With the Race Face Era, the Canadian component manufacturer aims to set new standards in the enduro and trail wheel sector. Carbon rims combined with the proven Vault hub and a lifetime warranty are designed to make this wheelset the ultimate companion for all trails. But how does the Race Face Era perform in practice? We put it through the wringer to find out.
Race Face have been an integral part of the mountain biking industry for countless years, and offer a vast portfolio of products that ranges from apparel and protective gear to components. The Canadian manufacturer has made a name for itself, particularly with stems, cranks, and wheelsets. With the new Era carbon wheels, Race Face aim to set a new benchmark, delivering a product that is both durable and offers outstanding trail performance.
The 29” variant we tested tips the scales at just 1,754 g, retailing at approximately €1,809. Of course, this means that they’re not exactly a budget option, but they are on par with other high-end carbon wheelsets from competing brands. But can this new wheelset live up to the high expectations?
The Race Face Era Wheels in Detail
According to the manufacturer, the rims of the Race Face Era wheels are made from a carbon layup that is designed to provide a high degree of stiffness while maintaining a certain level of compliance to efficiently absorb impacts. The rim flanges are notably wide to prevent pinch flats. Despite the standard 30 mm internal width, the rims look rather wide, which gives them a burly, robust appearance.
Like many modern wheelsets, the Race Face Era relies on an asymmetrical rim design to accommodate the different forces on the braking and non-braking sides. Additionally, the rim shape is specifically tailored for the front and rear wheels. To achieve the low total weight of 1,754 g per set, the Era wheels use only 28 spokes on both the front and rear. This makes them significantly lighter than comparable offerings from other manufacturers.
The Race Face Era wheels are equipped with in-house Vault hubs, which have already proven themselves on many of the brand’s previous wheelsets. The freehub system is particularly big, as the pawls are positioned on the outer edge of the hub rather than internally, as seen with most other manufacturers. It features a fine 3° engagement angle, ensuring minimal delay when you start pedaling. However, this low engagement angle can also contribute to increased pedal kickback.
The Race Face Era wheelset is available in 29”, as a mullet setup, or in 27.5”. Additionally, there are options for both Boost and Super Boost spacing, with a choice of SRAM XD and Shimano Microspline freehub bodies.
The Race Face Era Wheels on the Trail
To thoroughly test the performance of the Race Face Era, we rode it for an entire year across a wide variety of trails – from flowy singletracks and rough root sections to demanding bike park tracks. Throughout the testing period, we encountered all conditions, from bone-dry summer trails to muddy autumn mud-fests.
As soon as you roll into the first trail, the refined freehub sound immediately stands out. Thanks to the minimal engagement angle, it has a premium tone, which is noticeable but not overly loud. On flowing trails, the Race Face Era offers excellent precision and stiffness, propelling you out of berms with ease. The low weight likely contributes to this responsive feel.
Despite the high degree of built-in stiffness, the wheels don’t feel overly harsh. Instead, they provide a pleasant level of compliance, ensuring comfort and control on rough trails while at the same time reducing arm pump. The only minor drawback were the decals, which didn’t adhere particularly well. However, since our test model was a pre-production version, this issue is likely to be addressed in the final product.
Throughout the entire testing period, the Race Face Era wheels proved to be exceptionally reliable. Not a single spoke came loose, and the hub ran flawlessly the whole time. Even after heavy impacts and long bike park sessions, the wheelset remained unscathed. Should any issues arise, Race Face back the Era with a hassle-free lifetime warranty, which even covers crash damage.
Conclusions about the Race Face Era Wheels
The new Race Face Era wheelset has clearly proven itself in this long-term test. The combination of high precision and pleasant compliance results in a ride that is both direct and comfortable. What’s especially impressive is their durability – after a full year of testing, there were no loose spokes, the hub kept working reliably, and the robust rims withstood even the hardest hits. With their low system weight, the Race Face Era wheels are an outstanding all-rounder, ready for any kind of trail adventure.
Tops
- Exceptionally durable
- Great balance of precision and compliance
- Low weight
Flops
- Not inexpensive
For more Info head to raceface.com.
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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: diverse
