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Roval is consistently trying to improve our system weight limits. Our newest wheels and components now have an industry leading system weight limit of 275lbs (125Kg) and our older generation of wheels has a system weight limit of 240lbs (109Kg).
275lbs (125Kg) - Rapide CLX, Rapide C, Alpinist CLX, Alpinist CL, Terra Evo CLX, Terra CLX, Control SL (2020), Alpinist Cockpit, Alpinist Seatpost, Terra Seatpost, Traverse SL Handlebar.
240lbs (109Kg) - All products not referenced above.
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Traverse SL 38
The ultimate plus-size trail wheel
Traverse SL 38
The ultimate plus-size trail wheel
$1,600.00
what it’s for, why it’s great
All the trick carbon goodness, bomber durability and big-mountain capability of the Traverse SL, but tailored for the plus-size aficionado. With a 38-mm internal rim width, the Traverse SL 38 answers the call for big mountain riders who want to run big meaty tires.
Big tires demand wide rims
The zero-bead-hook rim bed of the Traverse SL 38 has a massive 38mm internal width. This offers superior sidewall support for plus-size tires, leading to less tire deformation and squirm at lower pressures - especially when cornering or jumping - resulting in more predictable and surefooted handling, allowing the potential of big footprint tires to be fully realized.
Sometimes tried and true is the best way forward
We use J-bend spokes on the Traverse SL 38. For a wheel chock-full of forward thinking, this may seem out of step, but bear with us here. J-bend spokes are strong, proven, and available just about anywhere. And these aren’t just any spokes. DT Swiss Competition spokes are the most refined spokes you could hope to hold a wheel together with. The best. No compromise.
This step flange hub is subtle wizardry
Look closely here. Notice how many of the spokes run “head-in”, meaning that the spokes pull from the outside of the hub, maximizing the wheel’s bracing angle. This increases strength and improves handling. Additionally, the angle the spokes exit the hub is such that there is less load on each spoke where it crosses another, in turn eliminating a notorious spoke breakage stress point.
Trickness hides in the details
You’ll find the same length spokes throughout the Traverse SL 38 wheelset—drive side or non-drive, front or rear, all the same length spokes. 28 of them per wheel. Brass nipples. Strength and durability are front and center, weight is still incredibly low, and in the rare case that you go harder than your wheels, replacement spokes can be easily sourced just about anywhere, and your wheels can be easily serviced.
Product Specifications
Technical specifications
Rim
Rim material
Carbon Fiber
Rim width
38mm internal
Spoke
Front spoke pattern
Two-cross
Rear spoke pattern
Two-cross
Spoke count
Front: 28
Rear: 28
Nipple type
DT Swiss Brass
Spoke length
Front Right/Left: 264mm/264mm
Rear Drive-Side/Non-Drive: 264mm/264mm
Hub
Front hub
Roval CNC Machined 28 hole "Step Flange" design for maximum bracing angle and reduced spoke failure. 15x110mm 19mm OD end caps & 31mm end caps
Rear hub
Roval CNC Machined 28 hole "Step Flange" design for maximum bracing angle and reduced spoke failure, 12x148mm, DT Swiss 240 Freehub 54t engagement, SRAM XD driver
Bearing type
Sealed cartridge
Other
Assembly method
Handbuilt
Extras
Tubeless valve stems
Wheelset weight
1830g
Tire pressure recommendations
General
All Roval wheels are designed and tested as a system. This allows us to tune each wheelset specifically for the intended ride experience and deliver the highest quality wheels. For this reason, we do not offer individual components for sale.
Roval Road Wheels
Our CLX 32, 50, 64, Terra CLX, Terra CLX EVO, C38, SLX 24 and all Contol and Traverse models are compatible. Rapide CLX and Alpinist CLX wheels are not compatible with tubeless road tires. By making them tube-type specific we were able to create lighter and better complete wheels systems for performance road riders. To render these wheels tubeless would have required extra materials, and that extra mass would have outweighed the benefits of tubeless tires.
The wider CL(X) 32, 50, and 64 are compatible with tires between 22-47C. The previous CL(X) 40 and 60 models are compatible with tires up to 38C. Note that many Roval road wheels have a larger inner width than traditional road rims. Most road tires end up about 2mm wider on these wheels than on a traditional road wheel.
The wider CL(X) 32, 50, and 64 are compatible with tires between 22-47C. The previous CL(X) 40 and 60 models are compatible with tires up to 38C.
All Roval road wheels use DT Swiss internals. Stock DT Swiss replacement freehub parts are compatible with the rear wheels. Freehub bodies for virtually all component groups are available from your local Roval dealer. Please direct questions for specific part numbers to support@rovalcomponents.com
SCS is a system developed by Specialized Bicycle Components to ensure an ideal chainline and crisp shifting on disc brake road bikes with short chainstays. Wheels with SCS hubs move the cassette inboard (closer to the center of the bike). Select Roval models – CL(X) 40 and CLX 64 – are available with SCS rear hubs for use on certain Specialized Tarmac, Roubaix, Diverge, and CruX Disc models. Endcaps are available to use these wheels in both QR and SCS thru-axle configurations.
Our current generation CL(X) 32, 40, 50, and 64 wheels, along with SLX 24 disc wheels, are compatible with traditional QR and thru-axle configurations. In the front, this is 9x100mm QR and 12x100mm thru-axle. In the rear, this is 9x135mm QR and 12x142mm thru-axle. The end caps for these configurations all ship with each aftermarket wheel.
We have partnered with Swiss Stop and optimized our brake tracks for their Black Prince brake pads. These brake pads are available for Shimano/SRAM and Campagnolo configurations, and they're easy to find at either your local bike shop or online. Use of a brake pad other than the Swiss Stop Black Prince or the Roval “Red” pads will void your warranty and can be unsafe.
Roval Mountain Wheels
All Roval Mountain wheels use DT Swiss internals. Stock DT Swiss replacement freehub parts are compatible with the rear wheels. Freehub bodies for virtually all component groups are available from your local Roval dealer. Please direct questions for specific part numbers to support@rovalcomponents.com.
All Roval wheel small parts are available through your local Roval dealer. For technical questions please contact support@rovalcomponents.com.
The spoke lengths and type vary by wheel. Please contact your local dealer or support@rovalcomponents.com, and we'll get you sorted.
This depends on a ton of variables. Trail type and conditions, rider weight and style, tire casing, and internal rim width all play a part in choosing the proper combination. As a general baseline, we recommend the following: 22mm internal rim width – 2.0 - 2.3” tire; 29-30mm internal rim width – 2.3 - 3.0” tire; 38mm internal rim width – 2.6 - 3.0” tire
Current generation Control and Traverse wheels (all wheel diameters and hub spacing types) are compatible with the plugs.
Still Have Question If Our Components Are Right for You?
Call Us at 1 (877) 808 - 8154
How we made it
Field testing
Matt Hunter, Matt Mile, Hannah Barnes, and so many other obsessed trail riders have been a part of testing and developing the Traverse SL 38 wheels. Not only have our sponsored riders schralped the gnarliest trails on earth, their continual feedback enables us to constantly improve the performance of our products.
Prototyping
The Traverse SL 38’s step flange hub, a feature which improves reliability and ride quality, was born in our state of the art machine shop. The world class machinists and machines here perform a kind of alchemy, turning solid billets of metal into ride-enhancing prototype hubs, rim molds, and anything else we need to make.