Reserve 52|63 on test

Reserve sent us a promising candidate for our big aero wheel group test with the unspectacularly named 52|63. They promise balanced handling, an innovative aero approach, and good value for money, setting them off to a good start. How do they stack up against the competition?

**Reserve** 52/63 | € 2,299 | 1455 g | Manufacturer’s website

We tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test – click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.

Reserve wheels on a road bike? The rather young wheel brand is yet to make a name for itself in the world of aftermarket road bike upgrades. Nevertheless, the wheels can already look back on an impressive racing history. As early as 2023, the wheels won all three grand tours on the bikes of team Jumbo-Visma. That should make them good enough for us, right? But the big tour wins aren’t everything. With their innovative Turbulent Aero approach to obtaining realistic wind data, Reserve developed a wheelset that doesn’t just promise to excel in the wind tunnel, but also in real world conditions. The specially developed rims are laced to DT Swiss hubs, offering a range of models from affordable to distinctly less affordable. But can they hold their own against the uncompromising high-performers on test?

Mixed rims for optimum aerodynamics? – The specs of the Reserve 52|63

With a price tag of € 2,299 and a weight of 1,455 g, the Reserve 52|63 wheelset is ideally positioned. The rims also match perfectly with modern tire widths. Measuring 35 mm wide and 52 mm deep up front, Reserve take a similar approach to Roval, though with a more classic, bulbous geometry. The deeper rear rim is similar, too. With a depth and width of 63 mm and 34 mm, however, it’s both deeper and wider than the competition from Roval. Thanks to the classic hooked rim design, the wheels are also significantly more versatile in terms of tire choice and pressures than the competition from the likes of Syncros, HUNT and CADEX.

**Proven and coveted**
Reserve rely on DT Swiss hubs for their wheels, which aren’t just highly reliable, but also easily serviceable.

**Light and aero**
Thanks to mixed rim depths, the Reserve 52|63 promise the perfect compromise between aerodynamics and weight.

**Understated**
Reserve’s matte carbon finish makes for a classy look.

Our test wheels spin on DT Swiss 240 hubs, with straight-pull spokes and steel bearings – ceramic bearings are not necessarily to be expected at this price. The Reserve 52|63 wheels make a very high-quality impression, looking restrained and simple with their discreet matte finish, but it’s all in the details. The black-grey carbon finish with a simple glossy Reserve logo lifts every bike’s look to the next level. The concept is rounded off with the matching Reserve Fillmore valves, which dispense with a classic valve core, promising to make clogged valves a thing of the past.Thanks to a lifetime warranty and a crash replacement scheme for the original owners, you’re guaranteed long-lasting fun.

**Down to the finest detail**
The Reserve 52|63 wheels come with Reserve rim tape as standard, allowing for an easy tubeless setup.

**Innovative**
It’s not just the Turbulent Aero approach that’s new – Reserve also set the bar with their specially developed Fillmore valves.

The devil is in the details – the Reserve 52|63 on test

Aero through and through: this is the easiest way to describe the handling of the Reserve 52|63 wheelset. But these aero gains don’t come at the cost of the rest of the ride. With just enough compliance, especially for a high-performance road bike, Reserve’s aero wheels also cater to longer and more leisurely rides. Nevertheless, the wheels are stiff enough to navigate tight corners with precision and convert every watt of input into propulsion when you stomp on the pedals. In contrast to the competition from Roval, they never feel soft or vague. However, you might notice the slightly higher weight and deep rims when climbing, where you’ll feel that it takes a little more effort to get the wheels spinning. Thankfully, they make up for it on the descents and flat terrain. Thanks to their incredible smoothness and high level of efficiency, the Reserve 52|63s allow you to hold your pace with minimal effort. They also deal well with crosswinds. On par with the more expensive competition from Roval, the deep Reserve wheels behave slightly better than expected, and were easy to control in all test scenarios.

Almost miraculous – The Reserve 52|63 in the wind tunnel

The Reserve 52|63 wheelset doesn’t just feel incredibly fast – it also benefits from a noticeable sail effect. The wind tunnel reveals the big surprise: with an average value of 92.79 watts, the Reserve wheels are less than a watt behind the test winning Syncros models, at almost half the price. This puts the wheels in second place, just ahead of Roval and Vision, despite some of their rims being deeper. Reserve achieve this outstanding average thanks to the wheel’s excellent performance at steeper yaw angles. In the middle range, the wheels are about on par with the competition. The innovative Turbulent Aero approach seems to have paid off, as the performance speaks for itself.

Our conclusion on the Reserve 52|63

The Reserve 52|63 wheelset doesn’t just provide a real surprise in the wind tunnel, but also on the road. With just the right combination of compliance, stiffness, and precision, the wheels cut a damn fine figure in every scenario. Pair this with a high quality, classy finish, and relatively affordable price of € 2,299, and you’ve got a deal you don’t want to miss. As such, the Reserve 52|63 is the well-deserved best buy of our 2024 aero wheel group test.

Tops

very balanced, racy feeling
excellent aerodynamics
high quality finish with an understated look
fairly priced

Flops

none

For more information, visit reservewheels.com

The test field