Back in 2018, Cory gave the Editor’s Choice Award for the very best wheel to Hunt Wheels for making efficiency wheelsets with a dynamo hub. And when the MASON X HUNT 650b Adventure Dynamo Disc Wheelset was despatched to Bikerumor again in February 2021 and wanted a reviewer… I couldn’t increase my hand quick sufficient.
Just kidding, I didn’t actually have to lift my hand, I simply despatched an electronic mail. Regardless… I felt certain that I used to be the man to evaluate this explicit wheelset. So, I did.
The 1.9″ Panaracer Gravel Kings appear to be made for the 25mm inside width of those rims.
Let’s Start with the Bike…
I experience the wheels off my 2020 Masi Bicycles Speciale Randonneur Elite, utilizing it virtually each time I throw a leg over a motorcycle. It is my go-to bike for almost each sort of using, from lengthy highway rides, blended terrain, single observe, and lengthy hearth roads to the occasional run to the shop to seize groceries.
This bike got here with the Brev M wheelset (Masi’s home model) that had a brandless entrance dynamo hub and matching 50 LUX entrance dynamo gentle. After the preliminary 650 miles on the bike, I turned completely and utterly offered, a real believer if you’ll, within the awesomeness {that a} dynamo hub gives.
I’ve at all times pined for a entrance dynamo hub for my bikes and reviewing this wheelset actually opened my eyes to the marvel of dynamo power. I now have a dynamo hub with entrance and rear dynamo lights on each bike in my quiver. Yup.
The Masi in her present configuration… basket bomber.
Weight and Mounting
The wheels have been packaged very effectively and arrived with zero harm. They are a really good-looking set o’ wheels and I used to be excited to get them on the Masi!
I weighed the wheels earlier than I added the valves and the rear cassette and they got here in at a mixed weight of 2011 grams. On the Hunt Wheels web site, they’ve a claimed weight of 1947 grams for the pair, I’m assuming that the claimed weight doesn’t embody tubeless tape, and that’s the supply for the additional 64 grams. I additionally consider that the load of 2011 grams remains to be very respectable for an aluminum rimmed wheelset with a dynamo entrance hub.
941 grams… the load of the entrance wheel w/ dynamo hub, able to go tubeless (weight included rim tape however no valve or rotor put in).
1070 grams… the load of the rear wheel, additionally able to go tubeless (weight included rim tape however no valve, rotor, or rear cassette put in).
The rim tape was put in already. So, all I needed to do was set up the valves to the rim and mount the tires. I used the 650b x 1.9 Panaracer Gravel Kings in the usual “slick” model. With a little bit spritz of Windex across the bead and a brief shot of compressed air, the beads have been set with none struggles.
Let’s discuss concerning the Rims
I’m a giant fan of understated graphics on bike components…
Again with the lowkey graphics with an aesthetic font.
The rims on this wheelset are 6066-T6 aluminum. According to the HUNT web site, that’s a 34% improve in tensile power vs 6061-T6. They are heat-treated, tubeless-ready, and disc-specific. The rims additionally use an uneven spoke mattress for balanced spoke tensions. They are 19mm deep with a 25mm inside width. They have an H-Lock bead seat for simple and safe tubeless set up.
The uneven rim profile makes use of balanced spoke tensions.
The Rear Hub
MASON X HUNT wheelset’s H_ceramik coated freehub physique
The wheelset’s rear hub is the 28-hole HUNT 4 Season Disc hub, utilizing J-bend spokes. It has additional bearing shielding and makes use of a 10-degree FastEngage 4-pawl freehub, with an H_CERAMIK coating which Hunt says will improve the physique’s sturdiness. I’m operating a full Shimano 105 11 velocity drivetrain however SRAM XD and XDR Drivers are obtainable. The hub additionally makes use of the Center-lock disc mount system, and to not concern, there are 6 bolt rotor adaptors obtainable on their web site, here.
The Front Hub
The MASON X HUNT wheelset’s entrance dynamo hub, the SON28 with 12mm x 110 through axle capabilities.
Dynamo common spade connectors and warmth shrink are included.
The entrance hub that comes with the MASON X HUNT Adventure wheelset is the SON28 (28 gap) dynamo hub. It is taken into account by many to be one of many lightest and most effective dynamo hubs obtainable. According to SON, it delivers the total 6volts and 3 watts of energy output at simply 11-12 miles per hour. The hub additionally comes with a 5-year guarantee, together with bearing put on.
What is a dynamo hub, you ask?
Well in tremendous, duper simplistic phrases it’s a coil of copper wire that spins inside a housing lined with magnets to provide electrical energy… like an electrical motor… however in reverse. For instance, an electrical motor depends on incoming power to show the inner coil and magnets. The dynamo hub has you pedal to show the coil and magnets, rewarding you by producing outbound power for use to your lights and gadgets. Like magic, sorta! Well, it appears like magic.
You may even get a charger or a headlight with a USB port on the again of it that may use the dynamo’s power to cost your telephone, GPS bike laptop, or different small gadgets.
The good thing about all of that is easy, with a dynamo hub and lights, you’ll by no means want to fret about getting caught with out lights after the solar goes down, worrying about battery run time, or shedding your navigation on a protracted experience as a result of your laptop ran out of juice.
Not to be dramatic, however dynamo hubs just about equal freedom. I’m simply sayin’.
The Axles
The axles on the MASON X HUNT wheelset are adaptable and may be fitted to your wants by HUNT upon ordering the wheelset. The adapters can match most present axle sizes and are simple to vary. For the entrance axle: both thru-axle or QR, 12/9mm. For the rear axle: both thru-axle in 12×142, 12×135, or 10×135 or QR/9mm. Note: 15mm thru-axle adapters are not obtainable with the SON dynamo hub.
The Wheels in Motion
Photo: Dave Woolley. Me, dropping in on one other dust journey
So far these wheels have been a non-issue. As in, they disappear and do what’s requested of them with zero points. I’ve roughly 2000 miles on these wheels since we bought them for evaluate. I’m no featherweight both, as talked about in my evaluate of the Teravail Honcho tires, I’m a Clydesdale. I’m not “190 lbs”, or “pushing 200 lbs”, I’m 245lbs on a superb day. And the Masi, with fenders, racks, and my on a regular basis carry luggage unloaded, tops out at 30-ish lbs dry, with out water.
MASON X HUNT wheelset lookin’ good on the Masi Rando
I’ve ridden these wheels on a whole lot of trails round the place I reside that I’d usually experience on my mountain bike… rutted descents, single observe, quick technical climbs, steep dust roads, and the one factor ever being a problem whereas doing this kind of underbiking, have been the tires shedding traction as a result of they have been the flawed tire for the path. Other than the tires giving up the ghost on occasion, I’ve not had a problem with the wheels.
Also, please keep in mind that these are 28 spoke wheels. And keep in mind my weight? I often (99% of the time) experience a wheelset with a minimal of 32-holes.
MASON X HUNT wheelset on a canyon run
Sometimes for a couple of minutes, new wheels will barely creak and pop because the spokes are settling beneath the load and load of the primary experience. These didn’t. And after the entire abuse I’ve given them, they’ve by no means made a peep.
As talked about above, the 2000 miles (to date) I’ve placed on these wheels have been on my Masi. The Masi is a Randonnuering bike, so it has a “low trail” geometry. This permits the bike to be extra secure with a entrance load. So, I load the entrance of this bike rather a lot. It will get loaded virtually every day and for certain weekly with groceries, additional layers, a good quantity of meals for lengthy day rides, and all of my #coffeeoutside gear. Even with round 20 lbs of weight in my entrance bag, and one other 7 lbs within the again bag, the wheels present no indicators of beneath performing… they only hold rolling completely and proceed to remain true, regardless of my efforts.
MASON X HUNT wheelset out dirtin’
Conclusion
2000 miles. A 30 lb bicycle. A 245 lb bicycle owner. A bicycle that’s typically loaded with an additional 10 to twenty lbs. Not to say the entire completely different terrains I’ve ridden these wheels on… turning my “all-road” bike into a motorcycle that may actually experience all of the roads. All of this on a 28-hole wheelset. And but, I’ve not had not one single situation. Not one.
There isn’t a lot else to say, actually. I can totally endorse and actually get behind this wheelset… and don’t overlook, the wheelset truly comes with a dynamo hub!
What? Yeah, you’re proper, it is a no brainer.
These MASON X HUNT wheels absorb all of the roads.
The MASON X HUNT 650b Adventure Dynamo Wheelset comes with dynamo common spade connectors and warmth shrink, Tubeless tape & valves, spare spokes, and axle adaptors (please fill within the easy type after checkout to pick your required dimension).
You can get them here and they retail for $769.
