Weighing less than 1250 grams, the Max 40 WheelSystem is the lightest high-performance WheelSystem ever created by CADEX. Even with its generous 22.4mm inner rim width and 40mm depth, the Max 40 WheelSystem delivers best-in-class stiffness-to-weight ratio, showing significantly greater front and rear wheel stiffness than other top wheels in its category including the Lightweight Obermayer EVO and Syncros Capital SL.
At the center of this weight savings and efficient power transfer are ultra-stiff CADEX Super Aero carbon spokes seamlessly integrated into a thin aero hub flange. Other features include ultra-hard ceramic bearings to increase hub rolling efficiency, hookless rim technology for superior tire grip and handling, and a precision-machined 48-tooth ratchet hub with CADEX Ratchet Wave Spring, which delivers ultra-fast engagement.
In a review for Velo, Senior Tech Editor Josh Ross highlighted the Max 40’s stiffness, writing "As soon as you get on the CADEX Max 40, there’s a liveliness to them that almost feels like it can’t be real. In the past I would have attributed that to the low weight, and maybe that’s still a part of it, but weight isn’t the story of these wheels. The real story is that CADEX wheels, the Max 40 included, are stiff."
Ross adds further impressions and detail surrounding the Max 40’s stiffness. "Just know that if what you are looking for is a direct feel in your wheels, look no further. The CADEX wheels are direct and that means lively and fun. They do well with unnecessary sprints and putting down power when there’s no point... It’s always right where you want it to be and there’s very little deflection as you lean the bike. I’ll say it again, this is a fun wheelset."
Summarizing his review, Ross writes, "CADEX Max 40 is an incredibly engaging wheel that is a joy to ride. It almost jumps before you ask it to. It feels telepathic in its ability to be where you expect it to be as you move the bike around and this wheelset generally makes you feel like a hero no matter how fast you actually are."
In his review for Bicycling, Test Editor Dan Chabanov called the Max 40 "stiff as hell and a blast to ride," adding, "They feel lively and incredibly responsive when you press hard on the pedals."
"The sensation of direct power transfer from the rear wheel to the road often translated into me pushing a slightly bigger gear over smaller climbs instead of shifting to an easier gear and using a higher cadence," Chabanov writes. "It’s the kind of thing I do when my legs feel particularly good and maybe it was a coincidence, but my legs often felt good when I had the Max 40s on my bike."
Cycling Weekly’s North American Editor Anne-Marije Rook found the Max 40 to be "a wonderful all-rounder," writing, "The CADEX Max 40 wheelset delivers a top-tier package that looks fantastic, handles superbly and offers a fast and thoroughly enjoyable ride for long, undulating days in the saddle."
Warren Rossiter, Senior Tech Editor at BikeRadar, found the Max 40’s all-around ride quality to be "hugely impressive," with its minimal weight "giving a welcome boost on climbs."
"This is especially apparent when the low mass is combined with impressive stiffness and a willing freehub, with a fast 7.5-degree engagement angle," Rossiter writes. "As good as the Max 40 wheels are going uphill, they’re even more impressive going down. The taut feeling of the wheels and sheer lack of lateral flex offers a tangible benefit heading into corners at speed with plenty of lean. There’s no shimmy, dip or even a hint of flex that you can sometimes experience with ultra-light wheelsets."
"On typically rolling terrain, the rapid pick-up keeps you grinning and they offer a notable feeling of efficiency when cruising at higher speeds," Rossiter continues. "While they feel incredibly stiff under power, the Max 40s do an excellent job of keeping down road buzz and knocking the edge of jarring hits on bumps and potholes. The overall impression is one of smoothness combined with speed."
For more details on the Max 40 WheelSystem, click here. And for more insights, check out the full reviews from these publications below: