HED B.h.d. Carbon Rim
The HED B.H.D., the Big Half Deal, is the 27.5in version of HED's carbon fat-bike rim: an 80mm-class carbon rim molded in Minnesota with the patented Inflatobam tubeless bead, for the modern fat bikes that run 27.5in wheels for rollover and tire choice. It is the lightest 27.5in fat rim we sell, and the weight it saves is at the outside of the biggest wheel on any bicycle.
This page covers the HED B.h.d. Carbon Rim. The Big Half Deal is not sold bare. You choose the hub and the rest of the build in the configurator, and it ships from our shop in Georgia laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
The Big Deal is a molded carbon fat rim with HED's Inflatobam bead seat, which lets a tubeless-ready fat tire seat with a floor pump and hold air at 5 to 10 psi, and a section wide enough to support a 4.0 to 5.0in tire. Carbon lets HED make the rim far lighter than an alloy rim of the same width and stiffer laterally, which on a fat bike shows up as steering that feels like a mountain bike's. The B.H.D., the Big Half Deal, is the 27.5in version. External nipples, standard J-bend spokes, 32 hole, disc only.
How it rides
A Big Half Deal wheel gives a 27.5in fat bike the rollover of the bigger wheel without the weight penalty, and tubeless at 6 psi a 4in tire floats and grips like nothing else. The carbon rim keeps the wheel tracking straight in soft conditions and the bike steers like a mountain bike. For a 26in fat bike the B.D. is the same rim in the smaller size; for a 27.5in fat bike with no compromises, the Big Half Deal is the HED rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 27.5in |
|---|---|
| ERD | 564 (26in) |
| Inner width | 81 mm |
| Depth | 20 mm |
| Drillings | 32h |
| Weight | 602g (650b/27.5in) |
| Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Tire type | clincher tubeless compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Profile | Single Wall |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black |
This listing
This is the 27.5in listing of the Big Half Deal, 32h, about 602g, 81mm inside, 20mm deep, disc. Pick the size that matches your frame; the profile and construction are the same across the range.
The disc version of the Big Half Deal has no brake track, so the sidewall is a plain extrusion that saves a little weight and never wears; it is the one to choose for any disc-brake frame. The rim-brake version, listed separately, has a machined sidewall.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The HED B.h.d. Carbon Rim comes in the drillings listed on this page. It is a disc-brake fat-bike rim. We build the Big Half Deal on DT Swiss 350 Big Ride, Hope Fatsno, Industry Nine Hydra fat and Onyx fat hubs in 150mm front and 177 or 197mm rear spacing, usually with Sapim Race, D-Light or CX-Ray spokes or DT Competition and brass nipples.
Tire range on the Big Half Deal is 3.8 to 4.5in. Pick fat bike as your bike type in the configurator and it recommends a spoke count and lacing pattern for the offset.
Put it in a custom wheel
Build a custom wheel around the HED B.H.D. Carbon Rim — the link drops you into our Custom Wheel Program with this rim pinned, ready for you to choose the rest. It is set up for fat bike builds.
Spoke head is decided by the hub, not the rim: this rim builds equally well with J-bend or straight-pull spokes, and the configurator only offers the spokes that match the hub you pick.
What HED says about testing
HED Cycling Products manufactures its carbon rims and builds its wheels at its own facility in Roseville, Minnesota, and describes them as "Hand-Built in the USA Since 1984". HED states that carbon layup, rim production, wheel assembly, spoke tensioning, truing, inspection and final quality control all happen there, with each wheel's dish set and lateral and radial trueness checked by hand. HED's aerodynamic work is done in a wind tunnel with tires mounted and inflated, a method HED says it pioneered. A Bikerumor factory tour reported HED runs an in-house rolling drum that loads a wheel to simulate long mileage and drops weights on rims to check impact strength; HED itself publishes no impact energies, fatigue-cycle counts or ISO/EN results.
For the alloy rims, HED states the Belgium R disc rim (700C) is a hooked alloy rim with a welded seam joint, 25 mm external and 81 mm internal width, 593 mm ERD, 425 g, tubeless compatible, in 28 and 32 hole. HED's tire-pressure guidance states the maximum pressure ever needed on any Plus or BLACK rim is 90 psi (6.2 bar) even with a 23 mm tire, and that hookless rims cap at 72.5 psi by industry standard.
HED's videos
From HED
Certifications
- UCI approved wheels — 20 HED Cycling Products models (Ardennes Black/GP/LT/SL, Jet 4/5/6/9 Plus and Black, Stinger 3/5/6/9, Vanquish 4/6/8) listed with approval date 22.06.2018 in the UCI List of Approved Wheels since 01.01.2024, version 2024.10.02, page 33 (source)
- Made in USA claim — HED states carbon rims are manufactured and wheels hand-built in Roseville, Minnesota; "Hand-Built in the USA Since 1984" (source)
- 5-year limited warranty — Defects in materials and workmanship, five (5) years from purchase, original purchaser only; crash replacement pricing offered for accident damage (source)
Sources on HED's site:
- HED Wheels Hand-Built in USA
- HED 5-Year Warranty
- About HED Cycling
- HED Belgium R Disc Brake 700C rim
- Road Tire Pressure for Plus and BLACK Wheels (HED)
HED publishes those results; ProWheelBuilder builds the rim into a wheel and does not test it in a lab.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
HED makes the Big Half Deal; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. Every Big Half Deal wheel we build gets spokes cut from the rim's measured ERD, is tensioned in stages with a gauge, stress-relieved and trued before it ships. Tubeless tape and a valve are fitted on request.
In the configurator you will only see parts that fit this drilling; combinations that are not made are struck through, and the price updates as you pick.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. HED warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by HED and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. If we lace this into a wheel for you, that wheel also carries ProWheelBuilder's own one-year warranty, which covers broken spokes regardless of cause and all wheel-related labor, including truing and rebuilding, for a year from purchase. Where a rim or hub is covered by its maker, we make the manufacturer's claim for you and coordinate it; where it is not, we offer an eligible replacement rim or hub at 25% off current retail. Shipping to and from us is the customer's. This cover does not extend to wheels built from components you supply yourself.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
B.h.d. Carbon Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
At 81mm inside this is a plus or fat width, for tires from about 2.6in upward. Running a narrow tire on a rim this wide leaves the casing stretched and vague, so match it to the tire it was designed around.
Which spokes and nipples suit the Big Half Deal?
For most riders a double-butted spoke such as Sapim Race or DT Competition with brass nipples; lighter riders can go to Sapim Laser or CX-Ray. The configurator recommends a gauge and count for the Big Half Deal from your bike type and weight.
Big Deal or Big Aluminum Deal?
Carbon Big Deal for the lightest, stiffest fat wheel; alloy Big Aluminum Deal for the same Inflatobam tubeless bead at a much lower price.
B.D. or B.H.D.?
B.D. is 26in; B.H.D. is the 27.5in version.
Is the Big Deal made in the USA?
Yes. HED molds its carbon rims in Roseville, Minnesota.
Is the Big Deal tubeless?
Yes. Inflatobam seats a tubeless-ready fat tire with a floor pump; we tape it and fit a valve on request.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. HED lists the B.h.d. Carbon Rim as clincher tubeless compatible; we tape and fit a valve when you choose the tubeless option.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
