Syncros Launches Lightest Wheels Ever?

Syncros has just, cryptically, launched a new wheelset that, on (digital) paper at least, appears to be one of the lightest cross country race wheelsets out there. It has also expanded its radical Hixon carbon bar/stem combo into the trail and even enduro worlds.

First, though, the Silverton wheels. There’s very little information, though the blurb does claim that the weight of a pair of (we assume 29in) wheels is 1250g, which is pretty darn light.

It then continues to claim a 100% increase in torsional stiffness and a 30% increase in lateral stiffness.

Compared to what, it neglects to say…

The release does claim that the wheels are a one-piece carbon system, and looking at both the video and the photos, it appears that there’s a metal hubshell (with DT Swiss ceramic internals) that is then wrapped in carbon, including integrated carbon spokes that flow (or ooze, depending on your view) from the hubshell and are then moulded directly into the rim, with no heavy (or adjustable) spokes and nipples involved. The hookless carbon rims are 26mm internal width.

Can’t see the film? You’re not missing much to be honest, but click here if you don’t want to miss out.

Needless to say, if you ‘need’ these wheels, then it doesn’t matter what they cost. And if you don’t, then you won’t like the price anyway. We’ll let you know what they go for once we find out ourselves.

Next up is Syncros’ Hixon handlebar/stem combos. They’re being expanded into XC, Trail and Enduro versions.

The Fraser iC puts the Hixon iC Trail bar into a cross country application. Utilising the one piece super light carbon layup as used in the trail bar, Syncros has made a bar AND stem that comes in at 220g total weight. Ergonomics are designed to reflect a flat T-bar design and a -8° equivalent stem angle.

The Hixon iC SL has been further refined to achieve an even lighter benchmark of 260g for 2019. There’s now a wider option at 780mm for riders who prefer a wider position on the bike.

The Hixon Rise sees the bar ergonomics shift slightly. The backsweep is 7° with an upsweep of 6°. The rise shifts from 12mm for the regular Hixon iC SL to 15mm for the Rise and the width increases to 800mm. Weight is a mere 270g and the bar is available in either a 40 or 50mm virtual stem length.