Berd PolyLight Spokes and a Custom Wheelset: Noble TR35 G2 Rims and Onyx Vesper Hubs Tested

Introduction

After tires, wheels are one of the most effective upgrades you can make to a mountain bike. Trimming weight and improving ride quality changes how a bike behaves on the trail, which is why comparing bikes on a consistent wheelset gives such a clear read on their character. Berd’s PolyLight spokes take that idea in an unusual direction. Instead of steel, they are made from ultra high molecular polyethylene, a fabric-like material that Berd claims is less than half the weight of a steel spoke, around 50 percent more durable, and delivers roughly 200 percent better vibration damping. This article covers how those claims held up in a complete custom build, along with the two components the wheelset was built around: Noble Wheels’ TR35 G2 carbon rims and Onyx Racing’s Vesper hubs.

What Makes This Wheelset Different

Two wheelsets were built for a direct comparison. Both use the same TR35 G2 carbon rims from Noble Wheels in Canada and the same Onyx Racing Vesper hubs. The only difference is the spokes: one set runs conventional steel spokes, the other runs Berd’s PolyLight spokes in white. On the scales, the fabric-spoke set came in at 1,522 g against 1,686 g for the steel build, a saving of 164 g. That is a meaningful drop for a part that sits at the centre of every input the trail sends back through the bike.

Both sets were ridden back to back on the same bikes and the same trails, with identical Maxxis Minion DHR II and Forekaster tires at matching pressures and the same amount of sealant. Runs alternated between the two sets, typically two runs on one and four on the other before swapping back, across trail centres, technical natural trails, and repeated hammering down a notoriously rough park descent.

Berd PolyLight Spokes: Lighter and More Compliant

The ride difference showed up on the very first back-to-back run. The fabric-spoke wheelset felt smoother and more comfortable, with small trail chatter and bigger hits both arriving more muted and less feedback reaching the hands and feet. Switching to the steel-spoke set felt like running slightly higher tire pressures or a stiffer casing. The carbon rims on both builds help absorb vibration, so the steel set was still comfortable, but the fabric spokes were a clear step beyond that.

Charging through rough ground, the fabric spokes also seemed to find more grip, flowed more easily down the trail, and were bounced offline less often. The whole bike felt more composed. There was a noticeable lightness under acceleration too, with the wheels easier to spin up to speed. On climbs, judged by heart rate effort rather than a power meter, the fabric-spoke set did appear marginally quicker, though that is a rough measure rather than a scientific one. Paired with the instant engagement of the Onyx hubs, that reduced weight made technical climbs genuinely enjoyable.

Then there is the practical side. The spokes cost around $8 each against roughly $1 to $2 for a standard steel spoke, which added $538 to a base build price of $1,650 and brought the total to $2,188. Existing hubs may need modification, or replacement with a compatible design, and spoke tension has to be checked several times during the build. Replacing a single spoke is also more involved unless the hub uses a hook flange.

Noble Wheels TR35 G2 Carbon Rims: Built to Take a Beating

The TR35 G2 rims came out of testing looking strong. After a very rough run of trails they showed a few scratches and nothing else: no cracks, no tire burping, and no loss of air. Even laced with the less compliant steel spokes, they produced a solid, well-damped ride feel. Add a lifetime warranty and a reasonable cost of entry, and they are an easy recommendation as the foundation of a build like this.

Carbon rims are doing quiet work in this comparison. They take the edge off trail vibration on their own, which is part of why the steel-spoke set never felt harsh. The fabric spokes simply push that same quality further.

Onyx Racing Vesper Hubs: Silent With Instant Engagement

The Vesper hubs are unusual in using sprag clutches inside the freehub. The result is a hub that runs silently and engages instantly. The feel is a little different from a conventional ratchet or pawl design: pickup is immediate, but the first part of the pedal stroke feels slightly soft rather than sharply defined. It is not a fault, just a different character.

This version of the hub is hooked rather than drilled for fabric spokes, which makes the build quicker and easier. The hubs also roll exceptionally freely, and there is a wide range of anodized and powder coated colors for anyone who wants to match a frame. They are not the lightest or the cheapest option available, but the combination of silence, instant engagement, and easier building is hard to argue with.

Real-World Ride Quality on the Trail

Comfort and grip are where the fabric spokes make their case. On bumpy, braking-rutted sections the added compliance kept the bike tracking and composed, and the wheels resisted being knocked off line. That translated into confidence on unfamiliar natural trails, where a wheel that absorbs rather than deflects makes the bike feel calmer underneath.

Precision is where the steel spokes answer back. In high-load corners the fabric-spoke wheels flexed a touch more laterally, felt slightly less precise, and were harder to hold on a chosen line. The steel set held its line with less effort, which showed up as more accuracy in point-and-shoot situations. The flex in the fabric set was at least predictable and low, so it never undermined confidence, but it is a trait that takes some adapting to.

Maintenance, Cost, and Long-Term Ownership

Over the test period the fabric spokes lost tension and the wheels stopped feeling as tight as they had when new. A re-tension brought everything back, but it is worth watching them over time. The steel-spoke build showed no perceivable loss of tension or change in ride character at all. Beyond tension, the fabric spokes picked up some cosmetic wear: the fabric around the threaded metal section looks frayed and a little tatty, and the white finish dulls with use. None of that affects performance, though it is not quite the finish you might expect at this price. Colors can be changed by dyeing if white is not the look you want.

Cost and effort are the other side of the ledger. The spokes themselves are expensive per unit, the build takes longer, and spoke replacement generally needs a shop unless the hub design makes it easier. Anyone weighing the upgrade should factor in the wheel-building labour as well as the parts.

Buying Advice: Who Should Consider Berd Spokes

The case for fabric spokes is strongest for riders who spend long days in the saddle and value comfort, grip, and lower weight over absolute precision. Riders who suffer on long descents, or who race long-distance stages and marathons, are the clearest fit. Riders who prize razor-sharp line holding and minimal maintenance will likely be happier staying with good steel spokes.

On price, the $2,188 total is not out of line with other lightweight carbon wheelsets of comparable weight. The upgrade is expensive, but it is competing in a category where expensive is the norm. Choosing a more modest hub option would bring the cost down further.

Conclusion

Berd’s PolyLight spokes do deliver on their main claims. Against an otherwise identical steel-spoke build, the fabric version was lighter and more compliant, and the difference was clear from the first run. The trade-offs are real: more lateral flex, a need to monitor tension, a coarser finish around the threaded ends, and a higher price with more involved maintenance. Even so, the combination of added compliance, improved grip, and lower weight is compelling on technical climbs and long descents.

The Noble TR35 G2 rims and Onyx Racing Vesper hubs make a strong supporting cast. The rims shrugged off a punishing test period without cracks, burping, or air loss, and the hubs bring silent running and instant engagement. Together they form a wheelset that is easy to like, provided you go in knowing what you are taking on.