• MSRP:  $800
• Weight: 640 grams (front), 830 (rear), 1470 total (actual)
• Front quick release - 59 grams, rear -117 grams (actual)
• 22.5mm wide rim, 33mm tall
• Aluminum braking surface
• 20 spokes front, 24 spokes rear. Rear has 16 spokes drive-side and 8 non-drive.
• Tubeless ready
• 10 and 11-speed compatible

Overview

Oval Concepts is the "house brand" of wheels and parts for bikes from ASI - Advance Sports International, which owns Fuji, Kestrel, SE Bikes, Breezer, and Terry. Oval has had a history of pretty innovative products, especially with triathlon stems and aerobars. They've now turned their attention to wheelsets and the results are impressive.

The specs for these wheels also include the following:

• 20/24 spokes with standard j bend spokes (easy to maintain/replace spokes if needed)
• Precision bearings made in Japan
• 6 pawl free hub for quick engagement
• Steel spline insert on free hub body to prevent cogs from galling into alloy free hub body; check out the picture. Galling is a problem if you switch cassettes out a lot.
• Tubeless-ready rim using existing rimstrip.
• Spoke tension is equal on drive and non drive - makes for lateral stiffness in cornering and a lively "snap forward" quality during acceleration.
• Built-in grease port in rear hub
• Comes as OEM on the Fuji Altamira SL 1.3, SST 1.3, Supreme 1.1 & 1.3, Gan Fondo 1.1&1.3, Kestrel Legend SL Di2 Ultegra and SL SRAM and Kestrel RT 100SL.
  

First Impressions

Typically, when you buy a pre-built bike, especially a mid-range or lower cost build, the wheelset is ponderously heavy. As an example, a typical wheelset that comes on Ultegra/SRAM Force bikes is the Mavic Askium which weighs a portly 1735 grams. While the hubs are excellent and the wheelset is pretty bomb-proof, that much rotational weight saps performance. This in mind, it is refreshing to see Fuji & Kestrel offer the Oval 733's as OEM for some of their models. These wheels are very impressive with their 1480 gram weight. Additionally, these wheels feature a "wider is better" rim that is 22.5mm wide, compared to the old standard of 19mm. This wider rim spreads out the tire by ~30%, giving more air volume than a typcial 19mm x 24mm rim. This means you can run lower tire pressure which equates to a smoother ride but with even lower rolling resistance; how cool is that?!

Ride Quality

To be frank, I had low expectations with this wheelset. They are OEM, right?

Boy, was I surprised. This wheelset has a very responsive ride; they are vertically stiff and the rear hub seems to engage instantly, and they accelerate quickly. They truly give the feeling of shooting forward instantly. And while I certainly don't have wind tunnel data, the 33mm tall rim height cuts a a more aero path than a typical 24mm high rim. The best part? The hubs were virtually silent. The quick releases weren't exactly visual works of art but they clamped down with secure power.

Summary

This is a really good wheelset based on weight, acceleration, and ease of maintenance. It's refreshing to see OEM bike manufactureres not cutting corners by providing a fantastic wheelset right "out of the box".

Additionally, for those looking to cut even more weight, Oval does also offer a 24mm tall model (called the 724) for the same price. This wheelset weighs an amazing 1360 grams (measured) with the same $800 list price.

To get either wheelset, contact your Fuji/Kestrel dealer.

Rating

4.5 Stars