Rapide CL II wheels are more budget-friendly thanks to a cheaper hub and spokes

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Fresh after the 2022 update of its range-topping CLX wheelsets, Roval has announced a new version of its less expensive Rapide CL wheelset.

The Rapide CL II hoops, like the quietly launched Alpinist CL II wheels, stand out because they incorporate exactly the same rims as the Rapide CLX II wheelset, laying claim to the same stable aero performance we experienced ourselves in our review of the top-tier wheelset.

However, in order to hit a cheaper price point of $1,750 / £1,500 / €1,800 / AU$2,600 for a complete wheelset, the Rapide CL II uses DT Swiss’ 350 hubs with stainless steel bearings, along with the brand’s Competition Race straight-pull spokes.

Although the new Rapide CL II is priced significantly lower than its Rapide CLX II sibling wheels, Roval claims the cheaper wheelset will deliver “the same Rapide CLX II speed, that same efficiency, that same incredible handling and stability in any conditions to more riders.”

That’s a bold claim, but because the Rapide CL II uses precisely the same rim designs – even down to the CLX-grade carbon layup – it’s fundamentally believable.

Each rim receives its own design, optimised for its position on the bike, with Roval standing by its 25 per cent stability improvement claim over the previous-generation CLX 50s.

The front rim is 51mm deep with a 35mm external width (21mm internal width), while the rear rim features a deeper 60mm section with a narrower 30mm external width (also 21mm internally).

The designs are said to give optimum performance and, importantly, stability in real-world conditions. The US brand claims that, although ultimate aero optimisation is important, smoothing out the losses from a twitchier wheelset will also see measurable improvements in efficiency.

Roval’s designers utilised reaction time studies and what it says is the first rider reaction time modelling algorithm to optimise the wheels for gusts of wind between 0.5 and 2 seconds in duration.

In the hands of a human, the Rapide CL II (and CLX II wheels, for that matter) are said to reduce the chances of an overreaction to a gusty crosswind, which in turn lowers the need for and severity of a second counter correction – both of which, Roval claims, ultimately cost speed.

Meanwhile, the hooked (as opposed to hookless) tubeless rim design stays, enabling riders to choose either clincher or tubeless tyres, depending on their preference. Roval also claims the design makes fitting easier, more secure and capable of supporting tubeless pressures of up to 110psi (should you wish).

As with the Rapide CLX II, the Rapide CL II’s rims are aerodynamically optimised for use with 26mm wide tyres, although it can accommodate tyres up to 35mm wide at pressures up to 110psi (tubeless) or 130psi (with tubes).

Roval says 38mm tyres are the maximum compatible width, but for any tyres 36 to 38mm wide you’ll be limited to 60psi regardless of your mounting method.

In order to reach the lower price point, naturally the Rapide CL II wheelset has been subject to some concessions versus the CLX IIs.

Firstly, the hubs are DT Swiss 350s, as opposed to the Roval AeroFlange Disc hubs seen on the CLX IIs.

These use a tried and tested 36-tooth star ratchet design with 10-degree engagements, but don’t feature DT Swiss’ latest EXP layout seen in its more premium 180 and 240 hubs.

For comparison, the Rapide CLX IIs feature this EXP design inside the custom, aero-optimised body, while they also spin around SINC ceramic bearings. The Rapide CL II gets the standard DT Swiss alloy bodies, and stainless steel bearings.

The 350 hubs accept straight-pull spokes, with the Rapide CL IIs using the Swiss brand’s Competition Race spokes (which aren’t aero-profiled), rather than the Aerolite spokes you’ll find on the Rapide CLX IIs.

That said, they’re arranged in the same radial 18 front / two-cross 24 rear arrangements as the top-tier wheelset.

These component switches are likely to lead to some form of performance loss versus the Rapide CLX IIs, although Roval doesn’t define what that could be.

All in, the Roval Rapide CL II wheelset is claimed to weigh 1,590g (725g at the front and 865g at the rear, including rim tape and valves), which is just 70g more than our measured 1,520g weight for the Rapide CLX IIs.

As you may have worked out, all of that extra weight comes from the hubs and spokes, minimising any gain around the rotating edge of the wheel.

The Roval Rapide CL II wheelset is available in all territories now, priced as follows:

Ashley Quinlan is a senior technical editor for BikeRadar, covering all things road and gravel. A trained journalist, he has been working in and around the bike industry for almost a decade, and riding for much longer. He’s written for road.cc, eBikeTips, RoadCyclingUK and Triathlon Plus magazine, covering the latest news and product launches, and writing in-depth reviews, group tests, buyer’s guides… and more. He’s also worked in PR for some of the industry’s biggest brands. A roadie at heart (who often casts an interested gaze at gravel and XC mountain biking), Ash has been told that he’s best used as windbreak thanks to his 188cm, 80-plus kilogram build. Despite this, he loves spending time in the mountains scaling cols and is a repeat finisher of the Étape du Tour.

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