Lún HYPER vs. Elitewheels DRIVE: Which Ones Are Better?

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This is my comparison of the Lún HYPER and Elitewheels DRIVE wheels. Both belong among the best Chinese carbon road bike wheels you can buy. So, which ones are better?

I reviewed HYPER 2020 50mm, HYPER SE 2023 D45, HYPER 3 D45, and DRIVE 45mm. I carefully noted their differences to help people like you decide which one to invest in.

Continue reading for more info, or:

Technical Specifications

The following table shows the technical specifications of HYPER 3, HYPER 23, HYPER SE 23, Elitewheels DRIVE, and the discontinued Winspace HYPER 2020.

Features Comparison and My Experience

To make the comparison as comparable as possible, I’ve used all wheelsets with the same tires (Tufo Comtura 4 TR), the same tire pressure, and the same bike.

The following table summarizes the scoring of individual features. I will explain them more below.

Watch my video review of the Lún HYPER SE review.

And Elitewheels DRIVE review:

Crosswind Stability

I tested 45mm DRIVE, 50mm HYPER, D45 HYPER SE 23, and D45 HYPER 3 wheels. I honestly don’t know what difference these few millimeters in rim depth make because I haven’t had the opportunity to test the same 45mm and 50mm deep wheels side-by-side.

In theory, the shallower the wheels, the more stable they are, and vice versa. Another factor that could contribute to the better crosswind stability of DRIVE wheels is their external width. HYPER 2020 wheels have an external width of only 26mm, while DRIVE wheels have 29mm. The HYPER SE 23 feel more stable than HYPER 2020, maybe because of the 27.6mm external width, but they still have worse crosswind stability than DRIVE. Finally, the HYPER 3 feel slightly more stable than the HYPER 2023 and almost as stable as the DRIVE wheels.

Remember that the crosswind stability is also one of the weaknesses of the first generation of HYPER wheels.

Stiffness and Responsivity

The high stiffness of the wheels means you don’t feel like they flex when riding out of the saddle or sprinting. Since all these wheels have carbon spokes, they are among the stiffer wheels.

The responsivity is the ability of the wheels to start spinning quickly. It’s mainly influenced by weight, weight distribution, and stiffness.

You might have even heard that HYPER wheels are too stiff. I can confirm that. HYPER and HYPER SE 23 feel great on smooth tarmac but not so well on rougher roads. They transfer too many vibrations. Surprisingly, this doesn’t apply to HYPER 3, as they have wider internal rim width and allow the tire to inflate more and to a slightly different shape than the previous generations. This is what I believe contributes to better riding comfort. DRIVE are stiff as well, but not as much, so they feel more comfortable.

Another point for DRIVE wheels is that they have extremely low inertia and are more responsive. They are like sports cars. Once you start pedaling, they immediately react. You will love them if you like attacking or accelerating out of the saddle or during criteriums, for example.

Riding Comfort

Regarding ride comfort, I don’t notice big differences. I find the DRIVE slightly more comfortable than both HYPER 2020 and HYPER SE 2023. The DRIVE and HYPER 3 are basically on the same level. However, the difference is marginal. In my experience, all carbon-spoked wheels are less comfortable on rough roads than steel-spoked wheels.

Speed Maintenance

Low weight may not always be a benefit. This especially applies to flats. People living in flat or hilly areas should choose HYPER (SE) or HYPER 3. They have better momentum, so they can maintain their speed better than DRIVE. I assume that the aerodynamics are similar, maybe slightly better on HYPERs. Unfortunately, I can’t scientifically verify this claim.

This is also one of the most significant differences between these wheelsets. I noticed immediately that DRIVE wheels are not as “fast” on flats and during steady efforts. They tend to lose their momentum faster than HYPERs. Again, this is mainly based on how I perceive it.

Putting the Tire On and Off

All these wheels have applied tubeless-rim tape, so you only have to put the tires on.

I remember struggling to put Tufo Comtura 4 TR tubeless tires on DRIVE wheels. I had to use tire levers. I could put the same tires on HYPERs without tire levers. When I tried seating the tires for the first time, I struggled more with DRIVE than HYPER wheels. But that was in days when I didn’t have many experiences with tubeless tires.

Nowadays, I can seat them easily with an air compressor. However, Lún HYPERs seem to be more beginner-friendly when seating TL tires. This doesn’t apply to HYPER 3, though. They have a wider internal rim width (23mm), so there may be more space for air leaks. I could not seat the tires with a standard floor pump, and I had to use a compressor.

Lateral and Radial Trueness

When I tested the L and R trueness, the HYPER SE 23 and HYPER 3 gave me the best results. They were almost perfectly true. But this doesn’t mean the other wheels were untrue. No, they only had tiny deviations that did not affect the ride.

Spoke Tension

I also tested spoke tension consistency when I received wheelsets for testing. The images below show the results for all wheels. Again, the HYPER SE 23 and HYPER 3 had the best results.

Dishing

Dishing, in other words, how centered the hubs are, brought slightly different results. DRIVE wheels had hubs perfectly centered, while HYPER and HYPER SE were slightly (<0.5mm) off-center.

Price

The difference is that Lún wheels have a 2-year warranty, while DRIVE have a 3-year warranty.

With the CYCLISTSHUB10 discount code, you can get 10% off on winspace.cc and lunwheels.cc.

With the CYCLISTSHUB discount code, you can get 15% off on elite-wheels.com.

Design

Evaluating design is highly subjective, so I don’t include it in the overall verdict. Those who read CyclistsHub.com regularly know HYPERs were my dream wheels because of their butterfly-weave rim finish. I think they are the best road bike wheels ever designed. The pattern is unique and turns heads. My friends gave me a lot of compliments.

Elitewheels took a slightly different approach. They went for a raw, glossy carbon finish. It’s original, but I don’t like it as much as HYPERs. The finish of your bike also affects how things work together.

NOTE: HYPER 23 SE and HYPER 3 have a matte finish.

Which one do you like more? Let me know in the comments below.

Serviceability

Winspace and Elitewheels use in-house-designed hubs and spokes on their wheels. Winspace no longer includes spare spokes in the packing. You have to email them and ask them to send you spare spokes for free if you break them so you (or your local wheel builder) can replace them. Elitewheels still includes spare spokes in the packing. With bearings, it’s a little more complicated.

The front hub of the HYPER 2020 disc brake wheels uses 6803 and 6903 ceramic bearings, and the rear hub uses two 6803 and two 6903 ceramic bearings. This information was unavailable on the Winspace website, so I had to ask their support for it.

DRIVE disc brake wheels use two 6803 ceramic bearings in the front hub and one 6903 and three 6803 ceramic bearings in the rear hub. This information is available on the Elitewheels website.

You can buy these bearings from manufacturers like NTN and SKF (these two are among the best). Unfortunately, neither Elitewheels nor Winspace sells them as replacements.

You might also be interested in the pros and cons of ceramic and steel bearings.

The same applies to the hubs; you have to contact their customer support if something happens to them. It won’t be as easy as going to a store, buying DT Swiss 350 hubs, and rebuilding the wheel.

But it depends on the scenario. Either way, both manufacturers still lack a stronger distribution network. From my experience, ceramic bearings in HYPERs last longer than those in DRIVE wheels. I had to service those in DRIVE wheels after about 2000 km.

My Verdict

Before you decide which wheelset to buy, think about the terrain you ride most often and your riding style.

If you live in a mountainous area or even in the high mountains, choose the Elitewheels DRIVE. You’ll appreciate their low weight and high responsiveness. Consider the Lún HYPER SE 23 if you ride more flat or rolling terrain, enjoy steady efforts, and are looking for the best value wheels from Winspace.

I prefer the DRIVE wheels in terms of ride characteristics but the HYPER 2023 in appearance. The HYPER 3 are closer to DRIVE wheels, except for their high responsiveness. However, whatever wheels you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of them. They still offer excellent value for money compared to some Western brands.

Anyway, I hope this comparison is useful for you. If you plan to buy one or the other wheels, please consider using my discount codes. It’s the best way to support my website and my work. Thank you.

Lún HYPER vs. Elitewheels DRIVE FAQ