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. 

Upgrading your wheels can seriously transform the way your bike rides, especially if they are made by Industry Nine. Their 1/1 Enduro S wheels are extremely durable, have great engagement, look fantastic, and the price is right. Our buddy Rukman upgraded his rig with a set and has been buzzing since. Read on for more!

Overview

I had always eyed a set of I9 wheels in the past, specifically the Torch hubs even before the Hydra's came out. Unless you have been living under a rock or maybe had the sense knocked out of you trying to storm through the local rock garden, everyone knows that fast engagement and made in the USA quality are the envy of most riders. But the parts fund jar was looking a little light, so I had to make due by running the stock wheelset that came with my ride. And for those of you who have had the not so good fortune of running Formula hubs, let me tell you that although they have held up well for an OEM product, 18 degrees of engagement is not fun when your definition of a good time is riding technical trails and rock gardens in northern NJ and NY.

So when i9 introduced their entry level 1/1 Wheelset with 4 degrees of engagement at a reasonable price, it definitely got put on the wish list. No fancy colors, just all black and close to the performance of the Torch at a fraction of a price had me sold as my next purchase...once i could swing it. So what happens when you are parts surfing at 2am and come across one of Worldwide Cyclery's Mega Deals and find out THIS WHEESET was on it. You add it to the cart before they sell out and don't ask questions. I'm sure someone made a mistake selling it to me but I won't argue about getting an awesome wheelset at an even better price.

Quick shipping had it to my door in a flash and in the middle of this pandemic the FedEx driver leaves it on the porch and runs away. Thankfully the local neighborhood kids are not tempted to steal a box with a big i9 symbol on the outside of it!

Quick check on the scale has the wheelset clocking in at 1972g which is just a tad above the advertised 1900g. Wheels come with a smooth plastic rim liner and tubeless valves already installed so mounting up my set of Maxxis DHF 2.5 in front and DHF 2.3 in the rear was painless. Tires mounted pretty easily on the 30.5mm internal width rims and I was able to get it seated with just a floor pump. Not sure if the logos are laser etched or some other process but they look really sharp and is a nice step up compared to the decals most companies use these days.

I already am having an easier time navigating certain sections which used to give me fits to clear.

For those who have not experienced high engagement hubs, it is a world of difference. Especially here on my local trails where you have to worry about pedal strikes and are constantly clocking your cranks back and forth to clear the technical features. I have only had the pleasure of a few rides since the initial install, but I already am having an easier time navigating certain sections which used to give me fits to clear.

Final Thoughts

Not all of us are going to invest $1500+ on a carbon wheelset, so for a fraction of the price the Enduro S wheelset strikes a good balance for weight, stiffness, and performance. In my book, next to proper suspension setup, a good wheelset and tires can make as much or more of a difference in my book. Do yourself a favor and get some high engagement hubs! Thanks to i9 for putting out a great product and to Worldwide for a great deal!