Specialized Diverge | HUNT Carbon Wheels + Panaracer Gravelking Slick | Tubeless Install and Review

[@timbridgham]

I love my Gravelking slicks (700 x 38c). Use them on my do-it-all gravel bike. They were great on roads across the state of Washington (~425 miles) and are equally great on fire roads, rail trails, and lighter single track. Now I just need to get some of those Hunt wheels! : )

[@TheBikeSauce]

DO it! Haha

[@LoranBriggs]

Another tubeless tip, mount with a tube, then brake the bead on one side to remove the tube. Then attempt to reinstall tubeless leaving the other side completely seated.

[@bikebudha01]

Hot Tip: After you get the tire on and aired up - put it on the bike and ride it around the driveway for a minute or two. This will really help set the bead, and fully distribute the sealant.

[@pk9099]

Your video inspired me to buy a new set of wheels for my Diverge Expert Carbon. Bought a Farsports gravel wheelset with Panaracer Gravel King tires. Dropped 1.2 kg of weight from my bike! The lighter wheelset made a world of difference. Better ride quality, quicker acceleration and easier climbing. Awesome upgrade. Thanks!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Congrats on the upgrade and sweet bike. Thx for watching!

[@arraizdc]

Hi PK. Can you provide any info on import duties you had to post with the Farsport wheel set. I’m think of getting a pair but trying to determine the cost above and beyond the actual price. Thanks.

[@pk9099]

@@arraizdc Hey Damian. I did not have to pay any import duties, but YMMV. I'm very happy with the wheels BTW.

[@MrSmoothasf]

Another top tip. When you put the valve in, only screw it up half way and push it back into the rim. Now it doesn't matter if you start at the valve as you've made room for the tyre to go straight into the bead. Then tighten once on.

[@pault477]

Just installed some Gravelking SK+ . Used a bontrager flash charger but first I coated the beads on both sides with dish soap bubbles. Worked like a charm.

[@awesomexistence]

Initating the tire mount opposite the valve allows the tire bead to fall into the rim valley which gives more clearance to slip the tire bead over the rim at the valve location. Mounting the way you have done will hang the tire bead on the rim shelf producing a tighter harder experience of finishing the mount. 40 years of experience have shown me this and I’ve assisted many on the road flats tube changes assists with “tight” tire mountings by showing this technique relieving the “tight” finish mount of the tire. Just mounted a CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 5000TL 25c on a ROVAL SLX-24. Internal width is 20 and used 21mm STANS tape (the rim valley contour adds to the width), SLIME 44mm tubeless valves, and came out perfect fit. Don’t bother to force the tape into the valley as air pressure will accomplish this. 1 1/3 oz Stans Sealant added before the bead was finished over the rim. The tire readily aired up to 90psi w/o pulling the valve core and using the same Specialized HP pump as in this video it sealed (rolled it by hand horizontally on both sides to distribute sealant) with no signs of leakage and has held pressure well.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thx for the input. You can get the bead into the rim well on the valve side as long as you’re aware of what you’re doing. Old habits die hard I guess. 40 yrs of experience beats my 20 though!

[@aaronbehindbars]

Very nice looking wheels. I am a bigger dude at 250 lbs, but Hunt gives a weight limit of 264, probably pushing that with all my gear. I might give a set of these wheels a whirl as a reward for loosing some weight (hasn't happened yet, lol). That is to say, I feel like I could justify a nice set of carbon wheels if I could shave 50 lbs or so off myself. I have a the Diverge Comp Carbon, so mine came with the tubeless ready Pathfinder Pros. I set them up tubeless as soon as I got the bike home, so I don't have any idea what the weight difference was ditching the tubes for some tire goop. I believe the wheelset is identical on our bikes, but I may have a few less grams in my cassette and rotors. I bet those wheels do ride sweet compared to stock. Good review of your bike in the other video and I appreciate seeing thoughtful upgrades likes this.

[@TheBikeSauce]

I'm pretty sure the weight limit is a conservative number. The fact that it's so specific (264lb) is suspect to me - works out to be exactly 12% less than 300. My guess is they put on a typical engineering safety factor to be safe. Either way, I bet you'd be fine on these. I saw your video on the Comp Carbon. Great overview. Awesome color choice! I wish I could have gone with the Comp, but I knew I was going to want to upgrade wheels, so I went for the Sport and used the money saved on wheels and tires. They really did change the feel of the bike though, for the better!

[@superdavaa]

I am also a big dude ugh and understand the weight issue I am looking at buying a Diverge and was wondering what kind of wheels to up grade and hubs.. what kind of up grade would be good for us bigger guys zipps, hunt?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I’m clearly biased, but Hunt has some heavier duty wheels with a larger weight limit and they looks pretty solid. If they’re anything like the ones I got, you should be fine.

[@malakiblunt]

Top tip for hard to seal tires put a ratchet strap around the tire and tighten it just enough it holds the beads down forcing them to seal as soon as you get a few psi in the tire take the strap off, works like a charm - if you dont have a strap you could use a length of rope or even duct tape , it doesn't take much pressure just enough to squeeze the tire the whole way round

[@TheBikeSauce]

Never heard that one! Will give it a try

[@Trucho001]

Hey, Big Sauce, I was undecided between the Diverge Comp and the Diverge Sport but after watching your videos I went ahead and picked up my Diverge Sport today. I will go ahead and upgrade to the Hunt wheels, but I will first ride around for a couple hundred miles so that when I finally get the Hunts, I will notice the difference. Loving your videos, man!! Keep it up.

[@TheBikeSauce]

HA, 'Big Sauce.' I like it.. Congrats on the new bike! I'm surprised you were able to choose between the 2 models and get your bike so quickly! Yes, I highly recommend riding around stock for a while so you really appreciate each upgrade. Happy riding!

[@Trucho001]

Yeah, these beauties are hard to come by these days. I was lucky to have two shops in my area (South Florida), one had the Comp and the other had the Sport. Your idea of going with the Sport and the upgraded wheels is better than going for the Comp by itself. 1. Div Sport + wheel upgrade ~ $4,000. 2. Div Comp by itself = $3,800. Choice number 1 is the right choice.

[@nomap2161]

While I haven't tried Hunt's carbon wheelset, I do have their Mason/Hunt aluminum wheelsets in 700c and 650B for my Diverge Sport. I paid roughly $400 for each wheelset and they don't weight that much more than the carbon set. Obviously it'll be a slightly different ride feel, but the lightweight aluminum wheelset still made a huge difference in weight and ride feel with my Diverge.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! I’m seriously considering the 650b Hunts to experiment with that wheels size. Would you say you notice a big reduction in rolling efficiency on the 650b?

[@nomap2161]

The Bike Sauce - Not a whole lot. What I do notice is the comfort of the fatter 650B tires. I have Panaracer GK slick 38 tires on my 700c wheels and Specialized Pathfinder Pro 47 on the 650B wheels. The Pathfinder Pros roll pretty fast. Prior to those, I had WTB Horizon 47 on and those felt a little slower than the WTB Exposure 30 tires I previously had on the 700c wheels, but that was expected. I ride alone on road and gravel canal paths so it’s never bothered me.

[@kjwong4730]

I have the diverge aluminum frame, I might just buy the same wheels and tires. This setup looks nice

[@TheBikeSauce]

Solid choice if you do!

[@albertyi2593]

So, I've got some follow-up. I went the same route for my Comp Carbon of getting carbon 700c wheels (Roval C38 wheelset) which was 1560g advertised, 1589g actual. I attribute the extra weight to the rimtape and tubeless valves which were pre-installed. I also paired it up with a set of GK slicks in 38mm. I saw a weight savings of 774g. Some possible differences of weight savings from your and my observations might be: - The Sport Carbon comes with Pathfinder Sport tires, whereas the Comp Carbon comes with Pathfinder Pro tires. - Not sure if you did, but I ran my stock wheels/tires tubeless before switching wheels (so maybe there was already a weight saving in not using the chunky tubes ... I measured ~231g savings comparing 4oz sealant vs 2 butyl tubes) In the end, I still ended up with a bike running super comfy 700c x 38mm tires that was ~19.61lbs w/o pedals which is pretty dang close to my old 2012 Roubaix Apex Compact at ~19.51lbs w/o pedals running boneshaking 700c x 23mm tires... which will get even comfier when my Thesis GT27 650b wheels come in. I have a set of GK slicks in 48mm waiting for them. My ride observations are similar to yours. With the stock wheels, the bike was quick but felt overly stable wanting to stay going one direction and steering felt muted. With the new wheels, I got back a LOT of the liveliness I missed from my Roubaix. Turning is much more responsive. I'd liken the stock set-up to a german compact SUV. It gives you performance, but handling is still not there. The new wheels don't quite turn the bike into a ragtop roadster feeling, but goes a long way towards it.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Baller! Yea the sport tires with tubes will definitely yield a higher starting weight than you. Still a decent savings though!

[@albertyi2593]

Indeed! Also forgot to mention, the DT Swiss 350 hubs w/ 18-pt ratchets are FREAKING QUIET. They're quieter than the tires on rougher pavement. Now I can enjoy the sounds of nature! I picked the Thesis wheels b/c they used the same hubs (and so didn't need to worry about re-aligning my rotors each wheelswap) ... but now I'm looking forward to them even more due to the quietness.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! All set, 2 bikes in 1.

[@bretlai8746]

@@TheBikeSauce what helmet are you wearing in this video

[@TheBikeSauce]

Smith Network, gravy color

[@iLmaRe541]

just installed my Hunt 35 carbon gravel with Panaracer Gravelking SK+ on my Orbea Terra 2024. i Just say "WOW"

[@jonpoon3896]

Very nice. I’ve been curious about these but many were giving the hubs a thumbs down, not from review but from spec sheet. This gave me a much better info

[@TheBikeSauce]

Right, the hubs are rebranded Novatech; they are a point of criticism for many. So far I've had no issues at all, although I haven't been spoiled by high end hubs. As a whole package, Hunt I think really does offer a pretty solid overall wheelset at the midrange carbon level. Not as cheap as no name carbon, but they don't double the cost of the bike either.

[@jonpoon3896]

@@TheBikeSauce I have the 650b alloy wheels from Hunt. But have found some other deals for carbon with potentially better hubs, albeit Chinese carbon (but highly touted)

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice. Yea definitely some better spec’d options out there, but potentially lacking in any product support. I had a set of Yoeleo carbon wheels on my last Roubaix and they were a bit of a gamble, but they turned out to be excellent wheels with DT Swiss hubs. Liked them a lot.

[@frazergoodwin4945]

Good video and I wholeheartedly agree about Hunt wheels as an upgrade offering huge bang for your buck. I too have a Diverge Sport - but the 2020 model and I upgraded the stock wheels by adding width - putting on 42mm Pathfinder pro tires tubeless. Then I bought a set of Hunt Aero light wheels and run them with 32mm Conti GP5000 clinchers with latex tubes. This means I have 2 bikes now - one is a mean gravel and bikepacking bike (I too don't mind admitting I'm a bit of a wus, so they are plenty quick enough for my off road "skills" even with their wieght) and the other is a lighter lower rolling resistance road bike with aero wheels. Quick enough for me to keep up on the club group ride but still wide enough to be forgiving on Belgian roads. Happy days!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Great feedback! I’m hoping to eventually use 2 wheel sets too. Perhaps experiment with 650b. Cheers!

[@TrentSiggard]

I flipped my stem too. Much more comfortable. Going tubeless soon. This was encouraging

[@TheBikeSauce]

Flipped stem to point down? Aggressive! Yea man, tubeless makes a big difference

[@TrentSiggard]

@@TheBikeSauce My bike came with the stem -6... I changed it to +6!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Got it. Makes sense now.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Cool channel, btw! Drone tech is so crazy these days.

[@wplno1]

@@TrentSiggard same here, I found it instantly more comfortable +6.

[@wrekitraf5396]

I just got these exact tires for my Pivot Vault and saw your review. Can’t wait to ride them!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! They’re great almost everywhere except real loose sandy stuff and of course wet and muddy

[@industryrule-4080]

I bought the 650b Hunt x Mason alloy wheels and mounted them with Gravelking SK tires, tubeless (2oz of sealant per tire). Along with Shimano XTR disc brakes and XT 11-speed cassette, my wheel set F/R came out to 3771g. So your carbon hoops are a pretty good weight savings.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Solid setup!

[@davidbee9563]

I recently put a set of Suzue 650B wheels and Gravelking 38s on my road bike. The steering is a bit quicker with smaller diameter compared to the 700 wheels. But the ride is greatly improved and opens possibilities of roads that I would not ride the others on. There is a bit of tire noise above 40kph but not unreasonable. I wanted to fit 42s but not enough frame clearance. Not sure about the weight difference. I will check because the other wheels are set up the same on another bike. The rims and tires are tubeless ready so I might consider trying that. As are the wheels on my gravel bike. Some thing to consider.

[@harrykch]

I'm a new rider, and I've been watching a lot of YT videos on hybrids / gravel bikes and came across all your videos (which have been very informative). And I've been going back and forth between the Diverge and Trek's Checkpoint SL5/6. Called and visited dozens of bike shops in my area, and today I finally found the Diverge Sport Carbon in the same color as yours haha! During this process, I noticed the familiar logo from your jersey because I also called that shop! Great to have a local guy putting out great videos. Keep it up! (btw, if you offer mechanic services, I would definitely bring my bike to you to work on!)

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! Congrats on finding a diverge locally. Alameda Bike is a shop I worked at years ago, but I still have a strong bond to the shop. I’m in Socal these days, so working on your bike might be tough!

[@flatorange]

I was looking for wheels and bought some Hunt 35 carbons after watching your other video, really impressed with them. Although mine have bladed spokes which seem to eat my sponge when washing them.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Haha not to mention slice your fingers when you accidentally get too close

[@1777DK]

I have SKs on an aluminium frame (carbon fork), aluminium HUNT wheels, 2x setup and my bike comes in at 9.3 kg, with bottle cage, out front mount and heavy pedals. Meaning the only difference in weight, is the difference between your tires and mine. I was actually looking at the new Diverge, because I have the FutureShock on my road bike, and I miss it for gravel, but holy smokes those things are heavy ...

[@jjpope1144]

Phenomenal music choices!

[@TheBikeSauce]

🤘

[@artad6420]

i've been looking at these same wheelsets for my topstone carbon. i have the stock wheels on. also been eyeing the zipps 303s. i have wtb riddlers and looking at how the gravelkings hold up on different surfaces. appreciate the good review!

[@TheBikeSauce]

mmm... Ziiipp.. Ha. On dry stuff, Gravel kings have been up to the task of just about everything. Loose sandy stuff is a problem, but it's a problem for almost any tire. I can only imagine that I'll find the limits of the Gravel kings when it starts raining.

[@TarmacSkin]

Specialized is notuorious for putting crappy wheels on their bikes. Thats a nice setup! You did it clean and smooth. Nice Work!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Right on, thx for watching

[@rob_cd]

Super helpful. Definitely sold on the combo.

[@seshreddy8616]

Thank you very much. I'm new to cycling and bought base carbon 2021 model and like to try these tyres, but don't know how much difference it'll make. Please let me know if this is the best one to consider. What tyres should I purchase to suit the below wheel set. If I'lll carry these to bike service center, hopefully they will be able to add them. I love the bee sound. Thanks alot. HUNT 42 LIMITLESS GRAVEL DISC WHEELSET 42 DEEP | 36 WIDE EXT | 25 WIDE INT | 1548G

[@TheBikeSauce]

that's a mighty wheel upgrade! As far as tires go, it's 100% preference and experience. I'd say for starters, try a couple of the panaracer gravelking options because they're relatively cheap and easy to come by. slicks, or semi-slicks, or SK versions offer different levels of tread.

[@K_Visionary]

Loving your build. Thanks for the idea, making it easier for me to go with this version. Do you have any other upgrades in mind down the line?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thx for the feedback. I'm looking at experimenting with different 700c tires, some 650b wheels, different handle bars, and maybe a power meter to do some science-y comparison videos (and to see precisely how weak I am)

[@davehoover8853]

Nice! Hunt is certainly making a name for themselves and price is reasonable compared to some others. I think you said the internal width was 23mm. I have looked at some DT Swiss that are 25mm. Think that makes much of a difference and how so if it does? I have an OPEN WIDE, so can run 46mm tires on a 700c wheel.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thanks for watching. Yes, while some criticize Hunt for marking up their branding, I did lots of research and still found them to be a good value without going the full custom route. Regarding inner width, it’s not just ‘wider is better,’ as some make it out to be. As you may know, the rim width should match the tire width to promote the proper tire cross section. The problem comes up when trying to mount a super wide tire on a narrow rim, which leads to the ‘light bulb’ tire cross section preventing the sidewalls from properly supporting the tire. Between 23mm and 25mm, it seems you’d be fine running a 46mm tire. But, if you are only ever planning to run wide tires, then perhaps wider is indeed better in your case.

[@keelansunglao-valdez475]

Sick Alameda Bike Shop jersey.

[@pault477]

You’re so modest.

[@victorflorest]

I love that intro.. seems the boJack horseman intro

[@tomverderber1565]

Awesome review. Quwstion... can you run 650b tires on the Diverge with a 2X chainring? Thank you.

[@TheBikeSauce]

They advertise 650b x 47mm w/ GRX 2X. I think it's possible because of the thin, but solid chunk of drive side chain stay, although I haven't actually experimented with 650b (yet).

[@tomverderber1565]

@@TheBikeSauce Just wondering. They'll fit in the frame but that front derailleur???????

[@TheBikeSauce]

Mmm... they’re suppose to, even w 2x. If I get my hands on some 650b wheels and wide tires, I’ll report back.

[@aaronbehindbars]

Hey Tom, did you perhaps ask me the same question on my channel where I have a video posted of my Diverge? I saw the question posted in my e-mail and by the time I went to respond, it wasn't there anymore. Anyway, whether that was you or not, figured I would weigh in. Looking at the front derailleur cage when it is shifted on the small ring, it does not appear that it will cause any clearance issues with bigger tires, 700c or 650b. The 650b wheels should be a little easier to clear bigger tires because the crown of the tire is further away from the derailleur cage. I bought an inexpensive wheel build kit to try 650b on my Diverge and should have the 650 x 47 tires I ordered by this weekend. I am also hoping to get the wheels built up this weekend. I plan on doing a video with this setup, so stay tuned.

[@hollykrigbaum6381]

I put Hunt 650B adventure carbon wheels on my 2021 Carbon Sport diverge with 48mm tubeless panaracer gravel king SK tires. Love it.

[@superdavaa]

Great Video on Diverge Bike I am in the processes of ordering a 2021 sports Carbon and like your feed back on it. Now I just have figure out what kind rims and other parts to upgrade handlebars, with out breaking the bank. For whats worth I am a big guy of 275.lbs and wondering on max weight on rims..trying to loose weight!!! keep the reviews cumming..

[@TheBikeSauce]

Will do. Hunt has some heavier duty options as well you might check out.

[@mikelafavers715]

One more question. What about the future shock 1.5? What is your impression of it’s impact on performance? Have you used the future shock 2.0 for comparison?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Haven’t compared 1.5 to 2.0, but going from nothing (regular road bike) to 1.5 has actually been pretty nice. Sorry to plug again, but I have an explanation and some footage of the future shock 1.5 in my 500 mile diverge review. Haha.

[@miamicyclist01]

I pop my tires on with a 16 gram C02 cartridge without a problem. It will lock the bead in and fills it to about 30lbs then use a floor pump for the rest…

[@harryc7225]

Fantastic thank you, think i will get myself some gravel king slicks! great review

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thanks! They’re great for pretty much everything except wet and muddy

[@davidludman1]

Excellent choice of montage music 👌

[@TheBikeSauce]

Swingin

[@maksmax6401]

Hey, thanks for this video. I’m planning to upgrade wheels on my specialized diverge sport. I want to buy Hunt as well but not sure yet, if hunt is the best option. I heard that hunt wheels are super noisy compare to stoke wheels. Is it true ?

[@TheBikeSauce]

It’s true, but it depends on which wheels. You can also quiet them down a bit by lightly greasing the pawls

[@randygarrison2129]

I am trying to decide what size to order. you mentioned you had the 52. I am 5' 5". Do you think that would be the right size for me?

[@AppleTech2011]

So informative- you know your bikes. I am planning to buy the same model.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I have

[@jaherzog]

Nice video! I have a very similar experience with my 2021 Diverge. I decided for the least expensive carbon model (Base Carbon), knowing that the stock wheels were cheap and heavy. So I spent another 1k for a decent carbon wheelset. Now I'm down to 9kg (incl. everything) even with the rather heavy Pathfinder Sport tires (plus tubes) that I kept. The lighter wheels totally eliminate the tractor feeling the bike previously had and give it a more sporty and lively character.

[@TheBikeSauce]

That’s great! The higher models may be nice, but upgrading lower models is much more personal, and just as fun to ride.

[@krakadzil]

What was the stock weight? Isn't it 9kg as they say on their site?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Stock weight over 10kg without pedals.

[@jaherzog]

The Base Carbon model is 10kg, maybe the higher priced models come down to 9kg or below. But beware, the Expert Carbon is almost double the price and is still over 9kg. Though on any model you can save 0.5kg easily by going tubeless and replace the rather heavy Pathfinder tires.

[@kingaroykid]

Excellent video, thanks

[@sebastianhofmann355]

Hi from Germany, i can highly recommend a WTB RIddler 38mm ( available also as SG-version which offers additionally protection). I have It on my Carbon Sport 2020, very good solution. ( Wetter than stock tires and panaracer GK)

[@TheBikeSauce]

Riddlers were one of the tires I was pretty close to buying. Will probably try them at some point in the future. Thanks!

[@patrickrenschler]

After switching wheels do you think this bike would perform similarly to the roubaix sport carbon on the road? or still more sluggish? btw thanks for sharing all these videos! great stuff

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thx Patrick. For me, the lightened Diverge ‘performs’ just as well as my Roubaix SL4. Difference is in the handling, with Roubaix being a bit more lively, but less stable in the dirt

[@brabbit45]

very nice I recently swapped my wheels on my diverge to the hunt 35 gravel wheels but haven't decided on a set of tires. did you consider the graveking ss before going graveking?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I definitely considered both the SS and SK tires as well. I felt I didn't need the SK's as I do lots of road and the gravel that I do is relatively tame. The SS were an option for me all along, and I probably would have been happy with either the slick or the SS. I just decided to go with slicks and save 180g over the SS. So far I haven't regretted it, but we shall see.

[@brabbit45]

The Bike Sauce from the video it looks like you ride Fullerton loop how is it on the gravel bike?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Yup, I do bits and pieces of Floop mixed with some roads. I ride up to turnbull and do the dirt/ pavement up there too. Also been doing chino hills state park a lot. The diverge has been very capable on it all. I feel guilty for not riding my mtb, to be honest.

[@HelloBartEngel]

Any thoughts for me as I’m pondering if this could be my upgrade to all in one wheelset? - more road slant with interest in ride comfort, and non-pavement/light gravel-y. I too have Diverge Carbon w stock wheels, have been thinking your same combo and found your vid. BTW your extra average suits me fine! Thx for the video!

[@TheBikeSauce]

I think this would make a great an all-in-one wheelset. My intention is to use this setup for 90% of all my riding (road and gravel) and perhaps swap tires once a year - more aggressive tread for winter, GK slicks for everything else. I just did 25 miles this morning on an even mix of road and dirt (hardpack and loose) and they were fantastic. Even in the loose dirt, they are predictable enough to control the inevitable slide. Ha, yes I am an average cyclist by all accounts, but I definitely obsess about gear and cycling trends as if I were a pro. Hence #ExtraAverage. Cheers!

[@laxplaysu91]

Seems crazy that specialized doesn’t put tubless wheels with their pathfinder pro 2bliss tires on a $2900 bike. The pathfinder pro 2bliss tires are incredible. Also great pick on the hunt carbons. I got a set in 650b with some wtb senderos for single track rides.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Unfortunately, $2900 leans toward ‘entry level’ or ‘mid level’ which is just crazy! Nice, would like to experiment with 650b too

[@AREMPEE]

I have the same bike in size 54 but I went with the Roval C38 wheels with 42” Pathfinder Pro’s tires. Since, 99% of the time I ride on road, do you think that should I stay with 38” tires?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Great wheel / tire combo. I'd be super happy on it. In fact, I've since only been riding 43mm GravelKing GKs.

[@AREMPEE]

@@TheBikeSauce I was gonna get the wheels like yours but I figured that the Roval wheels will match with the Diverge since they’re the same company. Now, I wonder which one is lighter.

[@PaulBeiser]

Wow, glad I stumbled into your channel, am learning a ton before I buy my Diverge :-). Side question, what is that nice material you have on your floor. I'd like to get some of that for my work areas!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Haha thx! The flooring is cheapo exercise mat from Amazon ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mat ½”, EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles Protective Flooring for Gym Equipment and Cushion for Workouts www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4IHXRU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_A9xQFbRSPG97H

[@Balonishell]

Great video, cool music. Thank you.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thanks for watching!

[@andwatts3]

How’s the speed on the roads? Have you noticed it has picked up some pace? I have the Sport Carbon also and have just crossed the 200mile mark. Looking for some road/slick tires and lighter wheels. May follow you lead - but would love to know if this helped with speed?

[@TheBikeSauce]

My experience pretty much agrees with the science. Noticeably faster spin up. The bike feels more lively for certain. The weight savings is substantial, but you’re not going to go that much faster on flats, as aero benefits are more important. Basically I experience a slight increase in speed, but more importantly they are so much more comfortable, so I can ride for longer without fatiguing. If you have the same stock wheels, it’s definitely a low hanging fruit in terms of bang for buck upgrade.

[@andwatts3]

@@TheBikeSauce Great information - thanks so much! I'll check out the wheels/tires soon as I do have the same stock as you.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Will be cool to hear your experience with an upgrade

[@angelwings197]

Maybe one day I'll get to use it

[@p0sitiv467]

Did you weight the oem wheel set with tubes or without?

[@vbnxt]

What stock wheels did you have on your diverge?

[@dancelman]

Love the build! Quick random question on what bottle cages you're running on this setup. I'm looking to replace the stock aluminum ones my caad13

[@TheBikeSauce]

They are $10 carbon ones from China. Amazon I think (maybe eBay). It’s the one carbon part I don’t mind cheaping out on! Been secure enough so far on the rough stuff.

[@dancelman]

@@TheBikeSauce Appreciate that big sauce. Looking forward to more great content!

[@vgnfab]

Awesome video. I liked your analysis and presentation. Your composition and idea for the video is inline with what I'm looking for/ trying to do... Road biker now having a fun new mtb with bad tubeless tires needing replacement.. Looking at likely either these or byways. I want to do it all, but I prefer less rolling resistance for daily 20 mile trips to work and back. I also need to be able to do jumps and pogo on the back wheel.. I too used to be a bike mechanic at the start of the 2000's and have yet to change a tubeless tire :-) New bike is a 2012 Cannondale Scalpel Si. Full suspension with a lockout hybrid road bike = my idea of a fun commuter.

[@dakrisht]

Thoughts on the Panaracer Gravelking SK TLC? These slicks seem awesome especially for 75% road and dry gravel use. Although I wonder how much grip you loose on gravel with these slicks vs. the SK TLCs... Also, what’s your preference for going tubeless vs. clinchers? Aside from less flats and a few grams of weight shed, are you seeing a plusher ride?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Even tho the slicks are fine for most stuff, I’ve been preferring the SKs a lot lately just for the added grip in looser stuff. As for going tubeless, it’s more about being able to run lower pressure and the added comfort than the weight savings. Totally worth the effort in my opinion.

[@daviddang82]

why didn't you want to keep the pathfinder tires? Still rolls well with the smooth center but with a little bit of traction on the side for cornering and confidence. I'm researching tires myself now and so far i've narrowed it down to pathfinders in 38, IRC doublecross Boken 38s, or GravelKing SK in 38s. Tough choice!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Well the stock pathfinder sports that came on my bike are not tubeless compatible, and they are stiffer than other tires out there. I value comfort and compliance so I wanted to go with a tubeless tire for sure. The pathfinder pro tubeless tires seem like a good option, I just haven’t tried them yet.

[@daviddang82]

@@TheBikeSauce ah okay. Didnt know they weren't the tubeless ones

[@rjrichar100]

So after watching your videos I bought a Diverge. I put my existing 303 firecrest on the bike with the original tires in PRO version. My first ride was a little disappointing with about a 1.5mph decrees in average speed. I might not of had enough air , I was riding 60 psi (I'm 210). Do you think the GK slicks would help and what pressure are you riding them.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Congrats! I hope you’re enjoying it. If you’re experiencing a 1.5 mph reduction in speed and you’re certain you can attribute that to just the bike, then you must be coming from a pure road machine! 60 psi on 38mm pathfinders seems awfully high, as the trend (and science) points to lower pressures being faster. GK slicks may help as they are lighter, but it’s also likely that your riding position may have a larger affect, if you’re doing pure road rides. You could consider different bars to achieve a more aero riding position if you really want that efficiency back. Finally, I think it’s generally expected that you’ll trade some pure road performance for a whole new set of off-road capabilities when switching to a gravel or all road bike. Hope you’re enjoying it!

[@rjrichar100]

I played around with the fit and changed the tires to the GK slicks I'm back to my avg speed!!! The slicks really are great, after I got them on my zips. Real pain in the @#!, had to put a tube in and then remove carefully and add sealant but it worked and the tires make a difference. Really enjoy your videos, keep them up!!!!

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! For the price, the GK slicks are tough to beat. Glad to hear you found a setup that works.

[@awesomexistence]

@@rjrichar100, plug your parameters into this and see what pressure recommendations are; axs.sram.com/guides/tire/pressure

[@trent3443]

Thank you for another informative video. I learnt a lot. I have a Roubaix and I'm contemplating doing similar mods to the wheels and tyres. Although I'm predominantly road and paved bike paths, I would like the ability to do easy gravel riding on unpaved paths and rural roads with the a 33 mm Gravelking Slick. What's your long term opinion of riding with these slick tyres? Also, with the Hunt wheels, were you able to use your Diverage thru axles with them, or did Hunt supply you with new axles?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I generally keep a set of gravelking SKs on the bike unless I’m doing a dedicated road ride, for which I’ll put the slick 38s back on. Stock axles are fine, but I did get some Robert axle project axles for the diverge

[@trent3443]

@@TheBikeSauce Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. Very helpful indeed. Cheers.

[@mohannedak6074]

How much did the wheelset set you back? I'm picking up my Diverge in a week and am keen to try shed a bit of the weight off

[@TheBikeSauce]

At the time $999 US, but prices fluctuate and they’ve also just released the newest 42 limitless gravel wheels too

[@jralicea6299]

Thanks for another great review. My 2020 Diverge Expert X1 came with Roval 38C carbon wheel set which are very nice, I'm thinking of getting a second set of wheels and HUNT has captured my attention. First Zipp has nice 650b wheels, but for my purposes I need not invest that high. Do you have any info on the 650b version carbon wheels from HUNT? The stock 700c are smooth and work well for road / tarmac rides. For gravel they hold up well, but I'd like to have a set of 650b carbon wheels to swap from time to time. Price is nice, reviews I've read on the web positive as well as few video's. Let me know when convenient, the more details the better as I'm sure it would benefit others knowing. Thanks.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Wow, great bike! I don’t have experience with the Hunt 650b carbon gravel wheels, though the price is very attractive.

[@stevenmendivil3604]

Hunt now offers Hooked or Hookless set up which I’m guessing the the rim bead set up. Which do you recommend?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Go hookless if you plan to run tubeless

[@rexchan8]

Hi I found your video very useful and intend to get the same rims. I bought a 2021 Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon on a whim 2 months ago when picking up cycling and never looked back. That said, I'm a complete noob when it comes to upgrading parts on a bicycle. Question I have is that the bike with DT Swiss G540 was listed as having an internal width of 24mm. I went to Hunt's website and the ones you were using are listed as 23mm. Will that fit or make a difference? Appreciate your videos.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Dang! Exert Diverge on a whim - baller. As for the inner width, you won’t notice a 1mm difference and it won’t affect fit or compatibility at all. Congrats!

[@rexchan8]

@@TheBikeSauce thanks buddy! Loving the bike so far and have put 2000km on it over the past 2 months. Putting the order in right now. Expecting shipping 2nd week of November. 🤞. Am pairing them with the gravelking sk with funky purple and tan tyres.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! Funny, I just ordered some 43mm SKs too! $73 for the Pair! Hard to pass on them.

[@ljpaw]

been reading up and down, couldn't find the ans. can i ask if it is possible to use a tube with a tubeless tire on this set of wheels?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Yup!

[@mdm05ful]

What valve length did you use? I have 44mm, wheels to be shipped next week. Should I get 60mm? Thx

[@TheBikeSauce]

Sorry for the delay. Yea 44mm might be a bit short with a 35mm deep rim

[@mdm05ful]

@@TheBikeSauce no worry, I was not aware Hunt would provide valves with the wheels. Used the stock ones Btw, this is where I struggled in the tubeless setup. I also watched countless vids and finally followed your technique (preset beads à la syd & Mackey, pop the tyres and then fill the sealant thru the the valve). I had issues with 1 tyre because of the valve not fitting well the inner channel. I used a trick I saw in a hunt vid of setting the valve loose, putting sealant around the hole in the tape and then tightenning it. Worked out fine

[@mlachaise]

My Gravelking slicks (650B x 38c) didn't fare so well against goathead thorns. And this was on paved roads. Have you had any issues with them on rough terrain?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thankfully I haven’t had any issues on or off road.

[@CHproduction94]

My GK Slicks 650b lasted me exactly one ride. Puncture from a thorn in the front...I‘m switching to WTB Horizons with new SG2 puncture protection. Let’s hope for the best.

[@neafevoc]

When you weighted the stock wheels, was that with a tube? Or did you previously setup the stock wheels with tubeless?

[@TheBikeSauce]

That was with tubes on the stock setup

[@albertyi2593]

Hey Bike Sauce, great channel you've started! I'll be following along for sure. I'm now at the same crossroads with my 2021 Comp Carbon, wanting to upgrade the wheelset and tires. Question .... why did you decide to stay with the 700x38c format, instead of going to say a 650b with 48-50mm slick tires?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Good question. I’m actually considering getting a second set of 650b wheels to swap between. For now, I still value efficiency on the road, so I stick with 700c. If / when I start doing more dedicated gravel/ dirt rides, I’ll look into 650b.

[@albertyi2593]

@@TheBikeSauce care to share your short list of 650b wheels? I'm getting swayed by the reports of supple smooth riding with (the right tires) little hit to average riders' real world road performance.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Well, I’ve been really happy with my 700c Hunt wheels and the mason x 650b wheels are only $429. I think they use a similar hub so hopefully swapping wheels won’t require spacers/ readjusting calipers or derailleurs. The Hunt wheels just seem like really good value despite the criticisms of marked up branding

[@npdcpa]

I read somewhere that the Diverge had a proprietary (SCS) hub at some point. Does the 2021 Diverge line have the SCS hub and if so, how difficult did that make finding new hubs that would work?

[@TheBikeSauce]

The SCS hub was used for a while when the industry couldn’t decide between 135 and 142mm spacing. SCS is a 135mm spacing. However, 142mm has essentially ’won’ and the new diverges use 142mm. You won’t have any issues finding wheels and hubs.

[@npdcpa]

@@TheBikeSauce THANKS!!!!

[@npdcpa]

My 2021 has a 10 speed CS-HG50-10 cassette. Do you know which freehub is on the Axis Elite wheels: HG/Shimano/Sram or Shimano/Sram 11 speed road?

[@TheBikeSauce]

That’d be an HG cassette so the hub would be the same

[@BuffaloBrad]

Thanks for sharing this info - great video. My diverge is en route - super excited! Quick q: do you imagine that Hunt wheelset continuing without issue in a bit more of intensive degree of gravel, or might they be a overmatched in that scenario?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I recently put up a full review on the wheels. I’ve taken them down some pretty chunky stuff with no issues so far.

[@zxe035]

Hey, came across your channel looking into hunt wheels. I noticed your Alameda bicycle jersey. Are you from the island? Their right across the street from my work.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice! Yea, born and raised on the Island. I worked at Alameda Bicycle from '99 - '07. Down in Socal since 2010 though.

[@johncope4977]

Cool video

[@Morphz_Unlimited]

Well done! I have the same bike and definitely looking for a wheel/tire upgrade. If you don’t mind me asking, what was your total cost?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Hmm, let's see. So wheels were $999, but after tax and shipping (+ Customs Charge $130), total wheel charge came to $1030 + $130 = $1160. Got the Panaracer Gravelkings for $42 each on sale. After tax and shipping, the tires came out to $100, for a grand total of $1260 for the entire setup. Hope that helps.

[@nickngo4822]

What rotors do you have on the wheels? Didn’t they come with shimano’s?

[@TheBikeSauce]

They’re the stockers. I believe Shimano SLX or GRX entry level. 160mm

[@louisAudet]

You might consider a modern pump... Topeak Joe Blow for instance.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Definitely! I just got one actually. Will ‘debut’ in the next video on maintaining tubeless tires. Thanks for the input!

[@mikelafavers715]

What specific kind of hunt wheels are these? Are they made for gravel?

[@TheBikeSauce]

These are HUNT 35 carbon gravel disc x wide. ‘Gravel specific,’ yes. Just means the spoke count is a bit higher (28/28), they are wider (30mm ext, 23mm int), and use a different more compliant resin (according to the marketing). Not to self-plug, but I posted a detailed video about the wheels if you wish to see more details. Cheers!

[@JonRoth_MusicSourceProDJ]

No rim tape needed?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Oh sorry, yes these are pre taped from Hunt.

[@landiepete]

Turns out those original wheels aren't bad at all. I just weighed mine, front (wheel, original tyre tubeless, ultegra disc) 1560 grams, , rear (same, without cassette) 1760 grams. So save your pennies and just put on lighter tyres if you must.

[@marcvangastel2466]

Very interesting video, thank you! Do you also know the net weight of the standard wheelset?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Unfortunately I don’t have the weight of the stock wheelset stripped down

[@marcvangastel2466]

@@TheBikeSauce I completely disassembled and weighed the wheels: the whole set weighs exactly 2000 grams

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nice!

[@LAVolAndy]

Nice build and great video! What tire pressure do you run now vs with the stock setup?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Thanks! With the stock tubed setup I ran about 40-42psi. With the new tubeless setup I usually run between 35-38psi depending on the route. I’m curious to see how low they can go before they get washy or feel slow.

[@pault477]

Was it hard to attach the cassette and brake disc?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Nope. Standard install

[@pault477]

Would these wheels accommodate 700C tires?

[@TheBikeSauce]

They do

[@micky7447]

Real weight Hunt 35 wheels ?

[@derrleicaguy]

Just curious about the Hunt wheels. I keep hearing they are loud when free wheeling. What do you think?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I was worried about that too (I prefer a quiet free hub). These aren’t much louder than any other hub, but they ratchet much faster than others due to the rapidengage pawls so it seems louder maybe because of that. I don’t notice them while riding as being annoying at all.

[@derrleicaguy]

@@TheBikeSauce Thanks for the reply. Well honestly I had heard they were louder, but all of these reports were third party so hearing from someone who actually owns a pair is appreciated. I have a 2021 Diverge Sport Carbon on order so I also went ahead ordered the Hunt wheels anyway. And your review on the Hunt's really helped. I appreciate your review coming as an actual end user of a product. And thanks for the added tire review that got me looking at the Panaracer GravelKing's.

[@TheBikeSauce]

@@derrleicaguy Nice! Glad it was helpful. Longer-term wheel review is in the works as well. Congrats on the purchase!

[@frazergoodwin4945]

My Hunt aero light wheels sound like I'm being chased by a million angry bees when I free wheel. Superb noise!

[@derrleicaguy]

@@TheBikeSauce Got to ask you another question. While waiting for my Hunt wheels I got an email from Hunt asking if I wanted to add rotors to my wheels. My choices are Shimano: SM-RT-MT800 Centerlock Ice Tech rotors, SM-RT800 Centerlock Finned Ice Tech Freeza rotors, and SM-RT900 Centerlock Finned Ice Tech Freeza rotors. Just wondering because I don't even know if they are compatible with the Diverge 2021 Sport Carbon and if it's worth the extra money.

[@DuanDao]

Hey do you live in Chino one of the roads looks like it's over there by the private college

[@TheBikeSauce]

Fullerton mostly. I ride out to Chino Hills a lot though.

[@DuanDao]

@@TheBikeSauce would love a riding body as I’m like you family job just not a lot of time to pound out mike’s like I used to

[@TheBikeSauce]

For sure. When things get a little less ‘pandemic-y’ I’ll try a couple ‘bike sauce group rides’ and see how it goes.

[@yowally]

What indoor trainer do you use or recommend?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Ha left field. I use the CycleOps Hammer 1st gen (before Saris took over). Performs well and links up to Zwift and strava no issues. Occasional dropouts which are super frustrating, but I’m given to understand most trainers drop out and it could also be related to the wireless connection. If I eventually upgrade, it’ll probably be the Wahoo Kickr. Tacx Neo is flashy, but too expensive for me

[@AndreaIrishable]

nice video! do I get any discount if I buy the wheels through your channel?:) thanks

[@TheBikeSauce]

Would be nice

[@rodrigocastro9323]

Ok, I'm subbed.

[@TheSuperi9]

Whats the max tire clearance for this bike

[@TheBikeSauce]

700c x 48

[@p504504]

BASED

[@s.stallone5350]

Do you have a link where you bought the rims from?

[@TheBikeSauce]

I put a link in the description to the main website. I also put a link to the specific wheels, but it's a US based link (they make you select a country once you get into the website). Cheers!

[@js962]

Do you know how much dt swiss g540 Wheelset approximately cost?

[@TheBikeSauce]

It's a factory wheel, so they aren't really available for purchase. Rims alone can be purchased for about $50 a piece, but you'd need to build the wheel up. There are plenty of much better wheelsets at really attractive pricepoints that will far outperform the stock take-offs.

[@js962]

@@TheBikeSauce thanks but I am asking because I want to sold them 😅

[@TheBikeSauce]

Haha! Ahh. Well if I were to post mine, I’d probably list at $200 for the pair and hope for the best?

[@js962]

@@TheBikeSauce thank you. I will try. But I think they cost more.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Definitely. Start high and see what you can get.

[@TylerMaloney]

Where's the plug located on the Expert to charge?

[@TheBikeSauce]

Never had Di2 stuff before, but you charge from the junction box and plug into USB on computer or wall adapter. Mechanical shifting FTW!!

[@pk9099]

End of the right handlebar.

[@fwvanoorschot6507]

Yo mido 5:5 que medidas me tocaría

[@RMtex]

What size bike frame is this?

[@TheBikeSauce]

It’s a 52cm. I’m 5’8” for reference.

[@elachichai]

If bike companies can sell bike without pedals, why not the same for seat and tires?? Just offer customisation. Even if it means 5% more expensive, you can save 10% on costs.

[@syedzgaming]

wtf.. the diverge comp carbon weighs more stock than my aluminium Canyon Grail 6.. 9.5 kilos...

[@bikebudha01]

Hot Tip: When installing tubless using stan's and compressed air (any pump), always wear eye protection...

[@TheBikeSauce]

Speaking from experience? 😀

[@bikebudha01]

@@TheBikeSauce Yes. Every now and then a bit of stan's gets sprayed about...

[@leschortos9196]

At a cost of around 1000$/kg bit too pricey for me.

[@TheBikeSauce]

Not cheap!