I want to give a huge thanks to the bike bondsman for sending this in for review. His prices are INSANE! If you're needing a set of these, hit him up: thebikebondsman.com/contact-us/
I've been using Spank Vibrocore Wheels on my Chromag Samurai and I can't recommend them more. I ride hard, real hard and they have never been a problem and I love the 'dampened' feel on my Hardtail. I liked it so much I've just put on a Vibrocore Bar.....
Rock on, thanks for chiming in. How do you like the vibrocore bar? I've used their non-vibrocore bar and it felt cheap. I always wondered how the vibrocore bar felt.
I just placed order on this 359 vibro front n rear and cant wait for it to arrive. Glad to bump onto this vid (which was posted 2hrs ago so its kinda new) while lookin for more info bout it. Thanks dude...now i got even more excited to have it on my bike😍🤙🏽
@@hardtailparty received mine on friday n spent the weekend trying it out. Agree 110% on everything u said. I can feel the diff straight away. Im loving it!!! Goes well with my spike vibro handlebar too.
Super excited for the comparison video! Honest review as always Steve. I know you don't hold back on criticism, so your praise of these means quite a bit to me.
Great review! I was looking for some new wheels and was pretty skeptical, but I got a good deal on a set and pulled the trigger. I have yet to take them out, but your guidance also helped me make the decision. Keep up the great work Steve.
Bummer. I just bought a nukeproof horizon V2 rear wheel. It's okay though I'm in love with the nukeproof rear wheel and I'm glad i found it by watching hardtail party!
nobody should be sad with that hzn v2 wheelset, it's a great one. There's always going to be something better around the corner. Your wheelset is a great one. Stay tuned when I compare the nukeproof to the spank in an upcoming video.
Nice review, Steve. I've had these on my radar for obvious reasons. I've had a Spank Spike vibrocore handlebar on my old bike. It was a nice handlebar, but didn't notice a huge difference with the Renthal aluminum bar I also had. I really want the Nukeproof Horizon wheels. Spank offered me these wheels for $200 off, but I didn't have the money at the time. I've read about some people bending these Spank wheels, but they are doing big drops and jumps that I can't do. Lastly, the trail(s) you rode here look really fun!
@@hardtailparty Which wheel did you compare it to? I just cracked a one of my 350s (the non-Vibracore version of the same rim), so I'm a little leery of this Spank design at the moment. It's on my FS, so I'm not too worried about wheel compliance, but this does sound like it could be an upgrade for my hardtail (assuming I don't wait until I've saved-up enough to build a nice carbon wheelset).
I really appreciate this review! I have started shopping an upgraded wheel set for my Orbea Laufey and this seems to fit the bill. Looking forward to other comparisons from you.
Nice. I recently had some 350s built up front and rear for my new Paradox. Haven't had a chance to try them out much yet, but looking forward to it! No Vibracore, but pretty sure they will be better than what I had.
@@groovylu1 Sorry I missed your comment. For me they are good, not the lightest but solid and that's what I'm looking for. I can't really tell if they are 'radially compliant.'
Hi Steve, how would you say the Vibrocore wheel compares to a standard wheel with a Cushcore insert in terms of ride feel? Looking forward to the wheel comparison and thanks for the great content!
Slifhtly dfferent feel. Cushcore feels like you're running less air pressure. Vibrocore feels like your trail is a little smoother. Vibrocore feels like it rolls a little quicker. Both can mute or dampen the trail feel a bit. I haven't felt the need to run cushcore for over a year now.
Been interested in the 359/350 vibrocore combo. Have spank oozy trail 345 right now. I shot foam into my deity handlebars and I think it helped quite bit with handpump at bike park. Would like to try the vibrocore wheels with their new hub and maybe try the bars as well. Great video! Enjoy the shredding!
Thanks Steve!! I’ve been waiting for this one. Interesting how the non vibrocore were so harsh compared to these. I wonder if spank made any rim changes when they went to the new hex hub?
Awesome video Steve! You talked about how the wheel was laced. Do you by any chance have a spoke tensionometer to measure how much tension they are built up with? I’d love to see the difference across brands. I’m a heavier guy so I need a wheel with a bit higher spoke tension than the average rider.
@@hardtailparty That would have been interesting. Spank specifies some rather low tensions on these and the 350s. Many wheel companies spec tension limits well below the capabilities of the rim to withstand them, but Spank seems to be more insistent on the point, and my experience with the 350s (a nipple is pulling out and has cracked the rim) suggests that they mean what they say.
Hey, could you tell us what range of pressures do you tend to use with your weight? Set tubeless I guess? I find difficult to nail the presssure in my rear tyre: as a hardtail it needs to be hard enough not to bend my rim when striking against rocks/roots but also need the traction for going up technical and loose stuff (also braking performance gets compromised with a higher pressure). I might have it more difficult as I use light XC tyres which don't have as hard of a structure as the beefy enduro tyres. So if you could share the pressure you use, it would be very apreciatted :) Greetings from overseas, Spain.
WoW only an hour late to the party😁 An awesome video as always wich also makes me think about how i should lace my wheelset 2, 3 or even 4 cross in the rear🤔 Wich will get me the smoothest ride? A friend recommended me to get DT swiss FR 560 rims as they are very strong and can take a beating but they sure aren't the lightest.
I know it's not a popular opinion, but I'm not a huge fan of the way DT rims feel. They have a sharp edge and I've had a lot of flats on mine. They're heavy, but they haven't been as durable as I would have liked.
is it a different ride than a rear wheel cushcore? would using cushcore with this wheel set make it even better? any input will be appreciated. thanks!
cushcore doesn't make a rim compliant. It really just allows you to run lower pressures without it getting too squishy. Cushcore has a very different feel than a complaint rim.
I’m running the 350 (non-vibrocore) on the rear with cushcore. Could you run the vibrocore wheel with cushcore for even greater cushion, or won’t the cushcore fit with the vibrocore foam?
I have vibrocore wheels with older hub (10 degree) and i also had same reaction for first few weeks. Now i wonder why they don't use this stuff inside the frame or at least on seatstays and chainstays. I have also stuffed handlebars with golf club shaft vibration dampening inserts called Prosoft with some success.
That's too big, their internal width is 30.5 mm so even 2.6s feel weird there. They sell the 395+ which has 35 mm, you could run those tires there without issues (No Vibrocore though).
The 350 is the front rim and the 359 is the rear rim. That's what I meant when I said the wheelset has a different front rim from the rear rim. Pretty cool.
I want to give a huge thanks to the bike bondsman for sending this in for review. His prices are INSANE! If you're needing a set of these, hit him up: thebikebondsman.com/contact-us/
Have you heard anything about the Tannus Armour Tire Insert? In theory, it sounds great for hardtails. I really liked this video, btw. Super helpful!
Have the Vibrocore bars, have Spank wheels, sooooo want a Vibrocore rear wheel! I call a harsh wheel strike a Pinger!
Excited for that wheel comparison video!
Would love to see a review on the Hunt enduro wide.
They just sent me a set in to review. Coming in the future.
I've been using Spank Vibrocore Wheels on my Chromag Samurai and I can't recommend them more. I ride hard, real hard and they have never been a problem and I love the 'dampened' feel on my Hardtail. I liked it so much I've just put on a Vibrocore Bar.....
Rock on, thanks for chiming in. How do you like the vibrocore bar? I've used their non-vibrocore bar and it felt cheap. I always wondered how the vibrocore bar felt.
@@hardtailparty the Vibrocore bar makes the ride smoother for sure! that foam does have some magic!
Wait...this is a channel dedicated to hard tail mtb riding? subbed!
Welcome to the party!
Glad to see this. Laced a onyx vesper with the 359 but still waiting for the Stanton switchback frame, so haven't tried it.
oh man, that's going to be a killer combo.
This is the combo I've got and I LOVE it
I’m looking into doing the same. What spokes did you go with?
@@sixoclub749 dt swiss comp
Glad to see reviews on Spank wheels. I picked up a set of Spank Oozy 395+ for my Honzo ST and excited to see how they ride.
@@dtolios thank you so much for the tips! I’m experimenting with 27.5 on it so we’ll see how that turns out.
The Spank vibracore bars really helped me with my sore hand! Bigger difference than one could imagine!
I have some vibrocore bars need 2 swap & put them on.
I just placed order on this 359 vibro front n rear and cant wait for it to arrive. Glad to bump onto this vid (which was posted 2hrs ago so its kinda new) while lookin for more info bout it. Thanks dude...now i got even more excited to have it on my bike😍🤙🏽
I think you're going to like it, especially if you're looking for a compliant ride and traction.
@@hardtailparty received mine on friday n spent the weekend trying it out. Agree 110% on everything u said. I can feel the diff straight away. Im loving it!!! Goes well with my spike vibro handlebar too.
...oh n i love the high engagement on the hex drive n it sound so good!!!😍 traction is superb. running on maxxis assegai front n dhr II rear.
Did you get 359 for both wheels
@@cdwag23 yes 359 both front n rear
Super excited for the comparison video! Honest review as always Steve. I know you don't hold back on criticism, so your praise of these means quite a bit to me.
Thanks. Yeah, I'm not afraid to say it how it is, so if i like something, i REALLY like it.
Great review! I was looking for some new wheels and was pretty skeptical, but I got a good deal on a set and pulled the trigger. I have yet to take them out, but your guidance also helped me make the decision. Keep up the great work Steve.
I’ve been beating spank 350/359s at the bike park for years and they’ve been flawless.
Stans baby! Looking forward to the comparison video 🤙
Bummer. I just bought a nukeproof horizon V2 rear wheel. It's okay though I'm in love with the nukeproof rear wheel and I'm glad i found it by watching hardtail party!
nobody should be sad with that hzn v2 wheelset, it's a great one. There's always going to be something better around the corner. Your wheelset is a great one.
Stay tuned when I compare the nukeproof to the spank in an upcoming video.
Yeah! Right on! Really appreciate the info about the ride quality and the price point comparisons vs other wheels. Awesome!
Hi Steve I changed the bars on my PM2 to the vibrocore bars and made a huge difference these wheels could be next upgrade.
Nice review, Steve. I've had these on my radar for obvious reasons. I've had a Spank Spike vibrocore handlebar on my old bike. It was a nice handlebar, but didn't notice a huge difference with the Renthal aluminum bar I also had. I really want the Nukeproof Horizon wheels. Spank offered me these wheels for $200 off, but I didn't have the money at the time. I've read about some people bending these Spank wheels, but they are doing big drops and jumps that I can't do. Lastly, the trail(s) you rode here look really fun!
Thanks for the video. I ordered a mullet set of 359 vibrocore and was curious of how they are. Great job on the review.
nice test, a back to back test with the standard non vibrocore version would've been cool to see if the vibrocore really does something.
In my testing, I tried it back to back with another spank wheel, and this wheel felt significantly better.
@@hardtailparty Which wheel did you compare it to? I just cracked a one of my 350s (the non-Vibracore version of the same rim), so I'm a little leery of this Spank design at the moment. It's on my FS, so I'm not too worried about wheel compliance, but this does sound like it could be an upgrade for my hardtail (assuming I don't wait until I've saved-up enough to build a nice carbon wheelset).
I really appreciate this review! I have started shopping an upgraded wheel set for my Orbea Laufey and this seems to fit the bill. Looking forward to other comparisons from you.
Nice. I recently had some 350s built up front and rear for my new Paradox. Haven't had a chance to try them out much yet, but looking forward to it! No Vibracore, but pretty sure they will be better than what I had.
How did the 350's work out for you? Thinking of pulling trigger on these for my Kona Lava Dome
@@groovylu1 Sorry I missed your comment. For me they are good, not the lightest but solid and that's what I'm looking for. I can't really tell if they are 'radially compliant.'
Nice review. Love my Vibrocore rims laced to Onyx hubs!
Sounds like a great combo
haha - but yes that crunchy sound of dusty dirt and rock out here in Vegas is awesome
I have the Vibrocore bars and yup the marketing claims are true. I know what you're talking about a softer feel
Man, i dont see a comment on Onza, I recall the Porcupine many many years ago.
I love your wow moment 😂 I had the exact same reaction when I got on my Vibrocore wheelset
When are we getting the "hardtail party: 3% SMOOTHER" Tshirts???????
Hi Steve, how would you say the Vibrocore wheel compares to a standard wheel with a Cushcore insert in terms of ride feel? Looking forward to the wheel comparison and thanks for the great content!
Slifhtly dfferent feel. Cushcore feels like you're running less air pressure. Vibrocore feels like your trail is a little smoother. Vibrocore feels like it rolls a little quicker. Both can mute or dampen the trail feel a bit. I haven't felt the need to run cushcore for over a year now.
I was going 2 get last year black Friday but was sold out end up getting some used I9 will use Cush core on 29er & nuke proof atf foam on 27.5
Amazing Review Steve , Would you recommend 28 spokes or 32 spokes for a wheelset on a hardtail ?
It depends on the rider and their weight and riding goals.
@@hardtailpartycan you elaborate a bit? I’m 225lbs and I don’t like “spongy” wheels and tires. I think I like direct / predictable wheels.
New helmet? Looks good. That would match my bike really well!
Sweet Trail for a Hardtail Party!!
I’m fan in the flare 24 drop bar.... it seems to dampen things a bit
Been interested in the 359/350 vibrocore combo. Have spank oozy trail 345 right now. I shot foam into my deity handlebars and I think it helped quite bit with handpump at bike park. Would like to try the vibrocore wheels with their new hub and maybe try the bars as well. Great video! Enjoy the shredding!
Haha what kind of foam and where did you find it?
i think you need to do a comparo with some standard rims shot full of spray foam, that's a mod anyone can do for 6.99 and a quick stop at Home Depot
I'm not prepared to permanently ruin my good rims. But it does sound like a fun experiment on some throwaway rims.
@@hardtailparty permanently ruin? OR permanently 'enhance' ;) lol
too hard to really isolate that feel. Everything feels off on those bikes.
LOL. Closed cell vs spray foam in a can. I worry that "the right stuff" from home depot will cause wheels to expand and crack.
Thanks Steve!! I’ve been waiting for this one. Interesting how the non vibrocore were so harsh compared to these. I wonder if spank made any rim changes when they went to the new hex hub?
The 359 is a totally different rim than the old vibrocore rims. This one was built with their downhill team's feedback.
What trail is that? Looks super rad! Dig the review well.
This trail is called herkenham
How do you think these wheels would work on the Yeti Arc? Thanks Steve! Great reviews as always!
review on the nukeproof scout?
That's up to Nukeproof.
Will be running one of them on the back of my ibis dv9 ! 28 hole tho to keep the weight down just a tad
That should help with the stiffness of the dv9 frame.
@@hardtailparty im not looking for miracles but anything will help, running 2.6 vittorias help a touch
Do you think the difference would be felt if running tire inserts?
ese aro usa niples normales ? no mas anchos usa normales cualquiera barato ?
Solid review!
On my bike I have nukeproof v2s that are 29mm inner.
I've built about 5 pairs of Stans rims on various hubs and found them great. Interested to hear how you think they compare to other options.
Awesome video Steve! You talked about how the wheel was laced. Do you by any chance have a spoke tensionometer to measure how much tension they are built up with? I’d love to see the difference across brands. I’m a heavier guy so I need a wheel with a bit higher spoke tension than the average rider.
Sorry, I don't have a tensiometer. That would be an interesting experiment. I've already sent these wheels back to the bike bondsman.
@@hardtailparty That would have been interesting. Spank specifies some rather low tensions on these and the 350s. Many wheel companies spec tension limits well below the capabilities of the rim to withstand them, but Spank seems to be more insistent on the point, and my experience with the 350s (a nipple is pulling out and has cracked the rim) suggests that they mean what they say.
The video paused to buffer and I noticed it looks like you were running the same front tire I use - the trail king?
That’s very good to know ! I am really looking at these for my Chameleon V7 29er . You think they would be a solid choice ?
Great review thanks, on a side note what helmet are you wearing kind of like that color?
It's a specialized ambush pro, my favorite helmet.
Thats a paradox isn't it bro? Did u paint it?
yes, i have an entire video series on it
@@hardtailparty I must have missed the paint job series ill check it out :)
Appreciate this review! What trail was this btw? (I’ll probably be asking this a lot- winter in Brooklyn has me reminiscing about my last sedona trip)
Herkenham
Hey, could you tell us what range of pressures do you tend to use with your weight? Set tubeless I guess? I find difficult to nail the presssure in my rear tyre: as a hardtail it needs to be hard enough not to bend my rim when striking against rocks/roots but also need the traction for going up technical and loose stuff (also braking performance gets compromised with a higher pressure). I might have it more difficult as I use light XC tyres which don't have as hard of a structure as the beefy enduro tyres. So if you could share the pressure you use, it would be very apreciatted :) Greetings from overseas, Spain.
I run 18-25 psi rear depending on rim, tire casing, tire width and terrain. For xc casing i would run higher, like 24-29
@@hardtailparty Ty:)
What lightweight wheels would you recommend something more toward xc/trail bought a canfield nimble 9 thanks to your video and I'm building it up.
Are they a lot louder than horizon v2
WoW only an hour late to the party😁
An awesome video as always wich also makes me think about how i should lace my wheelset 2, 3 or even 4 cross in the rear🤔 Wich will get me the smoothest ride?
A friend recommended me to get DT swiss FR 560 rims as they are very strong and can take a beating but they sure aren't the lightest.
I know it's not a popular opinion, but I'm not a huge fan of the way DT rims feel. They have a sharp edge and I've had a lot of flats on mine. They're heavy, but they haven't been as durable as I would have liked.
@@hardtailparty Alright. Wich rims around the same price point would you recommend? Here the DT rims are 70bucks a piece.
You sould try some fasst company bars, there really nice
is it a different ride than a rear wheel cushcore? would using cushcore with this wheel set make it even better? any input will be appreciated. thanks!
Can the Spank 24 vibrocore be used on heavy trails? Also will a 2.35 tires work ?
would you say these would be more compliant than other rims with cushcore insert?
cushcore doesn't make a rim compliant. It really just allows you to run lower pressures without it getting too squishy. Cushcore has a very different feel than a complaint rim.
@@hardtailparty so would you say spank vibracore + cushcore for 200% compliant result?
What's the difference between the 359 vibercore and 350 vibrocore for the rear? Their site isn't clear as both come in 32 hole.
Spank states that the 350 is built for light to medium build riders and 359 for heavy to medium riders. Both offered in 28 or 32 spoke.
you should check out the Rapidé Tigré new steel hardtail from a south african company.
I've never heard of them. I'll have to check 'em out.
How would you compare them to the spank oozy wheels?
The non-vibrocore oozy wheels ride a lot stiffer. These are noticeably more compliant.
No HG version?😒
I’m running the 350 (non-vibrocore) on the rear with cushcore. Could you run the vibrocore wheel with cushcore for even greater cushion, or won’t the cushcore fit with the vibrocore foam?
It should fit. I hear cishcore is extra hard to install on spank rims.
I have vibrocore wheels with older hub (10 degree) and i also had same reaction for first few weeks.
Now i wonder why they don't use this stuff inside the frame or at least on seatstays and chainstays.
I have also stuffed handlebars with golf club shaft vibration dampening inserts called Prosoft with some success.
very interesting!
Could i run a 2.8 maxxis rekon tyre on this wheel?
That's too big, their internal width is 30.5 mm so even 2.6s feel weird there.
They sell the 395+ which has 35 mm, you could run those tires there without issues (No Vibrocore though).
Do you know the difference between the 350 and 359?
The 350 is the front rim and the 359 is the rear rim. That's what I meant when I said the wheelset has a different front rim from the rear rim. Pretty cool.
All I’ve seen is rain for the past 3 weeks, can’t ride much when the trails are rivers
Send some of that rain our way. It's rained twice in 5 months here. We need rain BAD.
Are these still holding up?
I had to send them back, i just had them for a short time.
@@hardtailparty okay, one more question. We're you running 359 front and back? I see most people running 350/359
You thing your havin trouble gettin parts well I broke my bike frame and have been waiting 2 months to get it
it took me 4 months to get these in. We're all affected.
Trying to decide on the 359 vs flow mk3 vs hunt enduro wide. Any advice? Going onto a Capra and I’m a big rider
I've got a shootout video between those. All are good choices, but I'd avoid hunt of you're a bigger rider.
Snake at 5:00? 😂
It's a root, but we do have snakes here.
@@hardtailparty thank goodness! I almost spit my water out