DFS Ghost Evo 50/55 moulded spoke-hole wheelset
A few months ago DFS sent me a set of their newer Ghost Evo moulded spoke-hole wheels to test. I went with the 50 mm front / 55 mm rear configuration, using the 3.2 mm bladed carbon spokes with hidden nipples.
When I was originally speaking to DFS about sending out a set of wheels there was no 60 mm option available, which is why I chose the 50/55 combination. Ironically, shortly after these arrived DFS released a 60 mm version, and having been impressed with this first set I ended up ordering a 60/60 wheelset myself. That gives me a useful opportunity to compare not only the different depths but also the 24-spoke rear on this set against the 20-spoke rear on the new wheels.
The wheelset uses DFS's moulded spoke-hole construction with hidden nipples and carbon spokes weighing approximately 2.1 g each including the nipple. The hubset is quoted at approximately 235 g and my wheels came fitted with TPI ceramic bearings.
Yes, there are other OEMs selling what appears to be the same rim platform including Nextie, Light Bicycle, XYZ and Zen. From what I've been told, the factory producing these rims is run by a former Light Bicycle employee.
The Ghost Evo reviewed here uses the lighter 110 kg rider/system weight limit rims:
Front Rim (50 mm)
Weight: 335 g
Impact Rating: 105 J
Quoted Internal Width: 25.0 mm
Quoted External Width: 30.94 mm
Measured Internal Width: 25.45 mm
Measured External Width: 31.96 mm
Asymmetry: None
Rear Rim (55 mm)
Weight: 355 g
Impact Rating: 100 J
Quoted Internal Width: 25.0 mm
Quoted External Width: 31.4 mm
Measured Internal Width: 25.45 mm
Measured External Width: 32.4 mm
Asymmetry: 2 mm
Wheelset Specification
DFS Ghost Evo
110 kg rider/system weight limit version
20 front / 24 rear spokes
3.2 mm bladed carbon spokes with hidden nipples
Approx. 2.1 g per spoke including nipple
DFS hubset
Approx. 235 g hub weight
TPI ceramic bearings
UD paint-free matte, no logos
Quoted wheelset weight: 1,027 g
130 kg Version Also Available
Front rim: 365 g, 120 J impact rating
Rear rim: 365 g, 115 J impact rating
Tyre Setup
Continental GP5000 with tubes
30 mm front tyre measuring 32.1 mm
32 mm rear tyre measuring 33.1 mm
Typical pressures: 52 psi front / 56 psi rear
I don't think the slightly larger tyre-to-rim transition at the rear is particularly important for me. I'd rather have the additional comfort of the larger rear tyre.
I wasn't completely sure what I was going to think of the moulded spoke-hole design before they arrived, particularly the moulded spoke areas themselves, but in person I actually quite like them. The hidden nipples make the wheels look exceptionally clean.
My only minor gripe aesthetically is the moulded spoke-hole area itself. Because the spoke bed protrudes slightly, if you're really throwing the bike around out of the saddle you can occasionally hear a little noise from the wheel. It isn't a loose nipple rattling around inside the rim. One of the advantages of this construction is that there isn't anything loose inside, and it hasn't caused any actual issue so its not a deal breaker i will probably use some clear silicone
I've now done roughly 600 km on them, yes not mega mile but enough to get a feel for the wheels
One thing people always seem to do with very lightweight rims is the highly scientific "Mickey Mouse test" 😂 and squeeze the sidewalls with their fingers.
These are actually surprisingly solid when you do that. Obviously squeezing a rim tells you very little about how a tensioned wheel behaves under riding loads, but they certainly don't feel paper-thin.
There is also a lot of marketing around T800, T1000 and T1100 carbon. Personally, I wouldn't get too hung up on that. A rim being advertised as T1000 doesn't mean the entire rim is made from T1000 fibre. Higher modulus material may only be used selectively in key reinforcement areas while the majority of the lay-up remains something like T800. As I understand it, these rims are primarily T800.
I was quite apprehensive when the first genuinely sub-1,000 g wheelsets started appearing. When 9velo released theirs last year at around 999g, naturally there were questions about rider limits, durability and how far manufacturers could realistically push rim weights.
That's partly why I wanted to put some actual kilometres into this type of wheel rather than simply admire a scale reading.
The other question people understandably have with these ultra-light wheels and relatively narrow carbon spokes is stiffness. I am 78/80kgs
So far I've had absolutely no issues.
When riding them hard I've experienced, and particularly up any inclines
No tyre rub
No rim contact with the stays
No brake-related issues
No noticeable unwanted lateral flex
The rear wheel on this set uses 24 spokes, which may contribute, but based on my experience so far I still think a properly built 20/20 version would be absolutely fine for me.
One other thing worth mentioning is the slight undulation visible between the spoke areas. Someone commented on a Facebook photo asking whether it was "ripple".
Very lightweight rims can sometimes show slight visual waviness around high-tension areas because there simply isn't the same quantity of material as you would find in a conventional 450-500 g rim. On these wheels there is a subtle shape between the moulded spoke sections which becomes more obvious under certain lighting almost an undlating profile
The ceramic bearings are probably the part I'm least excited about. Personally I've never been a huge fan of lower-cost ceramic bearings, as I've generally found a good quality steel bearing offers better long-term durability. Bearings are consumable though, and I certainly wouldn't buy or dismiss a wheelset purely because it came fitted with ceramics.
And then there is the name: DFS. 😂
Unfortunately, for anyone in the UK, every photo posted online immediately attracts comments about sofas, Christmas sales and "DFS Sale Now On". There's absolutely no escaping it.
But putting the name aside, I've genuinely been impressed by these wheels.
In fact, after the first couple of hundred kilometres I liked them enough that I ordered another set myself, this time 60 mm front and rear with 20 spokes front and rear.
Those were estimated at 1,049 g in UD paint-free matte. DFS sent me photos recently and the finished wheelset came out at 1,052 g, only 3 g above the quoted figure.
That should make an interesting comparison because the construction is fundamentally the same, but I'll be able to see whether going from a 24-spoke rear on this set to a 20-spoke rear makes any meaningful difference to how the wheel behaves under load.
So, around 600 km in, my overall experience has been very positive. They're exceptionally light, the 25 mm internal width works brilliantly with modern 30-32 mm tyres, they've stayed straight, I've had no stiffness concerns whatsoever, and so far there's nothing mechanically that would stop me recommending people at least consider this style of wheel.
Obviously 600 km isn't a long-term durability test, so I'll keep putting miles into them and update the thread again later.
And once the 60/60 20-spoke set arrives, I'll put the two back-to-back and see whether I can actually feel any difference, rather than simply inventing one because the spoke count changed. 😂
