor configuration only. The rims are different to the Zelvy wheels of old, with a much flatter profile (17mm) that’s becoming more popular with wheels like the Zipp 3Zero Moto wheels, and Crank Brothers’ Synthesis wheels. Despite the different rim profile, the ZLV-IND rims still feature Zelvy’s classic marbled look, albeit in a gloss rather than matte finish. Minimal graphics round out the package, which I think looks quite stealthy!
Give me the numbers:
The rims are hookless, with a 32mm internal width paired with a 40mm external width. ZLV-IND say this provides ‘ultimate lateral steering precision and tyre support.’ The hookless flanges are 4mm, and ZLV-IND claim this improves impact resistance drastically.
At the heart of the MAXGOAT wheels is a set of DT Swiss’ ever reliable 350 hubs in the striaghtpull configuration. The spokes are SAPIM, and brass nipples are used throughout in a nod to serviceability. ZLV-IND do offer three freehub options, which are Shimano HG, Shimano MicroSpline, and SRAM XD.
The claimed weight for the MAXGOATs is 1850 grams, which is in the ballpark for an aggressive 29” wheelset aimed at everyone from aggressive trail riders to enduro racers.
What’s in the box?
The wheels are shipped to your door fully assembled, and extras include a roll of Gorilla Tape, three valves, and a couple of spare spokes and nipples. Whilst getting a few spares with your purchase is becoming the norm across aftermarket wheels, it’s nice to see, nonetheless.
Setup:
The MAXGOATs were breeze to setup. Both wheels sealed tubeless with a floor pump, and the tyre profiles for a Pirelli Scorpion eMTB Soft (2.6″) and Schwalbe Hans Dampf (2.35″) look good to me.
I’m excited to get out on these wheels, as priced at $2104.55 shipped to your door they could be a great option for a quality carbon wheelset at a competitive price. I’ll be riding the wheels on a 170mm eMTB, so there’ll be no lack of punishment dished out! Keep an eye out for an online review after plenty of riding.
Price: $2104.55
From: zlv-ind.com
