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TECH NEWS

Just In: Token T28 wheels

Brand new lightweight wheels featuring Anti-Vibration Technology

Having finally cleared Customs, these new T28 wheels from Token have just rolled into the road.cc office. They feature what the manufacturer calls its Anti-Vibration Technology.

Now before we start, we need to point out to you that Token’s UK distributor, i-ride, doesn’t have any of these wheels yet. We got this set directly from Token, so we’re not sure about UK availability at the moment. We’ll keep you updated on that.

We don’t have a UK price either. Sorry, but they’re too spanking new to have one sorted. We do know that they’re going to be about US$1,295. That converts to around £840, although there’s no guarantee that they’ll be that price once they make it to the UK. Hopefully, we’ll have a price for you by the time we’ve finished our review.

What we can tell you though, is this… The T in the name stands for tubular and the 28 is the rim depth in millimetres. The width is 21mm. A C28 (C for ‘clincher’) is also available, as is a C590 wheelset with a 55mm-deep front wheel and 90mm rear.  

While we’re handing out free facts, the road.cc Scales of Truth reveal the front wheel to be 517g while the rear is 669g, so you’re looking at a total of 1,186g (Token’s official weight is 1,132g) – very light. The quick-release skewers add another 78g (the pair). The official weight of the C28 clinchers is 1,210g.

One of the key features of the T28s is that they’re made with AVT Carbon. Whassat? Well, it’s difficult to say because Token are keeping it Top Secret. Classified. Hush-hush.

AVT stands for Anti-Vibration Technology ¬– Token will tell you that, no problem – and they say that it’s “a high-tech material normally found in aerospace and military applications.”

They also say, “Weight for weight, AVT is eight times stronger than steel, resistant to high temperatures, fatigue, and corrosion from chemicals or saltwater.”

When we spoke to the Token guys at Taipei Cycle earlier in the year, they told us that they were using thin layers of their mystery fibre, and that it has similar properties to Kevlar in reducing vibration. We did our best to prise more information out of them but they were having none of it. So now you know as much about AVT as we do. We can’t wait to find out whether the ride quality of the T28s really is as good as Token suggest.

We're wondering whether the material is anything like the Vectran that Time use in their frames, or the CounterVail Vibration Cancelling Composite Technology that Bianchi use in their new Infinito CV, although that is exclusive to Bianchi in the cycle industry at the moment.

Although only 28mm deep, the T28’s rims are designed to have an aerodynamic profile, while the hubs are Token’s own Arsenal designs. These are alloy with TBT Tiramic Bearings – titanium-coated ceramic balls. Token reckon they’re 60% lighter than steel and that they accelerate faster. They also say the balls last 5-10 times longer than steel and that you get a smoother ride. Well, we’ll see how they perform out on the road shortly.

The spokes are Sapim’s excellent quality CX-Ray Aeros – 20 at the front and 24 at the rear – and Token use their own Shark Tail quick release skewers with stainless steel axles. They’re easy to use and they look pretty neat to us.

The T28s ship with their own wheelbag – two-part so they don’t scratch one another in transit – and carbon-specific brake pads. And that, good readers of road.cc, is all we can tell you for now. We’re going to get some tubs glued up right away and have the wheels on the road in a few days, with a full review to follow over the coming weeks.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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10 comments

Avatar
Batfink | 10 years ago
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"Anti-Vibration Technology" aka "tires".

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Pitstone Peddler replied to Batfink | 10 years ago
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 16

Batfink wrote:

"Anti-Vibration Technology" aka "tires".

Avatar
jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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So... would these wheels be described as laterally stiff and vertically compliant?

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Ropedoctor | 10 years ago
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Wouldn't be able to afford them at the moment....

would make a nice schwag though, once your done with them of course  3 just a suggestion.

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0liver | 10 years ago
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And the US$1,295 will probably be without sales tax either as they have a tendency to force you to calculate the taxes yourself if you want the real price.

At least it isn't Canada where the tax rate can depend on how many of something you buy.

Avatar
700c replied to 0liver | 10 years ago
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0liver wrote:

And the US$1,295 will probably be without sales tax either as they have a tendency to force you to calculate the taxes yourself if you want the real price.

Then perhaps it's not looking quite as good value after all..Esp if you factor in the lower likelihood of discounts for the first year or two.

I'm biased, but I would sooner look at offers on shimano's 24 mm / Reynolds 32 mm at this depth.

Reynolds 32T for example is sub 1100g and more aero, 46T matches it for weight and definitely more aero. Need to buy them at a discount though.

Still, will be interested to see the review when available.

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picko | 10 years ago
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Faster accelerating balls - just what I've always wanted

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Bartwallbank | 10 years ago
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That £840 will be without any VAT so yep closer to £1K by the time we pay for them.

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themuffle | 10 years ago
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I'll bet they will be more than £840 in the UK, more like £1,295....nice though.

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700c | 10 years ago
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Very light for £840 - would seem to be the lightest sub £1k wheelset out there?

Interested to see the full test when it comes out. Light weight means nothing if it's not matched to stiffness..

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