Specialized Roval Control SL and Control - The best XC race wheels around?

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Specialized use their unique, seriously tough, puncture reducing, bomber warranty Flat Top carbon rim design on two different XC wheels. The super light and super spendy Roval Control SL and the Roval Control at half the price. But how well do they ride, are their any drawbacks and which is the best Roval wheel for you?
Just a quick one as I try and catch up with a massive review backlog and rest a ribcage that's still suffering from the mosh pit at a Bob Vylan gig the other week. Let me know what your favourite fast wheels are and why in the comments.
Thanks as always for watching
GuyKes

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Опубликовано:

30 ноя 2023

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Комментарии : 37

@Doggepp 7 месяцев назад

Worth noting for anyone watching in Europe - The specialized "it happens" warranty does not apply to Europe, US and UK customers only. Dont get your hopes up, I've smashed my rovals and no compensation was offered. Lovely set of wheels otherwise

@adamj2281 2 месяца назад

Just bought the Roval Control for $1100 or so......throwing them on a Transition Spur. Debating a quicker tire now, thanks for this review.

@mvdh05 7 месяцев назад

I thought the Control Carbon and Control SL where not tire insert compatible? Only the Aluminium version are tire insert compatible.

@OSR_1 6 месяцев назад

Hey Guy, thanks for the video - what would you recommend between the Controls (1450g ones) at £999 or the Hunt Proven Race XC (1469g ones) at £799 - £40 first wheels discount? 95kg rider, will be going on my Epic Evo for stage races and maybe some ultras next year like Atlas.. (so reliability is key)

@GuyKesTV 6 месяцев назад

The Hunts are a great wheel but if reliability is the key then the DT hubs on the Rovals are the winner for sure. Plus those Spesh rims seem super tough. I’ve not damaged them in three years (or trashed any tyres). Apparently the Spesh XC team haven’t smashed any either.

@OSR_1 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for the quick response, that’s really helpful. Will go that direction in that case :). All the best

@samd6405 24 дня назад

Are the Enve M525 wheels still relative in 2024? What is the best XC race wheelset for a 200lb / 91kg rider?

@frankschock9981 7 месяцев назад

Any trouble installing tires on these rims? Was reading a review saying it's impossible to seat the tire beads without an air compressor and bead doesn't hold tight with low psi in tires.

@GuyKesTV 7 месяцев назад

I've had no problems getting tyres on and off with either set of Controls. I've had em proper floppy with sub 600g tires on with no drama either. The new Traverse SL wheels on the other hand are an absolute sod to get tires onto and I've not even tried to get them off yet.

@Zzyyxx22 7 месяцев назад

How are they vs something like Hunt’s xc wheel or a hope hub on a suitable rim but hand built. I’ve been going back and forth on this decision for my chisel.

@GuyKesTV 6 месяцев назад

Sorry for delay. Hunts new Proven Carbon Race are very similar in ride and weight to the Controls but cheaper but you’ll probably be replacing the hub bearings a lot more. Hope Pro 5 are great hubs but finding a reliable light weight rim at a low cost rather than something random out of China would be the hard bit of that combo

@skinny8019 7 месяцев назад

nice review...how do these control and SL models compare to bontrager kovee pro wheels you rode on the caliber? i have interest in the kovee pro with bontrager 108t xc hub.

@GuyKesTV 7 месяцев назад

The Kovee RSL are slightly lighter than the SL and the 108 point pick up is obviously a lot faster than the Rovals. They're a bit sharper in feel physically too but I did pinch puncture on them when I've not had any on the Rovals in several years. I've seen some impact test results where the Bontragers come off a lot worse too.

@skinny8019 7 месяцев назад

thank you for your detailed reply.@@GuyKesTV

@phan0701 3 месяца назад

How do the control SLs compare to reserve 28 xc and the Zipp 1zero hitop sw? I have the Zipp 1zero hitop sw and I also have the dt swiss xmc 1200. I like the compliance of the zipps. The dt swiss xmc 1200 are bomb proof but as you know they are heavier.

@GuyKesTV 3 месяца назад

Reserve 28 are very similar to the Zipp in feel. The SLs are between those two and the DTs in terms of stiffness but the lightest of the lot. Most expensive too though

@deanf2259 8 месяцев назад

Hi Guy, where did you get your cap? Nice wheels.

@GuyKesTV 8 месяцев назад

Here you go mate peatys.co.uk/collections/caps/products/peatys-aw24-pubwear-5-panel-speed

@mircea5013 6 месяцев назад

but.. if I'm not doing any big jumps, and I'm 71kgs (157lbs) and using them on a trail bike like the Propain Hugene/Canyon Neuron, would that be an issue? They market them as XC though. Will I be having problems with the non-SL? :P

@GuyKesTV 6 месяцев назад

Have you seen what sort of stuff the XC guys ride now 🤣 They’ll be fine with that kind of riding but I’d probably go with the standard controls just because they’ve got more spokes to spread the load

@mircea5013 6 месяцев назад

@@GuyKesTV Yeah, standard it is. Theres the Hunt Proven Race XC too and they offer lifetime crash replacement & warranty. I saw you liked them. Would that be an even better alternative? :)

@MillerRL96 8 месяцев назад

I figured the non SL controls were on their way out. Haven’t seen them in stock on specialized websites for like 2-3 months.

@GuyKesTV 7 месяцев назад

Still continuing as far as I know

@yoavmiller216 8 месяцев назад

The one thing I don't know about all this: Wheels are great, I have no reson to doubt, but just how many weekend warriors like myself are willing to pay so much for alternative components? especially as an upgrade and not necessity? And just how many of these do they have to sell for a return on investment, or are these flagship bits to make us pay half for the rgular stuff without feeling bamboozled?

@GuyKesTV 8 месяцев назад

This is a good example of both. SL are the crazy expensive, serious racer spec. Control are the noticeable upgrade without costing an absolute fortune option

@frienduro24 8 месяцев назад

I got a set of the SLs. 15% off if sign up for the newsletters on their site. They are fast, but hella quiet.

@GuyKesTV 8 месяцев назад

They’re just really good wheels aren’t they?

@kevinlaevers9356 8 месяцев назад

Two years ago I was doubting between Duke SLS3 (now SLS4) with 180EXP’s and the Roval Control SL’s. The 24H front and minimalistic hubs made me wonder, so far not one single issue. Very reliable, still straight and smooth spinning hubs. Would love to see you review and compare the SLS4 wheels someday.

@frienduro24 8 месяцев назад

@@GuyKesTVcompared to my carbon Reserve SLs and I9 TrailS …..much, much better

@frankschock9981 7 месяцев назад

@Jasongristick are the reserves more compliant though?

@GuyKesTV 7 месяцев назад

@@frankschock9981 slightly, but the tires / pressures you run will always make way more difference

@fabian-barrington-hirst1974 8 месяцев назад

I have some on my s-works epic ht,no problems for me.was hard to find but got some in the end.alwsys worry still been carbon but still been bulletproof...

@GuyKesTV 7 месяцев назад

Was chatting to the head of Roval this week and apparently they’ve had zero rim breakages on the XC team in 3 seasons. The DH team is carnage though 🤣🤣

@robertkotroczo7908 Месяц назад

Everybody who watches you knows “you’ve been a professional bike tester for 25+ years”. Please stop saying it.

@GuyKesTV Месяц назад

I did for a bit, but more people complained when I stopped. I'll try and think of a way to mix it up, because believe me I'm even more bored of the damn phrase than you are!

@martinlr2222 Месяц назад

Also, not everyone knows. We MTB nerds do, but that isn't everyone arriving on this channel. The tagline sums Guy up in the shortest amount of time and welcomes people in. Just my tuppence worth!

@GuyKesTV Месяц назад

@@martinlr2222 thanks Martin, it’s hard to know what to do TBH 🤷‍♂️