e*thirteen TRS Race SL Carbon (2018) Wheelset

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The arrangements were simple:

"We've got some new prototypes to show you. Where do you want to meet?"
"I'll be free March 30-31. Moab? Let's do this thing!"
"Deal. Bring a trail bike."

Just minutes before they were due for departure from their San Luis Obispo, California office, e*thirteen's Connor Bondlow and Scott Ender waited anxiously for samples to arrive from overseas. The carbon goodies we'd be riding were about as fresh from the oven as you can get.

With the Albatross loaded, the two flew through an all day drive to get to Moab. Spring conditions meant hero dirt, loads of spring-breakers, and an awesome adventure were in store.

Refining The Rim Profile

The recently dusted La Sal mountain range hinted at things to come as we installed the new TRSr SL wheelset. What was new, I wondered? Connor explained that they'd redesigned the rim profile and given the hubs an overhaul.

e*thirteen's enduro and downhill racing heritage has honed our dedication to maximizing strength and impact endurance. We have yet to bring that level of reliability to trail bike and all-mountain weights until now.

What surprised me was that they'd actually made the rim sidewall thinner to achieve their claim. A much improved carbon layup and better distribution of material are to thank.

By reducing sidewall thickness from 3mm to 2.5mm and balancing the profile strength, we were able to double impact damage resistance while reducing rim weight by over 30g per rim.

The result? A wheelset that weighs 150g less than its TRSr enduro counterpart with twice the impact strength of its predecessor - the 27mm TRS Race wheels.

The new wheels measure 28mm wide internally, pairing well with tires up to a 2.4-inches wide. Because all e*thirteen wheels come ready to rock with tubeless tape and their fancy aluminum valves installed, installation was a breeze and we were quickly on our way to one of Moab's finest trails.

TRS Race SL Carbon Wheel Highlights

• 27.5 (650b) an 29-inch trail bike wheelset
• 28mm internal width carbon rim with hookless profile
• Double the rim impact strength compared to previous version
• Tubeless compatible - Rims come pre-taped with aluminum tubeless valves installed
• New SL aluminum hubs with secondary seals and 6-degree engagement
• Front Axle: 15x100 and 15x110mm Boost
• Rear Axle: 12x142 and 12x148mm Boost
• Includes various interchangeable end caps and extra spokes
• SRAM XD or Shimano compatible freehub
• 6-bolt disc mount
• Laced with 28 double-butted j-bend spokes and black alloy nipples
• All bearings guaranteed for one year
• Five year warranty
• Wheelset Weight: 27.5 - 1,650g // 27.5 Boost - 1,664g // 29 - 1,733g // 29 Boost - 1,748g (incl. valves and tape)
• Rim Weight: 27.5 - 388g // 29 - 422g
• MSRP : $1,499 USD / €1,699

Taking Down Captain Ahab

Moab's Captain Ahab trail is a fast and furious huckfest, and it was the first BLM-sanctioned advanced trail in the area. To access it, first you have to pedal up Hymasa or Amasa Back, both of which are technical feats marked by hundreds of short, punchy efforts up and over boulders and ledges.

Setting out for the ride, I noted the purr of the rear hub as we coasted out of the parking lot. With 60 teeth and three pawls at work, they provide fast 6-degree engagement – a welcome number in terrain where quick power delivery is essential.

All too often carbon hoops can feel overly stiff, but that's not the case with the new TRS Race SL wheels. They communicate the terrain well and are stout side-to-side, but take a bit of the sting off otherwise harsh terrain.

All too often carbon hoops can feel overly stiff, but that's not the case with the new TRS Race SL wheels. They communicate the terrain well and are stout side-to-side, but take a bit of the sting off otherwise harsh terrain. By blending just the right amount of stiffness, compliance, and width at a very reasonable weight, e*thirteen seems to have found a nice sweet spot for this trail-oriented wheelset.

"Snow, mud, flat tires, hero dirt, and smiles all around. This ride had it all." Just part of the Whole Enchilada, but a whole lotta fun.

The new TRSr SL wheels ship this August. We will continue to put them through the paces. Visit www.bythehive.com for more details.

About The Tester

Brandon Turman - Age: 31 // Years Riding MTB: 16 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 175-pounds (79.4kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a Mechanical Engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every new innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.

Photos by Brandon Turman and Courtney Steen