Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset is the brand’s top-of-the-line product lineup and offers the highest performance and latest technology. While most people are familiar with the Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, Shimano also offers a full wheelset lineup under the Dura-Ace series with three wheelsets: C36, C50 and a C60. For this review, we have the Dura-Ace C50 which offers a perfect blend of low weight and aerodynamic performance. Retail price for the C50 is $2099.99 and, as the name implies, the wheels have a 50mm deep carbon rim. Shimano has designed the wheelset with modern 21 mm inner width and 28 mm external width. As a Dura-Ace wheelset, Shimano utilizes their HG L2 Freehub which is optimized for use with Shimano 12 speed cassettes.
The Shimano Dura-Ace C50 combines a modern carbon fiber construction with modern construction for all-around performance.
| Retail Price | $2099.99 (set) |
| Rating | Design: A Weight: A- Comfort: A Value: A– |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 600 (front), 802 (rear) – both without valves or quick release levers |
| Likes | + Refined design with subtle branding and deep-dish look + 50mm depth gives good balance of weight and aerodynamics + Fast yet compliant feel on the road |
| Dislikes | – Dura-Ace hub with this wheelset requires Shimano 12-speed cassette |
| Where to Buy (US) | Shimano |
UNBOXING
The Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels come in one large cardboard box with simple Dura-Ace branding printed on it. A cardboard divider separates the wheels inside the box while additional protective wraps ensure the wheels do not get scratched during shipping. Inside the box you’ll find:
- C50 wheelset w/ tubeless valve preinstalled
- 2x Metal spoke wrenches
- 2x Plastic valve removal tool
- Informational pamphlet
Although Shimano does not include replacement spokes with the wheels, given the wide network of Shimano replacement parts should be easy to acquire.
FIT & FINISH
The Shimano Dura-Ace C50 sits in the middle of Shimano’s wheel lineup and has a 50mm carbon rim that balances weight reduction with aerodynamics. It’s deeper than the C36’s 36mm rim but more shallow than the aero-focused C60’s 60mm rim so it can be used on any type of ride. This wheelset is identical to the more affordable Shimano Ultegra C50 wheelset except for the hubs which reduce the weight of the wheelset by about 100 grams. Visually, the Dura-Ace wheels also have more prominent metallic branding on the rim and hubs. The rims have a matte black finish instead of an exposed carbon fiber weave which helps the glossy logos stand out. Similarly, the hubs have a glossy black metal finish with Dura-Ace printed on them.
The wheels have a modern 21mm inner width and a 28mm outer profile along with a hooked design. Shimano designed the wheels to be tubeless with a smooth rim profile that hides the spokes in the inner area of the rim. The Shimano website says tubeless tape is required but it’s a very smooth inner profile aside from one edge where the rim was joined together. The wheelset is designed for a disc brake setup and uses a simple Center Lock interface to securely attach rotors. The C50 wheels use a bladed spoke setup with 16 spokes on the front and 21 on the rear. Shimano uses their OPTBAL rear spoke system which has a 2:1 ratio with 14 spokes on the drive side and 7 on the non-drive side. This approach is claimed to help balance the tension created by modern cassettes and enhance rigidity and strength of the wheels. The spokes use internal nipples which give the wheels a clean appearance.
One of key features of the Dura-Ace wheelsets is the HG L2 aluminum freehub which is only compatible and optimized for Shimano 12 speed cassettes. The freehub is lighter and more responsive than Shimano’s standard HG MICRO SPLINE 10/11 speed steel freehubs and has a direct engagement design that uses a ratchet instead of pawls. While you can use the 12-speed cassettes on older 11-speed HG spline freehubs, the 12-speed hubs are not backward compatible. The engagement angle on the hub is 7.2 degrees which is a big improvement over the previous 20 degrees and lets you quickly engage the pedals. Some of the notable differences with the HG L2 hub are the thinner and deeper splines that help spread pressure and extend the life of the aluminum hub. Shimano has designed the hub to only be compatible with 11-34 cogs which drops support for the less common 10 tooth cogs.
THE RIDE
We installed the Dura-Ace C50 wheels onto our Trek Madone SL8 as a part of a full Dura-Ace upgrade. With our bike being the entry spec Shimano 105 setup, the stock wheels were basic budget Trek Paradigm which made the Dura-Ace C50 a significant upgrade. While the wheels don’t look flashy, the smooth black finish, 50mm depth and metallic branding help give any bike a high-end look. We were able to easily install a set of 700×28 Pirelli P Zero RS tires on the wheelset which inflated to exactly 28mm wide to match the outer width of the rim. On the road, the wheelset with Pirelli tires felt fast and grippy.
Obviously, the bike and tire combination will play a big role in how any wheelset feels but for our combo the wheels were compliant and fast. At 50mm the wheels give you aero benefits to help you feel faster at higher speeds but are not so deep that you have to fight cross winds. Even on our long and steep climbs, the wheels felt as responsive as the Mavic Cosmic SL45. With a Dura Ace 12 speed cassette installed on the wheelset, the engagement felt fast and responsive thanks to the updated hub engagement angle. It’s not as instantaneous as some other hubs on the market, but still feels good and has a subdued hub noise that has a nice mechanical sound that isn’t loud enough to be obnoxious on long descents.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Dura-Ace C50 is a well made and fast feeling wheelset. Shimano has taken all their top-technology and thrown it at the C50 wheelsets with lightweight hubs and full carbon rim. The modern 21mm inner width and 50mm depth make the C50 a great choice for all-around use as they are responsive on climbs while still having aero benefits for faster speeds. As a Dura-Ace wheelset, the C50 has machined hubs and a HG L2 freehub that’s only compatible with Shimano 12-speed cassettes. We found the ride to be supple and fast with the hub offering quick engagement and a compliant ride with the carbon fiber construction and bladed spokes. The only downside to this wheelset is the 12-speed specific hub, so we’d recommend the Ultegra C50 version for riders looking to run other cassettes. That said, the Shimano Dura-Ace C50 is a fast and competitive wheelset that gives you all the performance benefits and features Dura-Ace is known for.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Shimano. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.