Long-term test of RAR Magnum 60 wheels #1: first impressions

Aesthetically pleasing and superbly finished, RAR Magnum wheels are also offered at a very competitive price. But how do they perform on the road? That’s what we’re going to find out with a long-term test where we’ll subject them to the demanding requirements of winter training. Starting with first impressions after mounting them on an Orbea Orca OMR.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr

Founded in 2007, RAR (as in Roues ARtisanales, or “Artisanal Wheels”) is a French company located in Maubeuge, in northern France, whose mission is to offer quality and customized wheels, made from carefully selected components, or designed according to specific brand specifications, and which are entirely hand-built. According to RAR, “each wheel is manufactured with perfectly controlled spoke tensions, with variations of less than 5%“, which ensures responsiveness, endurance, and reliability. To complement manufacturing consistency, comprehensive tracking of each wheel built is implemented, with archiving of assembly specifications and serial numbers of parts, and calibration of tension measurement devices. Finally, it’s worth noting that RAR wheels come with a 5-year warranty.

The road wheel range starts with the Tempo Alu from €699, then continues with the Even carbon (30, 38 and 50 mm) from €1299, the Magnum carbon in 60 and 90 mm from €1399, before being topped by the exceptional Exalt carbon in 30 and 40 mm, from €2999 and weighing less than 1200 g for tubed or tubeless tires.

But each of these wheels can be custom-made, whether to save weight, increase responsiveness or stiffness, with a system of options designed to meet specific characteristics (user weight, type of course) both in terms of the carbon fibers used on the rims and the number of spokes, their type or how they are laced, or the hubs. Customization possibilities are pushed to the extreme with the choice of stickers, spoke color or even spoke nipples. Having ridden with two different versions of the Even 50 mm a few years ago, we can confirm that RAR is capable of greatly modifying the behavior of its wheels, with a first version almost too stiff for our build, and a second that seemed much more versatile in use, even on very uneven terrain.

Good weight/price ratio

For this long-term test, we opted for the Magnum Disc in 60 mm, a rim depth suitable for flat and moderately hilly courses, in their standard version at €1399. The rims therefore have a 60 mm depth with an internal width of 18 mm, and a curved external width of 28 mm at its maximum, tapering to 25 mm at the hooks.

The hubs are RAR First CL (Center Lock for discs), with straight pull spokes and a larger flange on the cassette side for the rear wheel, and on the disc side for the front wheel. With 12/100 thru-axles at the front and 12/142 at the rear, they weigh 380 g per pair. The Magnums are optionally available with RAR Eso CL hubs, which save 120 g but add €800 to the price.

There are also 24 flat spokes on the front and rear, laced 3-cross, except for the non-disc side on the front wheel, which has a radial lacing. The spoke nipples are external and customizable in color, with no extra charge, just like the logos on the rims.

The weight of the Magnum 60 in this configuration is reasonable, with a verified 1622 g including rim tape, which puts them in direct competition with many high-end wheels from other brands that cost between €400 and €600 more. With the Eso hubs, the price certainly rises to €2199, but the Magnums reach 1500 g, which is almost unprecedented for this rim depth. Finally, they are supplied with valve extenders for tubeless tires, and beautiful padded bags.

Easy mounting

Mounting proves to be almost a pleasure, choosing Pirello P-Zero 4S 700×25 tires, which ultimately measured 27 mm in width on the Magnums. Unlike some tubeless-compatible wheels, it’s not complicated to install the tire beads here. We just carefully used a tire lever to place the last ten centimeters of the bead, but without needing to force it. It remains to be seen if, with tubeless tires, the rim diameter is truly sufficient to maintain a perfect seal, but we have few doubts about that.

Mounting the rotors and cassette is also very easy, using a cassette removal tool in both cases. The freehub body here is Shimano 9/10/11/12 speed compatible, but Campagnolo or Sram XRD freehub bodies are of course available at no extra charge. And luckily, the position of the rotors on the hubs is exactly the same as on the original wheels of the test bike, which are Vision 40 SC Disc (with a retail price of €1069).

Tall, but versatile wheels

It was with these original Vision wheels that we first got acquainted with this new Orbea Orca OMR, for a test that you will discover in the coming weeks. These are wheels that we know well, having used them for a long time on the long-term test of the Orca OMX the previous winter, and which we appreciate for their ease and versatility, despite a weight of 1640 g for the pair. They are mounted for the occasion with Hutchinson Fusion 5 30 mm tires. The Orca OMR in this version is an excellent mid-range bike, offered at €3799.

But with the Magnum 60 wheels, it undeniably enters a new category. The weight gain isn’t huge (only about twenty grams on the wheels, but 140 g on both tires), but it’s enough to make it much more precise and dynamic. The hubs already seem to be of superior quality. Turning them while stationary, although not yet broken in, they feel smoother than on the Vision wheels. We will see how they evolve with use.

Although stiff, the Magnum 60s are not totally rigid and harsh, which can be quickly observed in terms of comfort. In this area, the characteristics of the Orbea are not fundamentally modified. On the other hand, in terms of front wheel placement when choosing a trajectory or when accelerating on small climbs or false flats, the bike is more dynamic, and it seems to gain speed more easily.

On climbs, regardless of the pedaling rhythm adopted, the whole remains fluid and consistent with the frame’s behavior. We don’t feel any disconnect with the bike as a whole, even during power surges where we push the machine a bit. On the flats, we feel the favorable effect of the 60 mm rims compared to 40 mm rims, especially in terms of inertia. Once cruising speed is reached, there’s no need to fight to maintain it.

The question of wind resistance remains, quite legitimate when you know that this type of wheel can sometimes cause stability problems in gusts. Here again, the behavior of the Magnum 60s seems rather neutral, and we didn’t feel like we were fighting more than usual on sections with a headwind or a slight crosswind. It’s only when passing some vehicles at high speed that it’s possible to feel a kind of air draft at the steering, with a small risk of losing control. Obviously, it’s not in these circumstances that you should let go of the handlebars! But we haven’t yet had the opportunity to ride with these wheels in strong windy conditions to form a definitive opinion. That should certainly happen this winter.

At the end of these first rides, we are finally surprised by the easy handling of these wheels, and by the relative transparency of their 60 mm rim depth regarding bike steering. In addition to looking very aesthetic on the test Orca, they clearly enhance its performance, while maintaining its accessibility. The RAR Magnum 60s are a model to watch for anyone looking to upgrade their machine without spending a fortune. We’ll see if we’re still as enthusiastic after several weeks of intensive testing.

=> SEE ALSO: All our Gear articles