New Berd HAWK30X Enduro/DH Wheels - First Impressions

[@hardmtnbiker]

I’ve been riding Berd Spoke wheels for over a year. Let me tell you, I was amazed. Personally I had them build up a wheel with my new aluminum RaceFace ARC 35 and 40(yes really wide) and my Hadley hubs. The feeling of compliance and stability of these spokes with the flexibility of an aluminum RaceFace rim was unique and significantly different. I always thought my tire pressure was low and that’s how I can best explain it. I loved this wheel set so much that I had Berd build up 2 other custom wheel sets, and yes with aluminum rims. Berd sells complete wheel sets with DT Swiss XM481 rims. Those aluminum rims are almost as light as carbon and some of the best aluminum rims you can buy for a reason. These rims are strong!

[@JaredHoff]

@@hardmtnbiker nice 👍 thanks for the long term review and adding that info. It’s always great to hear from a fellow rider like that.

[@eXTreemator]

it's not about strength of aluminum . it has other issues.

[@hardmtnbiker]

@@eXTreemator aluminum or carbon rims have issues

[@eXTreemator]

@@hardmtnbiker i am not impressed by aluminum at all. titanium rims would make sense but i don't see them.

[@hardmtnbiker]

@@eXTreemator lol, Ti rims would be really expensive.

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

I have run the NOBL wheels with BERD spokes and ride CO, NM, AZ, UT stuff. Rocky, very, very, very... I have noticed that it provides a damped feel on the trail. I had We Are One's the same wheel as the Berd but spoked. It was fast rolling but was noticeable in the stiffness and would ping off stuff at times. I am getting a new set of We Are One Convergence wheels and they are supposed to be more compliant, not as stiff and dampen the trail. I am going to test them agains the NOBL with Berd spokes. With all the chunk I have ridden out here in the southwest, the spokes have been flawless, never an issue for enduro riding or jumping. This is coming from a guy who weighs 220 and my Yeti weight about 32 pounds. I was worried about them in chunk trails but Macky Franklin, pro enduro rider, convinced me on them as he rides them on all his races. He runs the Syd and Macky KZbin channel. I highly recommend! Great video explanation too.

[@JaredHoff]

@@travelthenarrowtrail8660 heck yeah! Some great experiences you have man. Thanks for sharing.

[@JaredHoff]

@@travelthenarrowtrail8660

[@jf8534]

Should have called them Hawk tuah... Just saying.

[@JaredHoff]

@@jf8534 what would TUAH stand for?

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

😪

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

I kept thinking this every time he said the word. I kept think he would say it for laughs... I knew I would find it in the comments, lol.

[@ericbeech2652]

I can't believe it, but I think that he may be unaware of the hawk tuah girl.

[@bjorne46]

Came here for this comment. (Tensile Unique Agressive Hoops)

[@B1KER]

Good stuff. I'm curious how much you feel in the next video. Will be tuning in!

[@JaredHoff]

@@B1KER thanks man! I’ve heard so much about how these wheels ride so it’ll be interesting to see.

[@syntrax-og]

what about maintenance? On regular rims you gotta tighten the spokes abit every now and then. What about these? Do the laces need washing? waxing? Will they last 10 or 15+ years? Would an average mechanic be able to work on them?

[@JaredHoff]

@@syntrax-og all great questions. I just got the wheels sent to me. I’ll do a little research and include the answers in my next video.

[@travelthenarrowtrail8660]

You can wash them when you wash you bike. I would recommend the black spokes. My buddy has the white and they will turn offwhite after a while. They do have color ink kits, BERD approved and on their site, that you can color the white spokes to any color you want. I chose black. You want to re-ink the spokes depending on how much riding/washing you do and how dry of an area you live in. It's easy to re-ink the spokes and the ink actually preserves the spokes. Do not wax them.

[@eXTreemator]

you don't have to tighten anything on steel spokes . it's because it's basic installation and they've unscrewed

[@justinofboulder]

Mine have held true for a year now, and easy to wash with soap and water. I went with white.

[@garyfuller6553]

The hook flange bothers me because you never lose just one, you’re going to lose 2 spokes. I don’t know if you’ll be able to ride out of back country missing 2 spokes.

[@bellarogers7202]

I’d love to have some. However, last time I checked they were $2200 for a wheel set.

[@JaredHoff]

@@bellarogers7202 they definitely are expensive. One thing to keep in mind is that they have a lifetime warranty and crash replacement so you could swap them from bike to bike as long as all bikes are Boost spacing etc.

[@992F]

I upgraded a set on my bike from the stock ones to a little lighter nicer wheels. I'm gonna guess the spin up on wheels that light would be super fast.

[@JaredHoff]

@@992F I can’t wait to test them.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Very interesting product but at like 400$ USD per wheels (in Canada it's more like 650$) it's just ridiculous.

[@JaredHoff]

@@LaurentiusTriarius I think you’ll like the Hunt Wheels videos I have coming soon.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

About being an average rider for reviews, not everyone at pinkbike or whatever media outlet is that good at riding bikes. There's like Blake from GMBN ok, I wouldn't fk around and find out in a game of bike with him but I'd take on Henry from pinkbike any day 😂

[@JaredHoff]

@@LaurentiusTriarius 😂 Henry talks a big game though

[@sikolikhole]

It's twine

[@JaredHoff]

@@sikolikhole I’ll soon find out when I take them for a ride…

[@jonathanj.jimenez9031]

Sponsored...? Biased video...

[@JaredHoff]

@@jonathanj.jimenez9031 not sponsored. I think I explained that pretty well 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jonathanj.jimenez9031]

@@JaredHoff You fooled me... And you started by comparing the wheel to a steel counterpart, not even a fair comparison. 😂 It's your channel, do as you please but at least be sincere, or appear to be.

[@godlike0630]

Just skip lunch, or take a giant dump before riding. You shave more weight.

[@JaredHoff]

@@godlike0630 You have to understand rotational and unsprung weight. Also, wheels change a lot more than just weight. Maybe you have to ride high-end versus stock wheels back-to-back to fully understand. BUT do they actually make the bike $2,000 better? That’s the question I’ll cover in detail on the next video. Spoiler alert 🚨 it depends on what you want from your bike…