They have a much shallower profile than we are used to seeing, but it is still a double-wall rim. 21mm profile with concave sidewalls, which combine to keep chatter smooth and offer true vertical compliance when you need it. Notice also, external nipples.
Making them more compliant likely improved the impact absorption, but they also got wider hookless beads, which also helps. Subtle details like a 4.2mm bead for the front and a 4.7mm bead for the rear showcase how much thought was put into designing each wheel for its intended purpose. This is very exciting and a new precedent for what makes a high-end carbon wheel vs. the one mold-fits-all overseas model that other brands often offer.
So what do they ride like? Vince got a chance to lace up a set of the M6 rims to new Industry Nine Solix MTN hubs and get a few rides in.
“I kept everything else on my SLACKR the same, just changed to the ENVE wheels. I immediately noticed they were smoother and had better power transfer not only when pedaling but also when pumping the trail. The increased smoothness was most noticeable when the bike is on edge or cornering. Diving into pump track corners it really stood out. Riding single-speed on a pump track makes it easy to isolate what a given component is doing for you.
On the trail the M6 wheels carry momentum and hold a line cornering. As a 160lbs rider (with gear) it is great to ride a lightweight carbon wheelset with trail duty credentials and not get beat up. The flex is just enough. Riders over 200lbs might benefit from lacing the M6 rims to round spokes to stiffen the ride quality. I am running them with a bladed spokes.
I’m happy with the tire profiles front and rear on my 2.4” tires with the two different-sized rims. It makes a ton of sense to have a rim dedicated for both. I am excited to see more companies going this way and building more optimized components. So far I am really impressed.
