The proliferation of all-road, gravel or adventure bikes, call them what you will, has created a need for suitable wheels. Mavic was early to the game with 2015’s 700c Ksyrium Allroad wheelset, a beefed-up road wheel designed for larger tyre volumes and rough terrain. Many others have followed suit, but there’s still a limited choice.
Mavic has expanded its Allroad wheel lineup with the Allroad Elite Road+ Disc 650B, which isn’t the most succinct title. If you’re expecting a downsized 700c Allroad then you may be pleasantly surprised to know that this model’s rim is tailored exactly to its intended purpose.
Made from Maxtal alloy, the smoothly contoured rims are shaped by Mavic’s 4D Inter Spoke Milling (ISM) process, leaving more material around the spokes, because that’s where they’re subjected to most tension.
Their width is 28.5mm externally and a purposeful 25mm internally, and they’re just 21mm tall. The aluminium hubs have auto adjust sealed cartridge bearings and are laced to the rims by 24 straight pull, bladed steel spokes.
They come with 12mm thru-axle end caps and tubeless rim tape fitted, but caps for quick release are supplied, as are tubeless valves. The front hub can be converted to a 15mm axle too.
I weighed my wheelset, including rim tape and end caps, at 1,721g, which compares favourably to the 700c Allroad Pro’s 1,671g – they don’t need tape, but did have tubeless valves fitted.
Mavic intends these wheels for tyres from 28-62mm, with a sweet spot of 45-50mm. Fitting my 50mm pair of Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres on the hookless rims was simple, which is fortunate, because they state a maximum pressure of 3 bar/43.5psi, which could be an issue if a tyre refuses to seat.
Such bulbous tyres create a wheel circumference roughly equal to that of a 700c wheel and road tyre, but with far greater grip and comfort, and far less drag – at least with these tyres – than you’d expect. With 30psi, there’s obvious bounce when out of the saddle, but sub-20psi pressures are easily achievable when tubeless.
The Allroads always felt eager to accelerate, the ID360 freehub ensuring quick pick up, and they sustain speed very well on and off road, and even felt positive on extended climbs. The additional width supports big tyres well, adding volume and stabilising the sidewalls, making them a great value wheelset for any adventure.
Mavic Allroad Elite Road+ Disc 650B specifications
- Material: Maxtal alloy
- Spokes: Steel, 24 front and rear
- Hubs: Auto adjust sealed cartridge bearings, aluminium
- Nipples: Steel, ABS
- Price: £629
