Home > Bike Types > Road Bike

Upstart Karbon Speed Brings High Tech Carbon Clinchers w/ Low Prices, Will Trade for Your Wheels

72 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Karbon Speed carbon fiber bicycle wheels for lower prices and free trade in program

Karbon Speed is a new company, formed in 2012, but their founders are hardly freshmen in the industry. Two of the three main guys (Brian and Glen) also own XTerra wetsuits, the other (Justin) started his career with Oakley.

As friends and triathletes, they were frustrated by the cost of aero wheels and thought there had to be a more efficient way to get quality carbon fiber wheels. They combined their manufacturing experience and triathlon industry knowledge and started Karbon Speed. Development started in fall 2011, and the company went live with products on September 5, 2012.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, they took existing research on aerodynamics and braking surfaces and looked at how to bring all that to riders for a better price. That said, they’re using their own molds, not just catalog items. The rim profile was designed by an aerospace engineering firm with experience in high tolerance carbon fiber designs intended for high speed production.

The rims are made of Toray T-700 carbon fiber and stick with a slightly modified V-shape. They did give it a bit of shaping at the leading edge and widen the rear a bit to add a bit of crosswind stability. Aero test data is available on their website, along with plenty of test videos.

Two depths are available, 50mm and 88mm. Both are clincher and have 21mm widths.

The brake track has a bonded on basalt surface. Basalt is a naturally occurring inorganic compound that comes from volcanoes and has really good heat dissipation. They mix it into the resin and carbon at the braking surface, which helps the rims handle much greater heat without having to add an alloy braking surface.

The wheels use Novatec hubs and 20/24 bladed spokes. Claimed wheel weights are 708g (front) and 870g (rear) for the 50’s and 874g and 1018g for the 88’s. They’re available as single wheels or sets, and you can mix and match the sets. Front and rear combos are $2,200 including shipping directly to your door. Wheels are rated for riders up to 230 pounds, though they say they’ve tested with heavier riders (250lb) with no issues.

“We’ve taken a lot of time to develop our wheel,” says co-founder Justin Li. “But convincing the market that our products are quality even though they’re made overseas isn’t isn’t something we’re going to fight with words. We believe in our products and are willing to put our money where our mouth is.”

Instead, they’re offering a trade in program where you can send in select models of Zipp, HED, Reynolds, ENVE or Mad Fiber wheels. It’s a straight up trade, you only cover the cost of shipping your wheels to them, and the new Karbon Speed wheels are yours to keep. The program will run indefinitely through the end of 2012, and the point is to get people on the wheels and just try them. They’re hoping this proves that the wheels are just as good and just as fast as the bigger name brands. Trade in form is here.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

72 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Pancakes
Pancakes
11 years ago

So they’ll take more expensive wheels in exchange for their less expensive wheel? Shouldn’t they pay you for that?

Quickie
Quickie
11 years ago

In the same model I am now willing to accept late model exotic Italian sports cars in exchange for a new Kia Rio. Acceptance is solely at my discretion.

Justin
11 years ago

We will trade out used wheels from Zipp, Mad Fiber, HED, etc. for brand new Karbon Speed wheels. The valued of those used wheels is less than the MSRP of a brand new set of Karbon Speed wheels.

Nutella
Nutella
11 years ago

Is this a joke?

Program Expansion
Program Expansion
11 years ago

I hope they expand the program to include the development of carbon fiber frames. There will be a long line of guys looking to trade in their Cervelo R5ca and a McLaren Venge for a shot at riding Karbonspeed’s take on an “affordable” non-branded carbon frame. These guys might know wheels.. and they could be fantastic.. but.. they should probably befriend a buddy who works in marketing.

Sam
Sam
11 years ago

Less expensive aero wheels sounds good. Their trade-in program must be targeting riders who have almost worn out their old wheels, because I can’t imagine anybody willing to swap a pair of new, proven and tested wheels for an unknown set.

dave
dave
11 years ago

Aside from the comedy of the trade in program, is $2200 even considered cheap for china wheels?
Hasn’t deep v rims been pretty well surpassed by toroidal rim shapes as well as the new wider, blunt styles?

td
td
11 years ago

$2,200 doesn’t seem cheap to me. similar wheels with the same hubs are $450 on ebay (and they’re lighter too).

Ryan
Ryan
11 years ago

They were frustrated with the cost of aero wheels, so they made cheap ones to find a sucker with good aero wheels to trade with.

jeremy
jeremy
11 years ago

i bet there pricing is the same as xterra site high retail and 60 percent off codes. i saw on their site about 2 months back these wheels for 900 for the pair

RP
RP
11 years ago

What’s even funnier… is that the difference between even a zipp and one of those $450 ebay wheels is still only a few percentage points better. You really wanna spend a few extra g’s to get only a few points better?

everyone is just nieve and brand crazy… I bet you couldn’t even tell the difference if you tried

Unravelled
Unravelled
11 years ago

Is this some sort of Halloween prank? Yeah let’s trade in some madfibers for A set of alibaba Chinese wheels……

I’m sure they will find some suckers though.., they are going after the triathlon industry after all ^^

Ck
Ck
11 years ago

Still not cheap enough to keep me away from eBay clinchers.

cat 1 doper
cat 1 doper
11 years ago

lets see.. china open mold wheels with the standard china novatec hubs for wayyy too much money. See farsports.cn or light-bicycle for the same wheels at 1/4 the price.

What a joke! These are straight up alibaba wheels. Their website is even more hilarious.

Krabon
Krabon
11 years ago

I will trade you these Karbon wheels at no cost for your really nice wheels, except you must pay the shipping. The Karbons are great! We have old designs but they are made by really awesome people on the other side of the Pacific.

Additionally, if you have friends that are interested in used carbon wheels please direct them to my Ebay store where I hope to sell Mad Fiber, Zipp, Reynolds and Enve wheelsets.

Seneb
Seneb
11 years ago

Wow, not at all what I expected from the article title. I’d totally go for Boyd or Williams before these, and they are half the price.

SteezyD
SteezyD
11 years ago

The trade in program is a JOKE!!

“Rather than reinvent the wheel, they took existing research on aerodynamics and braking surfaces and looked at how to bring all that to riders for a better price.” .. in other words NOTHING NEW OR INNOVATIVE… JUST CHEAPER! So… tell me again why I should trade in my Zipps for a set of these?

sounds like someone is running a wheel laundering scam here. straight up trade MY A$$! I’m sure they can turn around ad sell your HED or Zipp wheels on ebay and cover the cost of four of their wheels… That’s how they’re making the real money!

Seneb
Seneb
11 years ago

Oh, and they don’t have a Campagnolo version. Stellar.

Fred
Fred
11 years ago

Can i get in on the resale of the traded-in name brand wheels?

Tyler Durdon
Tyler Durdon
11 years ago

“Save time. Save money.
tires, tubes and install for less than your bike shop
We’ll install the tube, valve extention and tire on your Karbon Speed wheels. Then we test for flats, punctures and leaks so that when you get your wheels, they’re ready to inflate and ride. See how to mount your own tires here.”

+ 140$ for Conti GP4000S

NICE

dodin
dodin
11 years ago

Ummm…no way I’m trading my Mad Fiber clinchers that are over 300grams less for these…..

Nutella
Nutella
11 years ago

They have really nice shipping box! All tested :)))
Ok if someone buy wheels for that price get at least nice box and wheelbags

Will
Will
11 years ago

2200 is not a good price. I would rather pay 500 more for a pair of zipps. Or, better yet, find some closeout model wheels for way less than 2200. Just silly.

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
11 years ago

Heavy, machine built, made in China, old technology…for how much? The selling point is they will take my lighter, hand built, made at home, latest tech wheels I own….what?

Happy Halloween…TRICK I think.

Armando Ruddiger McGillacuddy
Armando Ruddiger McGillacuddy
11 years ago

It’s not April 1st is it? If this isn’t a joke, then it’s scam. I too was deceived by the title of the article, lost cost carbon clinchers? $2200 for the equivalent of a Chinese carbon wheel? I agree with those who said that they’d go to Boyd or Williams, they may be peddling Chinese wares, but at least they’re priced accordingly. I’d rather have a a busted pair of Zipps than these overpriced insult on our intelligence.

Armando Ruddiger McGillacuddy
Armando Ruddiger McGillacuddy
11 years ago

RP… your comments are in ignorance, there is a massive difference in the way that Zipp’s, HED, Reynolds ride and Chinese carbon wheels. Believe me, I know first hand. The Chinese wheels are light, almost too light in most cases, and ride extremely harsh, even with a 25mm at lower pressure. I’d take a heavier Zipp or HED any day over a light overly stiff carbon wheel any day. I always knew that Zipps and the rest were better, but I wasn’t sure if they were 4x the price better, now I know, they really are.

Digi
Digi
11 years ago

2200? Um no….not cheaper. THe New Rovals Blow these out of the water

Alan Stevens
11 years ago

2 Enve 65mm Rims: $1640
Pair of Novatek “ultra-light” Hubs: $130
~50 Sapim CX ray spokes & nipples: $100
2 Wheel build labor @ LBS: $100
TOTAL: $1970

….Am I missing something? What about these wheels are affordable? Silly triathletes

Kevin C
Kevin C
11 years ago

Yeah, what they said. I can get a custom set of wheels with Enve/DT/Sapim from Neuvation or Psimet for about that. Or I can get a set of Neuvation’s carbon 45’s or Williams 58’s for about $1K.

Did you guys do *any* market research beforehand or did you just go with the old Oakley “charge ’em $200 for $5 worth of plastic in a nice box and they’ll love it” strategy?

BunchRideFinder
11 years ago

I’m going to buy my self of MAD FIBRE’s just so i can trade them in on a set of these

Frog
Frog
11 years ago

These will go great on a Broken Bones frameset.

Tommy Nickels
Tommy Nickels
11 years ago

” Karbon Speed is roughly five seconds slower than the same competitor over a 40km race distance, but at 40% of the cost.”
Either someone forgot to edit every page before the $1300 price bump or they think $5500 wheels are standard pride.

At least their “rim shape is supersonic.”

gringo
gringo
11 years ago

those steel axle China hubs are sexy…

Alan Stevens
11 years ago

Too bad sexy Ally in the white short-shorts from the website doesn’t come in that fancy box

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
11 years ago

Roflol after looking at thier site…the videos are can’t miss. I love how they compare tubulars vs. clinchers and say clinchers are better because tubulars cost more and you can carry more tubes in your pack if you get a flat…lol ” Like three or four…” roflol….lolololololol

Ventruck
Ventruck
11 years ago

LOL @ how they’re on about other brands hiding information. Freehub cassette compatibility was one of the “non-disclosed” categories based on what Karbonspeed could find. Really now?

No disrespect as I’m pursuing an engineering degree myself, but looking at the data report and overall presentation they, this looks more like a school final project rather than a legitimate professional operation. The engineer’s introduction leaves me (and perhaps anyone) insanely unconvinced/not confident the price is going to be justified. Test setup was just the upside-down fork test, and references are limited. We’re really supposed to believe THAT can yield $2,200 wheels?

And to think: they’re all skeptical of how brands like Zipp (who’ve worked in collaboration with Cervelo and ProTour riders) are developing their products? wow. All this + the joke of a trade-in scheme….what are these guys doing?

M.C. Slamer
M.C. Slamer
11 years ago

What a SCAM. Hey bikerumor… You guys know bikes right? You know a little about wheels as well, no? So why are you giving these guys any PR? I’m afraid these Karbon fools aren’t the only ones losing credibility with this garbage.

echotraveler
echotraveler
11 years ago

a Nigerian princes, what?

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
11 years ago

FYI, it appears these wheels are not open mold. That said, their pitch isn’t very convincing. I’d rather spend the extra dosh and get a set of ENVE S.E.S 6.7’s with hubs of my choice. They’ll be much lighter, and Enve at least went to the wind tunnel with similar wheels from some big competitors.

G
G
11 years ago

These wheels are a joke. Bikerumor’s a joke. Not even funny.

El Santo
El Santo
11 years ago

Wow BikeRumor you guys really just lost credibility with this write up…..I mean even you guys should be have laughed at this company and what they’re doing. The “trade-In” program??? come on Bikerumor, did they send you some free wheels in exchange or just pay you straight up for the write up. Tisk tisk… Karbon Speed is really already the laughing stock of the local bike scene in their home town….I kind of feel bad for them.

Chris
Chris
11 years ago

Easton EC90 Aero and TT wheels are less expensive, equipped with better hubs, lighter weight, and are reliable. When I heard affordable, I was thinking 1400 from a “new” company “looking to make affordable aero wheels”. There are cheaper new makers on the market who are also obscure, and also uses their own molds.

MarkV
11 years ago

” We are willing to put our money where our mouth is”, Damn !! At $2200 for a set, they must be eating well!

mythbuster
mythbuster
11 years ago

The “Specifications” and technology sections were written by someone with zero understanding of the subject matter. They assemble terminology in an utterly misplaced and nonsensical fashion. “High TG carbon fiber” anyone?

The videos are comedy gold, except that some people may actually mistake them for facts…If “Pablo Bravo” is a real person I do not think his future employment prospects will be enhanced if anyone saw him endorsing this stuff.

I find it slightly asinine to wish them ill, but what they are doing is unethical and they should stop and reconsider.

John
11 years ago

At least they chose a hot chick to do their videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akG4S8TlCvQ

Steven
Steven
11 years ago

You HAVE TO WATCH THE TEST VIDEOS. Their carbon wheel outlasted their 2×4 wood stud test fixture!! I bought three pair based on that video alone! And I sent them 5 pair of Zipps! Man, these guys know the secrets to success!

earlybird
earlybird
11 years ago

Please Bikerumor, don’t grow into a site that’s a platform for just about anything.

Chris
Chris
11 years ago

This is the best website I have seen in ages. I’ve watched the video’s and am still left wandering why the engineer is looking in my eyes? Either these guys are keen but naive or are out to scam the unsuspecting. Is there any word on warranty or if they are going to be UCI approved? lol

Nutella
Nutella
11 years ago

I just want their shipping box. Maby from here that silly high price

Jerome
Jerome
11 years ago

Wow! that’s not cheap at all! You can get a set of zipp 404 firecrest for about the same price from probikekit!

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.