The proper wheelset is critical to overall bike performance. It may cost a lot, but think about it… the wheels are darn important. Next to the frame and fork, the wheels are the next most important parts of your ride quality. Flimsy, cheap wheels will ruin your ride quality faster than a Deore rear derailleur ever will, so spend wisely.
Now the Crank Brothers Iodine’s have been matched to my new Ibis Mojo for the past 6 months. When I first got the bike assembled in all its glory, I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. The burnt orange Iodine’s were just the perfect match with the natural carbon fiber black of the Mojo. The whole package just looks amazing. I wasn’t the only one… most everyone who saw the bike commented on how cool the wheels were.
While looks are great and all, they don’t get you much when the trails get gnarly. In every riding condition, I’ve been super-impressed with the ride quality of the Iodine’s.
Rolling quality is outstanding as these wheels seem to roll on and on by themselves. The rear hub provides fast and smooth engagement under all load conditions–steep climbs, fast rollers and downhill transitions. Quick adjustments in rocky sections to avoid pedal-strikes are met with a solid drivetrain no matter the location. The only negative of the freehub is the volume as you’re coasting downhill. The tell-tale whirrrrrr is really quite loud. My riding buddies have commented multiple times on the loudness, but if that’s the only flaw, it’s pretty minor.
Other than that, my initial set of 15mm end caps were machined a little off, so I had to spend a few minutes hand-sanding the inside diameter to remove a few microns. A second set of caps were much better, so it appears to no longer be an issue.
I just love laying into corners with the Iodine’s as they track straight and true no matter how hard-pressed. Tracking through rock gardens and rough terrain, the Iodine’s simply hold their line. Drops and jumps are also met with solid hoops underfoot.
Everywhere from the epic downhill of the Wasatch Crest Trail to the winding singletrack of the Ridge Trail 157 and fast loops in Corner Canyon have been perfect for these wheels.
I’ve yet to ride these tubeless (I know, I know…), but will change to tubeless in the Spring and post a follow-up.
The Good
- Lateral stiffness
- Tracking through the rough stuff
- Smooth rolling
- Unique design
- Quick freehub engagement
- Easy to service and/or replace bearings
- Amazing good looks (the wheels or me?)
- Tubeless-compatibility
The Bad
- Loud freehub
- Proprietary spokes may be difficult to find in a pinch
- Color options may clash with your ride
- It’ll cost ya’
The Final Word: Crank Brothers Iodine Wheelset
If you’re in the market for a new set of high-end all-mountain wheels, give the the $950 Crank Brothers Iodine wheelset a fair shake–they roll well and adeptly track through rough stuff.
12.22.2009 at 2:26 pm - by Brig Graff
they definitely a good-looking wheels, just not sure I’m willing to pony up the $$ for them just yet…
12.22.2009 at 10:54 pm - by Jason Mitchell
Definitely understandable, but keep in mind that the wheelset is uber-important to overall ride quality. Once you ride a variety of wheelsets, you’ll really begin to understand just what a great wheelset does for a bike. Time to upgrade your ride.