YOELEO SAT DB PRO Offset Review: Are They Worth It?

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So, here’s the deal: YOELEO gave me the chance to review their G21 gravel frame. They also sent me the SAT DB PRO Offset wheels along with it, and I’ve decided to write a separate review for those.

Apart from taking them for intense rides off-road, I checked them out at home before using them. I looked at their trueness, spokes, and tension consistency and also took a few photos from the inside of the rim.

Main Features

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

First Impressions and Unboxing

The wheels came in the same box as all other YOELEO wheels. It was slightly damaged, but I was confident the wheels would be scratch-free.

They were protected using foam inserts and a foam bag. In the picture below, you can also see a blue package, which includes 2 spare spokes and 2 valve extenders.

The wheels had the following label informing customers about their experience and UCI approval.

Here are a few more detailed pictures.

In-House Tests

Lateral and Radial Trueness

Based on my experience with the SAT PRO and SAT PRO 2022 road wheels, I also expected a high standard for these gravel wheels.

A simple trueness test showed that the wheels were almost 100% true. The deviations were tiny (<0.3mm). The radial trueness was slightly worse (<0.5mm) but still great.

Spoke Tension

I measured the spoke tension of every spoke of both wheels. The spoke tension was consistent across both wheels.

Only 2 front wheel spokes didn’t meet the 5% standard (by 0.6%). The same was true for the rear wheel.

And here you can see the rear wheel. Only the spoke number 7 was visibly off the average:

Overall, the tension of the spokes was consistent and similar to the results I measured on my previous YOELEO road wheels.

Rim Centering (Dishing)

I didn’t expect any surprises here. After checking the hub centering with a dishing tool, I found that the front hub was a little (~0.3mm) off-center.

A Look Inside

The internal rim structure of the YOELEO SAT DB PRO Offset wheels looked smooth. However, I did occasionally encounter small remnants of epoxy. Compared to the other wheels, I have to say again that this is a “better-looking” result.

The Difficulty of Putting the Tire On and Off

For this test, I used Maxxis Receptor Exo TR 40mm. I don’t have a benchmark since these are the first gravel wheels and tires I’ve used. But putting them on and seating them didn’t require much effort. Remember, these wheels have no spoke holes, so I didn’t have to use tubeless rim tape.

My friend also recommended I use tire inserts to protect the rims. Their installation is tricky, but they do the job. They ensure you won’t break the rim if you hit a rock with a tire inflated to a low pressure.

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

I have a lot of experience with road bike wheels, but these are my first gravel carbon wheels. They basically do what I expect from gravel wheels. They are comfortable, especially with the lower rims and steel spokes. This makes them better able to absorb riding vibrations and shocks. The ride is much more comfortable with the wide tires than on a road bike.

I positively evaluate the stability in crosswinds. Thanks to the low profile, there is no problem with it. On the other hand, the aerodynamics suffer, which is worse, and on flats, you can feel that the wheels do not spin as well as 50mm or deeper rims.

I also feel a significant difference in terms of stiffness compared to road bike wheels. This is again mainly due to the steel spokes and the lower pressures in the tires. You certainly can’t expect similar acceleration to lightweight wheels.

Durability is excellent. I’ve been through a lot of holes, and there’s not a scratch on the rims, so I can rely on them 100%. Thanks to the use of ratchet DT Swiss-like bullets and standard tips, servicing should be easy.

The biggest drawback, which is really annoying, is the very loud freehub sound. It downright bothers me and is a deal breaker for me, so I wouldn’t buy the bikes myself. I hope YOELEO improves them in the future.

YOELEO SAT DB PRO Offset Alternatives

My Verdict

YOELEO SAT DB PRO are affordable, easy to service, and well-made gravel wheels. However, they have two major drawbacks. The first is the narrow rim width, which falls short of today’s gravel wheel standards. The second is the very loud freehub body, which is annoying. However, if you can see past these two shortcomings, these wheels are worth considering.

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.