Bontrager Rhythm Elite Wheel Review
Bontrager Rhythm Elite Wheels look as good as they perform!
MSRP: $440 (Killer Deals Below)
Avg. Rating: Not Rated
Description: Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels are Bontragers entry into the rough and tumble All Mountain category. Bontrager Rhythm heels bring a lot to the table with 28 spoke wheels, DT built hubs and a 28mm rim width. This allows you to run a bigger tire that can stand up to the hard hits and impacts that all day rides can produce. If you are in the market for a low buck set of replacement wheels then the Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels could serve your purpose well. Check out our reviews below and if you have used these wheels before then feel free to leave your own review. We'd love to hear what you think of the Bontrager Rhythm wheels
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Ebay Deals
MSRP on the Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels are $440 dollars......so drool over these deals and grab em while you they are there!
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 NEW BONTRAGER RHYTHM Downhill Disc Brake Front Hub 15mm  US $28.88
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 BONTRAGER RHYTHM SHORTS WITH LINER BLACK LARGE NEW US $11.00
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 Bontrager Rhythm Elite TLR Disc 29er 15mm Wheelset US $102.50
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 New Bontrager Rhythm Dual Lock Grips US $16.99
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 Bontrager Rhythm Elite 316 zero offset seatpost 400mm US $30.00
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 BONTRAGER RHYTHM ELITE WHEELSET 2010 NEW US $290.00
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Bontrager Rhythm Elite Review
We are not usually big fans of factory wheels as they tend to be built more towards economy of scale than performance but we have grown to be big fans of Trek bicycles. (Bike Snobs be damned) Bontrager is standard fare on the Trek lineup and we must admit, we've grown quite fond of much of the Bontrager lineup. Yep, we were surprised too.
These Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels are targeted at the "all-mountain" crowd and they are designed for riders who like to ride varied terrain and needs equipment that can handle some tough terrain. These wheels do a lot to minimize fatigue by offering a very rider friendly weight coming in at about 1,780g for the pair. A low spoke count (28) contributes to that and Bontrager employs a lightweight pair of hubs that are built by DT equipped with 14/15g butted spokes and alloy nipples.
Bontrager Rhythm Elite Strength
A couple of features contribute to the durability of the Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels with the first one being the front wheel employs a 20mm through-axle that will mate up to whatever big burly fork you choose to equip your bike with. The only downside is that you can't convert the hub to a quick release style so you will need a through-axle fork. Big deal to some, not a big deal to others. The second contributing factor is the girth. These Bontrager Rhythm wheels check in at a manly 28mm width which allows you to run a big set of healthy tires.
These Bontrager Rhythm wheels are also what Bontrager bills as TR or "Tubeless Ready" wheels. Similar to the well known UST system, these TR wheels utilize a locking tire bead/rim surface but also relies on a special rim strip and liquid sealant in the tire to seal it. You can still run a standard tire/tube combo if you choose but be aware that a common issue with this style of rim is that you need to make sure you have them properly seated all the way around the circumference of the wheel, otherwise you may end up with some wobble.
A few other hidden little features that strengthen these wheels are the use of offset rear spoke holes. They are offset slightly to the non-drive side which enhances the strength of the rear wheel by evening out the spoke tension.
Bontrager Rhythm Wheels on the Trail
Ok, with all that aside...how do they ride? Well once we got them out on the trail we certainly had no complaints about these rims. They felt plenty stiff and very stable even in the technical stuff but we would still prefer a 32 spoke wheel. I am a Clydesdale so I don't mind hefting around a little more weight in exchange or being able to bash the equipment. If you are a lighter rider then this probably isn't a big deal for you and quite honestly, we didn't actually experience any issues. It's just that 28 spoke wheels make me nervous, call me Sally.
If you are in the market for a decent set of factory style wheels and don't want to cough up the dough for full on customs, then these Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels might be the perfect choice for you.
Video Reviews
No video review is available at this time for the Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels.
