Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Dahon MuEX: Kinetix Pro Wheelset

Recently, my friend upgraded his Tern folding bike to a 1x11 speed setup, and the rear wheel had to be changed to be 11 speed compatible since the original wheelset cannot accomodate an 11 speed road cassette. As such, I had the chance to buy over the original wheelset from the Tern bike. This wheelset is the high quality Kinetix Pro wheelset, originally seen on top end Dahon bikes such as the MuSL or MuEX. It is my dream wheelset for a Dahon folding bike, having first seen it through the glass facade at a bike shop many years ago. This wheelset is compatible with 8/9/10 speed cassettes.

This second hand Kinetix Pro wheelset is still in great condition as it has not endured high mileage or heavy loads. Due to the low spoke count, there is greater chance of spoke breakage than other wheelsets, although they claim that the stronger rims and spokes make up for the lack of spokes. Nevertheless, I wanted to get the wheelset and install it on my Dahon MuEX.

Kinetix Pro wheelset with red rims, black hubs and black spokes

With smooth rolling Kinetix front hub...

...and the high quality American Classic rear hub. Aluminium freehub body has steel inserts to prevent damage from the cassette splines.

Kinetix Pro wheelset, the top level 20 inch wheelset available in the market. Spoke nipples are hidden within the rim.

Front wheel weighs only 408 grams

Rear wheel weighs only 590 grams!

This reminds me that I need to do a wheelset weight comparison. This will be between the Wheelsport Smart 1.0 wheelset, the custom Novatec/Chris King wheelset, and this Kinetix Pro wheelset, all of which are 20 inch 406 sized wheelsets. All the weight includes cloth rim tape.

Wheelsport Smart 1.0 front wheel: 452 grams
Wheelsport Smart 1.0 rear wheel: 692 grams
Total weight of Wheelsport wheelset: 1144 grams

Novatec front wheel with LitePro rim: 494 grams
Chris King rear wheel with LitePro rim: 658 grams
Total weight of new custom wheelset: 1152 grams

Kinetix Pro front wheel: 408 grams
Kinetix Pro rear wheel: 590 grams
Total weight of Kinetix Pro wheelset: 998 grams

As you can see from the comparison above, this Kinetix Pro wheelset blows the competition out of the water with the total wheelset weight of only 998 grams, below the magical 1000 grams. This is one seriously light wheelset!

Putting on fresh cloth rim tape

Comparing the Kinetix Pro with the Wheelsport Smart 1.0 front wheel, which is also a good wheel.

Rim width is almost the same

Kinetix Pro front wheel with Schwalbe Kojak tires

Kinetix Pro rear wheel installed

Red coloured rims stand out from the rest of the bike components

The red rims really stand out from the rest of the black components on the Dahon MuEX!

Loving this Kinetix Pro wheelset on the Dahon MuEX!

Full specifications of the Dahon MuEX after upgrading to the Kinetix Pro wheelset

With this upgrade, the weight of the Dahon MuEX has been reduced to just 8.7 kg without pedals! Even with pedals, it is a relatively lightweight 9.1 kg, which is the lightest that has been achieved on this bike throughout all the modifications.
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21 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 15, 2017 at 11:02 PM

    Dear Steve,
    I need your technical advice, I have got a Dahon Vigor P9 and would like to upgrade the wheelset, can the Dahon MUSL Wheelset 20" be compatible on this bike?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 26, 2018 at 1:41 AM

    hi Steve,

    Which is the inner rim width of the kinetix Pro? I want to know what kind of tire supports, because actually my bike haves a big apples (50-406, 20x2.0), but I suspect that this tires are to width for the kinetix pro, and therefore, they tires will easily punctured because of the width difference. What do you think? what could be the widest tires that could fit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 26, 2018 at 11:12 PM

    hi Steve,

    Which is the inner rim width of the kinetix Pro? I want to know what kind of tire supports, because actually my bike haves a big apples (50-406, 20x2.0), but I suspect that this tires are to width for the kinetix pro, and therefore, they tires will easily punctured because of the width difference. What do you think? what could be the widest tires that could fit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JohnJune 25, 2018 at 4:21 PM

    Hi Steve,

    You have a great blog with lots of useful information, thanks.

    Do you think the following would be ok for the 2011 Mu Ex, please?

    https://buy.ternbicycles.com/products/kinetix-pro-x-deep-dish-wheelset

    They seem like good value in the sale and look like there might be less broken spokes on the rear that the Kinetix Pro, albeit heavier of course though.

    Ta,

    John

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 29, 2018 at 5:09 PM

    Hi there,

    Great blog! Do you think the following would be worth the weight gain for the 2011 MuEx? I'm thinking the rear should be more sturdy than the Kinetix Pro when it comes to broken spokes. I'd appreciate your advice.

    https://buy.ternbicycles.com/products/kinetix-pro-x-deep-dish-wheelset?variant=1622032252938

    Thanks in advance.

    John

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownSeptember 18, 2018 at 11:39 AM

    Hi bro.. i saw lots of ur post.. make me want to upgrade d bike like urs... btw, do u have any used 451 wheelset to sell? Any recommendation? TQ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tylsteveNovember 22, 2018 at 6:21 PM

      Currently no extra 451 wheels for sale. You can check out Ascent Bikes on Facebook if you are looking for new wheels.

      Delete
  7. UnknownDecember 14, 2018 at 9:00 AM

    HI Steve, greeting from Argentina. Ive got a Dahon Mu Uno since 2011. I really love my bike and i commute whit it every day here in Buenos Aires almost 35km to work. Ive been thinking to get a pair of these kinetix wheels. My actual Mu Uno got the classic shimanl coster brake, do you think its posible to put this wheels using a single speed casette or convert it into a fixed gear? Im gonna use the tektro front brake.

    Btw your bikes are Just amazing and you are the reason why im starting to change my bike

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tylsteveFebruary 16, 2019 at 10:41 AM

      I think the Dahon Mu Uno has a rear OLD width of 120mm, which is different from most other multi speed bikes with rear OLD of 130 or 135mm. This means that the Kinetix rear hub will not fit in the Dahon Mu Uno.

      What I have done is to dismantle the rear hub to remove the brake shoes for the coaster brake. This converts the hub into a normal freewheel hub without the coaster brake function.

      Delete
  8. NasriJanuary 14, 2020 at 8:58 PM

    Hi Steve, i just bought a second hand Vert Storm, and it came quite solid with an upgraded Shimano 10 speed gear. I want to slowly upgrade my bike. Im thinking of getting andthe kinetx pro wheelset and better quality tyres. Any recommendation?

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousNovember 11, 2020 at 12:11 AM

    I have a Zizzo Urbano bike and would like to upgrade to a set of Kinetix Pro X Capreo Aero Wheel set. Would that be a good upgrade or even possible?

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousApril 24, 2023 at 6:50 PM

    Hi steve,
    Thank's for your extensive blog, lots of great info here :)

    I'm planing to upgrade a Dahon Vigor P9, and I'm looking for a wheelset.

    I've seen you use quite a bit of LitePro parts, and some wheels, but have you ever bought the wheel set they sell on their official store ? Are they any good and would you recommend some ?

    Where else an European buyer can get part from ?

    Thank's in advance for your feedback

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tylsteveApril 24, 2023 at 8:06 PM

      I have not used Litepro wheels, so I'm not sure if they are good or not. What brands do you find on AliExpress?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousApril 24, 2023 at 9:33 PM

      Hi, thank's for your quick reply,

      I actually find LitePro wheels, there are few models. I'm open to any fairly prices/light/performant wheelset, but not sure where to get if from

      this one, the S42 aero, is sold on their official store and seems pretty popular : https://liteprobicycle.com/collections/wheelset/products/litepro-s42-aero-folding-bike-20-inch-406-451-v-disc-brake-11-speed-wheelset-4-sealed-bearing-alloy-wheels-bmx-bicycle-rims

      then the K-fun/S21 is also available
      https://liteprobicycle.com/collections/wheelset/products/litepro-kfun-s21-folding-bike-bmx-v-disc-brake-406-451-wheelset-front-2-rear-5-sealed-bearing-alloy-rim-74-130-100-135-wheels?variant=37551140503750

      then the same seems only sold in 100/135 version
      https://liteprobicycle.com/collections/wheelset/products/litepro-kfun-s21-folding-bike-bmx-v-disc-brake-406-451-wheelset-sealed-bearing-alloy-rim-74-130-100-135-wheels

      and on aliexpress both reference above are mixed and spec not well displayed
      https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005005335908845.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.3.38fa7526ZM8o3v&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40000.333918.0&scm_id=1007.40000.333918.0&scm-url=1007.40000.333918.0&pvid=9c3f1c5c-e817-41bc-8d2f-a3e8226f0607&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.333918.0,pvid:9c3f1c5c-e817-41bc-8d2f-a3e8226f0607,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238111%23451&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21EUR%21176.71%21123.69%21%21%21%21%21%40211b813b16823420994555040eded7%2112000032655163518%21rec%21FR%21853116233

      And finaly there are some that are not sold on the official strore, use LitePro name, but as LP LitePro, are fairly cheap, do not state about hub bearings, and are lighter
      https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005003891438139.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.21.38fa7526ZM8o3v&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40000.333918.0&scm_id=1007.40000.333918.0&scm-url=1007.40000.333918.0&pvid=9c3f1c5c-e817-41bc-8d2f-a3e8226f0607&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.333918.0,pvid:9c3f1c5c-e817-41bc-8d2f-a3e8226f0607,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238111%23451&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21EUR%2180.37%2171.53%21%21%21%21%21%40211b813b16823420994555040eded7%2112000028223364343%21rec%21FR%21853116233

      Delete
    3. tylsteveApril 25, 2023 at 9:15 AM

      I would not get the S42 wheelset, as high profile aluminum rims are heavy. Others look fine, but you need to get the correct spec to match your Dahon Vigor P9.
      From the Dahon website the front hub OLD has to be 74 mm, and rear 130 mm. For rims brakes as well.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousApril 25, 2023 at 5:22 PM

      Hi
      Thanks for your advice,
      Yeah I'm pretty familiar with bile spec although I've only built mountain bike.
      The s42 seems to heavy anyway to justify a change, but I'm a bit scared of wheel with 16 spokes, I'm used to 32, 36 haha.
      My question was more about quality and robustness of rather cheap light wheels, for an urban use, touring and light trails (in the realm of folding bike capabilities)

      Delete
    5. tylsteveApril 25, 2023 at 6:55 PM

      If you get wheels with at least 24 spokes it would be quite safe. Folding bikes should not go off-road anyway.

      Delete
    6. AnonymousJune 1, 2023 at 9:12 PM

      Hi,
      Do you have any clues if wheelsport still exist, and where to get wheels from them in europe ?
      Any other wheels recomendation for 406 bikes ?
      Thank's

      Delete
    7. tylsteveJune 3, 2023 at 7:05 AM

      Whelk sport is based in Taiwan. You can get similar wheelset from AliExpress, such as Litepro or Elosix.

      Delete

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