Review of the new Shimano GRX (RX880) gravel wheelset.

Alongside the new GRX 12-speed groupset for gravel riding, Shimano has launched a new wheelset designed specifically for the discipline: the RX880. Wide carbon rims, durable hubs, and a lightweight design are the highlights. Review of a versatile wheelset ideal for rough terrain. By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr => SEE ALSO: Review of the Shimano GRX 12-speed groupset

Weighing in at 1,437 g with rim tape and tubeless valves, the Shimano RX880 wheelset is particularly light for gravel, on par with many high-end road models. The carbon rims have a 32 mm profile, with an internal width of 25 mm. My 38 mm tubeless tires actually measure 41 mm wide once mounted on these wheels. They’re compatible with tires up to 50 mm wide, with or without an inner tube, and of course, the tubeless setup is the most appealing option for off-road riding. With a tire pressure of 2 to 2.2 bar in my case, the setup provides comfort, traction, and grip in a wide range of situations.

The RX880s use hubs with standard bearings and a freehub body featuring a quick-engagement system borrowed from Dura-Ace wheels, helping acceleration and traction on any surface. The system allows for easy switching from a Micro Spline cassette body (for cassettes starting with 10 teeth) to an HG L2 cassette body for 12-speed cassettes starting with 11 teeth, like the one I used for the test. Note that these wheels are not compatible with 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-speed cassettes. 24 steel spokes on both the front and rear wheels, laced in a double-cross pattern with aluminum spoke nipples, connect these high-end hubs and rims, which truly exude performance and reliability. I’ve often heard a lot of criticism about Shimano wheel bearings, but personally, I’ve never had any particular problems. On the Dura-Ace C50 wheels, the hubs spin just as smoothly as they did on day one. The bearings aren’t super smooth when turned by hand, but they’re still smooth and don’t catch. On the Ultegra wheels, which I’ve used extensively in very tough conditions (gravel, winter training in all kinds of weather), I’ve had to adjust the bearing play twice, and I might need to consider replacing them since they seem a bit worn out. But honestly, after more than two years of truly intensive use, I don’t see anything wrong with them. In short, there’s no reason why it should be any different with the RX880s, which are in the same product tier.

Responsiveness and Handling On my gravel bike, I’ve switched from Ultegra wheels with 50 mm rim height (not specifically designed for this type of riding, especially on narrow trails) to these 32-mm GRX wheels, saving 173 g on the wheelset, all other things being equal. My tires have also gained a bit of volume due to the difference in rim width (25 vs. 21 mm), which is noticeable from the very first few revolutions of the wheels. The tire bulge on the rim is less pronounced, the tread looks wider, and I feel I can drop the pressure further if needed without the sidewalls collapsing.

However, it’s important to note that the weight savings from a pair of gravel wheels aren’t as noticeable as with road wheels, simply because if you consider the same tires (about 500 g each, plus 60 g of puncture-preventive fluid in my case) and the same cassette (11–34 teeth, 12-speed, weighing 345 g), the benefit is lost in the overall weight of the assembled wheels. On steep, slippery climbs, tire performance matters far more than the wheelset’s dynamic traits. That said, from my very first ride on trails and paths, I felt that the GRX wheels were more responsive than the Ultegra wheels when changing direction. They’re slightly less stiff, and as a result, seem to better adapt to the terrain. When it comes to handling on technical sections—where you need to carefully control the pressure on the pedals—the freehub body and its faster engagement system provide a significant advantage.

On descents, the wheels inspire confidence by being a bit more forgiving of positioning errors. And while on climbs you have to rely primarily on the tire’s traction, the fact that they’re wider and allow the tread to spread out better on the road surface is a real advantage. On faster sections, the GRX wheels roll smoothly and offer excellent acceleration after the inevitable bursts of speed you regularly have to make on the trails. Finally, on the road, I didn’t notice any difference in performance compared to 50-mm-tall wheels, given the speed at which a gravel bike travels. Admittedly, the rims are 18 mm shorter in height, but this must be considered in relation to the total height of the rim and tire. On the other hand, the GRX wheels are obviously less susceptible to crosswinds.

A Sure Bet Ultimately, the new Shimano GRX RX880 wheelset is a true sure bet for those who ride gravel in a dynamic and committed style. Their weight of 1,437 g is impressive for this type of product, which is designed to withstand a wide range of stresses, but I especially appreciated their overall balance, as well as the perfect combination of the maneuverability provided by lightweight rims and the stability offered by wide rims.

The SHIMANO GRX RX880 wheelset at a glance…

Pros: weight, stability, maneuverability, responsiveness Cons: wheels compatible only with 12-speed cassettes WH-RX880-TL Tubeless Carbon Wheels – Hub: DIRECT ENGAGEMENT – Rim: carbon, 32 mm profile – Spoke bed width: 25 mm – Outer width: 30.7 mm – Recommended tire width: 32–50 mm – Replaceable freehub body – interchangeable with a MICRO SPLINE and HG L2 hub (not compatible with 11-speed HG cassettes) – Hubs: aluminum (anodized), with aluminum axle – Disc brake mount: Centerlock – Bearings: tapered roller (Cup & Cone), contact seals – Mounting dimensions: 12 x 100 mm / 12 x 142 mm (thru-axle) – Spokes: stainless steel, crossed in pairs (J-Bend 2.0 – 1.6 – 2.0 mm) – Number of spokes: 24 front and rear – Spoke heads: aluminum – Weight: 1,437 g per pair (HG L2 freehub body, with rim strips and tubeless valves) – Price: approximately €1,700 Contact: https://bike.shimano.com/fr