Race Face Turbine Wheelset

Spokes

The Turbines use 28 bladed, straight-pull spokes laced 3-cross for added stiffness. It’s very nice that both the front and the rear wheels use the same spoke length, so purchasing and swapping busted spokes is super simple and easy. Mechanics rejoice! SRAM does the same thing on their wheels and I wish more wheel companies would, too.

Installation

I installed the Turbines on my Yelli Screamy with no trouble. Swapping end cap adapters was a breeze, and, as I mentioned in the “Hubs” section above, I opted to run the 10x135mm rear thru-axle for added security and stiffness.

I wrapped the Turbines with a WTB Vigilante 2.3 TCS tire up front, and a Continental Trail King Protection 2.2 in back. Both tires were set up tubeless using the included rim strip and Stan’s tire sealant. I was able to inflate both tires using a floor pump and have tested the wheels at varying pressures depending on location, but for the Boise foothills, I settled on 28 psi in the rear, and about 25 psi in the front.

Break-In Period

In my first week testing the Turbines, I managed to completely de-tension the rear wheel on a rock during technical descent in the Boise foothills. The wheel had probably been slowly losing spoke tension on the rides prior to this, however, as it isn’t at all uncommon for a machine-built wheel to lose tension after a few rides. Over a number of years of working in shops, I’ve seen this kind of thing happen a lot, and I was able to easily re-torque the rear Turbine wheel’s spokes to proper tension. What really matters is how a wheel handles and holds up after re-tensioning and the initial break-in period.

And so?

Riding the Turbines

The first thing to know about the Turbines is that they’re quite stiff, which is great.

Given their larger diameter and longer spoke lengths, 29” wheels can feel quite flexy, especially in corners, but the Turbines handle being pushed into corners remarkably well—I never hesitated to throw my bike sideways. In fact, the Turbines are probably the stiffest set of 29” wheels I’ve ridden, as they felt noticeably stiffer in fast berms and have tracked better through rocky sections than my Sun Ringle Black Flag Pros.

The Turbine’s freehub body is also nearly silent, which I really like.

The Turbines’ stiffness comes with a bit of a weight penalty, however. At 1,880 grams per set, they’re on the heavier side relative to other wheels in the same price range. By comparison, Stan’s Arch EX 29 wheelset weighs 1,775 grams and costs $595, the $600 Sun Ringle Black Flag Pros weigh 1,725 grams, and a pair of Easton Haven 29s weigh 1,720 grams and cost $510.

Durability

While slightly heavy, it’s worth noting that the Turbines have proven to be durable, which is one of Race Face’s selling points. Aside from the de-tensioning mishap early on in the test period, the rims have held up very well.

I haven’t had any issues with spoke tension since that initial hiccup, neither rim has any flat spots or blemishes on it, and both rims are still stiff, true, and spinning smoothly.

I’ve had no issues with my tire set up, either. No flats to report, no burped tires, nothing. The rims have done a good job at holding the tire beads in all conditions, and I expect that they’ll continue to do so.

All in all, given their durability and stiffness, I think the Turbines’ weight and price tag are very reasonable.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to replace a set of OEM, factory wheels on your XC or trail bike, and are more interested in durability, stiffness, and saving some dollars than shaving some grams, then the Race Face Turbine wheelset should be on your short list.