Roval Rapide CLX II on test

The Roval Rapide CLX II are known as some of the ultimate aero wheels, and they’re no longer exclusive to Specialized bikes. The combination of a shallow and wide front rim with a deep and skinny rear rim promises the optimal mix of aerodynamics and crosswind stability. But how do the wheels stack up against the competition in our group test?

**Roval** Rapide CLX II | € 2,700 | 1485 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.

Specialized’s in-house brand Roval have become a force to be reckoned with in the wheel industry. It’s not just Specialized’s own Roval equipped bikes that are very popular, the wheels also sell well as an aftermarket upgrade. It’s no wonder, considering that the striking white logos have made a name for themselves in the pro peloton, and are now synonymous with thoroughbred racing performance. Moreover, the progressively shaped, wide 35 mm rim represents the cutting edge of road bike innovation. But how does the modern classic fare against the ten other contenders in our 2024 aero wheel group test?

All-round aero? The specs of the Roval Rapide CLX II

As an aero all-rounder, the Roval Rapide CLX II promises to handle a wide variety of conditions, but what are the specs that help it to deliver on that promise? At 1,485 g, they’re below the key 1.5 kg mark, but they’re about 100 g heavier than the test field average. However, it’s the design of the front wheel that’s the unique selling point of the Roval Rapide CLX II. With a 35 mm wide rim, it’s no wider than the direct competition from Reserve, but it doesn’t taper off. The unusually wide rim bead is quite striking, and pairing it with a 28 mm tire allows you to achieve the 105 % rule (meaning the rim is 105 % of the tire’s width). According to this rule, a wider rim relative to the tire offers ideal aerodynamics. Another interesting point is the different rim depths, measuring 50 mm up front and 60 mm at the rear, thereby taking a similar approach to Reserve, trying to combine the best of both worlds.

**Pro look**
With the white decals, the Roval Rapide CLX II makes every bike look like it belongs in the pro peloton.

**Aero?**
To save watts wherever possible, the hubs of the Roval Rapides have been aerodynamically optimised.

**105 %?**
According to the 105 % rule, the rim should be 5 % wider than the tire. Roval seem to take this to the limit.

But it’s not just the rims that Roval optimised. The specially developed hubs also promise to offer particularly low wind resistance due to their organic shape. Thanks to the DT Swiss internals, the wheels should be particularly reliable and service-friendly too.
The wheels certainly look the part. The different rim widths catch the eye, especially in combination with the white logos. Topping it off, the Rovals are covered by a generous lifetime guarantee and a 5-year crash replacement offer.

**Sailing in the wind**
With a deeper rim at the rear, the Rapide CLX II maximises the sail effect.

**Double-crossed**
Roval rely on a mix of tangential and radial spokes, which is unusual for modern disc brake wheels.

Smooth and subtle – Roval Rapide CLX II

As the wheelset of choice for Specialized pros, the Roval Rapide CLX II must be capable of dealing with anything that gets thrown at it, while fighting for every metre on the toughest and longest stages and finish line sprints – and you can feel that in its DNA. Thanks to a decent helping of compliance, the Rapides also work well on long rides and almost feel soft. As such, other wheels are more direct. The Roval can’t keep up with the liveliness and undisputed efficiency of the carbon spoked wheels on test. In direct comparison, the Rovals’ traditional spokes make them feel almost vague. Nevertheless, the wheels accelerate well and are able to maintain the pace reliably. With particularly heavy and powerful riders, however, the wheels reach their limits and would benefit from a stiffer construction, though this would presumably reduce comfort. The Rapides also struggle a bit on the climbs, where you can clearly feel the higher weight. On the other hand, we were impressed with their low susceptibility to crosswinds, easily outperforming the beefy wheels from CADEX and HUNT.

On form – The Roval Rapide CLX II in the wind tunnel

We could feel that the Roval Rapide CLX II are among the top aero performers just riding them. Similar to Reserve’s wheels, the Rovals also demonstrate a significant sail effect and offer better aerodynamics than the competition with shallower rim depths. Wind tunnel tests serve to confirm this. Just slightly slower than the competition from Reserve, the Roval Rapide CLX II wheelset took third place. Roval evidently prioritised the yaw angles to a similar degree. While the wide front rim increases the frontal surface area, their depth and bulbous shape supports better aerodynamics at higher yaw angles. Overall, the Rapide CLX II is very fast and beautifully balanced, although the aero performance comes at a small weight disadvantage, striking a good compromise for an all-round aero wheelset.

Our conclusion on the Roval Rapide CLX II

The Roval Rapide CLX II doesn’t immediately strike us as an all-rounder, but the classy wheelset is more versatile than you might think. Roval’s aspirations to deliver class-leading aerodynamics are particularly evident in the wind tunnel. On the road, the Roval Rapide CLX IIs offer plenty of compliance and a relatively soft riding experience. While suitable for lightweights, it can be a hindrance to heavier and more powerful riders. Furthermore, their higher weight limits their use case to some extent.

Tops

innovative rim geometry up front
striking look with white decals

Flops

slightly heavy compared to the competition

For more information, visit specialized.com

The test field