Wil reviews the Reserve 28|XC wheelset

Reserve launched back in 2017 as the in-house wheel brand for Santa Cruz Bicycles. Thanks to the introduction of a category-leading lifetime warranty and a viral video of Danny MacAskill attempting to destroy a tyre-less rear wheel while riding down a set of stairs, it didn’t take long for Reserve to become one of the most well-known names in carbon wheels.

We’ve had a load of experience with Reserve over the past few years, both with standalone wheelsets and those that have come standard on complete bikes. With Reserve coming under the PON Holdings umbrella, you’ll find its wheels spec’d on a variety of models from the likes of Cervelo, Cannondale and of course Santa Cruz.

Over that time we’ve primarily tested the burlier options in the lineup, which have consistently impressed with their brute strength and quality build. It’s true that many of the same features can also be found in Reserve’s lighter weight XC wheels, including the distinctive reinforced ‘bumps’ around each spoke hole. They also get the same lifetime warranty and crash replacement coverage, and there is no rider weight limit. Despite this, they seem to have flown a little under the radar compared to their more enduro-focussed siblings.

When it came time to seek out some lightweight hoops for my new Specialized Chisel, I found the Reserve 28|XC wheelset ticking a lot of boxes. The latest rim design places a greater focus on compliance, and it’s offered in several build options with DT Swiss 180, 240 and 350 hubs. The latter option was particularly appealing to me given it comes with J-bend spokes and a more accessible price tag, despite not weighing that much more than the top-end builds.

To see whether the cost-to-performance ratio lived up to expectations, I got my hands on a wheelset a couple of months ago and have been ripping through the dust and rocks ever since.

Reserve 28|XC 350 Wheelset price & specs

• Use | XC Racing & Trail Riding
• Wheel Size | 29in Only
• Rim Type | Asymmetric Carbon w/Reinforced Spoke Holes
• Rim Width | 28mm Internal, 34.5mm External
• Rim Depth | 20mm
• Hubs | DT Swiss 350
• Freehub | Star Ratchet w/36pt Engagement
• Brake Mount | Centerlock
• Spokes | 24 x Sapim J-Bend
• Nipples | Sapim Alloy Locking
• Warranty | Lifetime Warranty
• Claimed Weight | 1,491g
• Actual Weight | 1,460g
• Price | $2,299 AUD

Reserve 28|XC 350 Wheelset weight

Our Reserve 28|XC wheelset weighed in at 1,460g including tubeless tape. That’s a bit lighter than claimed, which is always nice.

According to Reserve, the weight will drop to 1,387g if you select the more expensive DT Swiss 180 hub option. Given most of that weight difference is located at the hub, I think it’s unlikely that anyone would be able to tell the two apart on the trail.

What’s more important is the fact that all Reserve 28|XC wheels feature identical carbon fibre rims. These are claimed to weigh just 385g each and utilise an asymmetric profile with a 3mm spoke offset. The rims are the same front and rear, just flipped around to help deliver more even spoke lengths and tensions.

To see how the overall weight fits inline with the competition, here’s a swathe of wheelsets I’ve been able to weigh myself over the past few years;

• Bontrager Kovee RSL – 1,217g
• Roval Control SL – 1,278g
• Zipp 1Zero HiTop SW – 1,358g
• Roval Control Carbon – 1,440g
• Reserve 28|XC 350 – 1,460g
• DT Swiss XRC 1200 – 1,516g
• Reynolds Black Label 309/289 XC – 1,520g
• Giant XCR 1 Carbon – 1,531g
• Crank Brothers Synthesis XCT 11 – 1,575g
• DT Swiss XRC 1501 – 1,583g
• Oquo MP30 Team – 1,616g

Installation & setup

Before going any further, I should point out that this isn’t the first time I’ve ridden the Reserve 28|XC wheelset. I spent quite a lot of time on the Cervelo ZFS-5 a bit over a year ago, which came with the same wheels. In fact, it was that experience on the ZFS-5 that spurred me on to seek out the 28|XC wheelset for a standalone review.

With hookless beads and a 28mm internal width, the rims are said to be suitable for tubeless tyres between 2.2-2.5in wide. The Cervelo had a set of 2.4in Maxxis Rekons fitted as standard, though I also tried out some 2.4in Rekon Race tyres when I fitted the wheels to a Canyon Lux World Cup. For the wheelset on my Chisel I’ve been running a pair of 2.35in Specialized Renegade Control T7 tyres.

In all cases I’ve had zero issues with tyre installation and tubeless setup. Reserve says the latest generation rims have been designed to ease inflation and improve bead retention at lower pressures, and I can certainly attest to that being the case.

Also helping are the excellent Fillmore valves from Reserve. These are fitted as standard and are a notable step up over the standard tubeless valves that most wheels come with. The use of a poppet valve and a thin stainless steel rod allows for significantly greater airflow, which means you can often seat the tyre beads using a hand pump. Given these wheels are likely to end up on bikes that will be racing and riding long distances out in the boonies, that kind of reliability is invaluable.

As always, I fitted a CushCore XC insert in the rear wheel to help ward off the nasty rock strikes that occur multiple times during each ride on my local trails. To support my 68kg riding weight, I’ve been running pressures around 17-18psi up front and 19-20psi out back.

On the trail

Whether fitted to the Cervelo ZFS-5, the Canyon Lux World Cup or my Specialized Chisel, the Reserve 28|XC wheelset has consistently impressed with its low weight, smooth ride feel and quick-rolling nature.

The 10-degree freehub engagement isn’t particularly zippy (especially compared to an Industry Nine Hydra hub with its 0.52-degree engagement), but I’ve never found it to feel laggy on the trail. I’d also argue that it produces less pedal kick-back, which can be quite noticeable on XC bikes with a high level of anti-squat.

Complementing the neutral suspension feel when pedalling across rocky terrain, the carbon rims offer outstanding compliance. In fact, I’d say this is one of the most comfortable carbon wheelsets I’ve ever tested.

This is partly due to the carbon layup, though the 20mm rim depth is also very much on the shallower side. The result is a rim that is more willing to absorb vibrations and track along the ground, providing more comfort and reducing fatigue on longer rides. There’s less pin-balling through rock gardens, and I never found myself wrestling with either end of the bike due to the wheels getting pushed offline.

To put its ride feel into perspective, I’ve found the Reserve 28|XC wheels to be considerably more compliant than the Bontrager Kovee RSL and Roval Control Carbon wheelsets. It’s also smoother overall than the Zipp 1Zero HiTop, which offers slightly more responsive handling through high-load turns.

With that in mind, those chasing the stiffest and most laser-accurate wheelset may be better off with one of those aforementioned options. I wouldn’t say the Reserve 28|XC wheelset is lazy by any means, and it is certainly sturdy enough during hard compressions and G-outs. I also like that there’s no spoke pinging, or really any noise to speak of. It all adds up to a quiet and quick wheelset that prioritises control and grip on proper off-piste terrain. Indeed the rougher and looser the trail, the better the 28|XC wheels get.

Durability & servicing

Despite some hard rim strikes throughout testing, I’m yet to encounter a single issue with either of the two Reserve 28|XC wheelsets. There’s been a distinct lack of punctures, partly due to my religious use of CushCore in the rear wheel, but also likely thanks to the relatively thick and blunt-shaped rim beads.

I’ve not even had to break out the spoke key, which says a lot to the quality of the initial wheel build. No doubt the asymmetric offset and more even spoke tensions play a role in the overall durability, while the additional layers of carbon around each nipple are claimed to add further tensile strength to the rim.

Although our wheels have been trouble-free, it’s nice to know they come with both a lifetime warranty and crash replacement backup. Reserve set the bar in this space when it launched back in 2017, and many other brands have had to step up since.

As for the DT Swiss 350 hubs, there’s little to be said that hasn’t been said before. They’re well-made, simple to service and feature commonly-available sealed cartridge bearings. Swapping the freehub between HG, SRAM XD and Shimano Micro Spline standards is straightforward, and it’s possible to upgrade the iconic Star Ratchet freehub mechanism to 56pt engagement should you wish for faster pickup at the pedals. I personally get along fine with the standard 36pt engagement, and I appreciate the chunky, low-volume drawl when you’re freewheeling down the trail.

Flow’s Verdict

The Reserve 28|XC is an absolutely superb set of XC wheels. They’re smooth and quiet on the trail, and they’ve also proven to be exceptionally tough thanks to the sensible and high quality build.

They’re not the lightest hoops out there, but they’re considerably cheaper than many other brand’s top-end options while still coming in under the 1,500g mark. The nearest competitor would be the Roval Control Carbons, which come in at a similar weight for a couple hundred bucks less. I personally prefer the more compliant ride quality of the Reserve wheels, and I also like the use of standard J-bend spokes for ease of maintenance and replacement.

The brilliant Fillmore tubeless valves are also a great touch. Combined with the lifetime warranty and crash replacement coverage, I’d have a hard time recommending anything else at this price point.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Wil Barrett

Hometown

Bendigo, Victoria

Height

175cm

Weight65kg