Pulse® Atlas

Let's be clear from the start. Pulse® Atlas wheels will be by far the highest-performing wheels you'll find in this price range.

Whether it's reliability, efficiency, responsiveness, sealing, or compatibility, all these aspects have been improved to offer you a satisfying experience in BMX racing.

Claiming that your product is the most efficient is one thing; demonstrating and explaining it is quite another. If you're interested in the technical and mechanical aspects, we invite you to take the time to read the entire description below. You'll then understand why these wheels are exceptional and surpass other offerings on the market.

Hubs that will leave a lasting impression !

• Pulse Atlas hubs herald a new era for high-performance ratchet hubs. They retain the strengths that have made Pulse hubs so successful: performance, reliability, and price.

No time to waste !

• Engagement is increased by 66%, or 480 PoE. To put this in perspective, at 60 km/h, that's more than 5,000 pawl movements per second. This technical feat is made possible by a complete redesign of the rear hub structure. The components are arranged to ensure perfect alignment between the freehub body and the hub body: these two parts are joined and framed by two high-precision bearings. This design ensures impeccable coaxial support, i.e., less unwanted deformation and greater precision. Each of the eight pawls is independent and transmits pedaling power with maximum efficiency. Elastic deformation of the engagement is reduced by 7%. The rear hub can withstand up to 300 Nm of torque. 
• The springs and pawls are oriented to exert a return effect across the entire freehub body, forcing the most suitable pawl to engage even before the rider's cadence reaches wheel speed. The result: no noticeable lag during acceleration, as if the engagement angle were zero. This phenomenon can be observed by manually rotating the freehub body: it engages instantly when released.

Compatibility matters !

• Making the rear hub compatible with 15mm thru-axles without compromising stiffness required a revision of the load distribution. The Pulse® Atlas rear hub now distributes transmitted forces to both ends of the axle: the central section of the axle is no longer under any stress, eliminating any unwanted deformation. Another advantage is that this new design optimizes power transmission and reduces drag during the pedaling phase by 48%.

Like a fish in the water ! 

• Good durability requires good sealing. The labyrinth seal is replaced by the hub's largest bearing: a 6808 extreme conditions bearing, ensuring impeccable protection. The hub can be submerged in water for several hours without leaks, as the internal lubrication remains intact. Maintenance becomes minimal, a feature that will be appreciated by those in Brittany.

Precision components: precision adjustments !

• Both hubs now feature tool-free bearing preload adjustment without any direct contact with the bearings, allowing for precise fine-tuning of play and smoothness. 

Enjoy the rich, salty, and sweet !

• Keeping the hubs as light as possible was a real challenge, despite the addition of components like the 6808 bearing and the imposing eight-pawl freehub body. Mission accomplished! The Atlas hub pair weighs only 10g more than the Pulse WCS model. The version with a 15mm thru-axle at the rear is 60g lighter! 

Shoot ahead !

• The spoke pattern of the Pulse® wheels is carefully designed and optimized. Pulse® Atlas wheels are equipped with straight-pull, flat spokes to ensure superior hub/rim synchronization compared to wheels with conventional round, J-bend spokes. The spokes are made of C45 carbon steel for fatigue resistance and durability. The nipples are made of brass with a nickel coating. They feature a patented self-locking system to prevent tension loss over time. Each nipple/rim junction is supported by steel inserts to increase the working surface within the rim and thus balance the loads.

Unique rims, simple, yet formidable ! 

• Pulse® Atlas rims are technical rims, optimized for BMX racing and pumptrack riding. They incorporate a new hybrid material selection and a completely redesigned structure.
• The Atlas rim profile is heavily inspired by moto SX rims. The curvature of the sidewalls follows the same design. This profile has the unique ability to provide roll control. Under high compression, the rim's crown can flex up to 4 degrees. This reduces tire flex and the drift angle. Slippage decreases, grip and stability increase—a welcome feature for pumptrack enthusiasts.
• The new design increases resistance to spoke tension and prevents spoke breakage. The tensile force exerted by the spokes is longitudinal to the surrounding carbon fibers, allowing the rim to better adapt to the anisotropic properties of carbon fibers (i.e., varying strength depending on orientation). The spoke pattern gains stability and durability.
• Thanks to the inverted curve of the sidewalls, the rims are able to flex to absorb vibrations and shocks. Vibrations are absorbed and dissipated as heat. This is achieved without damaging the bonds between the fibers and resin. To support this specific characteristic, the rims are made from two distinct types of carbon fiber. The top and bottom sections use Tansome H3055 carbon-graphene fiber, renowned for its high stiffness and strength. The sidewalls, on the other hand, are made of Tansome H2561 carbon fiber, chosen for its flexibility with a 20% elongation capacity.
• The Pulse® Atlas rims incorporate "semi-hook" technology for increased tire retention and enhanced safety. This geometry improves resistance to critical impacts and smooths out minor tire imperfections.

Why 28 spokes and not 36?

• High-end carbon rims are stiff enough to be held by 28 spokes. Furthermore, it's easier to take advantage of the steel's elasticity when there are fewer spokes. The wheels are more comfortable and forgiving.

Does the freewheel make noise?

• Yes, the engagement is a ratchet system and makes a typical freewheel noise. However, it's possible to significantly reduce the noise with a suitable lubricant. If you want a quiet rear hub, we recommend adding 1 to 2 cc of VG150 high-performance oil to the engagement system.

Why a ratchet engagement system and not a unidirectional bearing (Onyx type)?

• Because this ratchet system is more reliable, lighter, and offers greater efficiency. It also provides a smaller engagement angle than unidirectional bearings, even with 20 kg of pedal pressure. Maintenance is also simpler and less expensive.

Are the wheels tubeless compatible?

• Yes, all sizes are tubeless compatible.

Do I need specific tires?

• No, but it's preferable to use tires with folding beads. This ensures consistency in quality, performance, and weight.

Do I need specific spokes?

• Yes, you need straight-pull spokes. Spare spokes are included with the wheels upon purchase. Pulse guarantees a constant stock of these spokes.

Is it easy to convert the rear hub to a 10mm or 15mm axle?

• Yes, the conversion takes only a few seconds.

Do the wheels need to be broken in?

• Yes, the bearings and pawl springs will reach their maximum smoothness after 8-10 hours of use. It's normal for everything to feel a little stiff when you first receive the wheels and for blue grease to come out of the bearings during the break-in period.

If my wheels develop play, is it adjustable?

• Yes, it's possible to adjust the bearing preload and compensate for wear. Refer to the official wheel manual.