Easton Haven Carbon Wheelsets Revealed

In what may very well be the last mile of carbon for mountain bikes, Easton announced the release of their upcoming Haven Carbon wheelsets in both 26 and 29-inch versions. The Haven wheels have already garnered plenty of praise for their durability and trail feel, but changing the flavor of the rims to carbon fiber flavor changes the game entirely.

While carbon fiber wheels are old-hat in road bike land, for mountain bikes, this is, for the most part, uncharted waters. Yes, there have been some carbon MTB wheels here-and-there, but this will be one of the first mass efforts in taking carbon to the market. Utilizing a proprietary blend of materials (East Advanced Ballistic Composite… stuff used in bulletproof body armor and such), Easton is looking to reduce rolling weight while providing a durable, sexy wheelset at the same time.

Indeed, the Haven Carbon wheels won’t come cheaply at $2300, but at only 1450 grams for a true all-mountain 26″ wheelset, that is absolutely mind-blowing. If you want to deck out that new Ibis Mojo SL as light as possible, but still want a trailworthy wheelset, the Haven Carbon just might be for you.

Haven Carbon Features:

• 26” and 29” versions
• 1450-grams per-set (26” w/o valve stems. 29er TBD)
• UST compatible
• 21-mm inner rim width
• 2-year no questions asked replacement policy
• Will accommodate up to 2.4″ tire
• Axle configurations: Front—9mm/15×100 convertible or 20mm; Rear—135qr or 142×12/135×12 convertible
• Price: $2300 (both 26 and 29er versions)
• Availability: Late Summer 2010

Full press release below:

(Scotts Valley, CA, April 2nd, 2010) In advance of the season opening Sea Otter Classic, Easton has unveiled a game-changing all-mountain wheel–the new Haven Carbon. Designed, engineered and manufactured by Easton in their wholly owned EMX composite factory, the Haven Carbon is feather-light and UST compatible, but tough-as-nails thanks to the use of an entirely new composite system–Easton Advanced Ballistic Composite.

Weighing just 1,450 grams per pair, the Haven Carbon is the lightest carbon rimmed, UST compatible all-mountain wheelset on the market and features the first carbon rim designed exclusively for the rigors of rugged trail riding. The $2,300 Haven Carbon features a generous, 21-mm internal rim width that will accommodate tires up to 2.4-inches wide and is backed with a two-year, no-questions-asked insurance policy–a first for the bike industry.

“We designed Haven Carbon for the largest group of mountain bikers: Trail and All Mountain riders, people that have been waiting for a light, but tough wheel to call their own,” says Tom Larter, VP of Easton Sports. “We’ve designed the Haven Carbon from scratch just for the kinds of riding we all like to do and we’re backing it up with a no-questions-asked warranty. This one is a game changer.”

Haven Carbon rims showcase numerous industry-leading design and engineering features. They are made with Easton’s proprietary ABC (Armored Ballistic Composite) materials including HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene), the product of choice for ultra-light body armor and other ballistic military applications. Proprietary resins provide the ABC composite with highly enhanced impact strength.

“We like to say that the Haven Carbon is the first wheel made for going ballistic because it truly does contain technologies designed for blast resistance,” says Kevin Franks, brand manager for Easton Cycling. The Haven Carbon rims are manufactured and tested in Easton’s wholly owned composite production facility, EMX, in Tijuana, Mexico, where cutting-edge technologies are combined with precision craftsmanship. Each Haven Carbon wheelset is then built by hand at EMX using Easton’s proprietary acoustic tensioning and truing system.

The Haven Carbon will be available to consumers through independent bicycle retailers summer 2010

More Info: Visit EastonBike.com