Best carbon wheelset under 800usd?

[RiTsEtiViD]

Hello good people. I am preparing for my first bike build and i am a bit stuck on wheelset options as there is just so many and i would really appreciate your opinions and help.

I will be building it with Lightcarbon LCR017 frame (or are there any better options with t47 in this price range?) and mechanical ultegra.

Now to the wheelsets. As I plan to use it for more hilly rides, I wish for 45-50mm deep wheelset. Budget is around 700-800usd.

I was looking at some of carbonspeed wheelsets more specifically something like this: https://www.xmcarbonspeed.cc/products/carbon-speed-50mm-depth-26-mm-internal-width-disc-brake-gravel-bike-carbon-wheelset-700c-tubeless-compatible
Patrick Lino mentioned some similar wheelset in recent video, where it is mentioned how spokes are straight pull and also threaded in hubs which sounds great. Should i get 5mm spokes? Does anyone know if there is better wheelset at this price point? I am also considering wavy designs but i don’t think they offer them in such great specifications? On that note i was also looking at yishun wavy wheelset: https://www.yishunbike.com/series/rb-wheels
In ultra version but i am unsure if they are better than carbonspeed and worth getting.

I am going to run at least 30mm tires possibly 32mm set up tubeless.

Thanks everyone for help and opinions in advance!

[Sander2177]

Hey! I’ve recently gone through a similar process and bought two different carbon wheelsets, so I thought I’d share my experience — it might help with your decision.

⸻

1. DFS Carbon 65/60 T1000 Wheelset
   •   Specs: 1231g, 5mm carbon spokes, 90kg weight limit
   •   Experience: These have been excellent so far. It was my first purchase from DFS Carbon, and everything went smoothly — communication, shipping, and overall quality were all solid.
   •   Comments: great wheels although the hubs will need looking at due to ghost pedalling which may be the hubs and 25mm inner worth with the same profile as the XM Carbons you are looking at


2. XM Carbonspeed 50/60 T1100 Wheelset
   •   Specs: 18/18h hubs, 5mm carbon spokes, 120kg rider weight limit
   •   Comments: I chose these over a lighter DFS who likely could have offered a lighter wheel set because I preferred the rim shape of the new 50/60mm 24mm internal width design XM Carbonspeed offers. Still waiting for these to be delivered so will be very excited to receive these should be around 1200g


The XMC Wheelset you have selected

   Value: The wheels you’ve selected from XMC are superb value at this price point — hard to beat in terms of spec and materials.
   •   Note on Hubs: These wheels use side-entry hubs for the spokes. While that’s fine in many cases, there have been reports (especially in rougher conditions) of spokes potentially popping out if there’s a sudden loss of tension. Personally, I’d recommend requesting different hubs fully enclosed straight-pull hubs  — for added reliability and peace of mind.

 As for wavy wheels, I’m personally not a fan — they feel a bit gimmicky to me, and I prefer the cleaner, more classic lines of traditional rims. That’s not to say they won’t perform well, but you can definitely find more affordable and proven options. If you’re interested, check out the Tagoola thread and consider messaging Matter — they’ve had consistently strong reviews and offer excellent value.

That said, XMC remains one of my top choices, especially because of their spoke options, great customer service, and overall high-quality product. The consistent positive feedback from other riders really helped give me confidence in my purchase.

[RiTsEtiViD]

Thank you massively for this reply. I am leaning towards normal round XMC and not wavy. Only fear was crosswinds as i am 65kg only. But i think i will contact them for some T800 variants with same hubs that sir Patrick Lino had in the video as they seem really decent. I will probably also take 50mm deep ones with 5mm spokes or would you advise against it?

Anyway huge thanks for advice. There is just so many options out there I was just a bit lost

[Serge_K]

+1 on Peter wheelset. Unless where you ride is especially susceptible to crosswinds, I'd go 50mm.
Frame, have you considered Peter frames? They are cheaper. I recently bought 3 and my friends are happy (doesn't mean much, but nobody complained about anything).
Except the gran Turismo one which costs more.
Have you considered the speeder 55?
Did you read the 17D thread? Aren't you concerned with all the fuck ups people had to endure?

Wavy wheels won't age well. Just looks bad. You don't want an ugly girlfriend, nor an ugly bike, because you want to want to ride both.

Yes, I made myself laugh there.

[BeR]

You can have a look at Tagoola wheels. Less known than carbon speed but as high quality.

[Sander2177]

You can have a look at Tagoola wheels. Less known than carbon speed but as high quality.

Second that from BeR!
Forgot to give Tagoola a mention!
There is a thread on here by Tagoola. 
Contact Matter from Tagoola he is very helpful

[RiTsEtiViD]

Damn thanks for all the advice and for that massive save/assist. I was aware of some people facing some issues regarding 017d however i didn’t know it was that bad.

I think I will contact Peter about the r06 frame as well. It weighs almost same as LCR017 and in my opinion looks much better. I will keep you guys posted once i close this deal with Peter. According to this forum, he is a massive legend.

Btw this forum is absolutely amazing! Thanks guys

[RiTsEtiViD]

I recently bought 3 and my friends are happy (doesn't mean much, but nobody complained about anything).

I believe i saw a picture of CS-R06 of one of your friends, can you please help me with sizes a little bit. I am 181cm tall, 88cm inseam. I am not very flexible and in the past used 56 size frames and they always felt to big and stretched for me. So i am leaning towards size M-515 as the L-540 feels more like normal 56 size frame, while size M is more towards 54 size, just a little bit smaller? Am I way off? What sizes are your friends and which frame sizes did they choose?

Any info would be more than great!

[Serge_K]

I believe i saw a picture of CS-R06 of one of your friends, can you please help me with sizes a little bit. I am 181cm tall, 88cm inseam. I am not very flexible and in the past used 56 size frames and they always felt to big and stretched for me. So i am leaning towards size M-515 as the L-540 feels more like normal 56 size frame, while size M is more towards 54 size, just a little bit smaller? Am I way off? What sizes are your friends and which frame sizes did they choose?

Any info would be more than great!

All 3 are shorter than you. I'm 184 w long legs, my saddle height is 80-81cm, and therefore, a short torso. I have fairly long arms. I rode frames too big for me for years. My long teng 268 finally fits me, in M (check geometry bike geek website thing to compare that one with others). 1st used an 8cm stem, then 10cm. 10cm allows me to spend more time in aero position (elbows bent), wouldn't go back to 80. I dont think i'd like 120.
Time to do a bit of trigonometry
As always, if in doubt, ALWAYS go smaller. Especially with your history of riding frames too big.

[rasch]

Damn thanks for all the advice and for that massive save/assist. I was aware of some people facing some issues regarding 017d however i didn’t know it was that bad.

I think I will contact Peter about the r06 frame as well. It weighs almost same as LCR017 and in my opinion looks much better. I will keep you guys posted once i close this deal with Peter. According to this forum, he is a massive legend.

Btw this forum is absolutely amazing! Thanks guys

I agree that alce 017 isn’t the best looking frame. I have one and don’t like it much visually. But what I want to say is don’t rush on that.

if you see all threads absolutely every company has had more than one complain. Sometimes those complaints get disguised or are less visible because they are not repeated 300times… anyway LC is a legit and trustworthy factory. I deal quite a lot with frames from china. Don’t deal with clones, and i have some preferred providers, either by finishing quality or by quality/price. I value communication and after-sale support. You can have a different criteria. This to say that sending someone to search for a solution to their problem on a forum online is not exactly top notch support as well.

anyway between those choose not only what u like the most, but also what fits you best. you’ll have a great product anyway