REVIEW - FSA KFX i28 Cross-Country and Trail Wheels

FSA, a long-time player in the cycling wheel and component game, recently introduced a new XC wheelset dubbed KFX i28 to their existing KFX range. The i28 label is fairly obvious as the wheels feature carbon rims with a 28mm internal width. What's new about the rim is the variable height design with more material near spoke holes and less material in between. Developed with Olympic XC and XC marathon athletes, FSA claims the rim design provides durability with exceptional performance on the trail. 24 straight-pull spokes connect the rims to PRS hubs which feature a high-engagement 72-tooth ratchet out back. All KFX i28 wheels are hand-built, ensuring spoke tension is perfect right out of the factory.

Features

• Hand-built, in-house at FSA
• 29-inch diameter
• Variable height carbon rims
• 28mm internal width, 24-hole asymmetric, hookless bead rims
• Alloy PRS straight-pull hubs
• Front: 15x110mm boost, Rear: 12x148mm boost
• Rear driver options: Shimano Microspline, SRAM XD (tested)
• Six-hole rotor bolt pattern
• 24, 2-cross, double-butted, straight-pull spokes, brass nipples
• Warranty: Lifetime manufacturer defect and lifetime crash replacement policy
• Weight: 1,528g (without valves and rim tape) - 712g front, 816g rear
• Price: $1,899 USD

Initial Impressions

The KFX i28 wheels were mounted up to a Specialized Epic EVO. The 1566-gram claimed weight for both wheels puts these roughly in the middle of the category for this type of wheel. They're not feather-weight race wheels, but are certainly not heavy. The stock Roval wheels on our Epic EVO were slightly lighter, so the Rovals would become race wheels with race-ready tires. The FSA wheels are definitely race-capable, but using them for downcountry/trail riding was a better fit for our tester. A Specialized Purgatory went up front (Grid Trail / T9), and a Specialized Ground Control (Grid / T7) graced the rear wheel.

Installation of the wheels was generally smooth and there were no issues with mounting tires and rotors, or fit with the frame or fork. One minor annoyance was with the rim’s asymmetrical dimpled valve hole. FSA includes a corresponding asymmetrical gasket that goes under the lock nut of the valve stem. The issue encountered was that as the nut was tightened, the gasket would also start turning, and would no longer conform to the shape of the rim. There was no discernible performance problem, so it was just a minor inconvenience.

FSA offers a lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects and a lifetime crash replacement policy.

On the Trail

The wheels were ridden in a variety of Southern California conditions ranging from fireroads to slightly rowdy downhill trails. Stiffness and compliance felt excellent aboard the KFX i28s. One 50-mile event had our tester going through about half a dozen water crossings, but no creaks or noises ever developed. Overall reliability and performance has been excellent. There hasn't been a second thought given to the KFX i28 wheels during rides, which means more time to focus on the trail out front. For that reason, these wheels are a hit.

The high-engagement freehub is on the louder side, but not over the top. In fact, it came in handy for alerting hikers on descents. The rear hub seems to have a bit more drag than we're used to when spinning the wheel freely. This is a trade-off with such high hub engagement. When we asked FSA, they concurred but also noted that there is a break-in period and the drag should minimize over time. Our brief test period logged about 22 hours, 163 miles and 28,000 feet of climbing/descending without a burp, wiggle or need for truing.

At 1566 grams and an MSRP of $1899 USD, the FSA KFX i28 wheels are in the mid/upper tier for the XC category. Lighter and cheaper wheels certainly exist, but the FSAs have proven to be a solid, worry-free choice. If you’re comfortable buying wheels manufacturer direct, it’s not hard to find options that are a better value, but that doesn't guarantee performance and peace of mind on the trail that would match the KFX i28s.

Visit fullspeedahead.com for more information on the KFX i28 XC wheels.