Lún HYPER 5 Review: Where Do We Go From Here?

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The Lún HYPER 5 wheels are expected to be the best HYPER wheels from Winspace. Is that really so? I conducted in-house QC tests and rode them for over 1000 km to find out the answer. I also compared them to the previous generations and to some of the most popular Chinese road bike wheels.

My HYPER 5 wheels scoring at a glance:
Crosswind Stability 5/5 | Stiffness 5/5 | Riding Comfort 4/5 | Speed Maintenance 4/5 | Tire On 3/5 | Trueness 4/5 | Spoke Tension 5/5 | Dishing 5/5 | Price 3/5 | OVERALL 4.2/5
More about this road wheels scoring.

Lún HYPER 3 vs. 5: What’s New?

Lún HYPER 5: Main Features and Specs

Here are the main features and specifications of the Lún HYPER 5 50D wheels. Other rim depths (36D and 65D) are also available.

First Impressions and Unboxing

The HYPER wheels were delivered in their traditional black box, which features cool quotes such as “You just got faster.” They were properly packaged to prevent damage during transport. In addition to the wheels, the box also contained a Lún bar and accessories bag, two tire levers, an instruction manual, and, most importantly, a tool for hidden nipples.

Additionally, the wheels had tubeless tape pre-applied (unlike the Nepest NOVA, for example) and tubeless valves. Similar to the DRIVE 2 wheels I reviewed recently, the valves have multiple “air shafts” for improved airflow. In theory, they are supposed to make it easier to seat tubeless tires. Well, we’ll see!

In-House Tests

These tests provide a better understanding of the wheel’s assembly quality. So, did the HYPER 5 wheels pass them?

Lateral and Radial Trueness

The HYPER 5 wheels’ lateral trueness was perfect. This is one of the best results I’ve ever measured, because there was virtually no lateral or radial deviation.

Spoke Tension

The spoke tension was also perfect, showing a high level of consistency. No spoke deviated by more than 5% from the average. Similar to the DRIVE II and Nepest Nova wheels, this was one of the best results I recorded.

Rim Centering (Dishing)

The hub was not perfectly centered, but it was good enough to score well. There was a slight gap between the end cap and the dishing tool pin. See the following photos.

A Look Inside

I also took a few photos of the inside of the rim. I found a few spots with epoxy remnants, but again, nothing serious. Below, you can see details of the spoke nipple and the outer wall of the rim.

The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On and Off

Lún HYPER wheels have hooked rims. I always use Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28 mm tires to get consistent results when mounting and seating them. I had some trouble with the front wheel and needed tire levers to mount it. However, I managed to seat it properly using a standard floor pump. The rear wheel was different. I also needed tire levers, but I couldn’t seat the tire with a floor pump, so I had to use a compressor instead. That was a bit disappointing since not everyone has access to a compressor. However, to be fair, this could easily be caused by poor tire manufacturing tolerances rather than the wheels.

Riding Experience

Road bike wheels have seen major improvements in recent years, so I didn’t expect a big difference in ride quality between the HYPER 3 and HYPER 5 wheels. The HYPER 5 is wind-tunnel tested and is 2.2W faster, but that’s such a small difference that you can’t really feel it.

What interested me more was riding comfort. The HYPER wheels have narrower flanges and hidden nipples, which make the carbon spokes longer and slightly more flexible. In theory, this should improve comfort. In practice, the HYPER 5 wheels feel marginally more comfortable than the HYPER 3. Of course, I tested both on the same bike, with the same tires and tire pressure.

Can I feel a difference between the HYPER 5 and the Elitewheels DRIVE 2 or Nepest Nova? I can’t. The differences between Chinese wheels have become so small that they’re hard to notice. Today, the competition goes beyond the product itself. Brands try to stand out through better warranty policies, customer support, and stronger branding and sponsorship of professional teams. For example, Winspace has a professional women’s team at the Pro Continental level. This is also one of the reasons prices have risen over the past few years. Running a team is not cheap.

Another thing to mention is the titanium ratchet. It should be lighter and more durable. I haven’t experienced any issues with it yet, despite stress-testing it with low-cadence, high-power efforts. I also note that the freehub sound is relatively quiet and pleasant.

Let’s talk flanges now. This is one of the biggest differences between the HYPER 3 and HYPER 5. The hubs are completely redesigned and now use enclosed flanges. This means the spokes will not separate if one or two break. Additionally, Winspace uses Vonoa spokes with T-heads, which make spoke alignment slightly easier. Nepest Nova wheels use the same spokes but with titanium T-heads that should be more corrosion-resistant. Additionally, Nepest wheels have open flanges with some patented features, so if you’re curious about learning more, read my Nepest Nova review.

My 28mm Tufo Comtura 4 TR tires inflate to approximately 30-31mm, depending on rim width. The internal width of the HYPER 5 is 23.1mm, so the tires inflate to 31.3mm. The tire-rim transition is quite smooth, and I feel more confident when cornering due to the larger contact surface, which provides better grip. The YOELEO NxT SL2 or Farsports C5 are slightly wider, but the difference is only a few tenths of a millimeter.

The HYPER 5 wheels are stable despite their wide carbon spokes. This applies not only at high speeds but also in crosswinds. This is impressive because the first-generation HYPERs were not particularly stable in crosswinds. I think it’s related to the narrower rims and more V-like rim shape. It’s great that Winspace has improved in this area as well.

Finally, I want to highlight the availability of different decals and rim finishes. You can opt for a matte finish with almost invisible logos, glossy/white decals with small logos, matte black with large white logos (those are the ones I’ve been reviewing), and matte black with a butterfly rim finish featuring large white logos. The last option is my favorite, but it wasn’t available. Winspace returned to its roots and once again offered the butterfly finish, which will help you stand out.

Lún HYPER 5 Alternatives

Several alternatives to the Lún HYPER 5 exist. I want to highlight the Elitewheels DRIVE II, Nepest Nova, and Farsports S series in particular. The table below displays all the wheels I tested, along with their ratings.

If you prefer comfort over stiffness, I recommend choosing steel-spoked wheels like the YOELEO NxT SL2 or Farsports C series. They offer similar specs, but are slightly more comfortable.

My Verdict

Given the higher price of HYPER 5s compared to the DRIVE II, YOELEO NxT SL2, and other alternatives, you might wonder why you should buy HYPERs when you get essentially a product of the same quality. Good question, but don’t forget that comparable wheels like Farsports S5 EVO or Nepest Nova are in a similar price range (after discounts).

In my view, Winspace is a pioneer, and it is largely thanks to their products that the world is beginning to view Chinese bikes differently. They are investing heavily in their women’s cycling team, which is why their products are appearing on television screens around the world. This investment is substantial and must inevitably be reflected in pricing. However, there is little discussion about how such activities benefit the entire Chinese carbon industry. Let’s also distinguish whether the brand sponsors the entire team or just supplies the wheels. From a financial perspective, these are significant differences.

Anyway, I hope you find this review helpful. If you decide to buy these wheels, please consider using the discount code below. It’s the best way to save on wheels and support me. Thank you very much in advance!

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.