Product news: They are all named after precious metals and are called cobalt, iodine and lithium. The Crankbrothers wheels are not only an eye-catcher, a lot of know-how was also put into the technical development. They are up to the special requirements of the respective bike categories. And as the name suggests, the Crankbrothers Lithium 27,5+ wheels were specially developed for use on E-MTBs.

But why are E-MTB specific wheels necessary at all? In general, e-mountain bikes are subjected to significantly higher loads. Starting with the weight of the bike. A normal, full-suspension mountain bike weighs an average of 13-14kg. E-mountain bikes, on the other hand, almost double that. But in addition to the increased weight, higher pedaling performance also gnaws at the material. A normal mountain biker uses around 200 watts of power, but not continuously. The drives on E-MTBs usually deliver 250 watts of power permanently. The Crankbrothers Lithium even have room for improvement here, they are approved for a nominal output of up to 350 watts.
Crankbrothers Lithium: More endurance thanks to twin-spoke technology
The advantages of the optically idiosyncratic twin-spoke technology are obvious. Due to the "holeless" rim design, the Crankbrothers lithium wheels are tubeless-ready ex works, no additional rim ends are required here. The spokes are also more massive and favor the rigidity of the wheelset.
Steel is used as the freewheel material in order to cope with the higher performance provided by the electric drive. The rim width, both inside and outside, has also been adapted to the e-mountain bike and the Plus tires. The Crankbrothers Lithium have an inner width of 35mm and an outer width of 40mm.
Crankbrothers Lithium: assembly and accessories
After unpacking, we are amazed at the extensive accessories that come with it. Because in addition to the tubeless valves, spare spokes are also included in the scope of delivery.
But a spoke-in protocol is also included with the wheels. So we can get started right away and mount the E-MTB specific tire Schwalbe Eddy Current. Nothing easier than that. The tubeless installation is surprisingly easy and the tire-rim combination seals quickly.

Crankbrothers Lithium: Good-natured and stable
Crankbrothers tested lithium wheels on a Crafty R moon rocket with a Bosch Performance Line CX drive, among other things. Different riders, different weight classes put a lot of strain on the wheels without paying any heed. They held up amazingly well and “survived” the long-term test without any defects.

Crankbrothers Lithium: Technical Details
Size: 27,5+ (650B+)
Weight (set): 2085g
spokes: 2.0 straight gauge spokes
Rim width inside: 35 mm
Rim width outside: 40 mm
Freewheel: Steel (Shimano)
Wheel hub: Boost (Front/Rear)
Tubeless ready: Yes (without rim tape)
Warranty: 2 years
RRP: 779 Euros
Further information on www. crankbrothers.com