Feltet.dk / Motionsfeltet.dk has tested one of our DKBIKE gravel wheelsets. Once again with an absolutely fantastic test result. Read here what the tester - Thomas Rosenquist - from Feltet.dk writes.
Our DKBIKE Gravel wheel set starts from only DKK. NOK 5,995 - See them here:
"Although we had set the bar high, the gravel wheels from DKBIKE have fully lived up to expectations for both quality, technology, driving experience and aesthetics.
Facts
Producer: DKBIKE
Product: Gravel wheel set in carbon for disc brake (Tubeless)
Colours: Matt black / Black logo / Black spokes
Size:
- 35 mm height
- 32 mm external width
- 22mm internal width
Weight: 1,605 grams (weighed by tester - Front wheel: 745 grams / Rear wheel: 860 grams)
Hub: DT Swiss 350
Spokes: Sapm CX Ray
Nipples: Sapim
Front wheel: TA, 12x100, 24 spokes
Rear wheel: TA, 12x142, 24 spokes
Recommended retail price: DKK 8,495
Introduction
DKBIKE is a Danish company that aims to supply high-quality carbon wheels for all levels and at a good price. We have tested DKBIKE's wheel set for gravel.
DKBIKE positions itself on the market by offering a long warranty on their rims (900 days) and many customization options, so you get exactly the wheelset you want.
The company therefore also provides lots of sparring before, during and after the purchase, so that you as a customer can more easily put together the right set of wheels for your level and budget.
Testing
It is the second wheel set I have tested from DKBIKE and this set has been a really good experience. I have had the wheel set for testing from July to early September and it has been thoroughly tested in all kinds of weather and different terrain.
I went into this test with high expectations. Throughout the spring and early summer, I rode with a really good set of wheels that came with my new gravel bike. So I was already well used which set the bar high ahead of this test.
Reception and preparation
The general attitude seems to be that if you ride gravel, you also ride tubeless. The wheelset was delivered with raw rims, but with 25 millimeter rim tape and tubeless valves. In addition, DKBIKE had included a set of Panaracer Gravelking in 700x38 and tubeless fluid.
So I had all the elements to test the whole process from mounting tape, tires and tubeless fluid. Surely also a nice way on the part of the manufacturer to save some time and money on fitting tape and valves, so that the total price can be kept down.
Installation of tape
Installing rim tape is completely straightforward and doesn't take many minutes. It's hard to do anything wrong: start on the opposite side of the valve hole and make sure the tape is pressed firmly onto the rim. If you are in doubt, there are plenty of good videos on YouTube. On the other hand, I am always excited about how easy it is to mount tubeless tires on the rim.
I have tried quite a few different wheel sets/tyres, and there is obviously no universal standard for how it should work.
I have previously sent back a set of wheels on a motocross bike I bought because I simply could not get the tire fitted.
The manufacturer also acknowledged that there were problems. So I'm always prepared that it might take a little more than five minutes to get the tires on properly.
With this wheel set from DKBIKE, it didn't go quite like clockwork either.
Or rather; a little lubrication was actually needed before the tire would fit properly.
The tire was easy enough to put on the rim, but getting it to pop into place was more difficult. First I tried my Flash Charger pump but there was no air pressure long enough for me to get the tire in place. The air is simply blown out directly. So I had to go into the shed for my compressor, but it didn't work here either at first.
The next step was to get some soapy water on the tire sides. This, combined with the compressor, meant that the tire bounced nicely into place on both rims.
Then it was just a matter of putting tubeless fluid in and ensuring that it just closes the last small places where the air can find its way out. After I install tubeless tires, I always leave the wheels overnight to make sure they hold air.
Design
Before the first ride, I could capture how the bike looks with the test wheelset. The set is completely black - with black DKBIKE accents. So, along with the light sided tires, you have a wheelset that I think will suit any bike.
Hub: DT-Swiss 350 with centerlock
DKBIKE has mounted DT-Swiss 350 hubs with center lock on this wheelset. It fits the wheels perfectly. However, you have the option to choose between several different hub types when you order. DKBIKE has their own, or you can choose between 3 different versions from DT-Swiss (350, 240 or 180). I thought 350 was a good choice. Here you get good value-for-money.
DKBIKE offers a whole range of different customization options, so you can get a wheel set that suits your wishes (and wallet). You can also choose different widths and heights of the rim.
So how are they to drive?
As I alluded to at the beginning, I had high expectations. I have another set of wheels for my gravel bike that I thought were absolutely fantastic. So this meant that the bar was set high from the start in my assessment of the wheels from DKBIKE.
Great stiffness
There is no noticeable flex in the wheels when you step on it. Right from the start, when I rolled up to the local forest, there was a good feeling. However, the experience of the wheelset also has a lot to do with how much the tires are inflated.
The first trip I drove out with relatively much air in the tires (three bars), as I had just planned a light trip on large gravel roads to get familiar with the wheels.
When you stand up and give it gas on asphalt with three bars in the tires, the energy is converted into speed and not into unnecessary twisting of the wheels. A good experience. So a good base to roll into the forest with.
Be careful with your tire pressure
Tire pressure is central to the driving experience. The tires are your first point of contact with the ground, and this is where you can do a lot for your driving experience. Especially on a gravel bike, which is used on many different surfaces, it can mean the world if you have too much or too little air in it. Both in terms of comfort, but also how much contact (grip) you have with the surface.
I experimented a bit with the tire pressure in the test. Especially because I thought the tire was very loose on the rim before it popped into place. So I was curious if I could drive the tire off the rim if I drove with low pressure.
I've had some accidents in the context of cyclocross where I've run the tire off the wheel in muddy races, and wanted to see if the same thing will happen here.
So out on my little local test track. Here I have done a short circuit with a lot of turns and not so great consequence if I were to fall over trying to test the equipment. I didn't manage to drive the tires off the wheels. I was down to one bar and was happy with the tubeless setup as otherwise I would have definitely had a few snakebites.
The tires stayed put no matter how much I tried to push the bike down in the turns.
Another side effect of this test was also to see if the carbon rim was damaged when I now drove with very low tire pressure and you could feel that the rim hit the ground on bumps.
It wasn't a stone I hit, but roots other looked like 'bumps' greeted the rim several times. I have not been able to detect any visible damage to the rim, even though it has had a good knock here.
The wind resistance of the wheels is 42!
I always say 42 when I don't really know the answer (the reader who knows his classics knows that 42 is the answer to everything!). Aerodynamics may also not be the most important thing when testing a gravel wheel. Although the wheelset is used on transport pieces on asphalt, the speed is relatively lower when driving on gravel than when driving on country roads.
I have noticed that when I drive 35-40 km/h in a crosswind, you can hear the wheels squeaking, but otherwise there is nothing I have noticed. When I've driven really fast in the forest, I've had 100% focus on the surroundings and less on wind resistance.
The wheels roll well
I found the DT-Swiss 350 hubs to be perfect for the wheels. It is a good stable hub. Well, not the lightest, but the weight is close to the center of the rotation, so it doesn't mean quite the same as if the weight was in the rim. I also like the sound when freerunning. Some hubs just make noise, but the 350 is a discreet tick. Present without bothering.
The wheels last well
I have driven approximately 1,500 km in all the weather that the Danish summer offers. Although the wheels have received some knocking, there are no signs that they have moved in the slightest. They also still roll as well as the first turn.
Conclusion
I am thrilled. The gravel wheels from DKBIKE have fully met my expectations - and they were high from the start.
They look good, they work in use and they last well. The only small minus in the test is that it took some time to get the tubeless tires fitted. But to be fair, it is also experienced on other and far more expensive wheelsets from other manufacturers.
It is also okay from my side that you just have to spend a little time installing tubeless tape and valves. It's straightforward to install, and if it means the wheels are a little cheaper, that's fine.
This is how we tested it
The wheels are tested from July to early September in forest, field and country roads. They have driven single-track with small jumps and dirt roads and asphalt. It has been rainy, cloudy and dry.
Made available by : DKBIKE
TEST REPORT
Brand: DKBIKE
Model: Carbon Gravel wheel, Tubeless ready, centerlock disc and TA.
How deep and wide is the rim?
The wheels are 35 mm high and have an inner rim width of 22 mm. Outer rim width is 32mm
What tire sizes can be used on the wheel?
The wheel set can take tires from approx. 28 - 48 mm. However, several widths can be chosen, so that it exactly suits the needs of the individual
What special technical features does the product have?
The wheels can run both tubeless and with tires/tubes.
The carbon fibers are from Japan with traceability in production, which should, among other things, guarantee a quality product. DKBIKE also provides a 900-day warranty.
The wheelset is intended for gravel, but will also be able to function as a cross wheelset. Then it probably shouldn't be with 22 mm internal width.
Rate the product's construction
The wheels seem well done. DKBIKE had a high focus on creating a stiff, stable and reliable wheelset. The hub from DT-Swiss is a high-quality hub that will also last for a long time.
Rate quality/durability
The wheelset is still perfectly sharp after a good 1,500 km of gravel driving, where it has not been spared.
What are the wheels made for and who are they aimed at?
The wheels are made for the gravel/cross disciplines, so anyone who wants a good and light wheel set for on- and off-road driving. It will suit all types of rider: the exerciser who doesn't want to fall on the equipment or the competitive rider who wants a good and stable wheelset that is affordable
Assess how the manufacturer has succeeded in hitting the purpose and target group
I thought DKBIKE hit the spot with this wheelset. Furthermore, with the options available to customize it in height/width and with hubs, you get a super wheel set from DKBIKE
How does the price compare to similar wheelsets?
You get a lot for your money if you choose this wheel set. It is good material all the way through, and it has proven durable in the test. Now it's only been tested over just under two months, but I can't see that it wouldn't hold up to the same standard with continued use. In the test, I really tried to challenge the wheels, and they have held up well.
How much does the wheel set weigh?
I have weighed the wheelset to 745 grams for the front wheel and 860 grams for the rear wheel - a total of 1605 grams. It is weighed without tires, discs or cassette.
Driving characteristics
Are the wheels comfortable?
It's a stiff wheelset, the mend is not felt negatively in the terrain. With the right tires and the right tire pressure, they are not experienced as uncomfortable.
So the short answer is yes.
Describe the driving characteristics of the wheels
The wheels roll incredibly easily. Acceleration and directional stability are completely in line with the best wheelsets I've tried.
Assess the stiffness and power transmission of the wheels
The wheels are very stiff and don't give much when you step on them.
Describe steering - are they lively, neutral or lazy?
There is a very good balance in the wheels. They are directional stacks and deliver exactly what you expect from them.
Conclusion
Did you enjoy riding the wheelset?
I have been really happy to drive with this wheelset. They have delivered fantastically across the board. Feels light, stiff and directionally stackable. They have also been on target for a little extra test abuse and haven't beeped once.
About the tester:
Age: 53 years
Height: 186 cm.
Weight: 78 kg
I have been cycling for: 15 years
How often do I cycle: 4-5 times a week.
I ride these disciplines: Gravel, Cross and Country Road (H50 Licence), and also get lost once in a while on the MTB or long trips on my Fatbike."
You can also read the test of the DKBIKE gravel wheel set on Feltet.dk here:
Test of the DKBIKE Gravel wheel set - Read here at Feltet.dk
You can find our Gravel wheel sets here - They start from only DKK. NOK 5,995
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