Is the reasonably priced Sixth Element SE34.28RACE carbon wheelset a dream come true… or a nightmare in waiting?

Thankfully the Sixth Element SE34.28RACE are more the former than the latter.

Their name might not be snappy but it is informative, 34.28 referring to the respective external and internal rim measurements. The rims are sourced from the Far East and use a unidirectional carbon weave for a smart, understated look. A nice touch is that the decals are actually part of the rim rather than just stuck on so they keep those smart looks for longer. Standard decal colours are green, stealth black or white but you can also special order any colour you fancy for an extra £99.

Sixth Element: tough carbon enduro hoops

The wheels came tubeless ready with Stan’s rim tape and valves in place, requiring just tyres, a dash of sealant and a blast of air to seal first time. The hookless rim design steadfastly refused to burp air even when tyre pressures were run at silly low levels but also didn’t put up too much of a fight when it came to swap tyres around.

A 28mm internal diameter might seem a little middle of the road in the ever expanding rim width arms race but it provides a good profile for the kind of 2.4-2.5in tyres likely to be fitted. The spoke holes are drilled asymmetrically allowing the 32 Sapim D Light spokes to be equally tensioned on both sides of the wheel, they stayed tight and true throughout testing.

Hope Pro 4 hubs proved to be as typically solid as you’d expect but if Barnoldswick’s finest aren’t your thing Sixth Element can lace in offerings from DT Swiss or Chris King.

At 1971g those looking to lose weight by putting their bike on a high carbon diet might be put off but reliability has clearly been prioritised over gram counting, a two year no-quibble guarantee is testament to this.

A good portion of the weight can be accounted for by the Hope hubs and the wheels don’t feel lardy when rolling. Instead there’s the sense of zip and urgency that comes with a stiff and taut carbon wheel – thankfully without the overly harsh and crashy feel that can accompany some carbon rims.

>>> Are carbon wheels worth the extra money?

Despite my best attempts (and writing off a reinforced casing tyre in the process) the rims shrugged off whatever I could throw at them – a few minor scuffs being the only damage I could inflict.

Review by Sim Mainey

UPDATE: All Sixth Element wheels come with a unique unlimited lifetime ‘no quibble’ guarantee. All wheels are guaranteed against workmanship or product defects for life. This guarantee applies to any owner, so it applies to a new owner if you sell your wheels on. Every wheel has a serial number which is recorded on your sales documentation. All that is needed is for you to keep a note of these numbers (or a copy of the sales receipt), no need for any separate registration process.