Enve SES 6.7 Review

We are always interested in new wheel technologies because this  is the area where you gain most speed on a bike. Sure everything counts from the frame to tucking away cables but it's the wheels that really offer the most scope for performance. After reviewing the Enve 6.7 I feel it's appropriate to say this is the 2012 best in class wheel set. If you are racing or just want to light it up on your local group ride the 6.7 is your best shot at buying speed.

We are not the only ones who feel Enve's new 6.7 is best in class. Velonews recently published an article "Speed for Purchase" in which they tested 5 popular wheels and the Enve came out with the highest score by a big margin. Read it here


Enve "formally Edge" are based in Utah and the carbon rims are produced in the Utah facility. The 6.7 rim set was developed in conjunction with one of the biggest names in aero dynamic design, Simon Smart thus the rims get the name Smart ENVE System (SES).  Basically the Smart System rims are different to other carbon rims in that they are front and rear specific and are designed to be not only faster but also offer more control in windy conditions. The rear rim is deeper (70mm) and narrower(24mm), the front rim is shallower(60mm) and wider(26mm).  The 6.7's come at a reasonable weight (1458g tubular and 1566g clincher) for their depth and perform very well in crosswinds. Without doubt the best deep wheel in variable wind and terrain. The 6.7 even performed well as a climbing wheel with the rear wheel been stiff and the front very easy to maneuver when out of the saddle. 

Enve builds the wheels in house with the option of Chris King or DT Swiss hubs and use DT Swiss Aerolite spokes with Enve's own specially designed internal spoke nipple. I had the pleasure of riding the 6.7's with both the DT Swiss 240's the Chris King Stainless and the Chris King Ceramic and noticed no real difference between the DT and King stainless hubs but did feel just a tad faster on the King ceramics. The King Ceramics are louder and seemed to resonate through the rims quite a lot more than the smooth stainless bearings. 


At speed the Enve 6.7's are a game-changer, on our weekly fast ride I got the compare the Enve's to my Zipps and 32 hole 3 cross customs I normally ride and have to say " the Enve 6.7 wheels turn every day into a good legs day" I am a fan, don't want to gush too much but it's a fact:  these are the fastest. 

Braking is very good for carbon. It felt to me that the clincher pair was smoother under heavy braking than the tubular was. I had ridden earlier Enve carbon wheels and could notice the newer rim track is a lot neater than the older one and it seems Enve has really been able to evolve what they started some years back.


Looks? No contest here, the black/black rims just look great on any bike and the option to order custom color Chris King hubs is beautiful. BTW Chris King hubs are now available for Campagnolo as well as Shimano/SRAM. 


Durability and weight limit for the Enve 6.7: It helps that Enve offer a 5 year warranty on the rims and if you build with the DT or the King's you can count on many years of hassle free riding. Another plus for Enve is the way they produce the rims with the spoke holes molded and not drilled like the competition do. Molding the holes allows for continuous carbon fiber strands and exactly angled spoke holes that in turn put less stress on the spokes. No published weight limit from Enve but like anything there is a limit, at 180lbs(80kg) the 6.7's easily handled me and I expect they would do well for someone a good deal heavier.


Looking for super high end carbon. Look no further than Enve. If anything else comes along we will let you know. 

Enve on our web site here