Introducing the Easton Haven Carbon Wheelset 2

Easton is stepping up the all-mountain game with their Haven Carbon wheelset. Virtually handmade from start to finish at their EMX factory in Mexico, the Haven Carbons weigh in at a scant 1450 grams for the complete set and all the weight savings is due to the high-tech carbon rim.

The Technology
A recent addition to the Easton R&D team is Sayeed Syed. Sayeed has years of experience developing composites used in ballistics and military applications, which gives him a knowledge of materials and relationships with material suppliers. It is this experience that gave Easton the advantage when developing the Haven Carbon. As a result, Easton's Armored Ballistc Composite was born. ABC is a hybridized Carbon/HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene) composite secured by MRES-B resin which produces incredibly durable, yet light rims. By controlling the amount of resin used, weight is reduced, but with the HMPE technology, impact resistance is considerably increased, which is necessary in an off-road rim application. Lab-based impact tests have shown the rim durability. Easton is so confident in the Haven Carbon's durability that they offer a 2 year, no-questions-asked warranty on the wheels.

Building the Wheel
The entire wheel creation process, from raw materials to finished product, takes about 90 minutes at the EMX facility in Tijuana, Mexico. The carbon rims are laid up by hand in a clean room from composite that is cut by an Eastman Static table. From the lay-up, the rims are cooked and cured, where they then head to the sanding and drilling process. Technicians remove the excess resin, drill the spoke holes and clean the entire rim surface before heading to sticker and paint. After the graphics are applied, the patented threaded eyelets are inserted and the wheels moves to build. The rim is laced to the M1 series hubs by hand using one size of Sapim double-butted spokes throughout the entire wheelset. Once laced, the wheel is sent to music class. Easton techs tune and tension each wheel by hand, acoustically. While in the tensioning area, the sounds of spokes being plucked is like a mini-symphony of pings and pecks. A final tensionometer test and the wheels are complete.

Video tour of the wheel building process

Specs
The Haven Carbons weight 1450 grams for the set (610g FR, 840g R). Available in both 26-inch and 29-inch diameters.

Rims
- Easton Armored Ballistic Composite construction
- 21mm inner diameter width
- First carbon wheelset that is UST-ready

Hubs
- Easton M1 series front and rear hubs, custom machined hub bodies
- Front, 9mm/15mm convertible or 20mm
- Rear, 135mm QR or 142x12 / 135x12 convertible rear hub.
- Sealed-grade cartridge bearings
- Built-in bearing pre-load adjusters

Spokes
- 24, single-size Sapim double-butted spokes, 3x, front and rear
- Easton-patented threaded eyelet and nipple interface

Price
- $2300, includes 2-year, no-questions-asked insurance policy on the wheelset.
www.eastonbike.com for more information