Hi all,
After a bit of a delay, I’m finally sharing my first impressions of a prototype gravel wheelset from XM Carbonspeed. I had a chance to chat with Peter from XMCS at Eurobike and received the wheels at a discounted rate in exchange for providing honest feedback here.
Unboxing & Initial Impressions
• Finish: Matte satin surface, golden water-transfer logos, raw titanium spokes, black hubs and nipples – very clean, high-end look.
• Rim profile: 42 mm outer / 33 mm inner width. Looks massive at first glance, but pairs surprisingly well with 40–45 mm tires and creates a smooth aero transition.
• Build quality: Excellent. The internal finish is flawless – no carbon debris, resin residue or visible imperfections.
Measured Weight (kitchen scale)
• Front: 615 g
• Rear (HG freehub): 720 g
• Total: 1,335 g
The XDR version is ~3 g lighter. Very impressive numbers for such wide rims with titanium spokes. XMCS claims T1100 carbon – which could explain the low weight, assuming durability holds up.
Tubeless Setup
• Tape: Buckless 35 mm
• Valves: Buckless aluminum
• Sealant: Schwalbe Doc Blue (60 ml front / 65 ml rear)
• Tires: Tufo Gravel Thundero – front 40 mm, rear 44 mm (both used)
Setup was straightforward – both tires seated immediately with a Tyre Booster.
Measured Tire Widths (@32 psi, compared to Zipp 303s)
• Front: 39.6 mm → 43.6 mm
• Rear: 43.3 mm → 47.6 mm
Next Steps
I’ll be testing them further on my custom titanium gravel bike – visually a perfect match. Ride impressions to follow soon.
If you have any questions or want specific feedback, feel free to ask!
