When I think about high tech aerospace carbon, Gunnison, Utah isn't exactly the first place that comes to mind. But that is in fact exactly where the high tech carbon manufacturer called CSS Composites is located. Within this factory, mountain bike wheels are being made out of a material called FUSIONFIBER. FUSIONFIBER is kind of like carbon but different. It's made with long-chain polymers instead of the brittle and toxic epoxies and resins that are found in traditional carbon fiber. Because of this, wheels that are made from FUSIONFIBER are able to absorb impacts through a very small flex within the fibers and basically spread that shock throughout the rim.
My first experience with FUSIONFIBER wheels came a couple of years ago when I had a Revel Ranger that came with Revel's version of FUSIONFIBER wheels made in the same factory in Gunnison. The Revel wheels on that bike were the RW30's. First impressions I had were how quiet the bike both sounded and felt. They were incredibly damp. I would say these are like the Never Summer Snowboards of carbon mountain bike wheels. They were also very light and durable. How durable? That Revel Ranger only has 115 mm of rear travel and I weigh 250 lbs and I rode it through all types of terrain without ever needing to true them once over the year and a half I was on that bike.
Fast forward to my current bike. I built up a Commencal Meta V5 from just the frame. I knew I wanted a lightweight, yet durable set of wheels for this bike. I liked my experience I had on the Revel Wheels and I wanted to give the Forge and Bond wheels a go as I had started hearing some good things about them. I also liked that the company was based in Utah. Forge and Bond offered a bit beefier model in their lineup too with 30 EM wheels. Forge and Bond has the 30 AM wheel rim in their lineup with a similar spec to Revel's RW30, but since I would be putting these on a bigger travel bike that I would be riding at higher speeds and down rowdier trails, I opted for the 30 EM's. The Forge and Bond 30 EM's are not only beefier as far as material goes, but they offer a 32 hole option rim vs the RW 30's coming in only a 28 hole rim. The Forge and Bond 30 EM feels a bit less damp than my Revels did, although still more damp than any other wheel I've ridden. They are just as quiet as the RW30's, but the 30 EM's feel like they hold a line better when pushing into hard, fast corners or landing a bit sideways off a jump. I know my Meta V5 is an overall stiffer and burlier bike than my Revel Ranger, but the EM 30 wheels seem to hold a line better smashing through off camber pieces of trail or chunky rocks or roots. I feel like I can give the 30 EM wheels more of a thrashing and not have to think as much about line choice. I've hucked myself into some sharp rocks and smashed into some squared off bits of chunk plenty of times and so far I haven't noticed any truing needed on these wheels. They are still running as straight as they were when I pulled them out of the box.
One thing that is quite noticeable is how much a set of wheels like these can bring a burlier, heavier bike like the Meta V5 to life. I've owned a Ripmo AF and a Commencal Meta TR and ran the stock aluminum wheels and those bikes had noticebly more of a dead feeling to them. I can attribute that almost 100% to the wheels.
EM 30 WHEEL SPECS
TIRE SIZE RANGE - 2.3" - 2.6"
MAX TIRE PRESSURE - 40 PSI
RIM OUTER WIDTH - 38mm
RIM INNER WIDTH - 30mm
RIM DEPTH - 28mm
BEADWALL THICKNESS - 4mm
SPOKE COUNT - 28/32
RIM WEIGHT - 530g
I have my 30 EM's laced up to the I9 Hydra Classic Boost Hubs which does make them one of the most expensive carbon wheels on the market at $2199. You can opt for the I9 1/1 hubs instead which brings the retail cost down to $1899. One of the biggest complaints of these wheels has been the price up until the release of their Shift line of wheels that start at $1250. The only difference in the Shift wheels seem to be the in house Forge and Bond hubs. I should be getting a pair of the Shift wheels to test soon and I will have a review on those as soon as I get some miles on them.
One thing I will say about the cost of Forge and Bond wheels is you are paying for more than just a high end, well performing, capable wheel. You can get other carbon wheels out there that may be just as light and perform just as good. What you won't get from those other carbon wheels is sustainability. Forge and Bond wheels are 100% recyclable and are made in the U.S.A. They do not need to be refrigerated, which gives them an unlimited shelf life and since they are made right here in Utah there is no need for them to be shipped overseas reducing emissions and energy use even further.
PROS
lightweight
durable
damp
track well
mute impacts
quiet (not pingy)
lifetime warranty
CONS
price
WHO ARE THESE FOR
The Forge and Bond 30 EM wheels are for the rider that wants to upgrade their wheels to something that is lightweight, durable and has a damp and comfortable ride feel, but also wants a product that is made in the U.S.A. and wants to know that they are causing less impact on the environment than they would be by buying other carbon options out there.
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