The Loopwheels Extreme are the next version of the Loopwheels Original. In this review we set out what the differences are between the Loopwheels Extreme and their first version counterpart, the Loopwheels Classic. We also gave the wheels a really good test whilst out in France during the summer of 2020. You can find out more through this Loopwheels Extreme Review including how to get your own set and the link to our Youtube video review.
Specifications
The Loopwheels Extreme are a lighter than the previous version – 1.33kg per wheel. They are available in 24 or 25 inch rims, with 12mm or half inch axle pin bearings. You can also add a range of pushrims to the Loopwheels Extreme, although for this test I stuck with the standard aluminium. The Extreme wheels come with wide tyres, unlike the 1 inch standard road tyres on the Urban or Classic wheels.
The wheels only come in one colour – black carbon. This isn’t a big problem for many, who want to use these to go bouncing over mud, bumps and grass as much as racing along the road. I count myself in that “many”.
The design is actually half a loop. You’ll see in the video review that the loop now wraps around the hub. Overall the design is very pleasing and wouldn’t look out of place on a space age wheelchair, bouncing over a lunar surface with a disabled astronaut. (If you actually do that, you’ll have a fan for life right here.)
Taking the Loopwheels Extreme Review on the road
I took the wheels up to 30km/h on tarmac roads, using a Triride. They were very comfortable, handling little and medium bumps without causing me any notice. Bigger bumps are always best avoided on any wheel and these are no different. Big holes cause big punctures.
The wheels corner smoothly at all speeds. There is no loss of grip and the wheels don’t wobble as you turn. This means that you get a really stable ride as you move along. If you’re wheeling at walking pace you’ll find them equally comfortable. The lack of wobble, thanks to the new design, means that you’ll be able move around the house or garden without any problems. They also work well with a Smartdrive or similar power add on. Not pictured (but I did try) is the frontwheel, which complemented the Loopwheels Extreme around a gravel walk.
Off road use
When you go off road, it is best taken slow for your own sake, not the wheels. They don’t wallow or bounce excessively, which gives you a really comfortable ride. Over fields or grass, you’ll enjoy a cruise along at low speeds. I also found that the tyres coped well with a front wheel drive bike, as they weren’t off-road focused.
The wheels are really stable, so when you go offroad, you can think a lot more about maintaining your own centre of gravity, rather than where you might end up. We’ve come to expect a little bit of motion from wheelchair suspension and to find it harnessed removes one of the worries. When you combine this with looking at new terrain or trying to avoid rabbit holes, it means your focus can be where it should be.
I also really enjoyed that they could cope with gravel at reasonable pace. You can see more in the video on Youtube – I also, when not filming, had to use them to go through some newly laid gravel which they saved me from sinking into.
Price
The elephant in the room here – how much for a set of Loopwheels Extreme? They’re £1,890 plus delivery of £10. That includes tyres and standard pushrims. It is a lot of money. You must ask yourself if you’d benefit from their use day to day. I think that if you’re using a triride for a daily commute and can keep a spare pair of wheels at the office to change into, you’ll really get the benefit out of them. I wish I’d had them a year ago for my commute into London (pre-COVID).
Loopwheels Extreme Review Conclusion
They’re a lot of money. That’s not up for debate. They show the value through the amount of pace and terrain they can handle. The video review has a lot less face to face talk because I got side-tracked by how comfortable they made my ride. The wobble of Loopwheels Classics is gone. The design looks incredible. I had all the stability of my typical rigid wheels, with the comfort of a dampened ride. It’s hard to draw comparisons – if I had to, it was like going from a mid-range car to a top end SUV.
Would I spend the money? I probably would, if only because I know every time I took my classic loopwheels out, I could be having a better ride on some Loopwheels Exteme. You can get your own Loopwheels Extreme direct from Loopwheels.com.
