Blackhawk Wheel Co. 27.5" Murder Carbon AM

Fast, tough rims from a new manufacturer

Pros

- light
- wholly without flex
- broad tire seat
- fast through choppy trails

Cons

- unknown longevity
- lack of flex can break spokes
- increased tire wear

Review

A high-quality set of carbon fiber wheels can transform your rides on the trail from good to great. The handmade 2016 version of the Blackhawk Wheel Co. 27.5" Murder Carbon AM is an all-mountain or enduro wheel rim constructed of Toray T700 Carbon Fiber, offering a 35mm wide profile to increase braking and cornering performance. The sinister matte black appearance will match up well to almost any bike paint scheme.

Tipping the scales at just 400 grams, these light, stiff wheels display awesome lateral rigidity while still absorbing vibration, and deliver perfect square edge hits on the trail due to their absolute unwillingness to flex to the side. The decrease in rotational weight will definitely make your bike feel lighter while out on the trails, especially at higher speeds. These rims have a stiff snappy feel coming out of corners, despite their light weight, and roll incredibly fast. The lack of lateral flex creates an outstanding platform for all types of riding but it can be a little rough compared to the ride of softer aluminum rims.

Using quality spokes is recommended as the lack of flex in the rim can translate to flex in the spokes, resulting in recurring spoke breakage. Carbon does not drift well and prefers to stay hooked up to the trail so you may find yourself unable to slide into corners using Blackhawk wheels. The sidewalls and side knobs of your tires may also wear quicker due to the lack of flex in the rim as they are forced to pick up the slack.

The contact bed is broad, expanding the contact area of your favorite tire for improved traction and cornering, and the patented heavy duty sidewalls ensure those tires stay protected and the beads stay connected. The hookless rim design, compatible with tubes or tubeless, are specifically designed for Enduro, All Mountain and X-Country riding.

Murder rims are available for individual purchase, or as part of a complete wheelset with Hope Pro 2 EVO hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes.