FSA has a new top-tier wheel, and it’s finally under the 1,300g threshold. It also falls under FSA’s lifetime warranty program. But for those looking for a super svelte 32” race wheelset…you’ll have to wait longer.
The new wheelset brings major updates to the FSA wheel line, making them more competitive but also more expensive.
What is it? FSA KFX i30 XCO Race Wheelset
The KFX i30 is a 29-inch carbon wheelset built for XC, XCO, and marathon racing. It now weighs a claimed 1,250g, features a 30mm internal width, hookless rims, and FSA’s new 72-tooth PRS ratchet hub.
FSA developed the rim with riders from Cannondale Factory Racing and Lapierre Factory Racing. The team helped develop the wheels on the World Cup circuit. This feedback helped shape the rim, spoke system, hub engagement, and impact protection. FSA says KFX i30 prototypes have already won World Championship races before the wheels even reached the public.
At 1,250g, the KFX i30 is not the lightest wheelset in the pack, but it’s way better than the 1500-ishg of the past model, and let’s remember, weight isn’t everything.
30mm Internal, Hookless, and Asymmetric
The KFX i30 uses a 36mm external / 30mm internal carbon rim with a hookless bead.
That 30mm internal width matches where modern XC tires have gone. With 2.35-inch and 2.4-inch casings now common at the World Cup level, a wider rim gives the tire more support. Plus, it lets riders drop pressure without the sidewall folding over or becoming squirmy in hard corners.
FSA also offsets the spoke bed rather than centering it in the rim. FSA has done this for years, and most modern MTB manufacturers abide by it. The goal is to even out spoke tension between the drive and non-drive sides, which should help the wheel stay more stable in modern XCO conditions.
Anti-Pinch Rim Profile
The rim cross-section was also shaped around impact protection. FSA says the profile is meant to spread impact loads and reduce the chance of pinch flats on square-edge hits. The profile is tuned for strength-to-weight while reducing how hard the rim inevitably contacts the tire. I feel like thats probably more useful than shaving another handful of grams imo, but I’m also not on the World Cup circuit.
Bladed, Direct-Pull Spokes
FSA says it chose the bladed spoke profile to balance weight, strength, and controlled flex. We’ve seen prototypes of this wheelset built with BERD spokes for the XCO World Championships, and metal spokes make the most sense for daily use. The goal is a wheel that responds quickly under acceleration without feeling harsh once the course gets rough.
The straight-pull design also removes the traditional J-bend at the hub, eliminating one common stress point in a conventional spoke. Plus, it opens the door to carbon and BERD spoke rebuilds.
FSA pairs the spokes with Alpina ABS nipples, which use a self-locking nylon insert to keep the nipple from backing off under vibration and repeated impacts.
New PRS X-900 Ratchet Hub
At the center is FSA’s PRS X-900 alloy hub. The rear uses a 72-tooth ratchet, which works out to 5 degrees between engagement points. FSA says that gives the system 24% faster engagement than its standard three-pawl hub.
The hubs use seven sealed cartridge bearings, two in the front and five in the rear, with Micro Spline and SRAM XD freehub options. One slight bummer (or upgrade…): the hubs support 6-bolt rotors only. Center Lock has become common on high-end XC wheels (and it’s my fav), so riders moving over from a Center Lock setup will need different rotors.
Lefty Riders Are Covered
There is also a Lefty-compatible front wheel, which is a natural fit given Cannondale Factory Racing’s involvement in development – though not for long.
FSA lists the Lefty front at 608g, using the same 30mm internal, 36mm external hookless carbon rim as the standard version. That gives current Scalpel riders a factory-ready option without adapters or custom builds.
1,250g, $2,499, and about $2 Per Gram
The complete KFX i30 wheelset weighs 1,250g and costs $2,499 USD. FSA also includes the KFX i30 in its lifetime warranty program, which is a nice add-on, especially for MTB wheels.
The cost is a bit of a barrier, though, and works out to almost $2 per gram. It’s FSA’s most expensive mountain bike wheelset to date, but only time will tell if it’s worth the cash – we have a review set coming, so look for that soon.