Silt Enters the Ring as Strong Contender with $ 1,000 Carbon All-Mountain Wheels.

Silt enters the ring as a strong contender with $ 1,000 Carbon All-Mountain Wheels

Is Mountain Biking More Affordable?  Some would argue that no, but if you consider advancements such as fine geometry, now seen in the value bikes and the popularity of the direct-to-consumer business model in the industry, you have to make a yes.  Carbon fibre wheels have been a Pinnacle upgrade for a long time.  Five to ten years ago, consumers should have been prepared to spend more than $ 1,500 for a set of top-shelf wheels.

Fortunately the direct-to-consumer model has grown and we have options for carbon fibre wheels that cost half as much as some of the more expensive options on the market.  Silt is a new-ish logo primarily based totally in Ireland.  The founders of Silt spent time at Hunt Wheels and Newproof before launching the brand, which is now Hunt’s most obvious competitor, selling alloy and carbon wheels at the $ 500 and $ 1,000 mark.

Silt says the D2C route helped to offer the best possible price and opened a direct channel with customers for feedback.

Specifications for the silt carbon AM wheel

Silt makes carbon and alloy versions of their XC and enduro wheels and I decided to try their $ 1,000 carbon all-mountain wheels.  They weigh 1,758g, average for a sturdy carbon wheelset.  They are available with boost-spaced hubs, a non-boost and quick release 135mm option.  FreeHub options are typical: SRAM XD, Shimano MicroSpline, and HG.  The rim sizes on offer are 27.5 ″, 29 ″, and mixed.

The rims have 24mm depth and 31.2mm internal width.  The outer width measures 38.2 mm.  Silt reinforces sidewalls and spark holes for better durability.  The rim bed is ramped for an easy time to install the tires, and the bead lock on the rim helps keep the tires more secure.

The wheels have a 32-hole Spoke count on the front and rear with three side models.  The silt pillar uses double-clipped spokes.

Silt’s hub uses a “high speed” ratchet drive instead of Paul Freehub.  They say long-lasting durability in the poultry system as loads spread across the ratchet drive ring.  With 36 teeth on the drive ring, the hub has a 10 ° engagement.

Silt told us that a simple ratchet design should make a substantial difference in reducing failure compared to a traditional Paul hub.  They have considered going with a more tooth ring for better engagement, but it may have drawbacks such as pedal kickback and low suspension / braking performance.  He is currently testing a 54T ring with a 6.6 ° engagement.

Lastly, Silt offers some sweet warranty and return deals.  Carbon wheels have a lifetime crash replacement policy.  It does not involve normal wear and tear, but if the wheels are damaged in an accident, they will replace them for free.  Silt has a 30 day return policy if you absolutely do not like the wheels.

Riding impressions

_{Silt carbon and rear wheel}

The setup was simple on silt carbon all-mountain wheels.  I’m not sure if this is really a sloped rim bed, but the tires are easily snapped in place and have held the air ever since.  I swapped them in the middle of the bike and the freehub body was easy to replace.

Previously, I installed a set of Hunt’s carbon wheels, which made a good reference point, and silt wheels are quite different from them.  Silts were not thought to accelerate as fast as hunting;  Not snappy, responsive or loud.  This is not a bad thing as there is a turnover for everything.  These are certainly not bent, but they are not as hard as diamonds.  They drive the pace moderately well, with profits descending.

Silts do not accelerate the slope again, but they do carry the velocity well and they float on small bumps and chatter, where very radial hardened carbon cycles usually suffer.  The wheels have a unique feel to the descending, where they balance the rigidity and compliance for a really good ride quality.  The constant speed and confident response through the corners make it easy to get the wheel to fit and cycle without feeling that you are overstepping.

You might also additionally love or hate the drone of the Ratchet Drive Ring.  The sound is different from the buzzing paul’s freehubs and is slightly louder and more nosebleed.  Engagement is not what you get at 5 ° Hunt Hubs.  Silt hubs were significantly slower to engage.  Ten-degree engagement is not bad, but if you are looking for the highest possible range of specs at this price, it loses to other options.  However, I have never been able to make my pedal strokes quite techie and have never experienced any slipping.

Price: $ 1,000

Available from Silt.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Good wheels for the price,

Unique ride quality,

Warranty and Crash Replacement Program,

Durable ratchet hubs are care-free wheels,

Cons

It is still a tough choice among other D2C wheels,

Hub engagement can be tight,

Conclusion

Silt carbon rims, Delicate decal letters on wheels.

There are some long-standing brands in mountain biking that put carbon wheels and components on a generally unattainable pedestal.  Those names are associated with exclusivity and richness, mostly because of price.

Fortunately, direct-to-consumer wheel options are growing, and with competition and new business models, consumers are getting more options, such as the $ 1,000 Silt Carbon All-Mountain Wheel Set.  These wheels have a high quality ride feel that balances stiffness and compliance, and is central to decent engagement and supposed durability.  We will update this post if any of these change, but our time with cycles so far suggests that we don’t need it.