Sixth Element SE38 29in Carbon Wheel Review
October 3rd, 2016
By Adam Wight in Reviews
Product Full Name | Sixth Element
Retail Price | £899pr
Available From | Sixth Element
Sixth Element SE38 29in Carbon Wheels
Here at Factory Jackson, we love wheels! Not just because they’re the fundamental part of the bicycle but because we have a habit of destroying them – so a good set gets us excited!
I recently reviewed the slightly less orthodox set of Sixth Element plus sized wheels on my #frankenbike and loved the way they improved the ride quality of the bike. However, for my move to New Zealand I wanted an all-rounder that suited me more than a plus bike (check my new longterm bike right here) – and so I needed to test the right wheels to go with it.
The Sixth Element SE38 looks perfect…
The Detail
With a 38mm external width/32mm internal and a generous deep section finish, the Sixth Element SE38 rim is right up there with other progressive carbon brands.
The Sixth Element SE38 is hookless too, like many carbon rims these days. This may not sound special, but what it relates to in practice is quite simple – tubeless set up is a piece of cake; they’re near on impossible to burp and the rim sidewalls are stronger too as they are thicker. One slight negative is they can be a struggle to break the seal of the bead when swapping tyres.
Sixth Element SE38 wheels are built up with Sapim spokes on Hope hubs. All wheels are hand built with care, and carefully tensioned and trued.
The wide inner width and deep section rim gives a really generous profile to the tyre – I’m running a 2.5 Minion on the front and the stance it offers is truly confidence inspiring. It also means I can get away with anything down to 18psi up front without any sense of tyre roll or squirm, and about 22psi out back.
They’re built on to tried and tested Hope Pro4 hubs using double butted Sapim spokes and brass nipples – a no nonsense, built to last construction. They come in at a competitive 1850g which is reasonable for a burly set of wheels, though not the lightest option.
Personally, I’m not a fan of super lightweight wheels – unless you’re building an XC race bike. If I’m going to drop cash on a wheel set, I want them to last. My experience with super light wheels usually means the opposite.
Out on the Trail
The Sixth Element SE38 wheel set is bloomin’ stiff, and snappy too. The Hope hubs offer great pickup, and the stiff rims allowing some ludicrous line choices – proper point and shoot wheels.
During testing I recently came up a touch short on a pretty big jump on a local trail. And when I say come up short – I mean completely smashed the rear wheel into the backside of the massive log holding the landing up! In the air I braced, and even had time to feel a bit sad about the fact I’d be putting a plain old alloy wheel on later in the day, but somehow I rode it out!
The Sixth Element SE38 wheels are built with tough and durable carbon rims. Ours have been battered on rocks and generally treated badly – but are showing just a few minor scars. Good value – and tough as old boots.
Expecting to see shards of carbon flapping about and Stans fluid oozing out, I was genuinely surprised to find the wheels were absolutely fine. No loose spokes, and not even a tiny bit of hop or wobble in sight.
To date the Sixth Element SE38 has been unflappable. Light, strong and durable.
We Say
The Sixth Element SE38 29n wheel represents genuinely great value for money. The rims are well made, have a good shape and do what they are supposed to do – very well. They are awesomely durable and lightweight wheels, backed by a company that builds wheels as if they were their own.
At £899 delivered to your door, pre-taped and valved for a tubeless set-up – they fit nicely into our ‘real world’ #dreambuild too, as they could yours.
If you’re in the market for a set of hoofin’ tough carbon wheels without breaking the bank or your scales, you could do far worse than a set of Sixth Element’s fine offerings.
