Shimano Dura Ace Wh-9000 C24 Cl Wheelset Review

Shimano's Dura-Ace C24 carbon laminated wheels are low-cal, strong and responsive, putting in an splendid all-circular performance.

I've been running the C24s with 25mm Continental Chiliad Prix 4000 tyres (Shimano advises that you use tyres ranging from 23mm to 28mm with these wheels) and they've been very quick, accelerating fast, and the ride quality is hard to mistake.

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The C24s, which take just been given a graphics/aesthetics update to match Shimano'southward new R9100 components, have the shallowest rim heights of any wheels in the Dura-Ace range: the forepart is 21mm and the rear is 24mm. They're not specially wide either: 15mm internal, 20.8mm external, whereas the new C40 and C60 clinchers are both 17mm internal and 24mm external, post-obit the trend towards more than width.

The rims are aluminium alloy with a CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) laminate on the hub-facing surfaces. The aluminium wall thickness is just 0.7mm and Shimano uses 'a patented phosphoric acid anodising process to bail the carbon fibre rim to the alloy [to ensure] an excellent combination of strength, rigidity and a depression weight'.

Our review wheels came in at 601g (forepart) and 820g (rear), a total of ane,421g (without rim tape or skewers). That's a footling college than Shimano'south claimed i,389g merely it's still impressively light, particularly as Shimano hasn't compromised quality or immovability hither.

The hub shells are aluminium as well, with a titanium freehub body at the rear. The wheels spin on loving cup and cone bearings, every bit is the Shimano mode. The sealed cartridge bearings that most other brands use these days might exist fit and forget but Shimano'south design allows yous to adjust the preload or give the bearings a complete service to ensure optimum performance and maximum longevity... as long as you know what you're doing (if not, yous tin can have them to your local bike shop, of course). The labyrinth double-contact seals accept managed to go on the stainless ball bearings running free of water and gunk during a especially wet and mucky review period.

You get sixteen direct-pull butted and bladed spokes in the front wheel and 20, laced ii-cross, at the rear. Attached to very widely spaced hub flanges, they provide excellent levels of stiffness that you lot notice especially while cornering difficult or riding out of the saddle. I only managed to get brake rub when I ready the pads stupidly close to the rims and rode uphill in a ridiculously hard gear; in all realistic circumstances there was none at all. The wheels feel taut and efficient.

Braking is up to the standards yous'd look on an aluminium restriction rail – which means it's better than yous go with any carbon fibre rims out there. A few brands, notably Mavic, have improved the quality of carbon fibre braking lately, but none has the bite or consistency that you get with something similar the C24 wheelset.

Shimano doesn't make any aerodynamic claims for the C24s. If you're looking to reduce drag you need to pace up to the C40s or the C60s. What you exercise get hither is that lightness and responsiveness that I've mentioned and, every bit yous'd expect, a shedload of stability no affair what the current of air is doing.

The other bespeak that's worth mentioning here is the ride quality. I'm not a big one for talking virtually smoothness when information technology comes to wheels only these practice have an appreciable amount of road fizz out of your ride, and that makes a big difference to the way you feel.

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These wheels accept required no truing during the 2-calendar month exam flow and the titanium freehub is virtually unmarked so it looks like it'll go the distance.

All in all, these are very impressive wheels. They don't take the width of many modern designs, nor the aerodynamics, but they are light and fast reacting, and the alloy restriction rails adds to their all-atmospheric condition versatility.

Verdict

Potent, fast-reacting wheels built to a very high standard and with the reliability of an aluminium restriction runway

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route.cc test report

Make and model: Shimano Dura-Ace C24 Carbon Clincher wheelset

Size tested: 700C

Tell us what the wheel is for, and who information technology's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Shimano says: "WH-R9100 CL carbon clincher wheel, designed to meet pro road race criteria"

Tell united states of america some more about the technical aspects of the bike?

Total carbon / alloy 21 mm deep 20.viii mm broad rim

Depression rim weight is achieved by reducing the alloy wall thickness from i.3 mm downwardly to 0.vii mm, then a patented phosphoric acid anodizing process is used to bail the carbon fibre to the alloy giving an excellent combination of low weight, force and rigidity

Carbon reinforced spoke eyelets increase immovability

Alloy clincher rim maintains high braking performance with standard brake pads in all weather

Front: 16 stainless steel butted (2.0-i.5-2.0) and bladed direct pull spokes

Rear: xx stainless steel butted (two.0-1.8-2.0) and bladed straight pull spokes

Elbow-less spokes make for a strong nonetheless compliant wheel

Loftier lateral rigidity is produced with a wide flange spacing

Labyrinth double-contact sealing finer shuts out water and dirt

Alloy cone with integrated steel Borozon treated bearing races - super mirror stop reduces friction

Quick and piece of cake to maintain digital click begetting adjustment

Cold forged, machined aluminium hub shell and oversized 7075 alloy axle keep the bike weight to a minimum

700C clincher compatible

Supplied with Q/R skewer

Average weight front: 585g

Boilerplate weight rear: 804g

Rate the bicycle for quality of construction:

9/x

Charge per unit the wheel for operation:

nine/x

Rate the bike for durability:

9/10

Rate the wheel for weight

eight/10

Rate the bicycle for value:

seven/10

The price has gone upward considerably over the Dura-Ace 9000 version of this wheel, merely the distributor tells us that'due south considering of currency changes every bit a result of Brexit.

Did the wheels stay true? Any problems with spoke tension?

They've stayed absolutely true with no need for fettling.

How easy did y'all find information technology to fit tyres?

No problems.

How did the bike extras (eg skewers and rim tape) perform?

Neat. The big lever at the terminate of the quick release is easy to employ.

Tell the states how the bike performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Information technology'southward lite, stiff and responsive.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the wheel

The fact that information technology reacts fast and efficiently.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the cycle

The price rise is a shame, but that's non unique to Shimano.

Did you bask using the bike? Yeah

Would you consider buying the bicycle? Aye

Would you recommend the wheel to a friend? Yeah

Use this box to explain your score

These put in a strong performance across the lath. Yes, the cost has gone upward considerably in the UK (from £849 to £999), apparently every bit a consequence of currency changes, only these are uncommonly skillful wheels.

Overall rating: 9/x

Historic period: 43Summit: 190cmWeight: 75kg

I usually ride:My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over twenty yearsI ride: Well-nigh daysI would grade myself as: Proficient

I regularly practice the following types of riding: commuting, social club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

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Source: https://road.cc/content/review/215130-shimano-dura-ace-c24-carbon-clincher-wheelset

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