PRE-ORDER OPEN | Incoming stock
This wheelset is not yet at NWHBIKES. Our first shipment is expected to arrive in Melbourne in late October 2026. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date. Your payment is taken at checkout. We will dispatch your wheelset or arrange workshop collection after it arrives and is inspected. If the expected timing changes, we will contact you.
Choose your Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehub option before ordering. Both options are available for pre-order, subject to confirmation. Standard shipping within Australia is included. Optional installation, tyres, cassette and brake rotors are charged separately. For compatibility or delivery questions, contact info@nwhbikes.com.
Fast enough to race. Light enough to climb.
The Elitewheels Drive 50D II is the premium all-round road wheelset in our Elitewheels range.
With a 50 mm carbon rim, 4.5 mm carbon spokes, ceramic bearings and a weight of just 1,300 ± 30 g per pair, it balances low weight with the aerodynamic advantage of a deeper road wheel.
For riders looking for one fast wheelset for climbing, rolling roads, fast bunch rides and racing, this is the Drive model we would choose.
A$1,899 per wheelset · Standard shipping within Australia included.
Elitewheels Drive II: manufacturer video.
Why the 50D II?
A 50 mm rim gives the Drive 50D II enough depth to provide a meaningful aerodynamic advantage without moving into the more specialised territory of very deep road wheels.
The rim measures 23 mm internally and 31 mm externally and is designed around modern 28–30C road tyres.
That wider tyre-and-rim combination helps create a smoother aerodynamic profile while also allowing modern road tyres to run at sensible pressures for grip and comfort.
Aerodynamics
Elitewheels wind tunnel testing. Manufacturer footage.
Elitewheels developed the second-generation Drive rim using CFD simulation, wind-tunnel testing and real-world testing.
The U/V-shaped rim profile is designed to manage airflow around the wheel and improve stability when the wind is coming from the side.
During testing at the Silverstone Engineering Hub in the UK, Elitewheels reports that the Drive II achieved a 2.84% reduction in CdA compared with the previous generation. At a -15° yaw angle, the Drive 50D II recorded a 5.2 watt reduction in drag under the same test conditions.
Real-world gains will vary with rider position, speed, tyres, bike setup and wind conditions, but the important point is that the rim shape has been developed and tested as an aerodynamic system rather than simply being made 50 mm deep.
Carbon spokes
The Drive 50D II uses 4.5 mm bladed carbon spokes with 21 spokes front and 24 rear.
Unlike bonded carbon-spoke systems, the spokes are individually replaceable, which is something we particularly like from a servicing point of view.
Carbon spokes also allow Elitewheels to combine a low wheel weight with high lateral stiffness while keeping the spoke blade aligned aerodynamically.
Kinetic ratchet hub
The Drive II uses Elitewheels' Kinetic hub with a 50-tooth star-ratchet mechanism and conical ratchet interface.
The hubs use S&S ceramic bearings and additional sealing intended to reduce contamination and water ingress.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 700c |
|---|---|
| Intended use | Road |
| Rim depth | 50 mm |
| Internal width | 23 mm |
| External width | 31 mm |
| Tyre setup | Clincher / tubeless-ready |
| Compatible tyres | 700 × 28–45C |
| Recommended tyres | 700 × 28–30C |
| Spokes | 4.5 mm carbon |
| Spoke count | 21 front / 24 rear |
| Hub | Elitewheels Kinetic |
| Freehub system | 50T ratchet |
| Bearings | S&S ceramic |
| Brake interface | Center Lock |
| Front axle | 12 × 100 mm |
| Rear axle | 12 × 142 mm |
| Freehub options | Shimano HG / SRAM XDR |
| Weight | 1,300 ± 30 g / pair |
| Maximum system weight | 120 kg |
| Finish | Glossy Marbling Black |
| Certification | UCI Approved / CE Certified |
Maximum system weight includes rider, bicycle, clothing, luggage and equipment.
Manufacturer wheel weight is measured without rim tape and tubeless valves.
What's included
- Front Drive 50D II wheel
- Rear Drive 50D II wheel
- Selected Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehub
- Rim tape installed
- Tubeless valves installed
Tyres, cassette and brake rotors are not included.
Shimano HG or SRAM XDR?
Choose the freehub that matches your cassette.
Not sure which one you need? Send NWHBIKES your bike and drivetrain details and we can confirm compatibility before you order.
Installation & support in Melbourne
NWHBIKES can professionally install and set up your new wheelset, including cassette and rotor installation, tyres and tubeless setup.
The Drive 50D II is covered by the Elitewheels 3 year manufacturer warranty against manufacturing defects, with NWHBIKES supporting local customers with warranty enquiries.