ZEN Carbon Bike Vaporlite II – Custom 50/50mm Customer Build DT Swiss 350 Carbon Spoke hub

Good day everyone,

Here's another custom Vaporlite II wheelset currently being built for a customer.

This one is using our 50/50mm Vaporlite II rims together with the new DT Swiss 350 carbon-spoke hubs, 20H front / 24H rear.

Build specification:

50/50mm depth
25mm internal
30mm external at the tyre bead
34mm maximum external width
Hooked / tubeless ready
Heavy-duty version rim 410g (Race 380g / Extreme Ultralight 350g)
UD paintless matte
3.1mm carbon spokes
DT Swiss 350 carbon-spoke hubs
20H front / 24H rear
Steel bearings
Centre Lock / XDR

Estimated weight: 1,291.4g ±30g

Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on October 26, 2026, 05:48:02 AMZEN Carbon Bike Vaporlite II – Custom 50/50mm Customer Build DT Swiss 350 Carbon Spoke hub

Good day everyone,

I Here's another custom Vaporlite II wheelset currently being built for a customer.

This one is using our 50/50mm Vaporlite II rims together with the new DT Swiss 350 carbon-spoke hubs, 20H front / 24H rear.

Build specification:

50/50mm depth
25mm internal
30mm external at the tyre bead
34mm maximum external width
Hooked / tubeless ready
Heavy-duty version rim 410g (Race 380g / Extreme Ultralight 350g)
UD paintless matte
3.1mm carbon spokes
DT Swiss 350 carbon-spoke hubs
20H front / 24H rear
Steel bearings
Centre Lock / XDR

Estimated weight: 1,291.4g ±30g

What is the cost of this setup?

Quote from: Rebel_Yell on October 26, 2026, 06:38:43 AMWhat is the cost of this setup?

$1200usd
Not including shipping

ZEN Carbon Bike ZC272RC – New 16/20H Carbon-Spoke Hubset (272g)

Anyone interested in running just 16 carbon spokes on the front wheel?

ZEN Carbon Bike now has the ZC272RC hubset available for custom road wheel builds. It's a lightweight carbon-spoke-specific design with a 16H front / 20H rear configuration.

Specifications:

* Hubset weight: 272g ±5g
* Spoke count: 16F / 20R
* T-head straight-pull carbon-spoke interface
* Supports carbon spokes up to 4mm wide
* Centre Lock disc brake
* PG ratchet drive system
* Freehub options: Shimano HG, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo N3W and Shimano Micro Spline
* Bearings: TPI ceramic or S&S steel
* Colour: Black
* Rear hub: 1:1 lacing

The hubs are available with various ZEN road rim profiles, including the VaporLite series, with different depths and rim constructions.

Final wheelset specifications and system weight limits will depend on the selected rim and build configuration.

For anyone interested in specifications or custom build options, ZEN can be contacted directly detail below.

Upcoming Gravel Carbon Rim Profiles – 32mm Internal Width 44 External

Some interesting new wide-profile carbon gravel rims currently in development.

Four proposed profiles, all featuring a 32mm internal width, with significantly wider external dimensions than many conventional gravel rims.

Proposed specifications:

45mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.26mm external
52mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.20mm external
59mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.36mm external
65mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.75mm external

Rim weights and final specifications are still to be confirmed.

What are everyone's thoughts on these wider gravel rim profiles?

Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on October 26, 2026, 08:23:38 AMWhat are everyone's thoughts on these wider gravel rim profiles?

There is an increasing interest and demand for wide (outer width) gravel racing wheels where the inner width is kept narrow (sub 30mm).

Examples are: the reserve 48|53 GR wheels (IW:30mm/OW:44mm); Newman Streem G.62 (IW:27mm/OW:45mm) ; or the Roval Terra (IW:27mm/OW:38mm).
The motivation is that at the moment, only a handful of premium brands offer this, and there's still no competitively priced Chinese alternative on the market.

So ideally narrow down the inner width of these gravel rims to 30mm or lower.

Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on October 26, 2026, 05:05:56 AMZEN Carbon Bike – New Wider Road / All-Road / Gravel Rim Profile

This profile is more suited towards the newer 34mm and 35mm road tyres, as well as wider all-road and gravel applications.

Rim specifications:

Internal width: 28mm
External width at the tyre bead: 38mm
Maximum external width: 41.2mm
Proposed depths: 44 / 49 / 54 / 59 / 64mm

...

We'd be interested to hear everyone's thoughts. Would you consider a profile like this for 34–35mm road tyres, or do you see it more as an all-road/gravel option?

This is way more tempting than the 25/35/37 you have for someone like me running a bike that can clear 38mm WAM. This looks great for me to run a 32/35 or 35/35 gp5000. Much more tempting now! I'd still like to see 26mm internal but I am really being picky. Overall these wheel are very tempting! Can't wait to get more details as you finalize everything.

Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on October 26, 2026, 05:05:56 AMZEN Carbon Bike – New Wider Road / All-Road / Gravel Rim Profile

Good day everyone,

We have another wider carbon rim profile that we thought would be interesting to share, particularly with the continued move towards wider tyres for road, all-road and gravel riding.

This profile is more suited towards the newer 34mm and 35mm road tyres, as well as wider all-road and gravel applications.

Rim specifications:

Internal width: 28mm
External width at the tyre bead: 38mm
Maximum external width: 41.2mm
Proposed depths: 44 / 49 / 54 / 59 / 64mm
Different carbon layup and weight options available

With the 28mm internal width and considerably wider 38–41.2mm external profile, this gives us another option for riders moving towards wider road tyres and for all-road/gravel applications.

Final availability is currently TBC.

We've attached the 64mm-deep profile drawing as an example of the rim shape and dimensions.

We'd be interested to hear everyone's thoughts. Would you consider a profile like this for 34–35mm road tyres, or do you see it more as an all-road/gravel option?

That would finally be a good Chinese option for the GP5000s in 35 mm!
I would have preferred an IW of 27, but I'm fine with 28.
If the price is decent, I will definitely get a set in the 64 mm depth. Pls make it fast!

Quote from: ZenCarbonBike on October 26, 2026, 08:23:38 AMUpcoming Gravel Carbon Rim Profiles – 32mm Internal Width 44 External

Some interesting new wide-profile carbon gravel rims currently in development.

Four proposed profiles, all featuring a 32mm internal width, with significantly wider external dimensions than many conventional gravel rims.

Proposed specifications:

45mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.26mm external
52mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.20mm external
59mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.36mm external
65mm depth – 32mm internal / 44.75mm external

Rim weights and final specifications are still to be confirmed.

What are everyone's thoughts on these wider gravel rim profiles?

Zara, will these be hooked or hookless? It is tough to tell from the drawings, almost looks like a microhook.

Quote from: Chrisf10 on October 26, 2026, 07:14:11 PMZara, will these be hooked or hookless? It is tough to tell from the drawings, almost looks like a microhook.

As with all the rims we offer.
They will be available in both hooked and hookless options.

UPDATE – New ZEN Wide-Profile Carbon Gravel Rims Now Available to Order!

The new ZEN wide-profile carbon gravel rims are now officially available to order, with four different rim depths and three weight options.

All four profiles feature a 32mm internal width, with a wider external profile designed for gravel riding.

Available rim profiles:

* 45mm depth – 32mm internal / 41.86mm external at bead / 44.26mm maximum external

* 52mm depth – 32mm internal / 41.86mm external at bead / 44.20mm maximum external

* 59mm depth – 32mm internal / 41.86mm external at bead / 44.36mm maximum external

* 65mm depth – 32mm internal / 41.86mm external at bead / 44.75mm maximum external

Rim weight options (per rim):

* 45mm: 410g Super Light / 450g Light / 490g Normal

* 52mm: 440g Super Light / 480g Light / 520g Normal

* 59mm: 480g Super Light / 520g Light / 560g Normal

* 65mm: 520g Super Light / 540g Light / 580g Normal

Additional specifications:

* Available in hooked and hookless versions
* Recommended tyre width: 40–54mm
* Maximum tyre pressure: 55psi, subject to tyre manufacturer's limits
* Super Light version: 90kg stated system weight limit
* Light and Normal versions: 120kg stated system weight limit
* Custom wheelset builds available with stainless-steel, carbon or titanium spokes
* Various hub configurations available

Estimated lead time: 6–7 weeks from order placement.

These rims can be purchased individually or supplied as complete custom-built gravel wheelsets.

For pricing, custom configurations or further technical information, please contact us directly.

UPDATE – New ZEN Wide-Profile Carbon 28mm inner width Rims Now Available to Order!

Following on from yesterday's post, the new ZEN wide-profile carbon 28mm inner width rims are now officially available to order, with five different rim depths and three weight options.


Available rim profiles:

* 44mm depth – 28mm internal / 38mm external at bead / 40mm maximum external

* 49mm depth – 28mm internal / 38mm external at bead / 40.4mm maximum external

* 54mm depth – 28mm internal / 38mm external at bead / 40.8mm maximum external

* 59mm depth – 28mm internal / 38mm external at bead / 41.2mm maximum external

* 64mm depth – 28mm internal / 38mm external at bead / 41.2mm maximum external

Rim weight options (per rim):

* 44mm: 410g Super Light / 470g Light / 525g Normal

* 49mm: 430g Super Light / 485g Light / 540g Normal

* 54mm: 455g Super Light / 515g Light / 560g Normal

* 59mm: 480g Super Light / 540g Light / 590g Normal

* 64mm: 500g Super Light / 560g Light / 610g Normal

All rim weights have a manufacturing tolerance of ±15g.

Additional specifications:

* Recommended tyre width: 35–45mm
* Maximum tyre pressure: 80psi, subject to tyre manufacturer's limits
* Super Light version: 90kg stated weight limit
* Light and Normal versions: 120kg stated weight limit
* ERD measurements: 552mm / 542mm / 532mm / 522mm / 512mm respectively

Estimated production lead time: 6–7 weeks from order placement.


For pricing, custom configurations or further technical information, please contact us directly.