The Tech Behind Your Ride
Tested in Lab and on the Trail
At IBEX, we don’t just rely on lab tests—we push our rims to the limit in real-world racing conditions. By combining precise laboratory testing with intense race-day trials, we ensure every rim not only meets our strict standards but surpasses the expectations of riders who demand the best.
The IBEX 30 rims endured an entire season of relentless downhill racing and training in the hands of the SK Grafobal / Top on Trail DH team. From early spring to late autumn, each rider relied on a single set of rims—no replacements needed.
These rims faced the toughest challenges: muddy Czech DH Cup courses, the rugged European iXS Downhill Cup tracks, and the unforgiving rocky trails of Spain and France. Despite constant impacts from rocks and harsh terrain, the rims held strong, showcasing remarkable durability.
Yes, they took a beating—there were scuffed sidewalls and even a split joint—but their core performance remained uncompromised. The team continued pushing the limits, confident in their gear.
The result? A Czech DH Championship title and multiple podium finishes, all achieved on the same rims that never quit.
IBEX 30: Built to race, built to last
Where Tough Meets True
G.O.A.T.ed Alloy
“Greatest of All Time.” Bold claim? Maybe. But we’ve got the numbers to prove it.
Our IBEX Blend is a designer alloy, closely related to the renowned 6069—a material used in the top-tier frames of leading brands. However, we’ve taken it a step further.
We optimized the composition to improve extrudability—a crucial upgrade when working with ultra-thin wall thicknesses of just 0.7mm in our rim profiles. This precision in extrusion ensures unmatched strength and flawless shape, even at the limits of material design.
Tensile strength (Rm) represents the maximum stress a material can endure before it breaks. With a remarkable 412 MPa, our G.O.A.T. Alloy outperforms popular choices like 6082 T6 (306 MPa), 6061 T6 (302 MPa), and 6063 T6 (290 MPa).
The yield strength (Rp0.2) indicates the stress at which a material begins to deform permanently. Our G.O.A.T. Alloy boasts a remarkable 365 MPa, significantly outperforming industry-standard alloys like 6082 T6 and 6061 T6 at 260 MPa, and leaving 6063 T6 at 225 MPa far behind.
Fatigue strength measures the material's ability to withstand repeated stress cycles without failure. In simpler terms, it shows how well the material holds up over time when subjected to regular loads, vibrations, and impacts.
Our G.O.A.T. Alloy boasts a fatigue strength of 173 MPa—nearly double the value of standard alloys like 6082 T6 (95 MPa), 6061 T6 (96 MPa), and 6063 T6 (89 MPa).
Why Fatigue Strength is Critical for E-Bike Rims:
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Higher mileage and demanding conditions: E-bikes allow riders to cover significantly more kilometers, often in challenging terrain, at higher speeds, and on heavier bikes. This subjects the rims to a far greater number of stress cycles.
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Long-lasting durability: Our alloy offers exceptional fatigue resistance, ensuring that the rims retain their strength and performance even after prolonged, intensive use.
PinchSafe Hook
Your Tire’s Best Defense Against Pinch Flats
When you ride with lower tire pressure for better grip and comfort, you increase the risk of a pinch flat—a situation where the tire compresses too much upon impact, causing the rim to "bite" the tire, resulting in a puncture.
The PinchSafe Hook is engineered to prevent this by maximizing the contact surface between the tire and the rim at the critical interface. By distributing the forces more evenly across this surface, the system reduces the chance of the tire being pinched during sudden impacts.
RimLock
New Standard for Nipple Stability and Spoke Alignment
In modern wheelbuilding, rims are typically drilled at an angle to match the direction of the spokes. The goal is to ensure that the nipple sits naturally in the rim at the correct angle, following the path of the spoke. This alignment prevents the spoke from sharply bending right behind the nipple head—a key factor for efficient force transfer and spoke longevity.
However, with traditional rims that have a flat rim bed, even with angled drilling of the rim, nipples often touch the rim at a single point. This can cause one of two issues:
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The nipple straightens in the hole, negating the benefits of angled drilling.
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The nipple presses unevenly against the rim bed, potentially denting or deforming it due to the limited contact area.
Many modern wheels attempt to solve this problem using shaped washers designed to provide better contact and distribute the load. However, our IBEX rims take this one step further by integrating the solution directly into the rim’s structure.
How RimLock Works:
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Curved support channel: The internal rim bed features a carefully rounded groove with holes drilled at precise angles.
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Perfect nipple seating: When nipples are installed during wheel assembly, they nest securely into the groove, distributing forces evenly across a much larger contact area.
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System-based design: By approaching the rim as part of a complete wheel system rather than a separate component, we’ve created a design that eliminates the need for additional washers or modifications.
The Benefits:
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Improved spoke alignment: The natural angle between the spoke and nipple reduces bending stress, increasing spoke durability.
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Enhanced wheel stiffness: Since the rim bed isn’t forced to deform under load, the wheel retains its trueness for much longer.
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Longer lifespan: The even force distribution prevents point loading, reducing wear on both the rim and the spokes over time.
With RimLock, our rims redefine structural integrity and precision. It’s not just about assembling parts—it’s about creating a wheel system that maximizes performance and longevity from the ground up.