Hope Technology Fortus - Pro 4 Wheelset

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INTRODUCTION

The Hope Fortus 30 wheelset was never under my radar when I first began to look for new wheels. Like most riders, my eyes were drawn to the fancy Industry Nine, ENVE, NOBL wheelsets costing an arm and a leg. I dreamed of their colorful hub and spoke options laced onto their carbon rims perfectly matching my bike. However, like many of us out there, spending thousands on a wheelset isn’t always an option. That’s when I discovered the newly released, Fortus 30 wheelset by Hope. Strong rims… check, good hubs… check, cool colors… check. I quickly placed my order for $600 and soon I was out for my first ride.

DESIGN

The Hope Fortus lineup includes a few different options including the Fortus 23, 36, 30, and 35 with the number representing the inner width of the wheel. Unlike the other wheels, the Fortus 30 is special. Inside of the rim, there is added support from a cross section to add extra rigidity, stiffness, and durability for hard enduro and downhill use. Because of this, there is added weight.

HUBS

Laced onto the rims are a set of traditionally mounted Hope Pro 4 hubs. Within the hubs, there is a wide range of colors to choose from. The hubs feature 44 points of reliable engagement which equivalates to 8.2 degrees of engagement. Throughout my year and a half long use of the wheels, I haven’t had any issues with the hubs nor have needed to service them. However, if needed, Hope does provide spare parts and proper instructional videos to correctly service the hubs.

ON THE TRAIL

On my first ride, the feel of the new wheels was apparent, they felt noticeably stiffer than my previous set and I immediately had more trail feel through my handlebars. Personally, I prefer to have my wheels as stiff as possible but if you are a rider who prefers a more compliant ride, the Fortus 30 might not be the best wheelset for you, and it may be best for you to check out the rest of the Fortus line. My bike felt sharp and precise, keeping its line without being deflected off rocks and roots. The added weight of the wheels took more effort to accelerate the bike however once you got moving, the wheels kept their momentum allowing me to effortlessly plow through rock gardens and technical climbs. Throughout my use, I’ve used the wheels on fast local single-track, bike parks, to even local jumps and freeride features. No CushCore was ever used and I kept my tires at around 24 psi for bike park and 30 psi for jumps.

DURABILITY

Over the course of my ownership, I have hit the rims on sharp rock, harshly bottomed out my tires onto the rims, and land sideways plenty of times. After truing my wheels once after about a month, I haven’t had to do it since. No spokes have gotten loose however a few have bent slightly from impacts into rocks. The rims are still in near perfect condition and have no dents in them, only small scratches from impacts.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After over a year of use, I can confidentially recommend these to any rider looking for a budget friendly wheelset for their DH or Enduro race bikes. If you want something you can depend on and ride without thinking about it, the Hope Fortus 30 is a great option.