ENVE M525 27.5in Boost Wheelset reviews and deals for sale

Cross country racing, both at the highest level and at regional races, has transformed from buff tracks that favor the strong to more technical demanding courses valuing both fitness and skill. These are certainly more fun to spectate and participate but as these track have become more technical, equipment needed to evolve. Current XC bikes have headtube angles and suspension travel that wouldn't have been out of place on legit trail bikes a decade ago. During this transformation, we have seen more aggressive and wider tires to withstand the punishing terrain and faster speeds. Rims have gotten wider on the road and the trail to meet the requirements of bigger tires as we learn more about rolling resistance and tire volume. Taking what it has learned in the lab and from racer feedback, ENVE constructs the M525 27.5in Boost Wheelset for your lightweight hardtail or short travel dually and is superior to the previous M50 Fifty in every way. Starting with weight, the new rims are on average, 20 grams lighter for lightning quick accelerations and easing the load on extended climbs that you are sure to appreciate during marathon events. This particular build is for 27.5-inch bikes and the hoops are laced to boost spaced DT Swiss 240 hubs. What you will experience is the fastest, no-holds barred race wheelset that is durable enough to train on everyday.

ENVE received valuable feedback from their World Cup races and in house rippers when it came time to redesign the already excellent M50 rims. A goal of dropping weight was a priority as well as increasing the width for the newer crop of wider tires. Naturally durability could not falter and engineers actually looked at ways to increase rim reliability and reduce the risk of cutting lightweight tires often when run at lower pressure. In doing so, World Cup racers and the weekend warrior can enjoy the benefits that come from reduced air pressure and charge harder knowing that the rim can handle the abuse. The proof is in the pudding they say, and after a few bites, we have to admit that this pudding is tasting pretty sweet.

The hookless bead first appeared on ENVE mountain wheels on the last generation's MSeries. It was certainly an improvement over the XC rim of old with regards to tubeless setup, durability, and weight savings but ENVE knew they could do better. Meet the M525. This all-new, wider hookless bead is the culmination of over 2 years of development met to address both rim and tire durability. The rim shape features a broader leading edge on the bead which creates a more forgiving platform for the tire to bottom out, thus reducing the likelihood of pinch or snake-bite style flats. The design also allows for greater impact resistance for the rim when smashing it through that rock garden on the last lap. You can confidently run lower tire pressure to improve both traction and rolling resistance. The internal width has grown significantly as well, increasing from 21mm internally on the M50 to a healthy 25mm on the M525. Tire profiles are significantly improved for better cornering stability, braking, and rolling efficiency.

What isn't lost on these new wheels are the phenomenal ride quality ENVE is known for. The team consistently rides samples blind, and have their professional athletes do the same, to evaluate the exact carbon laminate, resin, layup, spoke count, and even lacing to achieve the desired ride qualities for the wheel's intended use. The M525 is a no-compromise cross country wheelset and as such, its construction is chosen for greater vertical compliance for the long hours in the saddle reducing fatigue without sacrificing the impressive lateral rigidity that corners like it's on rails. The hole count is reduced from 28 to 24 again to improve the ride and shed every gram possible.

Unique to every ENVE rim is the patented molded in-spoke holes, nipple seats, and valve holes, offering the highest strength-to-weight ratio in the industry. The nipple pocket is super strong and pull through is a thing of the past. When laying up the rim, ENVE places pins in the layup at the spoke hole locations so it can maintain continuous fiber integrity versus the industry standard of drilling post cure, which cuts into the fibers and weakens the structure. This results in increased rim rigidity, a stronger anchor point for the nipples and weight savings at the spoke face.

The internal nipples are able to articulate in their pockets much like a ball-and-socket joint. This yields a higher and more uniform spoke tension key to strong, true wheels from day one and throughout the many years of ownership. To save every gram possible, ENVE removes the bladder after curing where other composite manufacturers leave the rim-shaping, inflatable bladder in the rim. This process takes more time and expertise, but the end result is a lighter wheelset and one that is more perfectly balanced.

This particular build sees the 27.5-inch M525 rims laced to the industry lauded DT Swiss 240. Boost spacing offers precise steering and tracking up front while the wider axle in the rear increases frame clearances and allow the suspension to operate better. These hubs are for the centerlock rotor standard and can be used with 6-bolt rotors with adapters. Standard HG freehub or XD drivers for SRAM are available. The 240s are prized for their lightweight construction, superior durability, and tool-free service. ENVE recommends tires in the 2.1 through 2.35-inch range and offers a 5-year warranty and lifetime crash replacement for the original owner.