Chinertown
Chinese Carbon MTB => 29er => Topic started by: pavlo.k on June 08, 2025, 12:25:55 PM
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Hey. I'm looking to buy a light and wide 29er wheelset for my trail bike and would appreciate some suggestions.
Ideally under 1500g, 30+mm wide, around 500usd
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during last black friday I've bought a set of elitewheels SLR, arounf 1520 gr for around 400 euro.
Great wheels for the price
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during last black friday I've bought a set of elitewheels SLR, arounf 1520 gr for around 400 euro.
Great wheels for the price
Do you have a non-boost version? According to elite boost wheels are 70g heavier so the lightest slr with 30mm internal will be 1570+g which is not bad but it's just margi ally lighter than my current al wheelset
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Yuanan, xmcarbon, light carbon, tagoola are the recurring names
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Do you have a non-boost version? According to elite boost wheels are 70g heavier so the lightest slr with 30mm internal will be 1570+g which is not bad but it's just margi ally lighter than my current al wheelset
I have boost version.
I see recently eklitewheels has changed the product page on aliexpress, when I purhased the wheelset the calimed weight for 30 mminternal, 25 mm profile was around 1520 gr and on my scale the weight were close to 1530 gr (without tape and valve), not 1570
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After hearing some good things about them here and on a Spanish forum (https://www.foromtb.com/threads/censo-ruedas-chinas.1184418/page-982 (https://www.foromtb.com/threads/censo-ruedas-chinas.1184418/page-982)) I pulled the trigger on a set from Serenade. They were easy to deal with over Whatsapp and the price was under $500 before shipping. Mine will be over 1500g for the set, but that's because of the heavier hubs I'm having them built with and the heavier AM layup I asked for. Once I get them I'll provide pictures and feedback over time.
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After hearing some good things about them here and on a Spanish forum (https://www.foromtb.com/threads/censo-ruedas-chinas.1184418/page-982 (https://www.foromtb.com/threads/censo-ruedas-chinas.1184418/page-982)) I pulled the trigger on a set from Serenade. They were easy to deal with over Whatsapp and the price was under $500 before shipping. Mine will be over 1500g for the set, but that's because of the heavier hubs I'm having them built with and the heavier AM layup I asked for. Once I get them I'll provide pictures and feedback over time.
I was looking into their wheels as well. I contacted them via WhatsApp, but their 'please buy best wheels my friend, very light!' kind of approach put me off. There was a 10% discount code mentioned in the thread about their road bike wheels, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work anymore.
How long did it take to receive the wheels? Which ones did you get?
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I have not received them yet. Ordered a week and a half ago. Was told it would take 3-4 weeks once they ship. Mine might take a little longer to build because of the Koozer 450 hubs I'm having them made with since Serenade doesn't seem to stock them but I appreciate them willing to use a nonstandard hub. That was one of the main reasons I went with them. No one else was offering affordable high engagement hubs with their builds.
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maybe check Gealot store on Ali, already ordered a road wheelset for a very reasonable price and seems good quality so far. Probably going to order a XC wheelset tomorrow as the sale starts...
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I was looking into their wheels as well. I contacted them via WhatsApp, but their 'please buy best wheels my friend, very light!' kind of approach put me off. There was a 10% discount code mentioned in the thread about their road bike wheels, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work anymore.
How long did it take to receive the wheels? Which ones did you get?
I realized I didn't tell you what time I ordered or an update... Sorry!
I'm having mine made with their TME9038 rims in the AM weight. There's a big jump in rim weight from 325g to 460g when going from XC to AM but it's very rocky here in Colorado and I want to prioritize durability. Ideally they would have a middle weight but I was told that isn't an option.
Because I'm having the wheels made with nonstandard Koozer 450 hubs I worked with Wendy via Whatsapp and paid on June 3rd. They say they received the hubs last week but are still waiting on the rims so things are going slower than I had hoped. I'll post an update once I get it - hopefully they will send pictures of the wheels prior to shipment as requested.
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I got some from BITRANZ before that were about $600 shipped, weighted 1100g and been fantastic. Maybe 18k km on them now. I also just ordered some lighter wheels, 890g for the set, £500 heavily is counted but the deal is no longer active
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My lightcarbon ones have help up well. Around $600 but worth it for more established reputable seller
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I got some from BITRANZ before that were about $600 shipped, weighted 1100g and been fantastic. Maybe 18k km on them now. I also just ordered some lighter wheels, 890g for the set, £500 heavily is counted but the deal is no longer active
Surely you mean 890g for just the rims, right? Could you provide details on which ones?
I received pictures of the finished wheels I bought from Serenade this morning. The AM version of the rims were out of stock so it took longer than expected. Will be posting a detailed review once I receive them and have some time riding them.
Edit: According to Serenade they're 1570g. Not too bad for heavier hubs and AM layup rims.
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Surely you mean 890g for just the rims, right? Could you provide details on which ones?
I received pictures of the finished wheels I bought from Serenade this morning. The AM version of the rims were out of stock so it took longer than expected. Will be posting a detailed review once I receive them and have some time riding them.
Edit: According to Serenade they're 1570g. Not too bad for heavier hubs and AM layup rims.
I don't have the new wheels yet but they are meant to be 890g for the pair of wheels. Obviously not going to be as robust as heavier wheels but I wanted something light as an option.
Here is a pic of the bitranz wheels, don't have a close up one.
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What kind of riding have you been doing on those Bitranz wheels? I'd be concerned about 1100g wheels let along 890g wheels where I live. Plenty of sharp rocks here.
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What kind of riding have you been doing on those Bitranz wheels? I'd be concerned about 1100g wheels let along 890g wheels where I live. Plenty of sharp rocks here.
I don't drive so do a fair amount of mileage. Maybe 12000 miles a year. Maybe 9k of that is tarmac/gravel and the other 3k is done in the UK on the South Downs Way which is local to me. I'm 82kg fit build but they've been great so far. Totally unsure about the 900g ones, I know they're a big gamble but money always comes back!
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My wheels arrived today and they are 896g. This might be my last post 😅
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I hope not! That's crazy light. How does the finish on the rims look? Keep us updated...
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I hope not! That's crazy light. How does the finish on the rims look? Keep us updated...
They do look good and spokes are all equally tensioned. I'll mount them up this week and report back!
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I posted about this some in the road bike Serenade thread, but since these are MTB wheels I figure I should post her as well.
I received my wheels from Serenade last week. They are their TME9038 shallow rims with CX Ray spokes and Koozer 450 hubs for a) high engagement of 3° b) more importantly, the color. There was a hiccup with spoke length for three of the spokes, but Serenade refunded me the cost of three replacement spokes which I easily installed one at a time. Their service has been great. Fit and finish is very good overall, and spoke tension is fairly even. I've only had one ride on them so far, but they're a big upgrade over the stock wheelset I had been running. 510g lighter, overall. Could be 200g lighter than that with lighter hubs, but I really wanted to try out high engagement hubs so it was a worthwhile tradeoff. Riding these today I realized how flexible and lose the stock alloy wheels had been. The Serenades felt quite stiff in comparison but not uncomfortable. They feel more planted in corners, especially berms, but I do have to be a little more careful with my lines because they bounce off rocks more than the old wheels. I am happy to say that they are very quiet and there were zero spoke pings during my ride.
Shipping took about 3-4 weeks and the build took a little longer as they didn't have the heavier/stronger weight version of these rims in stock and they had to be built. Overall I am quite happy with these. Even though the price is lower than some of the more established wheel brands they feel very high quality. I'll provide updated periodically once I have more miles on them.
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TME9038
460g AM version? Or custom weight?
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460g AM version? Or custom weight?
Their 460g AM version. These are my first carbon wheels and the 320g XC option had me concerned about durability. I asked if they could make them in a middle weight of around 370g and was told these are the only options but perhaps if I'd pushed harder they could've done it. I figure if I ever do get a lighter set of wheels these can be my bike park/DH set and the lighter ones can be for more XC/trail riding.
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concerned about durability
Yeah, been there. My first random wheelset from aliX with similar rim specs and weight (about 450-460g) served me quite well in big mountains: a month in a bike park, half on local trails (still big mountains) and another half (or slightly more) on rocky hills. But I ran inserts. Now realized, that it was probably overkill and my next options will be around 420-430g. I'm 70kg naked weight, so if you're not fat big, they're gonna serve you well on harsh terrain (with inserts at least).
And, good to hear that they offer different hubs. It's a bit difficult to find a supplier who does that. I guess I'll go with them next time. So far I chose DFS and their THR hubs. From my understanding, they can build whatever weight you want for a certain rim geo. Although, my wheels will be delivered later on, so no feedback yet.
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What profile and weight did you go with? I considered DFS but passed them up since they have very limited info on MTB wheelsets. I actually have a set from BTLOS on the way that should come in around 1400g.
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I picked 39-27a 430g (see the pic) for my mid-travel enduro (carbonda 1002), 28H and tapeless. If I remember correctly, you can't go tapeless if the height is 20mm or below. The hubs are M1 (305-330g) from THR, about which they got no clue. BUT, you can find contacts on the THR website and annoy an actual manufacturer (well, I believe so) with your questions on wechat. So far, the THR guys told me that a freehub, a ratchet, bearings, and end cups of M1 are interchangeable with dt swiss. How real is this statement? No idea.
I also asked them if their hubs can survive a bikepark. I showed a video from a random dude (https://youtu.be/T-PgTzkE4AE?feature=shared) on black trails and said "I WANT RIDE THIS!!11". They said it was okayish, but ideally would advise their topnotch fancy M2. Since I'm not super heavy, I will stay with M1. But the full run will not be earlier than next summer. Anyway, I will test them first on some local trails or in smaller bikeparks if there're any open in the mid season in Europe.
Yeah, the DFS full pricing (with shipping to EU and taxes included) was 599$ equipped with sapim cx-ray and pillar brass nipples. M2 hubs are +200$, which is beyond my understanding, since I can get equally a pair of DT350 or maybe even cheaper.
EDIT
I think DFS have quite some MTB options, check all the pics in there:
https://dfscarbonwheels.myshopify.com/products/280g-29er-carbon-mtb-rims-xc-tubeless-carbon-rim-ud-3k-12k-3k-twill-matte-glossy-29in-clincher-hookless-new-asymmetric
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Thanks for the info, Chamomile! I look forward to seeing how they turn out.
I actually received the lighter weight BTLOS hubs yesterday. They're the 370g AM layup. I was a little concerned and showed Amy some videos from the local bike park but she seemed confident they'll be fine. Hubs are made by Hworks and seem very high quality. The grease under all of the end caps is a nice touch to help keep dust and water out of the bearings. They even came with serialized quality certificates that have roundness and trueness recorded, which is a nice touch. I'll try them out once I get a second cassette to easily swap between wheelsets. I already have brake discs ready. They were $770 shipped, so $195 more than the Serenades even though the Serenades have Sapim CX Ray spokes vs the Pillar 1420s on the BTLOS wheels. Finish is very good. I love the paintless look and The decals came out very nicely. BTLOS was kind enough to throw in a 54T ratchet upgrade for free and they even included the original 36T ratchet as a spare.
Also road the Serenades again today, this time on a very rocky black diamond trail which you can see here: https://youtu.be/xP_XGT_TwX4
Still no issues with the wheels or hubs. I heard one ping from a spoke the entire way down which isn't bad at all. I love how direct the steering feels compared with my old alloys. Even for a compliment on the orange hubs! Will continue testing them and plan on taking them to a lift serviced bike park soon. :)
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I have a set of these in my AliExpress cart. @pavlo.k, they seem to check all of your boxes. Under $500, boost or non boost axles, and around 1400g. Anyone have any experience with Urkesport?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808412235877.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.4a1538dakPsQqU&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21USD%21USD%20583.73%21USD%20408.61%21%21USD%20408.61%21%21%21%402103010b17537057600794921ec17b%2112000045891113077%21ct%21US%21722722606%21%211%210&_gl=1*momh7f*_gcl_au*OTc1NTEzODUyLjE3NTMxOTY4NjA.*_ga*MTU5NTkzMTg5OS4xNzUzNzA0MTAz*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*czE3NTM3MDQxNDkkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTM3MDU3NjEkajYwJGwwJGgw&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
If I don't grab a set of these to try, I'll probably get some rims from Apex Carbon and build them to Onyx Vesper hubs.
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I have a set of these in my AliExpress cart. @pavlo.k, they seem to check all of your boxes. Under $500, boost or non boost axles, and around 1400g. Anyone have any experience with Urkesport?
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808412235877.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.4a1538dakPsQqU&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21USD%21USD%20583.73%21USD%20408.61%21%21USD%20408.61%21%21%21%402103010b17537057600794921ec17b%2112000045891113077%21ct%21US%21722722606%21%211%210&_gl=1*momh7f*_gcl_au*OTc1NTEzODUyLjE3NTMxOTY4NjA.*_ga*MTU5NTkzMTg5OS4xNzUzNzA0MTAz*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*czE3NTM3MDQxNDkkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTM3MDU3NjEkajYwJGwwJGgw&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
If I don't grab a set of these to try, I'll probably get some rims from Apex Carbon and build them to Onyx Vesper hubs.
Thanks. These look quite interesting.
I actually bought a wheelset a while back. Got a very good deal for a set of rovals locally. I'm quite inpatient when ordering parts from china in the middle of the season so though it's worth paying extra and get the wheels the next day
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https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005008770175946.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.6ee42ecbWta5LQ&algo_pvid=794a1e16-8af9-49dc-857c-cab2ec4373cb&algo_exp_id=794a1e16-8af9-49dc-857c-cab2ec4373cb-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%226%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21BRL%213646.94%213085.88%21%21%21610.98%21516.99%21%402101c71a17543187696415438e196f%2112000047510072661%21sea%21BR%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=9KG2UBRkOaTA&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A
has anyone tried this 1130g bitranz wheelset? Thinking about ordering the ultralight one, since im 65kg i think it should be fine...
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https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005008770175946.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.6ee42ecbWta5LQ&algo_pvid=794a1e16-8af9-49dc-857c-cab2ec4373cb&algo_exp_id=794a1e16-8af9-49dc-857c-cab2ec4373cb-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%226%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21BRL%213646.94%213085.88%21%21%21610.98%21516.99%21%402101c71a17543187696415438e196f%2112000047510072661%21sea%21BR%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=9KG2UBRkOaTA&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A
has anyone tried this 1130g bitranz wheelset? Thinking about ordering the ultralight one, since im 65kg i think it should be fine...
I have some from Bitranz which I am using again. They are not these same wheels but were 1100g. 30x30mm rims, been bombproof so far. I weigh 80kg and even on the ultralight wheels i have from alix (900g) they have been fine although I am now selling those since I don't have a need for them.
Thanks
Jake
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@frewster and anyone else with Serenade wheels; How have they been so far?
I ordered a set of their wheels (December 2 2025), just over $600 to my door.
1125g, Ultralight Asymmetrical XC Wheels, 30mm Internal Width Rims W/ M270 Boost Hub
https://serenadebikes.net/Ultralight-Asymmetrical-Mountain-Bike-Wheels-30mm-Internal-Width-22mm-Depth-Rims-With-m270-Boost-Hub-p6805953.html (https://serenadebikes.net/Ultralight-Asymmetrical-Mountain-Bike-Wheels-30mm-Internal-Width-22mm-Depth-Rims-With-m270-Boost-Hub-p6805953.html)
I'm only 53kg and I do age group level XC racing with a 23lb fs bike, no big jumping. I can probably get away with lighter stuff than many of people.
Will report back/update this post when I receive the wheels and again after a few months of riding.
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Ordered the wheels from Serenade on Dec 2. Arrived Dec 19.
Packaged well and within tolerance for weight.
Only hiccup I had along the way was I never got an actual receipt email or tracking number from serenade. Only paper trail I have is the what’s app conversations and a PayPal email/receipt.
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Compared to the stock Roval carbon wheels that came on my Specialized Epic, The Serenade wheels took just over a pound off the front and just over half a pound off the rear.
The wheels setup with zero issues. The freehub spacing wound up exactly as the original wheels, no derailleur adjustment needed. The brake calipers I only recentered, probably more due to slapping brand new rotors on the wheels than anything else.
The hub bearings seem smooth out the box. The machining is nice. Brake screws threaded right in. The FreeHub (M270) is the type that just pops off with no extra screw which is nice for maintenance. The ratchet came well greased and makes nice noises without being overbearingly loud. I might pop it off and change it to slide lube and see if that frees it up and makes it louder just for kicks.
Rode the bike Dec. 20 on a trail system I usually put in 1-2 hours per week on in group rides. -- The Serenade wheels are extremely stiff and responsive. The bike was already a rocket but these wheels turned it up to 11. The lightness is readily apparent rolling out of turns, hopping over things, and twitching the wheels around rocks. The added wheel width (30mm IW, compared to oem 25mm IW) is subtle but they do feel a little more planted than usual. So it is a very interesting mix of sensations. The bike has become more maneuverable/responsive, but also seems to stick to the ground better. I wonder though if there is a sharper tipping point to the end of traction now though. Was amazing to ride without the *CLANK* of the sloppy oem 3 pawl freehub engaging. I hit multiple PRs on segments I frequently ride on and never felt like I was pushing that hard, even pretty deep into the 20 miles I rode I was getting within a few seconds of PRs.
I will check back in in 6 months or so with an update on the wheels.
February Update;
Wheels still working well. I opened my random parts drawer last night and spotted a DTSwiss style freehub with a 54t ratchet (https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805762619227.html) that I got a long time ago to try and upgrade my original Roval wheels(did not work) - So I popped the Serenade wheel off and the 54t ratchet slipped right in! I'm sure it isn't as reliable as the 32t, but its hysterically loud so I'm going to go run it at a 6 hour MTB race this weekend just to create some psychological warfare.
September 2026 update;
I ticked over 1000 miles on the Epic for the year this past weekend. The Serenade wheels are still true with everything feeling good.
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Hi Crash, sorry for the late reply. With the cold weather here I haven't ridden my mountain bike since October and took a break from keeping up with the forum.
I only have 110 miles/17 hours on the Serenades so far, but I haven't had any issues after I replaced a few spokes that were a little short. Serenade reimbursed me for the cost of the spokes and the length issue was probably a result of the Koozer hubs I had them built up with. Haven't had any issues although taking them was a bit of a pain since I had never done that before. Compared with my carbon BTLOS wheels, which are 1391 grams with tape and valves, the 1624g Serenades actually feel more compliant. Both sets feel more precise than the stock aluminum wheelset, but I've found I prefer the Serenades for the more comfortable ride and faster engagement over the BTLOS set. Even with a 54t ratchet the hub on the BTLOS feels sluggish compared with the 3 degree Koozer hubs. Time will tell how durable the hubs are, but so far I haven't had any issues. Glad to hear you're liking the Serenades!
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This recommondation is only useful for Europeen citizens :)
I was looking for wheels for my new hardtail SPcycle M05.
My rough specification was: Boost, carbon, centerlock, DT Swiss ratchet style hubs, < 1'400 gr., < € 600.-, inner width 30 mm. XC-style...
I checked Elitewheels, but the Edge has a maximum inner width of 27 mm.
I didn't trust Serenade wheels, because they are just a reseller and I found not enough good reviews for MTB wheels
Then I found these wheels on a German website:
https://www.carl-z.de/produkt/xc-master/
I chose DT Swiss 350 hubs and then I get very good wheels for a nice price (€ 599.-).
I know the reviews for carl-z on the internet. The shop is not fast and communication was difficult.
But I have wheels from this shop on my Scott Genius since 7 years and on one of my race bikes since 3 years. Without any problem.
Stefan - the owner of the shop - will be astonished about the trafic on his website 8)