FFWD Wheels USA Avis 498

It seems like I might be the only one having consistently bad experiences with these wheels, but I still want to share my honest review.

I’ve been using the FFWD Ryot 44 wheels for about two years now, and unfortunately, they’ve let me down multiple times, often when I needed them the most.

To start, after just one week of use, the rim delaminated, causing bulging spots in the rim. This was very surprising given the premium price point, I simply didn’t expect this level of quality issue.

Secondly, the tubeless rim tape failed while the tire was inflated at a normal pressure (around 4.5 bar). I’ve used the same pressure on other wheels without ever encountering a problem, so this raised further concerns.

The most persistent issue, however, has been with the spokes. Every year, a spoke on the non-drive side of the rear wheel breaks. The spoke distribution, fewer spokes on the non-drive side compared to the drive side, seems to create higher stress on that side. At this point, it feels like a potential design flaw, as the failures keep recurring. Most recently, a spoke snapped during a regular uphill ride, without any unusual load or impact.

To make matters worse, I suspect this may have even caused some damage to my frame, which is extremely frustrating. It’s also possible that earlier tubeless sealant leakage (due to the rim tape failure) affected the spoke nipples over time, but I can’t say that for certain.

To be fair, the customer service from FFWD has been good. However, the repeated mechanical issues with the rear wheel overshadow that positive experience.

Overall, based on my experience, I wouldn’t purchase FFWD wheels again, especially considering that I’ve used several other brands without encountering these kinds of problems.

My experience with FFWD Wheels USA was excellent, The wheels arrived on time, were high-quality, and improved my bike's performance noticeably. It's a reliable choice for serious cyclists for top-notch components.

I took a bit of a chance when ordering this wheelset. I'm fussy about ratchet noise when coasting and I sold the last bike because the sound was too irritating. I put the money toward a new R5 and the FFWD wheelset. Yes, they are louder than my old 36 tooth DT Swiss but that's an unfair comparison. Second, I'm a light rider and crosswinds down some of the gaps here in Vermont push me around. There's no way to know how the wheel will handle gusts except to try them. I played it safe, bought the Raw 33, built them with 32 mm 5000 S tubeless and they're great.

I have been interested in cycling for a long time and always choose the wheels carefully. For me, this is not just a part of the bike, but something that directly affects speed, handling and comfort. I was immediately interested in these wheels: the design is concise, lightweight, and promises good aerodynamics. I decided to order it to check it personally. When I received the package, the first thing I was surprised about was the packaging, everything was neatly packed, the wheels arrived without scratches or damage. The kit included detailed installation and configuration instructions, which is nice, especially if you haven't encountered a specific model before. The installation took about twenty minutes, and I had to adjust the brakes and switches, but this is standard procedure, no surprises. The first feeling after installation is that the bike has become lighter and faster. The lightness of the wheels is really felt during acceleration, especially on the ascents. On a flat road, the aerodynamics are also noticeable, the speed is maintained effortlessly. At the same time, the wheels are quite durable, stability is felt on small bumps, and vibrations do not irritate. The materials are of high quality, the rim is aluminum, the spokes are stretched smoothly, the bushings rotate smoothly. I have tested them both on dirt roads and on asphalt: they hold themselves confidently everywhere, do not creak, do not play. This is important because previously you had to spend time adjusting cheap wheels, which quickly lost the tension of the spokes or started to "walk".

5 sets so far and the brand I trust and prefer. Don’t even entertain others

This is my second set of aero wheels, and they continue to impress! The wheels are exceptionally well-made, look fantastic, and deliver outstanding performance. Coupled with awesome customer service, they offer a top-notch experience at a reasonable price. If you're looking for high-quality wheels that truly deliver, these are the ones!

The website is intuitive and easy to use. From start to finish, the communication was clear and prompt, and my order shipped quickly. Overall, an excellent experience.

After testing a few comparable sets using the same tires and pressures, the new Drift Control 240 EXP's are as advertised. If you are looking for a wheel that provides comfort and durability, then look no further. Plus you can expect excellent customer service!

Haven’t used the wheels yet but the process was great. The cap in the shipping box was a nice touch. That I’ve used!

Received my set of F4r FCC wheels 3 days after placing my order. Great set of wheels for my older rim brake Titanium bike. Perfectly round and true out of the box. I'm realizing a 2-3 tenths of MPH increase on my typical 2 hour zone 2 ride versus my prior 35mm deep carbon rims. Continuing with tubes for now until I exhaust my remaining stock of Vittoria Corsa clincher tires. Can wait to go tubeless. It has been 3 weeks and I could not be happier with my purchase.
Thanks Fast Forward team. My purchase couldn't have been any easier and Jay was very helpful with a few questions I had prior to my purchase.

Free hat and wheel bag were a super nice touch. Arrived a day earlier than expected. Absolutely beautiful wheels with very tasteful logos. You can tell these folks are super focused on the details in the manufacturing process. First ride on them was so great. Honestly it felt like a completely different bike coming from my aluminum OEM wheels.

Very easy ordering process, GREAT customer service.

Great wheels, fast shipping, free swag... who wouldn't consider this a 5-star company?!?

Fantastic service- they answered every email and answered every question- absolutely superb

Fast response

Website is very easy to navigate. Had to call to verify shipping options and customer service was excellent!! Items delivered on time and package was prepared very well.

Product is great. Packaging was great. Communication was great. Delivery was prompt. there's a good chance I will purchase again.

I had a few questions and emailed ffwdusa.com and "Pam" got back to me really promptly and answered everything. They were out of stock of the RYOT44 at the time I was looking. Then a few days later I checked the website and a new stock had arrived so I didn't hesitate to order. They arrived roughly 3 shipping days after I placed the order. Personally I don't want to order something similar at a discount, directly from the country of manufacturing origin from a generic vendor because that cuts out the middleman which in this case is also the innovator and I believe that entity deserves recognition for their value-add. I also got the wheels a few days after I ordered them and could be confident I'd be dealing with someone in or near my time zone if I have any issues going forward. The wheels themselves are as advertised: deep, wide, very light and it was basically a breeze to mount tubeless GP5000 S TR onto them. If you're new to tubeless mounting like I was and if you don't have a blast pump or something similar, I strongly suggest you get one to make tire bead mounting a breeze.

My pre and post purchase questions were answered promptly, and the FFWD rep's replies were very informative. Shipping was very quick, sooner than expected! Installed the new wheels and am very pleased with aesthetics, performance, quality, and overall customer service. Thank you FFWD.

Easy ordering. Delivered when promised.