Shimano's RX31 wheelset is perfect for those bikes that see a hard life whether that be slogging along on the commute in all weathers, a bit of light touring or even some gravel or cyclocross abuse. It's great to see this latest version come with hubs for 12mm thru axles too.
With a road bike thru axle standard seemingly starting to settle down on 12mm front and rear Shimano have obviously felt it's the right time to release their wheel range to accept the large diameter axle.
Thru axles replace the quick release that's been used on road bikes for decades with a hollow tube, 12mm in diameter in this case, which passes through a hole in the fork leg (in place of the dropouts) then through the hub before screwing directly into the other fork leg.
The larger axle and secure fixing stiffens the whole fork and wheel assembly against steering flex, and makes it impossible for the wheel to be ejected by braking forces, which can happen with standard vertical dropouts. Wheel alignment is also much more precise avoiding rotor rub every time.
The build here is pretty much the same as the quick release model we originally reviewed back in September 2014. There's a 24mm disc-specific rim attached to a Center Lock disc hub with 24 straight-bladed spokes in a two-cross pattern. The bearings are well-sealed angular contact loose balls like all Shimano wheels, although you don't get the tool-free adjustment of the pricier options.
Those original wheels have been in constant use since that date under plenty of riders doing different things. Dave's original 9/10 for durability certainly hasn't needed to be put under any scrutiny and things aren't any different with this thru axle version. They've seen a fair old bit of abuse with gravel tracks and muddy singletrack giving the bearing seals plenty of work to do keeping out water, dust and grit. The bearings are still running smooth and quiet.
The same goes for the rest of the wheels' build quality. Tension has remained high and even across those bladed spokes plus trueness seems the same although that isn't a major issue when running discs.
The rims are 17mm wide internally (24mm external) which means that Shimano recommend a tyre width of 25 to 28mm for a smooth transition between wheel and tyre. Tyres were easy to fit; I tried a few pairs, from Schwalbe Ones to Continentals and 35mm Schwalbe cyclocross tyres.
From a durability point of view it's good to see a steel freehub body. Aluminium ones may be lighter but tend to get gnarled up by the sprockets.
The only real downside to these wheels is the weight: 1960g with the rim tape in place. That's quite a heft to get spinning from a standing start over and over again and certainly rules these wheels out for racing of any kind.
In terms of value the RX31s offer a decent investment considering they are pretty much bombproof and Shimano wheels are often discounted in the shops. Anything you can save on the £299 price tag will be a bonus.
We've seen lighter disc brake wheels here at road.cc like the Kinesis Racelight Discs but they are an extra £100 which further confirms the value for money of the RX31s.
Verdict
Solid, dependable wheels for on and off road duties, now available with thru axle
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Shimano RX31 wheelset
Size tested: 24 x 700C
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?
"Since Bikes have changed over the years products got better and lighter, for this also goes for the wheels. Braking on the rim surface of light weight wheels becomes more critical in wet conditions. Disc brakes offer the rider constantly same power and controlability and prevent the rim to wear out.
Together with the hydraulic disc brakes Shimano introduced a compatible wheel set at Ultegra level, the WH-RX31. This is an 11-speed center lock compatible wheel set for road and cyclocross bikes. The wider rim (17C) is best matching newer wider tires."
I think the RX31s are a solid wheels ideal for the majority of riding on and off road. Being available in thru axle setup now completes the range.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the wheel?
24 mm high profile aluminium rim for improved aero dynamics
Easy to use Centre-Lock rotor mount for use with disc brakes
24 stainless steel butted and bladed straight pull spokes with a 2-cross lacing pattern improve lateral and torsional (power transmission) rigidity
Elbow-less spokes with alloy nipples make for a strong yet compliant wheel
The hub uses angular contact bearings designed to cradle the balls giving both radial and lateral support for superior strength and durability in real world riding conditions. They also offer precision bearing adjustment and easy maintenance
Labyrinth and contact sealing - low-friction seals effectively shut out water, mud and dirt without affecting rotational smoothness
700C Clincher rim only
Recommended tyre width 25-38C
Front hub - 100 x 12mm
Rear hub - 142 x 12mm
Did the wheels stay true? Any issues with spoke tension?
Yes, absolutely no issues whatsoever with a lot of the testing being on tough gravel roads.
How easy did you find it to fit tyres?
Relatively easy, I could get various tyres on (28mm road & 35mm CX) without the need for tyre levers.
How did the wheel extras (eg skewers and rim tape) perform?
No problems
Tell us how the wheel performed overall when used for its designed purpose
As a hardwearing 'do it all' wheelset the RX31s are hard to knock.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the wheel
How strong they are
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the wheel
They are heavy.
Did you enjoy using the wheel? Yes
Would you consider buying the wheel? Yes
Would you recommend the wheel to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
The competition has grown since we first tested the quick release version of this wheelset but the RX31s still hold their own in terms of performance and durability. They are quite pricey for their weight at full rrp but as with most things Shimano you'll rarely ever pay that.
About the tester
Age: 38
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
With 20 years of road cycling and over 150,000 miles in his legs it's safe to say Stu is happiest when on the bike whatever the weather. Since writing his first review for road.cc back in 2009 he has also had a career in engineering including 3D-CAD design and product development, so has a real passion for all of the latest technology coming through in the industry but is also a sucker for a classic steel frame, skinny tyres, rim brakes and a damn good paintjob.
His fascination with gravel bikes is getting out of control too!
4 comments
Bike + rider weight of maybe 80 + 9kg, add on a KG for water bottles and clothes, are you really going to notice that +/- 400g difference compared to a superlight disc wheelset? That's 0.5% difference in total system weight.
Or are you just talking out of you 'arris?
I have a set the rear wheel is very heavy, with tire 28 mm, tube and rotor it's still heavier than a Pancenti SL25 with 32 spokes, tire sealant, tire 35mm, rotor and cassette 11 speed and it's still not even close.
I would agree with you on any other part of the bike (and I do laugh at some of the ridiculous weight saving that occurs to get a few grams off when two full bottles of water are then attached to that said bike), but the rotational forces do mean that weight lost at the rim makes a signifigant difference. So I would put my money on a pair of wheels that saves 400g (and sub1500g is still obtainable in a disc wheelset for less than 500 quid from Hunt). Obviously you don't know where the weight has been lost (rim vs hub) and with a steel cassette holder these wheels are only adding some at the hub, but lighter spokes and rim do make a considerable difference
It'll only make a (negligable) difference when accelerating hard from a standing start. At least, that's what the physics tell us.
Plus, all these reviews that say 'the wheels were hard to spin up' should also then say 'but the extra rotational weight meant they coasted down better than superlight wheels', because that's the other side of the rotational weight argument. Do they ever say that? Do they hell. You cannot perceive differences in acceleration or deceleration.
Apologies for the myriad spelling mistakes.