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review

Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset

7
£499.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Light but still rugged alloy wheels at an attractive price, if a little uncompliant over the rough stuff
Light
Sturdy
Low-key looks
Buzzy at speed on big tyres
Can feel harsh on narrower tyres
Low-key looks...
Weight: 
1,510g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset is impressively light for a set of wide alloy rims, yet still strong enough to ride well at speed and handle a fair bit of cargo. They're a touch vibey and unforgiving on the rough stuff, however, which can be fatiguing over time – especially if you're running sub-45mm tyres.

For more options check out our best road bike wheels buyer's guide.

> Buy now: Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset for £399 from Merlin

Token says these are an upgraded version of its old V23 wheels, and fully 300g lighter than they were. That puts the G23s at a very decent 1,510g on our scales (including rim tape), which is just a few grams from the claimed 1,506g. That's pretty impressive for aluminium wheels at this price, and several competitors we've reviewed recently have been 1,700g+.

Don't go thinking they're flimsy though, because they're not. The 28mm wide rims (23mm internally, hence the G23 name) feel perfectly stiff enough for accurate steering, and there's no sense of flex when cranking the pedals out of the saddle – not that you're likely to be stomping out Herculean efforts often on the kind of adventure rides these are aimed at. I'd have no qualms about loading the bike up on these wheels, and given their 100kg rider weight limit you've got a fair bit of leeway for cargo.

2024 Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset - rim bed.jpg

After a few seconds of twanging as I first rode away, the 24 spokes per wheel settled into their two-cross pattern and stayed evenly tensioned. You might expect a higher spoke count – 28 or even 32 – especially at the rear, but I gave them quite a battering on fast, rough descents and slow, rock-strewn climbs and they took it all without complaint. Even the abrupt sideways slip into a rock that knifed an inch-long slit into my rear tyre, dammit.

2024 Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset - rim detail.jpg

That spoke count is at the racier end of things, and that's why they're light. If you do want complete bombproofing then take a look at something like the £429 non-Race version of the Hunt 4 Seasons, or the Ryan Builds Wheels Club Gravel wheels. The latter are available in various spoke counts – see the Value section below for details on both.

2024 Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset - rear hub 2.jpg

The Tokens are not the most compliant though, and send noticeable rattle and buzz through to the bar over fast fire road sections, even shod in big, 45mm tyres. Go skinnier than that (or more importantly, lower volume) and they can be jarringly unyielding under big impacts.

2024 Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset - velve hole.jpg

Ironically a little more mass in the rims might have helped damp the vibrations at speed, but so long as you're on big rubber you'll probably enjoy the easy acceleration and lower overall weight far more often than you suffer the buzz at 20mph+. And just to be clear, with the right pressures they're not awful; just not as good as they could be.

2024 Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset - rim logo.jpg

The G23s come taped for tubeless use – you'll need to supply valves – and I found most test tyres very easy to install. The only issue I had was with an older set of GravelKings, which were so loose no amount of messy faffing got them to seal well enough to inflate, but to be fair those tyres have the same issue on many wheels.

Obviously there's no way to predict how your own tyres will fare, but the 'normal' tyres I tried – some newer GravelKings with their redesigned 'Beadlock' bead and a set of Maxxis Ramblers – all went on and inflated with no issues.

Value

At £499.99 these are psychologically definitely not £500, but even if they were – imagine! – they'd be well priced for alloy wheels of this strength and weight.

The 1,403g Hunt Gravel Race Wheelset is £579, for instance, and Hunt is a direct-to-consumer online brand.

The ever-reliable DT Swiss does its GR1600 Spline wheelset for £539, and while they don't excel in any particular area, our reviewer Matt found 'there isn't much to fault as a package'. They are heavier than these Tokens at 1,775g, though.

The Ryan Builds Wheels Club Gravel Disk Brake Wheelset is also heavier at 1,700g, but they're cheaper (£418, which is far more convincingly not £500), customisable when you order (for no additional cost), and slightly wider at 25mm internally. They're more compliant and less buzzy at speed too, if that's the key for you.

I should point out the G23s are also available with 650B rims and/or QR axles, if you're somehow both quite up to date and yet old fashioned at the same time.

Overall

If you're willing to sacrifice a little comfort for the benefits of low weight, these are a good choice – they weigh the same as some entry-level carbon wheels, but cost far less. And while there are certainly smoother-riding alloy options out there, these still aren't unmanageably stiff, especially if your tyres on the wider side.

Verdict

Light but still rugged alloy wheels at an attractive price, if a little uncompliant over the rough stuff

road.cc test report

Make and model: Token G23 Black 700C Gravel Wheelset

Size tested: 700C, 22.5mm deep

Tell us what the wheel is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Token says: "The G23's new RAR rim is a re-engineered version of our V23 wheelset and is built to withstand tough rides. We also managed to chop a big chunk of weight off – 300 grams to be exact! Built with robust D1 hubs and double-butted spokes this light-weight all-road wheelset is a must-have upgrade for any adventure bike."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the wheel?

Rim Height: 22.5 mm

Tyre Type: Tubeless Ready

Rim Material: Alloy

Bearing Type: Premium

Weight: 1506g

Rate the wheel for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheel for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for weight
 
8/10
Rate the wheel for value:
 
5/10

Did the wheels stay true? Any issues with spoke tension?

Stayed straight and true. A few twangs over the first few metres, the spokes settled down and stayed evenly tensioned.

How easy did you find it to fit tyres?

The various Panaracer/Maxxis tyres I tried went on easily.

How did the wheel extras (eg skewers and rim tape) perform?

The installed rim tape worked just fine.

Tell us how the wheel performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It went round and round... mission success.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the wheel

Good weight and stiffness for the price.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the wheel

A bit buzzy on rough ground, even wearing large-volume tyres, and can be a bit crashy over sharp hits with narrower ones.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

There are alloy sets out there for around £100 less, but they tend to be considerably heavier. They compare well with other £500 wheelsets.

Did you enjoy using the wheel? Yes

Would you consider buying the wheel? Yes

Would you recommend the wheel to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

These are good: strong enough for serious gravel riding, rated high enough for big cargos if you're adventuring, and built with a solid, sensible simplicity. Their low weight is a real draw, though to score higher they could really be more compliant and less chattery over fast bumpy ground.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
Runtilyoudrop | 3 months ago
0 likes

I have these on my Orro to gravel bike. Cycled across the canaries (700km in 5 days). They got a hammering. 
 

summary

Ride is harsh. Bearings are completely shot. 2spikes broke. They feel heavier than they are.

 

Don't buy.

 

Avatar
Runtilyoudrop replied to Runtilyoudrop | 3 months ago
0 likes
Runtilyoudrop wrote:

I have these on my Orro Ti gravel bike. Cycled across the canaries (700km in 5 days). They got a hammering. 
 

summary

Ride is harsh. Bearings are completely shot. 2spikes broke. They feel heavier than they are.

 

Don't buy.

 

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Runtilyoudrop | 3 months ago
0 likes

Ed Balls

Avatar
KDee | 3 months ago
0 likes

There's no real info on the bearings and freehub here, or on the Token website. Both refer to the bearings as "premium", whatever that might mean. It's not defined on Token's website. I'll pass thanks.

Avatar
Aluminium can | 3 months ago
2 likes

Good thing they inserted the "G23" into the name of this wheelset.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Aluminium can | 3 months ago
2 likes
Aluminium can wrote:

Good thing they inserted the "G23" into the name of this wheelset.

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