Industry Nine 1/1 Enduro S Wheelset [Rider Review]

Industry Nine is one of the big names that comes up when talking about upgrading wheels. Their hub tolerances and engagement is one of the best in the game. I9 packs all of their high quality precision in a reasonable price with their Enduro S wheels. See what our customer thinks!

Overview

If you are in the market for a high quality alloy wheel set, I recommend taking a close look at the Industry Nine 1/1 Enduro S wheel set (The “S” on the rim refers to “Steel” spokes). I recently purchased a 29” wheelset to replace my OEM wheels on a a Trek Fuel and I am very stoked on the purchase. I originally bought an entry level Fuel as I was getting into the sport and have been slowly working through upgrades. I prioritized upgrading the wheel set due largely to my experience in converting the OEM wheels to tubeless. When I converted the OEM wheels the pin seal leaked excessively. That, combined with the low engagement of the stock hub with upwards of ~20 degrees rotation, had me in the market for new wheels. I went looking for a high build quality, high engagement hub that wouldn't break the bank. In my search I focused on alloy in order to keep the price down (and if I’m being honest, I’m still a little apprehensive when it comes to carbon wheel strength and longevity as I’m not the smallest rider at 200lbs). I came across the many helpful videos at Worldwide (which happens to be headquartered locally) and found the insights and reviews immensely helpful. In my search honed in on the Industry nine 1/1s based on reviews and specs.

The I9 reputation for build quality (made in the United States is a big plus) and the 90 points of engagement for less than $800 had me sold on giving them a go. Evidently to achieve the price point while still making a high end product, Industry Nine machines the hubshell out of blank material in house, same as their higher priced hubs, but with a simplified process to increase throughput. As I understand it, technically there are only 45 teeth on the drive ring, but the phased sets of pawls effectively double that to 90. Thanks to this “dual phased-pawl” drive mechanism, The 90 points of engagement means 4 degrees of rotation max before engagement, which was a big step up from my older wheels. Plus they come with a confidence-inspiring 2-year warranty as well.

Suffice to say, after reading up on these wheels I was stoked to get them in hand and on the bike. I went with the I9 wheel set with 15 x 110mm/12 x 148mm boost hub spacing, set up with Shimano Micro Spline and with 6-Bolt brake rotor mounts in black. The set weight was quoted at 1900g for the 29”. Upon unboxing, the build quality was immediately evident. After installation the reduction in rotating weight was noticeable. In addition to the weight difference, the first ride felt more snappy and responsive compared to the OEM setup. Plus they sound like a horde of angry bees when descending the trail which is awesome.

Final Thoughts

In summary, I’m very happy with this wheelset, and if you are in the market for an affordable well-built alloy wheel I highly recommend checking these out.