Kuroshiro Enso747 rim – first look

Light and wide 27.5+ carbon rim

Kuroshiro’s new Ensō747 rim

Courtesy

Josh Patterson

Published: February 23, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Kuroshiro’s new Ensō747 rim - Courtesy
Like Kuroshiro’s Ensō950, the Ensō747 uses a single-walled design with the exception of the alternating spoke channel, which uses a box section constructed around a polymer mold - Courtesy
Dimensions of the Ensō747 rim - Courtesy
From left to right: the Ensō685 fat bike rim, the 27.5 Ensō747, and the 29 Ensō950 - Courtesy
A Maxxis Minion DHR II mounted to the Ensō747 rim - Courtesy

We first caught a glimpse at Kuroshiro’s revolutionary Ensō685 415g carbon fat bike rim last winter. Last summer, the Italian company with a Japanese name followed suit with the introduction of the 50mm-wide Ensō950 rim, intended to shave grams from the small but growing number of 29+ mountain bikes. Now, Kuroshiro is releasing details of its latest carbon creation, the Ensō747, an extra-wide 27.5in rim for the 27.5+ market.

Like Kuroshiro’s previous wide and light carbon rims, the Ensō747 is produced by Italian composite specialist Alchemist Engineering. The Ensō747 has an external width of 45mm and an internal width of 38.6mm.

Dimensions of the ensō747 rim: - Courtesy

Claimed weight for the Ensō747 rim is 345g. The company claims that a complete wheelset built with light fat bike hubs, high tension spokes, alloy nipples and Ensō747 rims can be built at as light as 1,390g.

The Ensō747 rim uses the same construction technique as the Ensō950. It features a raised spine, called Alpha-Ridge, that crosses back and forth across the exterior of the rim, connecting the spoke holes. The rim uses a single-walled design with the exception of the alternating spoke channel, which uses a box section constructed around a polymer mold that helps to make the rim airtight without the need for tubeless tape, furthering weight savings.

Like kuroshiro’s ensō950, the ensō747 uses a single-walled design with the exception of the alternating spoke channel, which uses a box section constructed around a polymer mold : - Courtesy

The closed cell polymer molded into the rim boosts stiffness

The Ensō747 is still in the late stages of development. Production rims are expected to be available in limited quantities in late spring. The price per rim is expected to be €849. US, UK and Australian pricing TBD.

A maxxis minion dhr ii mounted to the ensō747 rim : - Courtesy

The 38.6mm internal width will change the shape of tires. Tires with a rounded profile may be better candidates than those with a squared-off profile

For more information visit www.raceware.com.

Josh Patterson

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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