Will the Hunt and Classified partnership raise the bar for wheel and gear system standards?

Hunt Wheels and drivetrain technology company Classified have announced that the two brands will join forces to create what could be a game-changing and potentially industry-leading wheel system. This interesting new partnership will see the integration of Classified’s proprietary rear hub shell hardware into select wheels from Hunt’s product line, which to begin with will include Hunt's high-performance best gravel bike wheels and road wheels. The goal of the partnership is to create a more streamlined, efficient, and effective cycling experience for riders of all levels and disciplines.

So what is Classified Powershift?

The Classified Powershift system has already shaken up the cycling industry in a relatively short space of time, already proven at the highest level of road racing the brand has recently turned its attention to the mountain bike market, with a new Classified MTB hub. However, the system is relevant to all types of riders including gravel bike riding. 

The Classified Powershift system allows you to shift gears instantly and under full load. The Powershift hub combines the benefits of both 1x and 2x drivetrains through a sleek, wireless system that eliminates the front derailleur. Even though the front mech has been effectively dead in the MTB, and to some extent gravel bike, worlds for some time now, the Powershift system offers the benefits of a 2x system without the drawbacks.

The Powershift hub gives the highest gear range for mountain bikes whilst maintaining closer gear ratios that the brand says gives unrivaled shifting quality and the weight-saving gains that come with smaller cassettes.

Who are Hunt wheels?

Hunt doesn't need an introduction but for those who don't know the brand, it has been creating some of the best wheels around since 2015. The brand's wheelsets have regularly featured in our best wheelset guides and the Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheelset and Hunt Proven Carbon Race XC wheels have scored highly in our test reviews. Across the range, its purpose-built, wide, tubeless-ready wheels have become known for world-leading aerodynamics, uncompromising specifications and steadfast reliability. 

Two new wheelsets

The Hunt x Classified collaborative range will start with the 48 Limitless Aero Disc wheel, a Giro Italia stage-winner, and the featherlight (1270g) t40 Carbon Gravel. These two wheels are aimed squarely at delivering performance for road and gravel racing. The wheels will come ‘Classified-Ready’, meaning the Classified hub shell has been hand-built into the Hunt rear wheel, ready for the installation of the Classified drivetrain system. The wheelsets will retain Hunt’s proven, FEA-developed front hubs.

In addition, long-time Hunt partner Mason Cycles will now be offering Classified drivetrain options on their bikes, which includes one of our top rated test bikes – the Mason Cycles Exposure Ekar marking the coming together of three innovation-focused companies.

Dom Mason, Founder of Mason Cycles said, "We embraced the advantages of 1x gearing early on, and have watched Classified with great interest since they launched. There are many cycling innovations that we are promised will be 'the next big thing', but from the beginning, it was clear that Classified had something very different."

Pricing and availabilty

Both new wheels including the Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheelset, in the ‘Classified-Ready’ option will be available from June 2023 priced at $1,199 / £949 / €1,239. 

For more info head to huntbikewheels.com and classified-cycling.cc.