Focus Paralane: Dura-Ace C50 Wheelset R9270

For the upgrade to the Dura-Ace 12 speed system on the Focus Paralane, the next component to arrive is the C50 wheelset.

Technically I could use the new 12 speed cassette on the existing Ascent Zenith Elite wheelset that I have, because the new 12 speed cassette is also compatible to the conventional freehub body. However, I decided to wait for the new wheelset and change it all at one go, so that I don't have to reinstall the cassette and brake rotors again.

The latest Dura-Ace wheelsets are available in C36, C50 and C60 versions, with the numbers indicating the rim profile. The C50 is the middle ground for all-round usage, while the C36 is better for climbing and the C60 is better for high speed.

Let me show you the details of this brand new C50 wheelset!

Here is the new wheelset! Not sure why I took a picture with the edges cut off...

Set of front and rear C50 wheels. 24 spokes on the front and rear wheels.

The carbon rims have a matte finish, and a silver Dura-Ace logo, plus a grey C50 logo.

Only for disc brakes, as there is no brake track on the rims. Max pressure of 109 PSI is generous.

These are hooked rims, so no problem with using conventional clincher tires. They are also tubeless compatible, and come with tubeless valves installed.

Tubeless rim tape is nicely sealed, unlike the ones on the RS770 wheelset.

Internal width is 21 mm as claimed, no longer the old school narrow 17 mm.

External width is a modern 28 mm wide, which matches 28 mm wide tires nicely.

Rim height is about 50 mm.

Rim profile is rounded and not V-shaped, to make it more stable in crosswinds.

External spoke nipples allow easy tension adjustment if needed.

Dura-Ace branded hubs! It is labeled WH-R9270 to denote the wheelset, as these hubs are not sold separately. If sold separately, it will be labeled HB-R9270 and FH-R9270 to indicate and front and rear hubs respectively.

Centerlock rotor splines and 12 mm E-Thru axle is the standard for road bikes now.

Straight spokes are located in specially machined slots.

Special straight spokes that transits to a bladed cross-section.

3-cross spoke lacing at the rear, with some interesting angles. I have never seen spokes that run perpendicularly to each other, forming a square.

New freehub body! It is not the Microspline design that is used on Shimano MTB 12 speed cassettes, although it looks a bit similar.

By increasing the number of splines, the freehub body can be made of aluminium to save weight without the steel sprockets gouging into the splines.

This hub uses the Direct Engagement design, which is a variation of the Scylence freehub design that didn't work well. This freehub has 50 clicks per rotation, which means 7.2 degrees of engagement.

12 speed cassette on the new road freehub body.

You can see that not all the splines on the cassette spider are engaged. This is to allow the new 12 speed cassette to be compatible to the conventional HG freehub body.

Basically, the new 12 speed road cassette is compatible with the new 12 speed freehub and the conventional 11 speed road freehub.

On the other hand, the new 12 speed Dura-Ace freehub is ONLY compatible with Shimano 12 speed road cassettes. This means that if I have this Dura-Ace wheelset, I can ONLY use Shimano 12 speed road cassettes.

Front wheel is relatively much simpler

Centerlock rotor splines and 12 mm E-thru axle on the front hub as well.

Different hub and spoke pattern on the front hub.

Front wheel weighs 693 grams with rim tape and no tubeless valve, which is not bad but could be lighter.

Rear wheel weighs exactly 800 grams, with rim tape and without tubeless valve.

Tubeless valves weigh 11 grams each

Pair of C50 wheels, ready for tire, cassette and rotor installation.

I like the more subtle branding of the new wheels, compared to the large white graphics of previous Dura-Ace wheels.

So far the quality of these wheels look good, with a competitive total weight of 1493 grams. Claimed weight is 1465 grams so these are slightly overweight by 2 percent.

I am happy with the weight of this C50 wheelset, being less than 1500 grams for a 50 mm rim profile. We shall see how it rides later on, after the full bike is assembled.