Nobl's Signature Series Wheels are 30% Less Torsionally Stiff - On Purpose

"When it comes to carbon wheels, much of the mountain bike industry leans toward stiff rim profiles. And, maybe too stiff, according to Nobl at least. Where these wheels might say stiff equals strength, Nobl feels that stiff equals harsh. For their Signature Series, they chose a design that allows for greater torsional flex. This is the rim's response to both vertical and lateral loads. More torsional flex allows the wheels to dissipate trail feedback more consistently, improving traction."

"Nobl achieved their ideal compliance with shallower rim profiles paired with steel spokes. Both the Signature 38 and Signature 36 wheels have sub-20mm rim depths: 19.5mm and 18.5mm, respectively. These shallower rim profiles result in wheels that are 30% less torsionally stiff than previous offerings. Nobl says the increased compliance provides a more composed ride feel, especially on rougher and off-camber terrain. The wheels remain responsive to rider input while remaining forgiving when the trail gets chunky."

"From light trail duty to heavy-duty enduro riding, these two wheelsets took care of just about everything. While the TR38 is still available as a legacy wheelset from Nobl, the TR36 was discontinued, as they pushed forward with wheels like the TR35. Today, Nobl is reintroducing a 36 and 38 wheelset in their lineup with their new Signature Series. And this new series comes with a slight shift in philosophy from the standard "stiffness" we typically see with carbon wheels."

Nobl reintroduced 36mm and 38mm wheelsets as the Signature Series, replacing the discontinued TR36 while keeping the TR38 as a legacy option. The Signature Series adopts a compliance-first philosophy, favoring torsional flex over traditional rim stiffness. Engineers used shallower rim profiles (19.5mm for the 38 and 18.5mm for the 36) and steel spokes to achieve sub-20mm depths and increased torsional compliance. These wheels are about 30% less torsionally stiff than previous models, which improves traction, composure on rough or off-camber terrain, and forgiveness on chunky trails. The increased compliance reportedly does not reduce strength.

Read at Bikerumor