Stans Flow MK4 Review #stansnotubes #mtb #theloamwolf

When reviewing a product like Stan’s Flow MK4 wheels, it’s important to remember that the modern mountain bike is a complicated contraption. It is the sum of many parts designed for various types of off-road fun. When it comes time to upgrade things, it’s far too easy to get lost in the sea of components and neglect the parts that really make a difference. Amongst those critical upgrades are the wheels you roll on, which can have a drastic effect on the way your bike rides. Stan’s No Tubes has a long history tuning the performance of rims to better suit the needs of mountain bikers, but at times their full wheel builds have fallen short due to shoddy components. As their newest offerings in the aggressive wheel market, do the Stan’s Flow MK4 wheels stand up to the demands of modern riding, and will they serve as a significant upgrade to your bike? We put a set through the wringer so we could let you know.

THE DIRT
I’ve spent my spring hammering a set of 29” Stan’s MK4 Flow wheels in conditions ranging from sloppy wet PNW loam to bone dry rocky California trails, and they’ve held up to all the abuse quite well. I tend to run carbon rims on my personal bike, not for the weight but for the durability that heavier layups can offer, when it comes to how frequently you have to true and tighten your wheels. That being said, this alloy wheelset has impressed me so much I’m not rushing to get back on my personal wheels anytime soon. A big part of that comes down to ride feel, and the muted predictable character these wheels have. In contrast to some high-tension ultra-stiff carbon wheels I’ve tested in the past, the Flow MK4 wheels track super nicely when things get rough, and still corner well enough to hold their own and maintain my confidence. Upon receiving the wheels, I noticed the lower build tension that Stan’s seems to use, a choice that I’m a big fan of. While this might mean the wheel is slightly less torsionally stiff, it makes for a forgiving feel that doesn’t ping you off-line when carving in rough terrain and seems to hold up a little longer before it comes time for truing and tensioning.

Durability has been impressive so far, and not for a lack of abuse. I spent a week riding these wheels in San Luis Obispo, CA, which is notorious for the massively chunky rock gardens that litter the high-speed trails. Even after some pretty significant tire bottom-outs, the rims are dent-free and remain easy to true – a quick job that should be expected on any new wheelset, as tension always takes a few miles to settle in. I almost always run inserts in my tires, but I’ve chosen options made for ride feel more than for rim protection, namely Rimpact up front, and Tannus in the rear. These definitely play a role in keeping the alloy rims dent-free, but even with some foam in there you can manage to flat spot a rim in no time in the rocky chunk. I had one particularly heinous jump case this past week, and the rear wheel rolled away just fine, with only the slightest wobble that was easy to true when I got home.

At the heart of these wheels, I’ve been really impressed by the new M-pulse hubs Stan’s and Project321 developed. In years past, house-brand Stan’s hubs have left a lot of room for improvement, but these are a part I could see people hunting down on the aftermarket for their custom builds. They have a lot of carefully considered features that makes them stand out from the standard offerings most brands lace into their wheels. Complex and effective weather seals keep the internals clean and functional, adjustable preload collars that allow you tune the rolling speed and adjust for any frame differences, and double row freehub bearings should last a whole lot longer than more minimal designs. Plus, they sound nice – kind of Chris King-y at first, but as things wore in, they got a little louder and more crisp.

[This is just a small exerpt from the written review, visit the site for the full write-up]

Price: $308 (Front) / $657 (Rear)
Weight: 1,882g (pair, claimed)
Website: https://www.notubes.com/shop/wheels-rims/mountain/flow
Review: https://theloamwolf.com/2022/06/29/reviewed-stans-flow-mk4-wheelset/

#stansflow #stansflowmk4 #stanswheels #alloywheels #loamwolf #mtbwheels

Chapters:
0:00 - Overview
0:13 - Rim Details
0:45 - Sizes and Pricing
0:56 - Weight
1:11 - Hub Details
2:15 - Impressions
3:57 - Who They’re For
4:41 - The Pro’s
5:25 - Compared to Carbon
6:45 - Final Thoughts

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