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The sub-1-kg wheelset category is expanding, and after recently testing the Particle GCX45, the benchmark was set. Naturally, I was curious to find out how other brands approach this ultralight territory. The UPVINE Ultra 40D wheels arrived claiming an impressive weight of just 950g with a 40mm depth.
I couldn’t resist and took them to the Italian Alps, to Passo dello Stelvio and Passo di Gavia, to stress test them in their natural habitat. Are they just another featherweight option, or is there a noticeable difference in how they actually ride compared to the competition? Let’s look at the build quality and on-road performance.
KEY TAKEAWAY
The UPVINE Ultra 40D is a lightweight wheelset designed for pure climbers. They deliver near-instant acceleration and solid stiffness. The rear wheel was perfectly true out of the box, but the front wheel had a larger-than-expected deviation. However, the wheels passed all my other in-house QC tests, and I enjoyed riding them in the Italian high mountains. If you are looking for a sub-1-kg wheelset and prioritize agility over pure flat-line aero speed, these are definitely worth your attention. Continue reading my in-depth review for more details, or buy them here.
Use this UPVINE discount code CYCLISTSHUB at upvine.com during checkout to get 10% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.
My Ultra D40 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 5/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 2/5 | Trueness 4/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 1/5 | OVERALL 4.0/5
More about this road wheels scoring.
UPVINE Ultra 40D: Main Features and Specs
Here are the main features and specifications of the UPVINE Ultra 40D wheels. Other rim depths (40/50D and 50D) are also available
Main Features
- Extremely lightweight
- Stable in crosswinds
- Super easy to steer in descents
- Asymmetric rim design for improved stiffness and stability
- 60T conical ratchet system ensures faster power engagement and a sharper drivetrain response
- Custom ultra-light hubs manufactured in UPVINE’s dedicated in-house factory
- Lifetime warranty (free repair or replacement for the first three years)
- 70% trade-in replacement program (allowing you to buy a new replacement at 70% of the retail price)
- Not UCI approved
Technical Specification
- Type: Disc, clincher (tubeless)
- Weight (with tubeless rim tape):
- Front Wheel: 446g
- Rear Wheel: 538g
- Measured weight: 984g
- Claimed weight: 950g (±5%)
- Measured rim width:
- Internal: 23.3mm
- External: 29.6mm
- Rim depth: 40mm
- Spokes: Carbon spokes (24F)
- Hubs: Self-developed hubs
- Rider’s weight limit: 120kg (265lbs)
- Freehub compatibility: Shimano HG (SRAM XDR also available)
- Material: T700 & T800
Use this UPVINE discount code CYCLISTSHUB at upvine.com during checkout to get 10% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.
First Impressions and Unboxing
The UPVINE Ultra wheels arrived in a basic, brown box (similar to the UPVINE Pro+ 2). Since these are sub-1kg wheels, it felt empty. But it wasn’t. Except for the wheels, the box included 2 tire levers, a ratchet grease, and a handwritten QC sheet. That’s something I really appreciate. It shows the brand cares about the quality. I also want to highlight that tubeless valves were included and tape applied, exactly how it’s supposed to be with tubeless wheels.
In-House Tests
As always with road bike carbon wheels, I conducted the following tests before I started using the wheels:
These tests provide a better understanding of the wheel’s assembly quality. So, did the UPVINE Ultra pass them?
Lateral and Radial Trueness
The factory build quality showed mixed results here. There was good trueness of the rear wheel, meaning it was perfectly ready to ride. However, the front wheel had a larger-than-expected deviation in one place. It was nothing serious, and most people would likely not notice, but it meant the wheels didn’t score 5/5 in this area.
Spoke Tension
This area was completely flawless. The spoke tension was consistent across the board. I measured carefully, and there was no spoke outside the 5% average.
Rim Centering (Dishing)
The hubs were perfectly centered. The dishing tool confirmed perfect dishing on both the front and rear wheels, with no gaps (not even for a sheet of paper).
A Look Inside
The rims were also smooth and clean inside; I didn’t even find any epoxy residue, so this was a job well done by UPVINE.
The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On and Off
The UPVINE Ultra 40D are hooked. I always use Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28 mm tires to get consistent results when mounting and seating them. And this is one of the few areas where I struggled. I could put tires on without tire levers, but I couldn’t seat them with a floor pump, and it took me several tries with an air compressor. I started to feel a bit desperate, but in the end, I managed to seat them. Please keep in mind that this test can be heavily influenced by the tire tolerances, and different tires could seat more easily.
Use this UPVINE discount code CYCLISTSHUB at upvine.com during checkout to get 10% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.
Riding Experience
Having already tested the Particle GCX45, I was very curious to see if there would be any noticeable difference between these two sub-1-kg wheelsets. While the UPVINE Ultra 40D shares that same lively dynamic, there are a few specific nuances.
The extremely low rotational mass is immediately noticeable on steep gradients. Acceleration out of slow corners and out-of-the-saddle efforts feel effortless. They simply don’t require as much force to get spinning, and getting them up to speed feels easy. They also save precious energy during those 1-hour+ long climbs. However, due to the low weight, they don’t maintain the speed as well as heavier wheels. When I stop pedaling, it feels like they lose speed faster than deeper and heavier wheels do, which carry more momentum.
On the other hand, what I really enjoy about these wheels (along with the Winspace SLC5) is their agility on descents. They’re extremely playful and easy to handle. I really appreciated that when riding down the Passo dello Stelvio, the Passo di Gavia, and other local technical descents. They are so easy to steer that it was easy to avoid potholes or do sudden direction changes. Some might say that they are a bit nervous. I say they are fun.
They are also extremely stable in crosswinds. I didn’t have any problems with wind gusts in the high mountains or in flat areas. This stability can be attributed to the shallow rim profile and also the U-shaped rim profile. The wide external rim width and narrower spokes also help. Similarly to the Particle GCX45 wheels, I would also recommend these to women or lighter riders who struggle in crosswinds.
It’s no surprise there was no issue with the rear hub. I stress-tested it with a couple of high-torque efforts, and they passed with a breeze. They are a bit noisier than I would like, but the sound is not too annoying, so that’s a plus.
Running 28mm Tufo Comtura 4 TR tires, they measured around 31.3mm on the rim, giving a clean transition between tire and rim bed. This transition improves airflow around the wheel (we are talking marginal gains here) without sacrificing handling.
Like the UPVINE Pro+ 2 wheels, these lack wind tunnel data. They aren’t cheap, so even though they target climbers, they still deserve wind tunnel testing and a direct comparison with the competition.
The last thing I want to talk about is warranty. UPVINE covers their wheelsets with a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects, during which they will repair or replace faulty parts at no cost. Within the first 2 years specifically, they go a step further: If a rim, spoke, or hub fails through no fault of the rider, each of those components can be replaced once for free. After the 3-year period expires, UPVINE will continue to service the wheels for life, charging only for replacement parts, with no labor fee. Shipping costs are the customer’s responsibility in all cases.
UPVINE Ultra Alternatives
The most direct alternative I have tested is the Particle GCX45 Hyperlight. Both belong to a new generation of sub-1-kg marvels. The GCX45 offers a slightly deeper 45mm rim for a bit more aero benefit and pacing efficiency, while the UPVINE pushes for maximum crosswind stability and pure climbing agility with its 40mm profile.
| Reviewed Wheelset | Average Score | Crosswind Stability | Stiffness & Responsivity | Riding Comfort | Speed maintenance | Tire On¹ | Lateral and Radial Trueness | Spoke Tension | Rim Centering | Price | Rim depth | Weight (F | R | Pair) | Rim Width (I | E) | Note | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPVINE Ultra D40 review | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 40mm | 446g, 538g, 984g | 23.3mm 29.6mm | Well-balanced wheels that thrive in high-mountains. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| UPVINE Pro+ 2 | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 53mm | 600g, 706g, 1306g | 25.5mm 34.0mm | Well-made and future-proof all-round wheels suitable for higher-speed rides. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| Particle GCX45 | 4.3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 45mm | 436g, 520g, 956g | 25.2mm 31.6mm | Extremely lightweight and responsive wheels. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| MovingSports SL1200 | 4.0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 565g, 669g, 1234g | 21.3mm 29.0mm | Stiff and responsive, but not as stable in crosswinds. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| Nepest NOVA | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 45/55mm | 567g, 691g, 1258g | 23.4mm 29.6mm | Stiff, stable, and responsive, but might be too stiff for rough roads. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 8% OFF |
| Elitewheels DRIVE II | 4.2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 602g, 720g, 1322g | 23.2mm 30.7mm | Stiff, stable, and responsive, but might be too stiff for rough roads. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| YOELEO NxT SL2 C60 | 4.2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 60mm | 623g, 736g, 1359g | 23.3mm 31.1mm | Great balance between speed, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10% OFF |
| Farsports C5 | 4.2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 50mm | 602g, 726g, 1328g | 24.2mm 30.4mm | Great balance between stiffness, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 30 USD OFF |
| UPVINE Pro+ | 4.2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 50mm | 661g, 768g, 1429g | 23.5mm 29.1mm | Great balance between stiffness, riding comfort, and stability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 10 % OFF |
| Lún HYPER 3 | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 46/54mm | 598g, 766g, 1364g | 23.2mm 28.6mm | Better crosswind stability and comfort than HYPER 2023, but much higher price and no butterfly-weave finish. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Elitewheels ENT | 3.8 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 50mm | 828g, 950g, 1778g | 20.0mm 28.4mm | Heavy and soft but comfortable and good on flats and steady efforts. | Check Price |
| Elitewheels EDGE | 3.8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 50mm | 633g, 720g, 1353g | 21.2mm 28.9mm | Comfortable, lightweight but relatively soft compared to carbon-spoked wheels. | Check Price |
| Lún MEGA | 4.1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 46/54mm | 616g, 782g, 1398g | 20.8mm 28.1mm | The stiffest wheels I tested. Ideal for smooth roads or racing, but they are not comfortable. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Lún HYPER SE 2023 | 4.3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 46/54mm | 654g, 803g, 1457g | 21.3mm 27.9mm | Better than HYPER 2020 in all aspects. I believe they provide better value for money than HYPER 23. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| Superteam All-Carbon Ultra 2023 | 4.6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 50mm | 633g, 769g, 1402g | 21.3mm 28.7mm | Not overly stiff, but responsive. Stable in crosswinds and ideal for most terrains, questionable reliability. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 5% OFF |
| Farsports Wave | 4.2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 45/50mm | 736g, 880g, 1616g | 21.0mm 28.7mm | Affordable, easy-to-service, unique-looking wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB50 to get 50 USD OFF |
| Trifox WT11 | 3.8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 50mm | 769g, 874g, 1643g | 18.4mm 25.1mm | Affordable and comfortable, but not well assembled. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 8 % OFF |
| YOELEO C50|50 SAT DB PRO 2022 | 4.1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 50mm | 705g, 830g, 1535g | 18.5mm 25.5mm | Affordable and easy-to-service wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts but with too loud hubs. | Check Price |
| Farsports Ventoux S | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 45mm | 637g, 755g, 1392g | 19.2mm 25.5mm | Stiff, responsive, and premium wheels suitable for most terrains. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 30 USD OFF |
| Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm Disc | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 45mm | 562g, 718g, 1280g | 21.4mm 28.8mm | Stiff, responsive, and lightweight wheels suitable for hilly and mountainous terrain. Not too fast on flats. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF |
| Lún HYPER 50mm | 4.0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 50mm | 650g, 779g, 1429g | 19mm 26mm | Stiff, responsive, and lightweight wheels suitable for hilly and mountainous terrain. Not too stable in crosswinds. | Check Price Use code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 5% OFF |
| YOELEO C50|50 SAT DB PRO | 4.3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 50mm | 705g, 830g, 1535g | 18.5mm 25.5mm | Affordable and easy-to-service wheels suitable for flats and steady efforts. | Check Price |
The scale for each feature is 1-5 points, where 5 is the best. The rating can be retrospectively adjusted based on the comparison with other wheelsets (more about this scoring).
SCROLL HORIZONTALLY FOR MORE INFO.
¹How difficult it is to put a Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm tubeless tire on and properly seat it.
My Verdict
Sub-1-kg carbon wheels are mind-blowing on paper, and ride-wise, the UPVINE Ultra 40D wheels don’t disappoint. If you are looking for high responsiveness and exceptional climbing performance, these genuinely deliver. They thrive in hilly and mountainous terrain, transforming how easily your bike accelerates and handles in fast descents. On the other hand, they are not ideal for heavier and stronger riders who enjoy fast bunch rides on flats or rolling terrain. They simply don’t maintain their momentum as well as heavier, deeper-section wheels.
The main question mark is the higher price compared to other Chinese alternatives. Based on my experience, UPVINE wheels are on the higher side of the spectrum and are competitive with Western brands. You can easily pay double for similar Western brand wheels. Using this perspective and adding the lifetime warranty and crash replacement program, I think the price is fair. You can also push it even lower with my discount code below.
Use this UPVINE discount code CYCLISTSHUB at upvine.com during checkout to get 10% OFF your purchase. Share this code via email.
Browse More Chinese Carbon Wheels Reviews
Elitewheels DRIVE II D50 Review
Elitewheels DRIVE 45mm Review
Elitewheels EDGE 50mm Review
Elitewheels ENT 50mm Review
Farsports Ventoux-S 45mm Review
Farsports Wave 45/50mm Review
Farsports C5 Review
The product for this review was kindly provided by the manufacturer. This did not influence my overall verdict or my opinion about the product. You can learn more about how I approach reviews here.
