Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset

9
£1,199.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Light, fast, stiff and strong, and very, very versatile
Weight: 
1,590g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheels could well redefine the modern bicycle wheel. They're bang on trend for a broad range of today's disc brake-equipped bikes and promise the trinity of light, fast and strong. 

First, they're the right material: carbon fibre, with a 3k core and unidirectional surface. And while Fulcrum doesn't tout them as tubeless ready, they are, with only the valve hole in the bed of the 40mm-deep aero section rims.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

The broad carbon rims are laced with 18 spokes in the front and 21 in the rear – a number low enough to keep the weight down, but high enough to make the wheels feel bombproof. The front is laced radially (where the spokes do not cross) on the right hand non-braking side, and two-cross on the braking side. The rear is two-cross on the drive side and radial on the braking side.

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset - rim detail.jpg

The hubs

The beautifully tight spokes emanate from some of the smoothest and most durable sealed-bearing, disc-specific hubs you can buy in a ready-built wheel. From experience, Fulcrum hubs do well in crappy British conditions, on or off road. On paper then, the Fulcrum DB Racing Quattro wheels should be awesome.

The hubs use an asymmetric design to create a more even tension and working spoke angle between the rim and the hub.

The front hub has the biggest difference, with the right side effectively flangeless, and the right (braking) side having a high flange. In reality, this right flange isn't a traditional looking flat disc with spoke holes drilled in it, rather, it is a piece of CNC machined art, with material hewn away from every conceivable angle. The result is a structure that's barely there, but also incredibly strong.

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset - front hub.jpg

It positions the braking side spokes up and out to create a good degree of triangulation and, therefore, strength and durability. Looking at the angle of the spokes on the right side, and the space still available – when paired with a TRP carbon fork and a SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brake calliper – the right hand flange could have been another millimetre, possibly even two, further out towards the brake rotor without being near to contacting the inside edge of the brake calliper. This is more of an observation than a criticism, as I have zero complaints regarding stiffness and rigidity.

The rear hub uses a similarly CNC'd right hand (drive side) flange, with the left flange shorter in height and of an arm design – with a radial spoke leading from each arm. The rear hub can be specified with a 10/11-speed Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo compatible cassette body. The cassette body itself is an off-white colour – a Plasma treatment applied by Fulcrum to improve its resistance to corrosion.

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset - rear hub.jpg

The hubs come with a wide selection of interchangeable end caps to allow use with 12mm, 15mm or conventional quick release levers. Whatever bike you ride now, and whatever you might end up riding in the near future, you can be sure the Racing Quattro wheels will be able to slot straight into its frame. They simply push on and pull off as required, yet they don't accidentally fall off if they get knocked when installing the wheels or in transit. Changing the caps takes seconds. A solid design.

The rims

The rims are 40mm deep, which is a practical depth for an aero rim. There's enough of an aero effect that it feels like it's worth having, yet it's shallow enough not to be grabbed by every awkward gust of wind.

The rims have an external width of 24.2mm, with an internal diameter measurement (ETRTO) of 17mm. The ETRTO is the important bit as it tells you the range of tyre widths you can safely use without issues. A 17mm measurement means they're good for use with tyres from 25mm and up to 50mm. Given that the global trend, even in the speed and weight conscious pro peloton, is towards 25mm rubber as a minimum, and 28-35mm for a good many of us, the Racing Quattros seem to be right in the sweet spot.

Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset - rim bed.jpg

The rims are undrilled, with only the valve hole breaching the carbon rim bed. You might expect, as I did (before I read the small print) that this would mean they were tubeless ready. Well, talking to the folk at Fulcrum it seems that this is a coincidence not a planned design facet. Technically, they're not tubeless compatible – to the point where Fulcrum wouldn't facilitate sending some of its tubeless valves and valve extenders so I could rid the wheels of the black butyl menace. Nevertheless, in the name of science and bloody-mindedness, I converted them anyway. No issues setting them up sans tubes – in fact I even managed it without a track pump.

The rims' bead shape grips the tyres well (with or without tubes) at low pressures, allowing you to experiment with enhanced grip levels and added comfort without worrying about unseating the tyres. I bottomed the rims a few times while riding off road, but so far, to no significant harm.

I ran a set of Schwalbe's awesome new G-One 'go-anywhere' road and trail tyres in 35mm – like the wheels, brand new and bang on trend, and right in the go-zone for the versatile Racing Quattros. They give tons of grip, with low rolling resistance and, so far, no punctures. Their ability to be fast pretty much everywhere matches the versatile Racing Quattro's wide ranging appeal to a tee. Their 35mm width lets you use your hydraulic brakes on all surfaces with freedom and security, knowing the stable carcass even at 25psi won't squirm or fold. The 38mm version of the G-One would be a hoot on these wheels, and still well within the 50mm ETRTO limit.

The ride

I ran the wheels with 12mm thru-axles front and rear on a new Turner Cyclosys cyclo-cross frame with a TRP disc brake-ready carbon fork. The bike isn't a classical 'cross frame, more of a 'nu-school' crosser, with a nod to the new gravel and adventure markets. A slacker than average head angle, loads of tyre clearance and semi-compact, slightly sloping top tube make it ready for whatever you place in front of it, on tarmac or dirt. Coincidentally, the same MO as the Racing Quattro wheels.

This is where the wheels threw up a curve-ball. They ride like function-specific race-day wheels, all revved up and raring to rip up the road, and so, naturally, you expect them to be fragile and delicate, with a need to be guarded from harm and children's sticky fingers. In reality, they're street tough and ready for couple of pints and a scrap. They complement the Turner perfectly.

You could road race on these wheels no sweat. In fact that's what they're primarily for. Similarly, they'd be good on a disc brake-equipped tri or time trial bike, their aero rims cleaving the air with authority. But they're also in their element on a cross bike or a gravel bike up to their bits in grime. In fact, if you've got a new road bike with disc brakes, and you want a set of ultra-reliable go-fast carbon wheels for it, you've arrived at your destination. If you need that race day feel and speed, but with the build quality and general 'gung-ho' attitude to ride 365 day a year, then the Racing Quattro DB Carbon wheels are a mighty, mighty fine choice.

The first thing you notice when you turn the cranks on the Racing Quattros is their willingness to get off the line. They feel lighter than the scales say they are, and that's pretty light. Of course anyone perusing the spec sheets will see that there are numerous sets of cheaper alloy-rim disc brake-compatible road wheels, with similar stats, that don't cost a grand. That's true. Why bother with carbon and the added expense? The answer is that annoying non-tangible, nebulous and highly subjective area of feel...

Having tested many pairs of carbon and alloy wheels, the truth is that carbon wheels feel soft, or smooth, yet often ride more precisely than alloy wheels thanks to having inherently stiffer rims. I'm generalising a bit to make a point. Of course, there are crap carbon wheels, as there are crap versions of every great thing. Good carbon wheels deliver a ride feel that you have to experience to understand. That's the biggest problem with them: you have to feel their great ride in order to get your head around the added cost.

Once up to speed they hold it well, sending back low amplitude feedback from the road – enough to paint a detailed picture of the road surface, so you know what's going on with grip and how much speed the road (or trail) might have left in it.

Bumps, from the unseen road buzz right up to hitting stones and roots on tracks, seem to be absorbed with less jarring – the carbon rims definitely play a critical role in this.

Naturally, any wheel with such low mass will climb well, and these certainly don't let you down as you go up. The freehub and tight spokes deliver fast, reliable power, and I've never seen or heard of a Fulcrum freehub giving up. They have the solid feel you want from a wheel in a high performance situation. When that pesky rider glides past you on a steep pitch, you get to the 'u' in 'just go' and the Racing Quattros are out of their traps like a greyhound to let you bridge the gap.

> Check out our guide to the hottest disc brake-equipped road bikes for 2016 here

I've been pretty hard on these wheels, riding them off-road in typical cyclo-cross conditions and some that border on mountain biking. I wanted to see if they were stiff enough, strong enough and durable enough to cope. They are. I'm quite confident you can ride or race these wheels anywhere. Even, though Fulcrum will hate me for saying it, in a cross-country mountain bike race on 1.9in rubber (the max width limit of the rim). So, if you're a 'ride everything' type and own N+1 disc brake-equipped road and cross bikes, and possibly a 29er mountain bike, this could be the best value pair of clincher wheels you ever bought.

Stuff I don't like? The little clip out widgets that stop the valves from rattling didn't fit our valves for some reason and then got lost before we could tape them to the road.cc fridge door for safe keeping. The wheels don't come with valve extenders either, which is a bit of an oversight for any rim with any kind of depth. And when did Fulcrum stop shipping their expensive wheels with wheel bags?

Verdict

Light, fast, stiff and strong, and very, very versatile

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon DB wheelset

Size tested: 24,2 mm, ETRTO 17C (tire fit 25 mm to 50 mm)

Tell us what the wheel is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The wheels are designed as aftermarket upgrades for anyone wishing to lose weight and increase the performance of their bike.

Fulcrum says: "Whatever the situation, the promise is to become the ideal ride companion every day. 
Thanks to its magical balance, the new 40 mm profile of these road bike wheels will do credit to itself on any road you tackle together. 
Performance? It's aerodynamic, stable and fast. Climbs? It stays light and reactive when accelerating. 
Downhills? It's decisive and easy to handle. 
Racing? It's simple - just try it!"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the wheel?

It's a full carbon fibre rim, laced to some extremely durable, light weight sealed bearing disc brake specific hubs. The hubs have a wide range of axle fitting options.

Fulcrum distributor i-ride says: "The Racing Quattro Carbon comes in a disc brake format and thanks to its multiple adapters it is compatible with any style fork or axle. Available in either AFS or 6-bolt hub standard, the Racing Quattro Carbon Disc is a well-rounded versatile and race-ready wheelset, perfect for upgrading your ride no matter what standard you choose."

Rate the wheel for quality of construction:
 
9/10

I'd trust these wheels completely in any riding situation.

Rate the wheel for performance:
 
9/10

The wheels add instant speed and agility to your bike. They're stiff enough to trust in high load situations, especially those slow speed, high lateral load moments you sometimes have in cyclo-cross when lining up a downhill.

Rate the wheel for durability:
 
9/10

Durability is a long game. So far these are still looking and riding like they're brand new, despite having been treated mean and shown plenty of mud. Other Fulcrum wheels I've had have exceeded our expectations for durability in terms of bearings, freehubs, carbon damage and overall wear.

Rate the wheel for weight
 
8/10

They're racy light.

Rate the wheel for value:
 
8/10

A beautifully made carbon wheelset with all the fitting optons these have for £1200 is a decent deal, though I'd have liked valve extenders and wheels bags included.

Did the wheels stay true? Any issues with spoke tension?

Everything totally true even after rallying them hard, taking flights of steps and the odd jump...

How easy did you find it to fit tyres?

Just right. Not too easy, not a struggle.

How did the wheel extras (eg skewers and rim tape) perform?

The pop-on end caps allow fast adjustment for any wheels or frames you need to fit them to.

Tell us how the wheel performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It was perfect. Exceeding expectatons. Which were high.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the wheel

Their versatility is the biggest win. From road racing to TT, to gravel or cross or even XC (29er) mountain biking, you can use these to add speed to a fleet of different bikes.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the wheel

Nothing. The valve holders got lost and are a stupid design. Not a deal breaker though.

Did you enjoy using the wheel? Very much so.

Would you consider buying the wheel? Yes

Would you recommend the wheel to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

I reckon the wheels' ability to work across a wide range of bikes and bike styles more than mitigates their price. Versatility goes a long way in my book. That they're also very light, fast and comfortable to ride is just gravy.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 5ft 9in  Weight: ?

I usually ride: My seven titanium  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, club rides, sportives, mountain biking, a bit of everything

Add new comment

15 comments

Avatar
Solace20 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Hello all,

Any updates on using tubeless tires on these Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon wheels?  I'm looking to purchase these wheels based on the above review but would also like to convert to tubeless, using a 28c tire.  I read another "road.cc" publication with a comment stating that, while the Schwalbe G-One (35mm) tires were fitted to these rims, they lost air a couple of days later and the wheels were switched back to clinchers with tubes (link and quoted comment below)?

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/207578-183-tubeless-wheelsets-—-most-complete-listing-anywhere-your-choices-new

"Running tubeless on a non-tubeless rim is not officially recommended. However, my LBS reckons that you as long as either the rim or the tyre is tubeless, then it should work. They did manage to get my Schwalbe Pro-Ones (tubeless) inflated on some Fulcrum rims (non-tubeless) with some tape, but they lost pressure after a couple of days. I decided that I didn't want to be arguing with non-tubeless rims at the side of a road (usually in the rain) so I reverted back to ordinary clinchers with tubes."

 

I'd like to know if anyone has successfully used tubeless tires with these wheels?  If so, which tire brand and what size tire?

-Kevin

Avatar
robmif76 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Hi,

After many tries I stubled across these ones from Stan's.

https://www.notubes.com/oversize-44mm-tubeless-presta-valve-stem-rectang...

They work well but had to order them from the U.S. as I couldn't find them in Europe.

 

Rob

Avatar
Smukke Hansen | 6 years ago
0 likes

Hi  3

I have these wheel and im super happy with them. But now i want to try to make them tubeless to CX but witch tubeless valves are you using ? I have try to types and none of them work,
they must stay very close so the air/latex not flowing!

Hope you can help  3

Best regards,
Jesper
 

Avatar
robmif76 | 6 years ago
0 likes

I tried putting a pair of tubeless on these but cannot find a valve that fits well since the valve hole is pretty wide. Can anyone please recommend which valves they used?

thanks

Avatar
Yyeanahh | 7 years ago
1 like

I want to run tubeless with these wheels, but I was concerned exactly why they aren't "tubeless ready". So I emailed Fulcrum and they replied:

"the rim looks to be tubeless ready as you mentioned but is missing a notch that retains the tire in case of flat.

For this reason we do not declare them to be tubeless even if we know many riders run them that way."

Is this a big enough safety risk to not run tubeless? Has anyone been running tubeless and gotten a flat where the tyre has come off?

Avatar
700c | 8 years ago
1 like

..but as soon as you put discs on a deep wheel won't it negate the aero benefit? (question, not statement).

Also as Macrophotofly said, using 25's on these will not optimise aerodynamics anyway, since the rim should be *just* wider than the tyre in an airfoil shape for maximum benefit..

The recent trends for aero (in frames/ wheels / helmets etc) seems to be at odds with disc brakes & wide tyres etc.. - or do the manufacturer's just want us to buy multiple bikes?!  3

And don't get me started on the futility of the carbon clincher..!

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com replied to 700c | 8 years ago
1 like
700c wrote:

..but as soon as you put discs on a deep wheel won't it negate the aero benefit? (question, not statement).

Also as Macrophotofly said, using 25's on these will not optimise aerodynamics anyway, since the rim should be *just* wider than the tyre in an airfoil shape for maximum benefit..

The recent trends for aero (in frames/ wheels / helmets etc) seems to be at odds with disc brakes & wide tyres etc.. - or do the manufacturer's just want us to buy multiple bikes?!  3

And don't get me started on the futility of the carbon clincher..!

Why are carbon clinchers futile?

Avatar
700c replied to Jimthebikeguy.com | 8 years ago
0 likes
jterrier wrote:

Why are carbon clinchers futile?[/quote]

well pehaps 'futile' is a bit of an exaggeration but the weight advantage of using carbon is lost by using the heavier clincher rim (1600g here for a medium profile wheel here is a case in point) 

Also on rim brake versions, there are some safety concerns as they're prone to overhearing on descents (not applicable to this particular wheel) 

If you're prepared to invest £1200 in high-end wheels, why would you not get a properly light and aero tubular set with some v high quality tyres..? Granted that choice in the market for aero carbon disc wheels is not very big at the moment!

Avatar
b217 | 8 years ago
0 likes

I wanna try tubeless tyre on this wheel.

 

What kind of valve should I use?

 

Valve length, or... anything?

 

It's best  let me know the product you use, Justin!

Avatar
macrophotofly | 8 years ago
1 like
  1. Also agree that its odd these have radial on the rear braking side.
  2. 24.5mm external is not as wide as the minimum width tyre (25mm) that can be fitted - would seem to suggest they are not giving the full aerodynamic gains you would be expecting with a rim shaped like this
  3. Not quite convinced these are light enough for the price either
Avatar
flobble replied to macrophotofly | 8 years ago
0 likes
macrophotofly wrote:
  1. Also agree that its odd these have radial on the rear braking side.

Not really - the rear hub transfers the braking forces to the drive side which is 2-cross, just like the front hub. If one side radial/one side 2-cross works on the front (where the braking forces are higher), it will be just fine on the rear.

Avatar
cdamian replied to macrophotofly | 8 years ago
0 likes
macrophotofly wrote:
  1. Also agree that its odd these have radial on the rear braking side.
  2. 24.5mm external is not as wide as the minimum width tyre (25mm) that can be fitted - would seem to suggest they are not giving the full aerodynamic gains you would be expecting with a rim shaped like this
  3. Not quite convinced these are light enough for the price either

I agree with the the weird spokes, but my guess is that it doesn't make any noticeable difference. It won't bring the advantages Fulcrum states, but probably no problems either.

But they look pretty, which brings me to my reasons to order these:

  1. they are available, there is really not much choice for carbon disc brake wheelsets at the moment
  2. they are wider than my current wheels, if you want to go even wider it is mostly Zipp and Enve, a bit out of my price range. And as I ride 28s the tires are still wider than the rim.
  3. they are lighter than my current wheels
  4. they are deeper than my current wheels, and therefor prettier

I am sure there will be more and better options this year, but I had enough of my Mavic Aksium One Disc

 

 

Avatar
cdamian | 8 years ago
1 like

I am glad that they are not rubbish, as I ordered some last week and I am just waiting for my christmas present to arrive.

Avatar
mrmo | 8 years ago
0 likes

i guess they will release a rebadged version in a few months when campag release there disc brakes? 

Out of interest, cup and cone or cartridge bearings? 

Avatar
ridein replied to mrmo | 8 years ago
0 likes
mrmo wrote:

i guess they will release a rebadged version in a few months when campag release there disc brakes? 

Out of interest, cup and cone or cartridge bearings? 

The article states they are cartridge bearings. 
Since the rear disc wheel has tangential braking forces, it is strange they use a radial non-drive spoking pattern.

Latest Comments