ATV wheels FSA SC I30 VS KFX I28: Two visions of carbon, a crush ⋆ Vojo

FSA is best known for its very widespread markets and pedals on the market. But, for several years, FSA has also developed its range of carbon wheels for mountain biking. All development and manufacturing are carried out internally with homemade hubs and specific rims.

The range covers a wide spectrum, from XC to Gravity practices. For this comparison, we stayed on the XC/All-Mountain side with a test of the two lightest carbon wheel pairs in the range: the FSA NS SC I30 and the KFX i28.

On paper, they may seem close, especially in terms of weight, but we know that a pair of carbon wheels is not just a pair of carbon wheels and that behaviors can vary strongly on the ground.

Two families, two approaches

Let’s start with a context point. On the one hand, the NS SC I30 embody a desire to open up to a large audience. It is a pair of wheels which can be used for XC, but FSA communicates especially on robustness and versatility, with a 30 mm internal width and a construction validated by the brand for mounting on electric assistance mountain bikes. Well, we imagine them rather on a Light VTTAE, but it is quite rare on this segment to be underlined.

On the other hand, the KFX I28 register in the high -end XC family of FSA: here, everything is designed for performance, lightness and efficiency, without pouring into the extreme. However, we are surprised to see that the teams of teams sponsored by FSA (Cannondale with Jolanda Neff, Charlie Aldridge and Luca Martin, or Tom Pidcock) do not use the KFX in the World Cup, but rather rims that make SC I30 think!

On paper, the weights are quite close: just 1515 g the pair on our scale for the SC i30 and around 1566 g for the KFX i28 (in both cases with valves and rim background). On the price side on the other hand, there is a big difference: € 1149 for the SC i30, which places them among the most accessible models on the market in carbon rims, and € 1899 for the KFX i28 which are rather in the high end.

Let’s see each pair a little in more detail:

NS SC I30: Costaud, without heaviness

The FSA NS SC I30 use a carbon rim with a 22 mm height hookless profile and an internal canal of 30 mm, suitable for wide tires that are found today in most disciplines, from XC to All-Mountain, including on e-bikes. As a reminder, such an internal width of the rim promotes the stability of the tire, a better support surface and optimizes the use of low pressures to increase grip and comfort.

The rim is obviously compatible Tubeless and especially presented by FSA as in accordance with the resistance requirements linked to VAE use. Thought as an accessible and robust carbon solution, the SC I30 offers a compromise between sustainability, compatibility with modern tires and contained weights, all for a competitive rate in its category.

The shelving is based on 28 right-drawing flat-drawing rays (direct-pull) crossed by two, mounted on FSA hubs equipped with a 6-traditional free wheel body. The engagement system is not specifically focused, but it remains sufficient for the versatile use for which this pair of wheels is intended. The whole was also validated for use in electric mountain biking, with a reinforced structure and increased tolerance for torque and load constraints.

KFX i28: sharpened but not exclusive

In contrast, the KFX I28 assumes its XC origins, but without falling into the caricature of the ultra-light and uncomfortable wheel. The rim, in internal 28 mm, adopts an asymmetrical profile optimized to balance the tensions between the two shelves.

The shelving is in 24 Straight-Pull shelves, with reinforced radius heads at the rims. The brand also uses brass nuts and not in steel, in order to avoid any harmful oxidation phenomenon with rim and nuts.

And above all, the PRS X900 hubs bring more compared to the other models in the FSA range, with a free wheel body at 72 engagement points, offering a more direct response to pedaling.

FSA NS SC i30 vs KFX i28 : le test terrain

Aesthetically, the FSA wheels both play sobriety with black, black and more black. The rim makes it possible to differentiate the two models at the first glance, with a classic rounded shape on the SC i30 and reinforcements in the heads of shelves on the KFX i28. On the scale, we were surprised to note that the cheapest model (SC I30) is also the lightest! We were therefore curious to see what can differentiate them in the field.

Quite quickly, we feel that, in both cases, we are not on super light wheels. At more than 1500 g the pair, we are far from records for carbon wheels, and for XC competition use, we can easily find lighter wheels that will offer more sharp accelerations.

Despite everything, the FSAs are far from being ridiculous and you don’t really feel penalized in the reminders, or even in long climbs. It is the mark of a quality assembly which allows good transmission of energy and rims which are probably not too heavy, even if the pair of complete wheels does not break a record.

We clearly feel that FSA played the card of robustness and wanted wheels capable of performing on very difficult terrain without flinching. At the end of this long -lasting test which extended over 6 months, with the paths of the sun and a round of Mont Blanc in the highlight, all with pilots who usually roll in enduro … They do not flinch!

They have however managed to type rocks, to go as far as puncturing, to make piloting errors, but nothing seemed to be able to reach these two pairs of FSA wheels, which barely have a few visible claws on their rims. In short, hat and we can recommend them without reservation to heavier and/or rolling drivers who ride strong, on brittle terrain.

In terms of downhill behavior, the FSA SC I30 draw a little more, the game than the KFX i28. Is it their profile, their slightly greater width, or both? Anyway, they are a little more tolerant and stable than the KFX when it beats, and also a little more stable in the big supports. In both cases, these are not too demanding carbon wheels, but we preferred the SC i30.

To finish to decide between them, we compared them alternately on the same circuit on a hardtail, in addition to the long-term test which was carried out on all-lives (BH Lynx SLS, Santa Cruz Blur Tr and Trek Fuel Ex). There, in addition to confirming the slight superiority of the SC i30 in downhill and on a brittle terrain, we were also able to realize that the entry -level model is really playing with the KFX I28 in reminders and acceleration. Given their much more advantageous price, so they logically win the match!

Verdict

FSA is not well known for its wheels, but it could change! This test has shown that the brand is able to make hyper solid carbon rims and montages that hold over time, just to fill the demanding pilots, including the imposing templates that roll on very brittle terrain. On the other hand, there will still be efforts to be made in terms of weight, especially on the high -end model, to be in terms of competition. The FSA KFX I28 are also good wheels, but at € 1899 for 1565 g, they find it difficult to convince fully. On the other hand, the FSA SC I30 are a real revelation: lighter, hyper solid, very pleasant in terms of their overall behavior, which could suit XC but also to All-Mountain and montages on electric mountain biking … They check all boxes and in addition they are among the most accessible carbon wheels on the market. In short, you will understand where our favorite is going!