Industry Nine is at it again. This time, they’re focused on the world of road and gravel with a new product line called SOLiX. Impressively, I9 claims this is their most technically advanced hub system to date – offering a massive 605 points of engagement!
Industry Nine SOLiX wheelset — What is it?
The new SOLiX line arrives in two wheelsets with different personalities. They have two distinct hubs and spoke configurations designed for road, gravel, or whatever you ride. Builds are customizable, but I9 puts them in two pathways: SOLiX SL and SOLiX G.
The SOLiX SL is the race/lightweight focused of the bunch, and the SOLiX G is for the off-road adventurer.
The SOLiX wheelsets are both built around the i9s SOLiX hubset. The new hubset is a continuously-phased five-pawl freehub with a 121-tooth drive ring. It offers 605 contact points, translating to an ultra-fine .59° engagement. That’s not quite the 690 POE and 0.52º of the I9 Hydra hub system, but it’s far more than we typically see with gravel and road hubs.
I9 has also has an all-new hubshell design meant to make the hubs more durable and faster when coasting. All of these pieces together add up to what they’re considering their most technologically advanced hub system yet.
I9 SOLiX SL Wheelset
The SOLiX SL is the lighter and more road-focused wheel. According to the brand, the SL is the “highest-performing lightweight road and gravel race wheels from i9.” The new wheelset features a slew of high-end build features and a respectable weight of 1270g for the carbon rim build.
This includes CFD-designed rims and straight-pull Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes anchored in the lightweight, minimalist SOLiX hubs. Riders looking for extra flair can select 11 anodized hub colors and nine spoke nipple colors from the custom wheel designer. The SOLiX SL Wheel Line features a full array of profiles to match climbing, aero, or mixed terrain applications; the SOLiX SL range well equips road, gravel, or cyclocross riders.
SOLiX SL Wheel Details:
- Hole Count: 24
- Wheelset Weights starting at 1270g
- Engagement: 605 POE Or.59 Degrees
- Axle Specs: 12×100 Front | 12×142 Rear
- Freehub Body: Sram Xd-R | Shimano Hg | Shimano Ms-R | Campagnolo N3w
- MSRP (Starting At): Alloy $1295/Set | Carbon $2295/Set
SOLiX G Gravel Wheelset
The SOLiX collection also offers the most adventure-worthy and fully customizable gravel wheel from i9. The SOLiX G platform is for riders who want connected handling, a solid stiffness-to-weight ratio compared to traditional wheels, and the possibility to match everything on the bike. Thanks to tech borrowed from the i9 MTB realm, these wheelsets excel on backcountry and gravel routes. The hubs and spokes are available in 11 anodized colors, inviting riders to configure their dream wheels via custom wheel designs.
SOLiX G Details:
- Hole Count: 24
- Wheelset Weights Starting at 1320g
- Engagement: 605 POE Or.59 Degrees
- Axle Specs: 12×100 Front | 12×142 Rear
- Freehub Body: Sram Xd-R | Shimano Hg | Shimano Ms-R | Campagnolo N3w
- MSRP (Starting At): Alloy $1405/Set | Carbon $2395/Set
All New i9 AR40 Rims Hooked Rims.
There is a lot to say about hooked and hookless rims right now, and i9 is staying hooked in their newest line. Why? The hooked rims permit higher tire pressures, mitigating blowoff risks associated with hookless rims and allowing for a lower bead wall height than hookless road rims.
The AR40 rim features a 25mm internal width and a 35mm external width, providing a nice perch for tires ranging from 28mm to 34mm and offering aero advantages and an airfoil shape. I9 claims this design extends its aero benefits to tires up to 40mm wide, making it versatile for any terrain and tread choice.
The design team at i9 created a 4mm wide bead wall to reduce the risk of pinch flats. This design hopes to disperse impact force over a broader area. Lastly, the high-impact strength of the layup is tailored for gravel applications, reinforcing the wheel’s ability to withstand impact forces and sustained abuse on rough roads and trails.
SOLiX Hubset
At the heart of SOLiX Hubs is a continuously-phased five-pawl freehub seamlessly
integrating with a 121-tooth drive ring with a whopping 605 points of contact, translating to an ultra-fine .59° engagement. Crafted from A2 tool steel using precision wire EDM cutting, the pawls and drive rings are engineered for maximum durability.
Industry Nine reduced pawl rotation and spring pressure, optimized drive ring diameter, and changed the contact seal layout, reducing resistance and freewheeling noise. This all culminates in faster engagement, lower friction, and enhanced durability.
SOLiX Hubset Details:
- Hole Count: 24| 28
- Engagement: 605 P.O.E or .59 degrees
- Axle Specs: 12X100 Front | 12X142 Rear
- Freehub Body : SRAM XD-R | Shimano HG | Shimano MS-R | Campagnolo N3W
- Weight: Front 110g | Rear 223g
- MSRP: $695 pair
