UK titanium bike specialists Sabbath have been fitting these classy looking aluminium clinchers to their high-end bikes since the beginning of the year, and we can see why.
With red anodised DT Swiss spoke nipples and hub detailing as well as traditionally curved and polished silver finish alloy hubs, they’ll certainly bring a touch of class to any bike now they’re available aftermarket.
The handmade Belgian wheels don’t just look luxurious, they’re sassy performers too, rolling smoothly on Sonic’s own sealed hubs, Enduro’s ceramic bearings and silver, high tension DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. The 23.7mm black finished rims are also Sonic’s own.
On the front, the 24 DT Swiss spokes are radially laced and at the back there are 28 spokes laced in a two-cross configuration for extra strength. Despite the high tension of the double-butted bladed spokes and overall light weight, the wheels manage to iron out rough road imperfections well.
Happily, this dash of comfort doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency – the Sonics make for rewarding sprints and climbs, with no discernible side-to-side flex even when you’re powering out of the saddle. That’s all impressive for a wheelset that’s lighter – coming in at 1,362g per pair – than Mavic’s popular Ksyriums.
They’re strong and well built too, with a few hundred miles of pothole-spattered fast riding from our 12-stone (76kg/168lb) tester failing to uncover any weaknesses or build quality issues. Should you need to service any of the components, all are readily available standard items.
Before you make your purchase, you get a choice of SRAM, Shimano or Campagnolo compatible freehub bodies, which will match eight-, nine-, 10- or 11-speed drivetrains. You even get a double wheel bag, front and rear brake blocks and a pair of new skewers, all free of charge.