YOELEO SAT C50|50 DB PRO 2022 Review: What Is New?

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NOTE: SAT PRO line was replaced with the NXT line.

A few months ago, YOELEO introduced a new wheelset, the YOELEO SAT DB PRO 2022. It has in-house design hubs, Pillar WING 20 Aero spokes, and a new ‘marble’ rim finish. I’ve been using these wheels for about 1000 km and tested them in my modest workshop. In this review, I share my findings and what I think about them.

What’s New?

YOELEO slowly discontinued its SL and STD wheel lines in 2022. They are now only selling the PRO line. The PRO 2022 comes with YOELEO 220 SP (rim brake version) or YOELEO 230 SP (disc brake version). However, you can still opt for more expensive DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs.

YOELEO claims its hubs are lighter, easier to maintain, and more reliable due to fewer moving parts. We’ll see how they hold up over time.

The introduction of in-house designed hubs also means YOELEO can offer more competitive pricing and will become less reliant on third-party suppliers.

Another difference is in the spokes. Unlike the previous generation of SAT PRO wheels, the 2022 edition comes with Pillar Wing 20 aero spokes, not Sapim CX-Ray. 

YOELEO SAT PRO 2022 Options

Remember, not all combinations are available. For more info, visit yoeleobike.com.

Main Features

Here is a quick summary of the YOELEO SAT C50|50 DB PRO 2022 main features and specs.

First Impressions and Unboxing

The wheels came in the same box as the previous generation. It wasn’t damaged, so I was confident the wheels were in good condition.

They were protected using foam inserts and a foam bag.

The packing includes 2 spare spokes and 2 valve extenders.

YOELEO also started to add this label informing customers about their experience and UCI approval.

The rims also contain info about the passed quality control.

Since my last review, I’ve noticed a small improvement (thanks to the label now attached to the wheel).

But there are still things to improve. For example, the box could contain some motivational text, like the Lún wheel boxes.

Here are a few more detailed pictures.

In-House Tests

Lateral and Radial Trueness

A simple trueness test showed that the wheels were almost 100% true. The deviations (<0.5mm) were hardly visible.

The same applies to the radial test. The wheels were almost perfectly round. The YOELEO SAT PROs ended up better than Lún HYPER, Farsports Ventoux S, and Elitewheels DRIVE.

Spoke Tension

I measured the spoke tension of every spoke of both wheels.

All left-side spokes of the front wheel were within 5% of the average. The left side was very consistent.

The right side was slightly less consistent. The biggest deviation was 9.7%.

The rear wheel performed better except for one left spoke (6.2% deviation).

Overall, the tension of the spokes was pretty consistent and similar to the results I measured on wheels like Lún HYPER or Elitewheels DRIVE.

Rim Centering (Dishing)

I had high expectations from these tests because the previous SAT PROs I tested ended up great.

The truth is, both hubs were almost perfectly centered.

See the following pictures of the front wheel:

And here is the rear wheel:

The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On and Off

For this test, I always use the same tubeless tires – Tufo Comtura 4 TR 28mm.

The rims are the same as in the previous generation, so I didn’t expect much difference when putting the tire on the rims.

Seating tubeless tires is another story. I had to use an air compressor to seat them.

Based on my experience, it’s the easiest and most effective way to seat tubeless tires.

TIP: If you struggle to seat tubeless tires, add one or two layers of tubeless rim tape, and eventually, apply soapy water to the rims.

Riding Experience

The new SAT PRO 2022 wheels behave like the old ones. I honestly can’t tell the difference.

They have good crosswind stability (better than HYPERs), so they don’t require as much focus in crosswinds.

I like riding them on flats and descents. They feel faster than lighter wheels thanks to their larger inertia and the momentum they maintain.

This brings me to maneuverability. These wheels want to hold a straight line. I felt some unwillingness to steer at higher speeds and technical descents.

That being said, I believe these wheels are perfect for steady efforts and time trials.

But they are probably not the best option for quick speed changes, like in criteriums. There are also lighter wheels more suitable for climbing.

I would recommend Lún HYPERs (2023) or Elitewheels DRIVE for these scenarios.

I can’t comment on the durability because I don’t use them for so long. However, I’m confident YOELEO would help resolve any potential issues

One thing I don’t like is the freehub sound. Listen to it yourself:

YOELEO SAT PRO 2022 Alternatives

YOELEO SAT PRO 2022 doesn’t have many alternatives in the same price range. Lún HYPER or Elitewheels DRIVE are more expensive. So, the closest alternatives are:

• Lún Road Series have a unique rim finish and in-house designed hubs (use the code CYCLISTSHUB10 to get 10% OFF). 
• Elitewheels BWT have optionable hubs from DT Swiss and Sapim CX-Ray spokes (use the code CYCLISTSHUB to get 15% OFF). 
• Farsports Kaze are almost fully customizable. The price differs based on the components (use the code CYCLISTSHUB50 to get 50 USD OFF).

You can also check out the wheels in the following table, which shows the individual criteria of all wheels I tested and my rating.

My Verdict

I was very curious whether I could tell the difference between the old SAT PRO wheels with DT Swiss 350 hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes and the new SAT PRO 2022 wheels with YOELEO 230 SP hubs and Pillar Wing 20 aero spokes.

The answer is: ‘I can’t even when riding them side by side.’

I also can’t comment on longevity because I haven’t yet used the wheels for tens of thousands of kilometers.

What you will notice, however, is the price difference. Previous SAT PRO wheels offered good value for money, but I think the 2022 SAT PRO offers even better value.

The only shame is that YOELEO didn’t spend more time optimizing rims. Narrow rims are getting outdated, and more people lean toward wider rims thanks to the popularity of wider tires.

YOELEO Wheels FAQ

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.