Forge+Bond CR 45 Wheelset Review

With thousands of miles racked up on traditional carbon wheelsets, I didn’t think the folks at Forge+Bond really had anything significant to offer. Now, with a solid year across various wheelsets using their FUSIONFIBER nylon/carbon tech, I’m sold on their durability and ride quality. This summer, the F+B CR 45 wheelset has found a home on several bikes and the results have been consistently good — no matter the bike.

F+B CR 45 Wheelset Features:

• FUSIONFIBER nylon thermoplastic composite
• 45mm depth with 25mm internal width
• Hookless bead design adds durability
• Optimized for use with 30-47mm wide tires
• Available with a variety of hubs, free hubs and rotor options
• Hand made in Utah, USA
• 60-day return policy with lifetime warranty
• 100% recyclable
• Weight: 1535 grams (with valves and tubeless tape)
• MSRP: $1899 – $2199 (tested)

An aero and smooth all-rounder

Carbon rim construction hasn’t changed much since they became the standard on high-performance road bikes some 15-20 years ago. Rim profiles, depths, widths (internal and external) and shapes have all varied, but they have still typically been built using a specified carbon layup or recipe. The steps are to wrap cut strips of prepreg carbon around a mold, then heat them up under extreme pressure and heat within a solid metal mold. Those strips are pre-impregnated with resin that melts to permanently glue the layers together. That process leaves unusable waste materials and requires that the raw materials be carefully stored  at low temperatures so there resin remains intact.

Forge+Bond utilizes FUSIONFIBER technology, which is a thermoplastic composite that requires no special care before use and lacks resin, so the material can be infinitely used and re-used. Importantly, the layup prep is performed by precise machines with the finishing touches done by human hands. If you want to see the process, check out the Forge+Bond factory tour done by GCN last year. Additionally, the thermoplastic composite material is more durable and absorbs more vibrations than traditional carbon fiber.

The Forge+Bond CR 45 Wheelset is the third FUSIONFIBER wheelset I’ve tested, after the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37V and F+B 25 XC wheelsets. With each wheelset, I have consistently felt added confidence — even though I’ve never had a carbon rim failure while riding. It’s just the fact that thermoplastic rims can withstand more abuse and be noticeably more comfortable while still remaining competitively-lightweight to traditional carbon fiber wheels. That all adds up and makes the CR 45’s stand out.

Install and setup

The proper tire/rim combo is essential to achieve a superb tubeless setup. I’ve had terrible tubeless experiences where I’ve given up and I’ve had drop-dead easy tubeless experiences that didn’t require anything special whatsoever. These wheels come tubeless-ready and include F+B’s tubeless valves that have a core-remover built in — a nice touch.

I installed the new Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS 30c tires for the duration of the tests. Popping them on did require a tire lever (which scraped off the letter “B”) and seating them was easy as pie. I dropped a little over 3 oz of WTB Tubeless Sealant inside and inflated them using a trusty old floor pump. Easy peasy. With a 25mm internal width and hookless design, the 30c tires measure out to a solid 33mm, so keep that in mind if you are trying to max out your tire clearance. I didn’t have any clearance issues aboard the Ari Suncrest, Ari Veyo, Orbea Orca, Trek Madone SLR 9 or the Cannondale SuperSix EVO and found the tire profile to be perfectly-round for optimal handling and road feel.

The I9 Torch Disk hubs complement the wheelset nicely and offer a stout foundation, with easy cassette and rotor install. You can also opt for DT Swiss 350 hubs for $200 less or with house-brand hubs for $1250. External nipples make for easy maintenance, should you ever need it. There’s a lot to appreciate with a straightforward wheelset build and

Go-anywhere wheelset

At 45mm deep, the CR 45 is ready for anything. As mentioned, I loaded this wheel and tire combination aboard a variety of road bikes so far and I look forward to giving them some ensuing gravel time later this year and into 2025. Admittedly, with 33mm rubber underfoot, it’s masking a lot of chatter. But, these wheels are the smoothness champs. Any road buzz is noticeably muted compared to the Zipp 303 S, which I rode with the same Pirelli tires.

That added smoothness does tend to make every bike a little less lively, in my opinion. They ride just as fast as with other wheels, but it does feel just a touch muted. It’s not a bad feeling, and, my aging body really appreciates it. Durability is also a huge bonus — even though I’ve never had a carbon rim failure. I can ride hard and fast without worry. In fact, I vividly recall bottoming-out the tire on one poorly-timed hop when it hit the square edge of a raised section of cement without any damage or tire failure. Noice. 

Overall, the CR 45’s really do make just about any bike feel like a sledgehammer that can roll through undulating terrain with incredible momentum. Across several Strava segments on fast-rolling terrain with a few punchy climbs, I have laid down some of the fastest times. Fast tires and fast wheels are a great combo on an aero bike like the Ari Veyo and they also deliver aboard the Gen 8 Trek Madone. On the Madone, it has been interesting to compare the Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 wheelset to the CR 45. Both are excellent wheels, but the subtle differences in shape make the RSL 51’s slightly more stable in crosswinds in my testing. Don’t get me wrong, the CR 45’s aren’t terrible, but they aren’t class-leading in strong crosswinds.

The I9 hubs spin up nicely and have a noticeable freehub buzz. As-is, it’s on the loud side, providing other riders with ample warning on busy bike paths. I appreciate it though and it doesn’t distract when flying downhill or coasting by other riders. On long mountain descents, I can fly downhill with the utmost confidence. And, the wheels respond adeptly when going from turn-to-turn or simply holding a wicked-fast sweeper. I don’t notice any flex when pushed to their limits and the hub/wheel combo is definitely stiffer than the 76 / 176 DB hubs on the Zipp 303 S. On standing climbs, the I9 front hub didn’t allow any rotor “tinging” — no matter how aggressive I stood and laid down the power.

Sine I’m running 30mm tires, air pressures can be ridden in the 55 psi range. (SRAM has the best tire pressure guide for the perfect air pressure.) Throughout my testing, the tires have maintained pressure extremely well and I haven’t yet needed to top off the sealant. But, it’s probably about time for a check and re-fill. Unfortunately, WTB sealant won’t fill through the valve, so I’ll have to pop the bead.

Overall, the pluses of the CR 45’s definitely outweigh the negatives, but I have to mention the stickers again. They are overboard and borderline chintzy. I lost the B on one wheel when installing the tire for the first time and the stickers quickly felt lackluster. I wish they had chosen to permanently embed the Forge+Bond branding like they have done with other designs.

Test Period: I’ve had the F+B CR 35’s in for review for 5 months and, as you can see, I rode them on every test bike that’s been around the summer. At 5’11” and 175 lbs, I’m running about 54/56 psi front/rear.

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