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Today the Vision Metron SL becomes a second tier option and a brand new Vision Metron RS launches in a 45 or 60mm depth, less weight, and carbon spokes. It’s a much needed update that might push Vision into the upper echelon of the wheels within our bike component reviews.
Before today the Vision Metron 45 and 60 SL stood out not so much for pure performance but rather for being a solid all-arounder. They also ride underneath four WorldTour teams making the silver Vision graphics a frequent site during the race season.
The challenge with that visibility is that while the Vision Metron SL is a reasonable performer, it’s never stood out. Back in 2021 when those wheels came to market they were already far from forward thinking. Even four years ago moving from a 19mm to a 21mm internal rim profile was hardly groundbreaking.
Now the Vision Metron RS hit’s the market with a new design that looks like a real contender.
Rim profile updates only what’s necessary
As a wheel consumer if you are struggling to understand how to make a choice, start with internal width. Wider is almost always better from the saddle but there are still consumer questions around 25mm internal width rims. As it stands 23mm is emerging as a new, informal, standard for the most forward thinking brands. Vision is hitting that mark with the Vision Metron RS in both 45 and 60mm depth.
Along with that new internal width, there’s also a better production process with a new spoke hole design. While the Metron SL underwent drilling for the spoke hole after the molding process, this time Vision adds the spoke hole during the molding process.
That typically requires more work during production but it also means that there are “continuous fibers around spoke holes (not drilled) for improved strength and durability.” Vision also claims the design offers an “enhanced contact surface between the rim and nipple.”
Although these changes are significant, what Vision isn’t doing is upsetting what is already a solid wheel design. The new rim shape is externally unchanged. The Vision Metron RS 60 has a 33mm external width while the Vision Metron RS 45 narrows to 31.3mm both with a blunt U-shape at the rim bed. The bead also remains hooked.
Carbon spokes
Carbon spokes are another technology that’s emerged as a mark of high-performance wheels. It’s not universally the best design but when considered as part of the system, carbon spokes do offer advantages.
Vision is exploiting those advantages with the new wheels. In this case the spoke uses a somewhat standard T-shape head in a straight pull configuration. There’s no overly complex design but a new 2:1 spoke pattern using carbon fiber spokes offers “improved torsional stiffness” and a 108 gram weight savings.
Updated hub design
Although it may have been possible to swap the older steel spokes for a carbon spoke, Vision is using a new spoke pattern. That necessitates a new hub design and Vision hasn’t held back.
The latest V1000 hub continues to use “PRS Technology” (Power Ratchet System which is a DT Swiss style ratchet) internally but there have been changes. Vision claims “PRS standard has been upgraded, and re-designed, while retaining a similar 72-tooth (5° engagement angle) and CNC machined hub body. It also continues to be a tool free maintenance system with Press-fit end-cups and free-hub system.
The new hub is also lighter than the old design and Vision is using ceramic bearings instead of the steel cartridge bearings of the older hub.
It all adds up
The headline update for the Vision Metron RS in both sizes is the weight reduction. Both wheels drop 100 grams landing at 1290 grams for the Vision Metron RS 45 and 1390 grams for the Vision Metron RS 60.
Vision is also careful to point out that as speed increases “the drag increases as the square of the velocity. This means that as a cyclist speed doubles, the aerodynamic forces acting on an object are directly proportional to the velocity of the object squared, meaning that doubling the velocity will quadruple the force generated on the object for every incremental increase in speed. Therefore, reducing aerodynamic drag is more imperative than increasing power output or losing weight if a cyclist is to travel faster down the road.
The brand then goes on to claim that “the Metron RS carbon spoke wheel shows a slight decrease in drag (-0.9W M60/ -1.6W M45) in comparison to the Metron SL steel spoke wheel. This means that METRON 45 RS are 9% faster while METRON 60 RS are 6% faster.”
There’s also a careful emphasis on the details claiming “28mm tires show a significant aero improvement in both drag value and drag behavior compared to past tests with 23mm and 25mm tires. In past tests, the 25-27mm would all stall at 7.5 – 10 deg whereas for the new 28mm they extended the sailing range to 15 deg before stall.”
Having ridden the previous generation wheels, the sail effect was a stand-out feature so hearing that it’s actually improved is a positive detail. It could also bode badly for stability however, according to Vision, “a rider won’t perceive any differences of stability and handling feelings between Metron RS and Metron SL wheels.”
Vision Metron RS Price and availability
Today marks the official launch of the Vision Metron RS 45 and 60 wheelsets. Anyone visiting the Taipei Cycle Show will have the opportunity to purchase direct from March 26 through March 29th while there will also be availability through the Vision website.
The only bad news in this product launch is that there’s a price increase of close to $800. Vision is setting retail pricing for the new wheels at 3109€ / $2899 / £3109 for the Vision Metron RS 45 and 3179€ / $2999 / £3179 for the Vision Metron RS 60.
