Team Tested: Crankbrothers Iodine 3 Wheels Review
It doesn’t matter if you’re on the trail or just rolling through town, the Iodine wheels demand a lot of attention. The thick, long and golden spokes are visible from a distance and certainly raise the ‘pimp-factor’ of the bike. The design of the Crankbro’s sets them apart from the competition, and we were curious to see how they perform.
All the components found in the Iodines are different from normal industry standards. Not only are the hubs, spokes and rims very different, but also the technical details! Crankbrothers has always dared to be different, and on these wheels, the connection between the spokes and the rims certainly stands out. It is a smart and clean solution and allows replacement without removing the tire. The spoke-nipples are about twelve centimeters long and are connected to the hubs via a straight spoke. If you’re purchasing these wheels we would recommend buying some spare spokes since they aren’t available everywhere. A detail we appreciate on the design of the wheels is that they feature only one spoke-length, where other wheel-sets sometimes have four different sizes.
Crankbrothers improved these Iodines with stronger and stiffer rims, featuring a wider tire-bed compared to last year. The wheels provide a good impression, the stiffness, strength and impact-resistance of the rims seems excellent, and acceleration is good. Maybe they are a bit heavy, but really overall they make a good impression. These are wheels you can rely on, with good all-round riding properties, they make you forget them during the ride. Well, until you look down and see the golden spokes reflecting in the sun.
Facts:
- Available sizes: 27.5” & 29”
- Weights: 1780g (27.5) 1850g (29”)
- Rim width internal: 23mm
- Axle fit fronthub: 15mm & 20mm
- Axle fit rearhub: 142×12 & 135×10
- Sram XD freehub sold separately
- Sale price: 900 Euro/ 900 USD
Bottom Line
Love it or hate it, Crankbrothers Iodine 3 wheels look different and impress with the high level of finish, technical details and performance. For sure there are more affordable wheels on the market that are technically just as good, but if you like some functional bling on your bike, these wheels will do the job.
Text: Ruben Torenbeek Photos: Klaus Kneist