Review: Syncros FL 26-inch wheelset
Originally posted on December 7, 2011 at 10:55 am
By Stephen Haynes
Having never had a new set of mountain bike wheels, I was excited by the prospect of testing the 26” FL wheelset from Syncros. My tester set came in their black anodized grunge color scheme with red and white accents. (They are also offered in matte white grunge.) They happen to compliment my black, red and white bike as well! The 28-hole Syncros DS25 rims are tubeless-ready (via Stan’s tubeless kit) and are 25mm wide (19mm internal). I ran the wheels with tubes and 2.35” tires that mounted smoothly. Stainless steel, DT Competition, J-bend spokes are laced three-cross for strength and are mated to DT Swiss alloy nipples.
Installation was easy, though I used my old quick-releases, as none were included. The front wheel has a 9mm QR or 15mm thru- axle option, while the rear is 135mm QR only. The Syncros hubs have 6-bolt rotor mounts and feature cartridge bearings adjustable with a 5mm wrench. The hubs stayed tight and smooth-rolling for the entirety of my test and the freehub has a non-intrusive buzz that lets you know it’s coming without being obnoxious, which I was thankful for after riding an attention-grabbing Hope hub.
The Syncros FL is intended for everything from XC on rigid singlespeeds to long distance trail riding or racing on bikes with 4”-5” of travel. These wheels ran true and smooth for the entirety of my test. They have great engagement when pedaling with six pawls and 12 points of engagement and are snappy through corners with no apparent flex.
Syncros offers a 29” version as well. Each wheel is hand built and the quality shows through in a solid, confidence-inspiring ride that has me sold.
Price: $550
Weight: 1,702 grams
Country of origin: Taiwan
Online: www.syncros.com