Fulcrum’s new Red Passion aluminium MTB wheels are designed to be ultra light with a claimed weight of just 1,350g (in 650b format) or 1,398g (for the 29in size) per set. The Red Passions will cost £799.99 (US and AUS pricing TBC) a pair, and Fulcrum claims that it handles like a much heavier model – this beefiness meaning they're stiff and tough.
The weight-savings have come as a result of new rim and hub designs. The milled aluminium alloy rim has a reasonable 21mm inner width but an extremely low profile, which Fulcrum says reduces peripheral weight to increase reactivity. The carbon hub – with alloy flange – is light and compatible with all common standards via adaptors.
Double butted stainless steel spokes – 28 on both front and back – are laced across the wheels’ asymmetric design, which has been optimised to compensate for discs, cassette and drivetrain power and which Fulcrum claims “converts asymmetrically applied forces into a linear and symmetric output”.
The tubeless-ready wheels weigh in at 617g / 641g (650b / 29in) for the front and 733g / 757g (650b / 29in) for the rear.