A Durable Carbon XC Rear Wheel Built to Level Up Every Ride

The Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Rear Wheel is a 29-inch carbon mountain bike wheel designed for cross-country riding where the combination of light weight, compliance, and fast hub engagement delivers meaningful performance advantages over aluminium alternatives. The Kovee Elite 30 sits in Bontrager's carbon XC wheel range with a shallow 22mm rim depth and wider 29mm internal width - a profile specifically chosen to optimise compliance and tyre support rather than maximising aerodynamic depth at the expense of ride quality and handling.

The wheel is built on Boost 148mm rear spacing with a splined Rapid Drive 108 XC hub, 24-hole rim drilling, and Grand Forza spokes with alloy nipples in a 14/15g butted profile. A TLR rim strip and valve are pre-installed, making tubeless setup immediately accessible from the moment the wheel arrives without sourcing additional components. This listing is for the rear wheel only. The matching Kovee Elite 30 front wheel is available separately.

Confirm your drivetrain's freehub standard before purchase - the freehub body specification is not listed in the provided information. Contact Trek Bikes Florida for freehub body compatibility confirmation for your specific cassette before ordering.

• Level up with the proven speed, durability, and ride quality of modern carbon mountain bike wheels.
• Elite-level OCLV Carbon rims with 29mm internal width, 35mm external width, and 22mm depth
• Shallow profile and wider inner rim width optimizes compliance and tire support for unmatched ride feel
• Wider bead hooks add durability and help protect against pinch flats
• Rapid Drive 108 XC hub with a splined drive ring shaves weight while adding durability
• Tubeless ready rim comes with TLR rim strip and valve pre-installed for easy setup
• Boost 110/148, 24 spoke front and rear with Grand Forza spokes and nipples (14/15)

OCLV Carbon, 29mm Internal Width, and Shallow Profile Design

The rim is built from OCLV Carbon - Bontrager's elite-level carbon construction offering an optimised blend of weight, strength, and durability. At 22mm depth with a 35mm outer width and 29mm internal width, the Kovee Elite 30 rim profile is designed around a specific XC performance philosophy - shallower depth reduces the rim's weight and crosswind sensitivity, while the wider 29mm internal width provides the tyre support surface that allows wider XC tyres to form an optimal cross-section at lower tubeless pressures.

The 29mm internal width accommodates modern XC and trail tyre widths in the 2.2-inch to 2.4-inch range comfortably, with the wider inner rim allowing the tyre to sit with a rounder, more supported sidewall profile that improves traction and compliance on technical trail terrain. Wider bead hooks add durability at the tyre-to-rim interface and provide additional protection against pinch flat damage at the rim edge - a practical feature for XC riders who run lower pressures tubeless where the rim edge occasionally contacts rocks and trail debris.

Rapid Drive 108 XC Hub and Grand Forza Spokes

The Rapid Drive 108 XC hub uses 108 points of engagement with a splined drive ring design - the splined interface between the drive ring and hub shell reducing the weight of the engagement system compared to a pawl-and-ratchet alternative while maintaining the durability needed for XC racing and aggressive trail use. 108 points of engagement provides near-instant power pickup when the rider resumes pedalling after a corner or technical section, with approximately one engagement point every 3.3 degrees of rotation.

Grand Forza spokes are laced 24 holes in a butted 14/15g profile - a double-butted design that uses a thicker diameter at the spoke ends where stress is highest and a thinner diameter at the mid-section to reduce overall spoke weight. Alloy nipples complete the spoke build.

FAQs

Is this a front or rear wheel?

This listing is for the rear wheel only with Boost 148mm spacing. The matching Kovee Elite 30 front wheel with Boost 110mm spacing is available separately.

What is the internal rim width of the Kovee Elite 30?

The rim has a 29mm internal width and 35mm outer width at a 22mm depth, designed to support modern XC and trail tyre widths in the 2.2-inch to 2.4-inch range with optimal sidewall support at lower tubeless pressures.

Is tubeless setup equipment included?

Yes. A TLR rim strip and valve are pre-installed on the rim, making tubeless setup immediately accessible. Tubeless tyres and sealant must be sourced separately.

What is the Rapid Drive 108 XC hub and how does the splined drive ring differ from a standard pawl hub?

The Rapid Drive 108 XC hub provides 108 points of engagement with a splined drive ring that interfaces with the hub shell. The splined design reduces the weight of the engagement system compared to a standard pawl-and-ratchet mechanism while maintaining durability for XC and trail use.

What spoke specification does the Kovee Elite 30 use?

The wheel uses Grand Forza double-butted spokes in a 14/15g profile - thicker at the ends for strength at the stress concentration points and thinner at the mid-section to reduce weight - laced 24 holes with alloy nipples.