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

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

When upgrading components on a bike, some components aren't very noticeable. But hands down the most noticeable upgrade is wheels. There's a lot of factors at play that change the ride characteristics. Our friend, John has been running the I9's 1/1 Enduro S wheels. See what they think!

Overview

Even before my long-awaited new bike arrived, I knew my first upgrade was going to be the wheelset. After much research, reviews, and conversations at the local bike shop, I ended up with the Industry Nine 1/1 Enduro S Wheelset…again. I say again because I’ve already made this upgrade once before to my 27.5 trail bike. While I was pleased with them for the reasons described below, I wanted to go through my options one more time to make certain this was the wheelset best suited for the bike, my skill level, my local trails, and my budget.

No one should need much convincing regarding the quality of Industry Nine’s products. They’ve made a name for themselves that is well deserved, and that level of quality is certainly on display with the Enduro S Wheelset. The aesthetics are sharp and offer a sleek look and style that should complement any bike. The 28-hole count makes for a smooth ride but without sacrificing toughness. I actually did manage to break a spoke but didn’t even realize it until I was getting ready for my next ride. When I brought it in to the shop the mechanic commented that that’s one of the reasons why he loves Industry Nines…” you can pop a spoke and not even notice it” he said.

Another key reason I went with the 1/1’s was the hub engagement. To be honest, I initially wanted to get into a hub that had higher engagement like Onyx or even the Hydra’s. I really liked the idea of power instantly being transferred from the cranks to the wheel. However, when I weighed everything out…the cost, the benefits, the availability…I landed on the 1/1 Wheelset. And I’m glad I did. The 90 points of engagement offer plenty in terms of a quick response. In practical terms, all but those who primarily ride trials bikes would likely be satisfied with the 4-degree engagement provided by the 1/1’s, especially for the price. Not only that, but the 6 Pawl freehub body is solid and easy to maintain.

One other note regarding Industry Nine as a company. Because when you buy a product, you get the company and customer service as well. At one point, I noticed some drag in the hub that was causing me quite a bit of grief on the trail. (I didn’t realize it until much later, but this started happening after getting my bike back from the shop following a cassette and chain replacement). I happened to be in Asheville, NC where Industry Nine is located, and brought the wheel in for them to look at.

They gladly welcomed me into the shop, took the cassette off, showed me the problem, and took care of it right on the spot…for free.

No appointment, no paperwork, not the slightest sense I was inconveniencing them, just stellar customer service.

Final Thoughts

Not only is the wheelset amazing, but the company and the service are there to match. You can’t go wrong with a wheelset from Industry Nine. This is my second set of the Enduro S 1/1s, and I couldn’t be happier with the level of performance for such a reasonable price.