Full Velocity Forward (FSA) claimed a cross-country World Championship with Alan Hatherly and Cannondale Manufacturing unit Racing this summer season. That experience and technical know-how have been instrumental in growing the brand new FSA KFX i28 Wheel wheelset.
FSA Athletes have been using and coaching low-key on KFX i28 prototypes all yr. Now, we lastly get the total scoop on FSA’s best-looking cross-country wheelset.
FSA KFX i28 Wheelset – What’s it?
For these unfamiliar with the FSA traces, KFX is the top-tier racing line. The Cannondale Manufacturing unit Workforce and different cross-country specialists use KFX bars, stems, and super-light (Cannondale SiSl2-looking) KFX cranksets. It’s the best choice for FSA in the case of cross-country, and it’s seen a gentle refresh over the previous 5 years.
The wheels for the KFX line have all the time been barely lighter than the second-tier SL-Okay fashions. Many of the weight has been misplaced by upgrading spokes and slight tweaks to the rim layup. This new KFX mannequin, nonetheless, is a pointy departure from the everyday FSA cross-country construct.
Once you have a look at the brand new KFX i28 wheels (should you’re acquainted with the earlier mannequin), it seems to be like a completely new line of wheels. The rim is a distinct form (not solely wider), and the hub is an entire change (significantly better). The one remaining piece is the traditional monochromatic FSA KFX styling with a slight pop of metallic silver.
Variable Top Rim
The rim is the primary piece that caught my consideration for the KFX i28 wheels. It’s a variable-height rim with a classically spherical form. The rim itself is about 22mm deep, with a bump as much as 24mm close to the spoke nipples. FSA selected to maintain the edges asymmetrical like earlier variations of the wheel. The edges measure 28mm inside and 33mm exterior and have a 3mm hookless bead.
PRS X900 Hubset
After departing from their go-to 6-pawl design, FSA up to date the brand new KFX i28 wheelset with a PRS (Energy Ratchet System) X900 hubset. You’ll discover the PRS system on the latest Imaginative and prescient highway wheels, just like the Metron SL40, and so forth. The PRS system boasts a 72-point ratchet system, much like the DT-Swiss star ratchet however bigger.
The PRS hub is a straight-pull spoke, 6-bolt design with an outsized clutch ratchet and helical freehub driver. Its inside workings are a lot simpler to service and keep than the earlier 6-pawl mannequin.
Plus, the PRS mountain bike model employs massive, easy-to-service cartridge bearings. The freehub is on the market in SRAM XD or Shimano Mircospline.
FSA KFX i28 Wheels Weight and Dimension:
- Rim Depth: 22/24mm
- Interior: 28mm
- Outer: 33mm
- Sizing: 12 x 148mm, 15 or 12 X 110mm
- Freehub Choices: Shimano HG or Mirco Spline, SRAM XD (examined)
- Weight: 1580g
- Pricing: $1810.00
- Guarantee: Lifetime
- Out there: Now
Setup Impressions
For many, if not all, of their tubeless wheels, FSA/Imaginative and prescient provides tape, and valves with the package deal—the KFX i28s are not any totally different. The wheels arrive with 35-mm-wide tubeless tape that flexes to suit the contours of the rim. The tape matches the inside channel of the rim effectively, however requires some additional muscle to get that bubble-less match.
I’ve used this FSA-branded tape with different mountain bike wheels for a few years with nice success. I see no purpose to seek for one other tape as an “improve.”
I went with a pair of WTB Marco 2.4 tires as my treads and had zero points mounting and seating them. The Marco 2.4 tires have an optimized rim width of 29-35mm, however the 28mm labored high quality.
Experience Impressions
My rides have been totally on cross-country single observe with a mixture of roots and rocks. I wish to journey on the paths and took this chance to really feel out the wheels with out path interruptions. On the highway and gravel tracks resulting in the paths, the KFX i28 wheels are springy. They spin up on the open highway and really feel good on the climbs, like a a lot lighter wheel.
The burden of 1580g (with valves and tape) had me considering they might be barely sluggish on the climbs in comparison with the Roval Management Workforce Editions they changed. The KFX i28 wheels appear to hold many of the weight on the hub. Even when selecting up the wheels for the primary time, you may really feel it. The rim could be very light-weight—we’re ready on an actual quantity from FSA.
The decrease profile rim (in comparison with the 30mm earlier model) has a pleasant really feel over the path. The 28mm rim width offers sufficient tire contact for additional suspension from the two.4 Macros, and maintain the tread integrity.
Highly effective and Sturdy
I hardly observed the wheels on the path, which was an excellent factor for me. They slotted in the precise after a really high-end (and costly) wheelset and carried out effectively sufficient that I couldn’t inform the distinction. Now, thats to not say these are an identical efficiency wheelsets, however they’ve the same really feel on the path. For many mountain bike riders, thats all that issues.
The straight-pull spokes are standard—non-bladed, tapered, and never carbon—leading to stiff and responsive dealing with. Within the corners, the KFX i28 wheels really feel sturdy and strong. Some tremendous light-weight wheels can really feel barely “mushy” in corners; conversely, they really feel rock strong—like cornering on a superb highway wheel in a crit.
Engagement-wise, the PRS ratchet system provides a really aggressive really feel to the higher-end DT-Swiss hubs. The bearings look to be constructed for the lengthy haul (crappy climate, energy washing, dumb east coast winters), however solely time will inform. Plus, the hubs have a straightforward to scan “service” QR, this may pull up what you want to your wheels and methods to service them.
Lasting Impressions
I’ve ridden almost each model of FSA cross-country mountain bike wheels launched prior to now seven years. They enhance incrementally with every iteration, however the KFX i28 wheel appeared to have leapfrogged just a few.
The KFX i28 wheels are by far the best-riding and most serviceable cross-country wheelset FSA has launched. The design is aggressive with the top-tier cross-country wheels, and once you throw within the lifetime guarantee, they’re on the pointy finish of the worth. The $1810 price ticket additionally makes the KFX i28 the most costly wheelset of their mountain bike line, however in our opinion, additionally probably the most refined.
Search for a long-term evaluate coming in just a few weeks, however till then, should you’re curious in regards to the FSA KFX i28 wheels, you could find them at Fullspeedahead.com
