Hailing from Yorkshire, it’s perhaps no surprise that Hope manufacture some of the most no nonsense kit around.
Hope have stepped up to the mark with the Mono RS wheelset, available with six different hub colours and Mavic Open Pro rims or the Stan’s No Tubes Alpha 400 that we are testing here. While the Open Pro is a long-established winter favourite, we’ve chosen the Stan’s option for a chance to conduct further testing of the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX tubeless tyre.
The rims are a triple channel, aluminium extrusion that is pitched as a tougher rim than their Alpha 340 rim, and as such, better suited to heavier riders and for general longevity. They are a welded joint construction with 32-hole drilling; the rim is not fitted with eyelets. The brake surface is machined for braking consistency and includes a wear indicator.
The rim also incorporates Stan’s Bead Socket Technology, one they claim allows for a rounder tyre shape and increased air volume.
The hubs are Hope’s own RS Monos, CNC machined in Barnoldswick. The craftsmanship shines through: these really are nice looking hubs. They’re equipped with cartridge bearings, and in our experience of Hope hubs should require little or no attention for quite some period. The rear hub has a four-pawl ratchet with 40 engagement points.
It is worth noting for those who have never owned Hope hubs that they have a distinctive sound, and these are no exception: the ratchet sounds to me like a fine engineering at work and I have always rather enjoyed it. The freehub is made from aluminium, available in Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo varieties, and is fully serviceable: pawls, springs and bearings all stocked by Hope if your local bike shop does not already have them.
The spokes are stainless steel Sapim Sprints, a tradiditional J Bend spoke notable by its absence from Sapim’s website and so perhaps one made to order for Hope. There are two spare spokes supplied with the package – a nice touch.
The wheels retail at £380 for the set (£240 rear and £140 front) and weighed in at a very competitive 1620 grams on the RCUK scales of truth. They are not supplied with skewers but Hope make some rather fine CNC machined units with stainless steel axles.
We are looking forward to getting these on the RCUK Test Rig to see if they live up to their substantial promise. Check back soon to see how we get on.
Price: £140 front; £240 rear
Size: 700c
Colour: Black
Website: Hope Tech
