Remember the new Easton ARC wide-format aluminium mountain bike rims we told you about a couple of weeks ago? Easton is now building those same tubeless-ready rims into complete mountain bike wheelsets called Heist. Offered in the same 24, 27, and 30mm internal widths, Heist promises to bring the benefits of wider rims to the masses, thanks to very attainable price points.
Easton Heist key features
- 20mm depth
- Welded construction
- 24mm, 27mm, or 30mm internal widths
- 28-hole spoke drilling
- 27.5in or 29in diameters
- Claimed 27.5in weights: 1,650g (24mm); 1,750 (27mm); 1,790g (30mm)
- Claimed 29in weights: 1,730g (24mm); 1,840g (27mm); 1,880g (30mm)
- US$700 / £450 / €650 / AU$TBC
- July availability
The new Heist wheels bring the benefits of wide rim profiles to more reasonable price points
Easton is focusing on durability here, building each Heist wheel with conventional straight-pull, double-butted stainless steel spokes and brass nipples in a three-cross pattern. The same spoke length is used throughout, too. Easton is including five spare spokes with each wheelset. For riders who prefer a more subdued look, the black anodized rims’ vinyl decals can be easily removed.
Heist wheels are built around Easton’s new X5 hubset, which uses a straightforward cartridge bearing construction, a conventional three-pawl driver, and six-bolt rotor compatibility. The axles are fairly large with a 15mm diameter out back and 17mm up front, and the bearings are correspondingly big, which bodes well for durability. Interchangeable end caps are included for use with quick-release or thru-axle frames and forks.
We're hoping for good long-term durability from the new Easton X5 hubset
Easton won’t have wheels in stores until July but BikeRadar has already started testing an early production set in the widest, 30mm, option and it’s so far, so good. Although not super light, they’re quite reasonable – especially given the price – and impressively stiff. Our only major disappointment is the slow freehub engagement, which is a relatively lazy 17 degrees. Stay tuned for a more in-depth report soon.
For more information, visit www.eastoncycling.com.