Spank Spike Race 28 Wheelset
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International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$99.99
Free shipping on orders over $75 (contiguous U.S. only).
Free international shipping available with minimum order values. Some exclusions apply.
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Tested: Spank Spike Race28 Wheelset
Rating:
Vital Review

Review by Johan Hjord // Photos by Johan Hjord and Tal Rozow

Wheel makers have been perfecting their craft over the recent years, and there is no shortage of innovative, high-end wheels that provide DH race-level strength in relatively lightweight packages - but not too many can claim to achieve that goal at a sub-$500 price tag for the pair. Spank set out to do just that, and the result is the Spike Race28 wheel - needless to say, we were eager to lay our hands on a set to see if it would deliver on the promise.

Straight out of the box, the Spike Race28 wheels look the business. The colors pop, and the finish appears to be of high quality. Although quite traditional in overall design (three-cross lacing using standard J-spokes), the wheel does deliver a dose of understated “bling” - especially if you went for one of the more vivid colorways available. Closer inspection reveals no apparent flaws, the surfaces are uniform and the hand build seems very solid. Helen, we don’t know you, but we salute you!

Spike Race28 Highlights

  • Spike Race28 EVO Dynamal alloy rims (500 grams per rim)
  • 28mm outer rim width, 23mm inner width
  • 9 or 10-speed rear hub (12x135mm, 12x150mm, or Standard QR with Adapter Kit*)
  • Super-Lite steel CNC optimized freehub body
  • Japanese bearing upgrade
  • Alloy internal hub axle upgrade (135mm)
  • 20x110mm front hub**
  • 6-bolt disc mounts
  • Hand built and trued with three-cross lacing
  • 32 Sandvik T302 triple-butted 2.2/1.8/2.0 spokes per wheel
  • Brass nipples
  • Three color versions - Black/White, Red/Red, Blue/Blue
  • Custom color coded hubs and spokes
  • Weight: 1990 grams (with 135mm rear) or 1961 grams (with 150mm rear)
  • MSRP $499

*142mm and 157mm rear adapters, and 10mm thru axle kits available separately
**15mm and standard QR adapter kits available separately

Probably the most important component of a wheel is the rim, at least where weight, stiffness, and durability are concerned. Spank makes the Spike Race28 EVO rim from what they call “Dynamal,” which is a specifically developed alloy meant to marry the best features of both traditional 6- and 7-series alloys - i.e. strong enough to withstand the hits, yet not brittle so as to avoid cracking. To make a 500 gram rim that is strong enough for DH takes more than just sexy alloys though - this is where Spank’s “Oohbah” profile comes into the picture. Instead of the traditional concave inner walls, Oohbah rims have a convex horizontal inner wall, which works to provide additional stiffness and resistance to the rim, ultimately helping to prevent buckling. What it can also do is prevent you from getting your tire onto the rim…we had to resort to brute force and choice vocabulary to get a Maxxis Highroller 2 onto this baby, but we got there in the end (a Minion DHF went on with relative ease).

Rather than pinned or welded, the Oohbah rims are joined using a pressure fit and bonded sleeve - said to provide the ultimate strength to weight ratio. Interestingly enough, the rim does not feature eyelets. Spank claims this is because a traditional eyelet is in fact used to provide a deformation zone for pressure points caused by poor nipple seat design, and that they can be avoided altogether by precision machining the nipple seats at the correct angle directly into the rim itself. This might seem counter-intuitive at first glance, but we have not had any bad experiences with this design, nor have we heard of any particular problems it might cause. In fact, we’ve seen enough cracked eyelets on other designs to know that Spank are probably on to something here.

A final point to make on the rims: Spank uses what it calls “Double Beadnip Technology” to make sure the tire stays on the rim even at low pressures or when running tubeless. In addition to the traditional beadnip found at the top of the vertical inner wall, the Oohbah rim profile places a second beadnip on the horizontal inner wall, which is meant to hold the bead in place from the inside, in addition to the outside. We didn’t test these wheels tubeless, but with tubes we encountered no issues with tires rolling off, even at very low pressures.

For the hubs, Spank has chosen to stay fairly traditional - in line with the weight and price-related design goals. A proven three-pawl, 27-tooth ratchet system provides strictly average 13-degree engagement, in a classic and proven system from an external supplier (Novatec). However, classic doesn’t mean you can’t push yourself, quite the opposite in fact - and Spank did go looking for that little bit extra on the hubs as well. Quality Japanese bearings were used both front and rear, the internal axles were upgraded to 7-series alloy, and specific “scandium alloyed steel” was employed to make the freehub body, with superfluous splines machined away. Also, should you require XX1 compatibility, you can get an XX1 version of the freehub directly from Spank (info@spank-ind.com) - soon to be available via retail as well.

The flanges were enlarged and the holes were redesigned to provide a better interface with the spokes (and to allow the use of triple-butted spokes for the wheel build). Finally, the hubs were drilled to save a little weight (drilling after anodizing does add that extra bling factor!).

Like we stated earlier, the workmanship and attention to detail on this wheelset are right up there. The finish is of excellent quality, certainly at least on par with more expensive offerings out there. All that’s left to do then is to choose a tire and go riding…

On The Trail

Apart from the aforementioned wrestling required to get a tire onto the rim, the Spike Race28 wheelset is easy to fit to your bike. Slap your cassette and your discs onto your wheels, adjust brake calipers and/or shifting if needed (there may be slight differences between different wheel sets from different manufacturers which may cause brakes and/or deraileurs to require alignment), and you’re good to go. Everything feels anchored from the outset, no issues with threads or axles, and the wheels immediately feel solid on the bike. Once on the trail, the wheels feel quite lively, surprisingly so for a wheelset close to 2kgs. We put this down to the relatively low rim weight and the good build quality.

Putting this wheelset through the paces, it becomes apparent that Spank knows its business. All that technology (and the marketing that goes with it!) really does translate into on-the-trail performance. We’ve been bashing these on rocks and roots, getting airborne at every opportunity, with very little damage to show for it. The wheels have remained true for two months, and show absolutely no signs of wanting to get out of true any time soon. Pinging them off rocks has left them dent-free so far, and even the finish appears to hold up well.

Whether it be holding a line through a rock garden or sticking big landings, these wheels never fail to inspire confidence. They’re stiff, but not overly so – helping hold aforementioned lines and providing a little extra comfort when the going gets tough. Off-camber? Go for it. Square hits? Check. Landing sideways? No sweat.

Things That Could Be Improved

We haven't found much to complain about - in fact, just about the only thing worth mentioning in this section would be the freehub engagement. We understand Spank’s decision to go with a tried and true hub in the search of reliability, but improving on the engagement would really elevate these to the absolute premium level of alloy wheels. That said, we remind you that this wheelset costs $500 at MSRP, is easily found online for less than that, and that this observation on the freehub engagement is really nitpicking at this price point - if anything, these wheels are a steal.

What’s The Bottom Line?

Spank set themselves a real challenge when they wanted to build a sub-2000 gram, sub-$500 wheelset that would be up for the rigors of downhill racing. After two months on the wheels, we are ready to state that they have succeeded in their quest, which makes this wheelset a must-have on ANY wheel shortlist. Sure you can drop a lot more cash on “fancier” wheels, but we’d be very surprised if any of those wheels would offer an equivalent improvement in performance for that extra cash. If you fancy a second opinion, you can always check in with pro downhiller and Spank rider Bernard Kerr who has reportedly been racing a single stock wheelset since the start of the 2013 World Cup DH season (anybody who saw his run at Val di Sole last weekend will tell you it was r.o.w.d.y.). We for one have no trouble believing that statement to be true, and think Spank has some real winners with the Spike Race28 wheels.

For more information, visit www.spank-ind.com.

For US purchasing, hit up The Gravity Cartel.


About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

1 comments

Post a reply to: Tested: Spank Spike Race28 Wheelset

2 member reviews

Great Wheelset for the Money
Rating:
The Good
Width, colors, engagement is decent, easy changes with axle adaptors
The Bad
I haven't had problems with the dents or dings, but some people say the rim is soft
Overall Review:

Over all, this wheel set has been great on the downhill bike. Currently running a 27.5 set up with 20mm front and 150mm rear spacing, and engagement is decent for the dollar amount. Certain tires pair well while others can be a bit of a pain, but the tubeless set up was a breeze with Minions. Love the color options and if you look, can be bought on sale. Spank have been great with customer service in the past, so you won't be stranded should you need anything.

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Post a reply to: Great Wheelset for the Money

Excellent all-around wheelset
Rating:
The Good
tough and relatively light at a good price
The Bad
hub adapters for 142mm or 157mm axles cost extra
Overall Review:

Earlier this spring I decided to pick up a set of these wheels to help drop some weight on my DH bike and to add a little bling to the bike. The somewhat heavy stock wheels were the obvious choice for me to shed some weight and after calculating what the swap would do, I estimated that I would save a pound from going to the Spank Race 28 wheels and another pound by going to slightly lighter tires (Schwalbe Magic Mary super gravity casing) set up tubeless. The change was noticeable right away.  After three months of riding them on shuttled trails and bike park tracks, I am glad to have gone this direction and have seen no drawbacks to the way they perform on the trail.

These wheels are a winner in the weight, strength and price categories. I also like that these wheels do not have proprietary parts.  I have spent a number of years on other wheels that used special spokes and truing wrenches. Getting replacement parts meant waiting for the shop to do the repair or order in parts as they didn't have them in stock. 

As far as the tire installation goes, the way the rim is designed rims can make things tougher than normal.  There is not a deep groove to drop the tire bead in when mounting it up.  Add that to the fact that it is recommended to not use tire levers on tubeless tires, setting these puppies up tubeless was quite a chore.  I have done enough tubeless set-ups to know that the whole process is a combination of more than just a tire or a rim so I don't want to over-emphasize the difficulty here but it seems pretty obvious that the reason is the rim profile. In the end I finally got them on and was ready to roll.  Another issue with having the rim higher than normal is that the valve stem sticks through the rim a bit less.  This can make it harder to get certain pumps on the stem when inflating it.  My floor pump seems to grab it just fine but the hand pump I take on the trail is hit and miss.  I would suggest getting the lesser common 48mm valve stem length if you do tubes.

A couple of things to keep in mind is that if a high number of engagement points is your thing then the Spoon hubs, at 27, may disappoint. Also, while the cost of these wheels is good, they come in either the 135mm or 150mm rear axle size.  If your bike is set for 142mm or 157mm, plan on spending another $50 to get the right axle insert. I noticed that Spank does offer the 142mm axle on their spike race28 enduro wheels and the 135 axle is included at no charge. To be fair those "enduro" wheels are more expensive than the regular race 28 reviewed here but it would be a nice option to order whichever size you actually need.

On a tangent, the spike 35 rims offered by Spank look to be a super-sized version of the rims offered on this wheelset and would be a good alternate for those who want a wider rim (29.5mm vs 23mm internal rim width). It's too bad Spank offers them only as a rim and not a wheelset like this one.

Taking into account that this is more of an initial review (3 months of riding) and the fact that I'm relatively light at 170 pounds, I can't speak to the long-term durability or heavy abuse of this product but so far these have been fantastic. I have been hanging on to the old stock wheels as a back-up plan for rougher tracks or as a spare. The Spank spike race28 wheels have yet to show any signs of abuse and are still running true. I am thinking of selling my old ones as they wont be needed anymore. Time to look for my next upgrade.

1 comments

Post a reply to: Excellent all-around wheelset

Specifications

Product
Spank Spike Race 28 Wheelset
Riding Type
Dirt Jump / Slopestyle
Downhill
Freeride / Bike Park
Trail
Wheel Size
26"
27.5" (650b)
Rim Material
Aluminum
Rim
Spank Spike Race 28 Rim: MGR Dynamal Alloy, 28mm Outer Width, F/V Presta Valve
Weight: ±480g (26"), ±510g (27.5")
ERD: 528mm++ (26"), 553mm++ (27.5")
ETRTO: 559x22.5mm (26"), 584x22.5mm (27.5")
Inner Rim Width
22.5mm
Hole Count
32H - 3 Cross Lacing
Tubeless Compatible
Yes
Rear Hub
Spank Spike R135/142, Steel Freehub, Shimano (XD Available)
Rear Axle
12mm x 135mm
12mm x 150mm
Front Hub
Spank Spike F20/15
Front Axle
20mm x 110mm
Disc Mount Type
6 Bolt
Spokes
J-Hook, Triple Butted 2.2/1.7/2.0
Nipples
Brass
Colors
Shotpeen Anodized with Laser Logos: Black, Red, Blue
Weight
26" (135mm R/H): 4 lb 7.6 oz (2,030 g)
27.5" (135mm R/H): 4 lb 10.1 oz (2,100 g)
26" (150mm R/H): 4 lb 8.7 oz (2,060 g)
27.5" (150mm R/H): 4 lb 11.8 oz (2,150 g)
Miscellaneous
Key Technologies: Bead Bite, OohBah, Dynamal Alloy
Adaptors Included: 15x100mm (12x135mm Only)
Front Adaptors Available: QR, 15x100mm, 20x110mm
Rear Adaptors Available: QR x135mm, 10x135mm, 12x135mm, 12x142mm, 12x150mm, 12x157mm
Price
$499.00
More Info

Affordable World Cup performance without compromise. For over a decade SPANK Industries has made it their mission to make World Cup quality affordable to everyone. SPIKE Race 28 rims are hand laced, trued and tensioned with SPANK’s new SPIKE 32H J-hook hubs, offering increased engagement and adaptability, lighter weight, and exceptional stiffness, in a tough yet trim racy profile. The SPIKE Race 28 wheelset packs the unrivaled strength and durability of Dynamal alloy construction, the stiffness of SPANK’s trademark OohBah rim design, and the ultimate tubeless performance of SPANK’s revolutionary Bead Bite anti-burp tubeless rim hooks. Pound for pound, the SPIKE Race 28 wheelset is one of the best values on the market for riders seeking true competition level performance on their All Mountain, FR, or DH MTB.

The Gravity Cartel - home of iXS and Spank USA

Spank website

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Where To Buy
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
$99.99
Free shipping on orders over $75 (contiguous U.S. only).
Free international shipping available with minimum order values. Some exclusions apply.
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply.
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