Roval Launches 3 New Traverse Wheelsets
Roval, Specialized's in-house wheel division, has released three new Traverse wheelsets aimed at trail and enduro riders. The SL and HD wheelsets use new carbon rim profiles and layups, and there's also an alloy option that uses shot-peened 6013 aluminum for improved durability.
All of the models are covered by a lifetime warranty, along with a 2-year “It Happens” no fault crash replacement program.
Traverse SL II 240
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 240 hubs
• DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,645g, Front 767g, Rear 878g
• Price: Front: $925 / Rear: $1375 | Total: $2,300
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 240 hubs
• DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,645g, Front 767g, Rear 878g
• Price: Front: $925 / Rear: $1375 | Total: $2,300
Traverse SL II 350
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 350 hubs
• DT Swiss Competition Race spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,751g, Front 807g, Rear 944g
• Price: Front: $600 / Rear: $900 | Total: $1,500 USD
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 350 hubs
• DT Swiss Competition Race spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,751g, Front 807g, Rear 944g
• Price: Front: $600 / Rear: $900 | Total: $1,500 USD
Traverse SL II
Roval says the Traverse SL II is their lightest trail wheelset yet, with a claimed weight of 1645 grams for the 240 model, which uses DT Swiss 240 hub and Aerolite spokes, and 1751 grams for the 350 model with DT Swiss 350 hub and Competition Race spokes.
The front and rear carbon rims have different designs, with compliance and comfort higher on the priority list for the front, and impact resistance and lateral stiffness taking precedence for the rear. Both rims have a shallower, wider profile than before, and a 5mm Flat Top bead profile that's claimed to dramatically reduce the likelihood of a pinch flat compared to a round bead. The internal width is 30mm, and the rim has a 20mm depth.
All of the carbon rims use a new ThreadBed valve that threads directly into the rim, eliminating the need for a compression nut. Other tubeless valves are compatible too, but they'll need the usual o-rings and compression nuts to prevent air loss.
Traverse HD 240
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 240 hub
• DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,706g / Front 768g, Rear 938g
• Price: Front: $925 / Rear: $1375 | Total: $2,300 USD
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 240 hub
• DT Swiss Aerolite spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,706g / Front 768g, Rear 938g
• Price: Front: $925 / Rear: $1375 | Total: $2,300 USD
Traverse HD 350
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 350 hub
• DT Swiss Competition Race spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,801g / Front 806g, Rear 995g
• Price: Front: $600 / Rear: $900 | Total: $1,500 USD
• Carbon rims
• DT Swiss 350 hub
• DT Swiss Competition Race spokes
• Weight: Wheelset 1,801g / Front 806g, Rear 995g
• Price: Front: $600 / Rear: $900 | Total: $1,500 USD
Traverse HD
The Traverse HD wheelset shares most of the design features found on the SL wheels, including the ThreadBed valve and Flat Top bead profile, but it uses different rim shapes and carbon layups to increase the overall strength. That extra strength comes with a little extra weight – the Traverse HD 240 weighs 1706 grams, and the HD 350 weighs 1805 grams. Those are still quite reasonable figures considering the wheels' intended usage.
The SL wheels are aimed at trail riders, and the HD wheels are geared toward riders who have enduro races and bike park laps on their calendar. Since the wheels are sold separately, there's no reason why a smooth-but-aggressive rider couldn't pair an SL front wheel with an HD rear to gain even more compliance up front.
Traverse Alloy
• 6013 aluminum rims
• DT Swiss 350 hubs
• Sapim D-Light spokes
• Price: Front: $300 / Rear: $550 | Total: $850
• Weight: Wheelset 1,904g, Front 897g, Rear 1007g
• 6013 aluminum rims
• DT Swiss 350 hubs
• Sapim D-Light spokes
• Price: Front: $300 / Rear: $550 | Total: $850
• Weight: Wheelset 1,904g, Front 897g, Rear 1007g
Traverse Alloy
Rounding out the new wheels is the Traverse Alloy wheelset, which weighs 1904 grams and is priced at $850. The rims have a 30mm internal width, and a bead shape that's intended to bend inwards if it's hit hard enough, hopefully preventing any air loss and keeping the tire on the wheel.
The one thing absent from the list of options is a 27.5” front wheel – riders on mixed wheel and full 29” setup are taken care of, but the dwindling number of riders rolling on two 27.5” wheels will need to look outside of the new Traverse collection for a new front wheel.
More information: specialized.com
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My cheapo secondhand Bontrager Line Elite carbon wheels have been laser straight on my Evo for a full year now.
The weights show a 1g difference in the 350 case actually the HD is lighter in the front. Either a mistake or this statement is misguided.
Especially since Specialized has been buying up bike shops all over the US, they now have sole distribution for parts like this at a lot of local shops now.
I just find the inside profile where it goes up and down for every spoke ugly. Would rather a circle!
I purchased another used set around 2019 from a well known Specialized sponsored EWS racer ( meaning they were abused) and they too have been flawless and still do duty on my enduro rig.
The alloy ones that came on my Kenevo SL have been put through the wringer and have never been trued ( rare for me on alloy).
Suffice to say that I would 100% recommend and buy more of them.
Pinkbike: Where anecdotal evidence reigns supreme.
Highly recommend. Talented wheel builder and super responsive to any inquiries.
A laterally compliant front wheel does take the edge off. Most rear wheels already have about as much compliance as they can handle, especially deflection away from the cassette, so there's less opportunity to increase compliance at the rear.
Things I have noticed in the real world is carbons ability to hold G outs and track a bit better. I would also bet in a double blind experiment, no one would be able to tell what wheel they are riding.
I get it though, say something that goes against the marketing narrative and get blasted on here.
My point really is that marketing has a major grip on people and can be a very strong placebo effect. People feel the need to justify their purchase or will even have a confirmation bias when riding wheels that are marketed a certain way. If someone was able to do a double blind experiment with wheel, I bet the results would be pretty eye opening.
Lab testing and the forces tested at usually test all the way to failure. Someone has the data but it isn't shared with the general public at all. My main point really is the marketing of radial compliance just really isn't as big of a deal as manufactures claim. It's just the trending topic right now.
Maybe I'll use this as a catalyst to set up and do some testing between different brand. I know there is a lot of data testing that was done on lateral deflection of road wheels awhile back. Again, they were all within 4mm at the same load applied.
Are wheelsets really just a very expensive vanity item? Which is (sorta)fine.
What could be really nice (and will never happen!) would be if rim ERDs were somewhat standardized so it was easy to change between manufacturers and not have to change all of your spokes as well...
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