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Wild new Alchemist X-Sens X7.32 carbon enduro rims get built (virtually)

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Alchemist X-Sens X732 carbon enduro mountain bike rims prototype rendering

A few weeks ago, Alchemist sent us photos of rim parts and cutaways to tease their new X-Sens rims. Now, they’ve rendered a mockup of the X7.32 enduro rim built up into 27.5″ wheels.

With only the rim cutaways to see before, we were all left wondering how they’d be laced. In order to give them the proper lateral stiffness, they are indeed going to be laced across the rim, sending a spoke from the left hub flange to the right side of the rim wall.

The naming scheme likely refers to both wheel diameter and inside width, with “7” telling us it’s a 27.5 and “32” referring to an inside rim width of about 32mm. Those number match up with what we’ve seen so far, and Alchemist chimed in on the comments in that first post to say rim weights could be as low as 390g and that they’ll actually cost less than their RR rims.

More pics and upcoming sizes below…

Alchemist X-Sens X732 carbon enduro mountain bike rims prototype rendering

Click to enlarge either photo.

Alchemist X-Sens X732 carbon enduro mountain bike rims prototype rendering

Alchemist will offer this design in three wheel sizes, with variations for different types of riding:

27.5″ family:
– X7.26 with internal width 26mm for XC-MARATHON
– X7.32 with internal width 32mm for ENDURO
– X7.44 with internal width 44mm is a “PLUS”

29″ family:
– X9.26 with internal width 26mm for XC-MARATHON
– X9.32 with internal width 32mm for ENDURO
– X9.44 with internal width 44mm is a “PLUS”

…and only one for 26″ for fat bikes with an internal width of about 85mm called X6.85.

AlchemistBikes.com

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'Merika
'Merika
8 years ago

I’d like to propose a rule that BR only post articles about products that I can go out and purchase the second I leave the site.

Any basement-dwelling dreamer can create a Kickstarter for his quantum drive mountain bike, and get an article on BR.

bikeduder
bikeduder
8 years ago

I am sure the weight savings with easily be negated with all the mud and other bs that will become lodged in the rim… Fun too clean too!

chasejj
chasejj
8 years ago

Maybe they can put some S.W.A.T. storage in those sidewalls. looks like enough room for 2 spare tubes.;-)

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

Alchemist does make really good Solidworks porn though.

*bikeduder… it’s a cutaway view.

Bryce Lewis
Bryce Lewis
8 years ago

‘merica the website IS called bike RUMOR so it’s sort of the nature of the website to publish products that are not quite available to the consumer. These look really interesting and I’m always happy to see the latest and greatest prototypes on bikerumor’s website

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

@Matt, not a cutaway. Seriously.

The Wheel Guy
The Wheel Guy
8 years ago

I am all for new technology as long as it makes sense. I applaud Alchemist for out of the box thinking. This a bad design from a few stand points. #1. having the spoke ,nipple interface
i.e. where the nipple seat attaches to the rim, outside of the rim exposed to the elements will cause oxidization to happen at a much faster rate which means when running alloy nipples as shown in the above pictures and it becomes time to tension & true your wheels you could possibly run into breaking spokes because the nipple is to badly corroded to turn. #2. any weight savings from this design is negated once the voids in the side wall start to fill up with mud and other trail debris. #3. goes along with #2. once thrim starts to collect mud and dirt it WILL NOT be spread out evenly through out the rim causing the wheel to become SEVERELY UNBALANCED which wiil NEGATIVELY AFFECT STEERING & OVERALL CONTROL of you bike.

EricL
EricL
8 years ago

I thinks a great idea! No rim tape, no leaky spoke holes, able to replace spokes and nipples without tire removal – even on the trail, and it’s light weight.

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
8 years ago

Yup. Not a cut-away. Those look amazing for rim bed strength, and the buttressing around the spoke flanges looks pretty good to. Going to collect mud like mad.

This rim is about stiffness while allowing conventional hubs, spokes, and lacing patterns.

ChrisC
ChrisC
8 years ago

Maybe I’m being dense, but if you ride in a lot of muddy conditions, then maybe this is not the rim/wheel for you. So buy something else.

To complain about the obvious mud collection of these rims is a bit like complaining about a new sports car by saying, “Yeah, it looks great, but it’s gonna be hell to fit a recliner in the back seat.”

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

The first thing to do after lacing these rims up is apply some clear tape to seal up all those pockets. Not sure why all those long hollow sections couldn’t have been made convex instead (like every other rim) at the same weight.

That being said I think these are very interesting.

Steve
8 years ago

@alex you can’t make the long hollow sections between the spoke convex and keep the same weight because it would change the shape if the inner cavity, making it very difficult for the bladder to get pressure on all surfaces.

Sevo
Sevo
8 years ago

Awesome. Guess I have my forever wheels to look forward to

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

I live in CA so there is no such thing as mud. I like these if the weight is on par with similar rims. Great for running tubeless and fixing spoke failures.

Bob
Bob
8 years ago

Skip the web link, nothing useful there just contact info.

These look like a manufacturing nightmare. Will be interesting to see how much they cost & actually weigh if they ever get built. Seems like a lot of work just to eliminate rim tape.

Roy
Roy
8 years ago

Awesome outside of the box thinking!! LIke it or not, it address’s some very obvious problems on mtb tubeless rims.

Pete
Pete
8 years ago

Very interested in these. Works for BMW adv motos it should work for mtbs

Tad Dickman
Tad Dickman
8 years ago

Ha, Bryce Lewis your comment is awesome.

I think these are a really great design. No worries about cleaning either. Every place I have ever ridden you stay off the trails when they are wet or mud. I know that isn’t the case everywhere but most of the U.S. is that way unless you are in rocky soil areas.

No more difficult than cleaning around suspension or other crevices.

Andre - MTB LOVER
Andre - MTB LOVER
8 years ago

I kind of like it! Aggressive looking and strong to carry my fat as over them rocks!

Ryan
Ryan
8 years ago

I hate everything, whaaaaa.

Smitty
Smitty
8 years ago

Mud caught in the rims? Well my tires collect mud between the knobs sometimes, I’m going to bald tires because mud!

Matt Budd
8 years ago

These actually might make more sense from a manufacturing standpoint than a hollow, box section carbon rim since you no longer have to think about making the rim in multiple pieces. I’d imagine this shape could be fully formed from one mold since it doesn’t have any void in the middle.

Steve
Steve
8 years ago

Where is the valve?

Darryl
Darryl
8 years ago

I see potential for rock strikes that would be a glancing blow on a normal type rim becoming major damage as it smashes into the sticky-out-bits around each nipple platform.

In regards to the corroded nipple problem, I see these as better as there is no potential unseen leakage of tyre sealant onto the nipples from inside and no where for water to get trapped in the rim.
Very easy access for the occasional small drop of oil on the nipples to keep them like new.

Nice to see some out of the box thinking though.

StuartJohnFox
StuartJohnFox
8 years ago

@’Merika The number of people complaining about bike rumours on Bike Rumour is just stupid.

Pette
Pette
8 years ago

I like seeing new sh*t being thought up and made. It’s a great time to be a biker. But PNW and BC mud would negate any weight savings these rims have by filling up those pockets. Why not have a system like campy/fulcrum does with their 2-way fit rim. No nipple holes and tubeless compatible. I’ve had to replace a nipple on my campy road wheels and its really easy to thread through with the supplied magnet.

Tandem Guy
Tandem Guy
8 years ago

Not saying I never ride in the mud, but when it rains here in Michigan, we stay off the trails to keep from damaging them. I don’t see the cutaways as being a big issue. Besides, most cyclists I know are so OCD, they clean their bikes after every ride anyway!

Jeff
Jeff
8 years ago

(deleted)

Greg
Greg
8 years ago

That explains a lot, all the people who get their panties in bunch over ever post ride muddy trails.

Antipodean_g
8 years ago

This is some pretty interesting thinking going on here.

I do love though, reading through all the comments, all the people complaining or whatever. Before you comment, stop and think that if these guys have spent all this time, and money and everything else involved in working out a product like this, maybe, just maybe, they’ve already thought about all the things you are complaining about.

While I know it sometimes seems not the case (and in a few instances is actually not), there’s a good chance most of the issues (and probably a whole lot more) you are talking about, or obsessing over, have been raised and negated during the design process.

Just say’n.

Pistolero
Pistolero
8 years ago

these rims will be uber heavy, even with zero mud and perfectly clean.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
8 years ago

This is a Solidworks experiment. I would like to see the results of their testing. Carbon does not hold an edge under tension very well at all. This is the reason for the “shelf” between spoke holes. I would be very wary of the durability of this product.

Every wheel/rim company is looking for a way around Mavic’s UST “fore” drilling technique, this is a viable option…if it works.

BLMac
BLMac
8 years ago

Works for BMW and Honda. The concept is fine.

They will probably need to refine it so that the gap between the buttresses are less to make the nipple base stiffer.

As for collecting mud, has no one seen all the drilled out box section rims already in use by fatbikers?

Simon
Simon
8 years ago

Mud is like protein, i like mud!! If these can help me get more mud on my bike i’m all for them!

Seriously why are there so many haters on this site? Some people have some good points against this design and some for it, but those of you to twaddle on about all the extra back breaking work to clean your wheels have clearly never done a race/ride in muddy conditions where at end of the day your up for new bb30 bearings, wheel bearings, headset bearings, brake pads and possibly drive train components.

Would i buy these? No! Do i like new ideas and people who think out of the box in the industry? Yes!
These are a new idea in the bike world which don’t create another f**king standard and i’m all for that!!
Cheers and have a nice weekend!

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

The design seems to lend itself well to ultra-high pressure cf molding, as done in aerospace and automotive applications as there is no need for an inner bladder.
Really neat idea. Without flaws? No. But it’s a first attempt. It can and may get better with more development.

alvis
alvis
8 years ago

3T Mercurio LTD road rims? Just uglier.

benzo
benzo
8 years ago

Mad Mud Catcher!!!!!!!

gee
gee
8 years ago

Neat idea – but Crank Bros already have a better way around this, which doesn’t have huge mud pockets all over it.

Obviously. the fact that Crank Bros tend to build their bearings and freehubs with glass and balsa wood makes their products effectively useless – but if Alchemist were to pair the way Crank Bros orient the nipples parallel to the rim surface with thsi design, it could really be a winner.

Victor
8 years ago

I am really interested in knowing more about the manufacturing method. The I-beam shape is die-locked in all directions so it cannot be molded in one piece. I can only imagine that they would need to compression mold the rim in two pieces around the circumference, and then join (glue) the two halves together. If they are going for compression molding, that precludes the use of long fibers so the resin content will go up along with the weight, but vertically the structure may be strong enough to achieve a net weight reduction.

Interestingly if they do indeed go with compression molding, once the tooling is paid for each unit cost will be very low compared with the traditional, or even semi-automatic composite rim production methods as long as they can generate sufficient production volumes to interest a compression molding factory. It also allows them an easy path to thermoplastic resins with their higher impact resistance, albeit at reduced stiffness and some potential to warp in high temperatures.

Interesting.

888
888
8 years ago

@’Merika Get over it. This site is called Bike RUMOR for a reason.

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
8 years ago

I guess their engineer has a thing for cantilevered structures. Would go well with a Pearson or Softride.

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