Bontrager has rolled out a new version of its flagship cross-country race wheelset. The Kovee RSL, the renamed and redesigned version of the Kovee XXX, features a shallower rim profile and lighter weight than its predecessor. It's also already been proven on the race course, securing multiple victories under Evie Richards and Jolanda Neff. Read on for the details and our first impressions of the lightest mountain bike wheelset Bontrager has ever made.
Bontrager Kovee RSL Highlights
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As mentioned in the introduction, Bontrager stress-tested this wheelset on the race course, securing multiple victories under Evie Richards and Jolanda Neff. Both athletes rode prototypes of the Kovee RSL through the entire 2021 race season. Neff claimed gold in Tokyo aboard this wheelset, while Richards won the 2021 XCO World Championships.
Bontrager was pushing wider wheelsets for cross-country racing long before its competitors. As World Cup XC courses get more technical, Bontrager's engineers sought to make sure its OCLV carbon rims were able to cope with these larger impacts.
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The Kovee RSL shares the same 29mm internal width as its predecessor but features a shallower, 22mm rim profile designed to improve vertical compliance. The new wheelset also features thicker bead hooks and a wider external profile than the Kovee XXX to increase impact strength and reduce the likelihood of pinch flats.
Bontrager built its latest top-shelf XC wheelset on the DT Swiss 54-tooth EXP Ratchet system. First introduced in 2019 for road use, the EXP drive system offers the same degrees of engagement, with fewer moving parts and less weight than the traditional ring drive ratchet system most mountain bikers are familiar with.
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Bontrager's published weight for the Kovee RSL is 1,199g. The wheelset sits a little heavier on our scale at 1,245g. The 46-gram difference between Bontrager's claimed weight and the measured weight of our test wheelset is due to the addition of rim tape and valve stems. The Kovee XXX was already a light wheelset with a measured weight of 1,317g with tape and valves. The updated carbon layup, along with the shallower profile, results in a real-world weight savings of 72g.
Bontrager Kovee RSL Wheelset Ride Impressions
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My Ibis Ripley V4 test mule is more downcountry than cross-country, yet within the scope of use for these wheels. It's worth noting that this lightweight wheelset has no rider weight limit and is backed by Bontrager's Carbon Care Lifetime Warranty, which provides the original owner with a two-year, no-cost crash replacement window and a lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects.
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I paired the Kovee RSL wheelset with Bontrager's well-rounded XR3 Team Issue tires. On the trail, the Kovee RSL wheelset adds liveliness and agility to any bike it's mounted to. In my case, I lost about 488g of rotating weight from my previous wheel and tire combo.
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As expected, these wheels make an already efficient-climbing bike even better. The 54t EXP freehub is appropriately fast for scurrying up technical climbs but lags behind competitors such as Industry Nine.
The shallow rim profile is effective at muting trail chatter and high-frequency vibration, and the revised outer rim profile has thus far prevented pinch flats despite several harsh rim impacts.
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Rim stiffness is very good for a cross-country wheelset. If you're coming from a trail-oriented wheelset, you will notice more flex and rebound, especially when pushing the front wheel through tight turns. However, when comparing apples to apples, the Kovee RSL is impressively stiff and precise for its weight. The combination of the lightweight design, robust construction, and responsive hubs results in a ride that feels lively, agile, and connected. The wheels excel in a variety of trail conditions, providing a stable platform on descents and nimble handling through technical sections.
Verdict
The Bontrager Kovee RSL Wheelset is a top-tier option for riders who demand the best in terms of performance, durability, and overall ride quality. While the initial investment may be substantial, the benefits in terms of weight savings, responsiveness, and reliability make these wheels a worthy upgrade for serious cross-country racing.
Bontrager Kovee RSL Highlights
- Wheelset weight: 1,199g (claimed) / 1,245 (actual)
- Internal rim width: 29mm
- Shallower rim depth for increased compliance
- Built on DT Swiss 240 hub internals
- 54-tooth EXP Ratchet
- 24 Sapim CX-Ray spokes per wheel
- 29-inch model only
- Lifetime warranty
- Price: $2,499
- Available now through Trek/Bontrager retailers
Bontrager was pushing wider wheelsets for cross-country racing long before its competitors. As World Cup XC courses get more technical, Bontrager's engineers sought to make sure its OCLV carbon rims were able to cope with these larger impacts.
Bontrager built its latest top-shelf XC wheelset on the DT Swiss 54-tooth EXP Ratchet system. First introduced in 2019 for road use, the EXP drive system offers the same degrees of engagement, with fewer moving parts and less weight than the traditional ring drive ratchet system most mountain bikers are familiar with.
Bontrager Kovee RSL Wheelset Ride Impressions
The shallow rim profile is effective at muting trail chatter and high-frequency vibration, and the revised outer rim profile has thus far prevented pinch flats despite several harsh rim impacts.
Verdict
The Bontrager Kovee RSL Wheelset is a top-tier option for riders who demand the best in terms of performance, durability, and overall ride quality. While the initial investment may be substantial, the benefits in terms of weight savings, responsiveness, and reliability make these wheels a worthy upgrade for serious cross-country racing.
