KinLin TL 23 Disc Asym Rim
The KinLin TL-23 is the cross-country and gravel member of KinLin's TL series of tubeless-ready disc rims: 23mm inside, extruded from KLM41 alloy with the T10 forming process, with an asymmetric spoke bed that balances tension on a Boost rear or a disc front. It comes in 27.5in and 29in, 28 and 32 hole, disc only, and it is one of the best-value tubeless alloy rims we build for cross-country, gravel and light trail bikes.
This page covers the KinLin TL 23 Disc Asym Rim in 29in, 27.5in. The TL-23 is sold here only inside a wheel we build: choose the hub, spokes and nipples in the configurator and the finished wheel ships from Georgia, laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
The TL series is KinLin's tubeless-ready disc range: a welded KLM41 alloy rim with a tubeless bead that seats a tire with a floor pump, an asymmetric spoke bed on the TL-23 that brings drive-side and non-drive-side tension close to equal, and a shallow section that keeps the weight down. The 23mm inner width suits 2.0 to 2.35in cross-country tires and 40 to 50mm gravel tires. Standard nipples, J-bend spokes, disc only.
How it rides
A TL-23 wheel is light and quick. The 23mm bed keeps a 2.25in cross-country tire or a 45mm gravel tire round and fast, the tubeless bead seals easily, and the asymmetric rear stays true. It is a cross-country and gravel rim; for 2.4in and wider trail tires the TL-29 is the better bed.
For cross-country, gravel and bikepacking at a sensible price, the TL-23 is the KinLin rim we recommend.
Specifications
| Wheel size | 29in, 27.5in |
|---|---|
| ERD | 594 (29in), 556 (27.5in) |
| Inner width | 23 mm |
| Depth | 22.5 mm |
| Drillings | 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h |
| Weight | 460g (700c/29in), 435g (650b/27.5in) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Tire type | clincher tubeless compatible |
| Brake | Disc |
| Nipples | External |
| Finishes | black, polished |
This version
This version is the TL-23 in 29in, 27.5in, drilled 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h, about 460g, 23mm inside, 22.5mm deep, disc. Where the same rim is sold in another size or brake type, that is a separate listing with its own page.
This is the disc-brake TL-23: plain sidewalls, no brake track to wear, a touch lighter. It fits any disc-brake bike and it is the version most of our customers now build; the rim-brake version is a separate listing.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
The KinLin TL 23 Disc Asym Rim comes in 29in, 27.5in and 24h, 28h, 32h, 36h drilling. It is a disc-brake rim. We build the TL-23 on Bitex BX 211, BX 212 and BX 106, DT Swiss 350, Industry Nine 1/1, Hope Pro 5 and Velocity Race hubs, usually with Sapim Race, D-Light or Laser spokes or DT Competition and brass nipples.
Tire range on the TL-23 is 2.0 to 2.35in or 40 to 50mm. The configurator recommends spoke count and lacing from your bike type and weight.
Build it into a wheel
This rim is live in our Custom Wheel Program for gravel and road disc, touring, mountain bike and MTB single-speed builds. Start a build with the Kinlin Tl 23 Disc Asym Rim and the configurator opens with this exact rim pinned at the top of the KinLin list — you choose the rest of the parts and it validates every combination as you go.
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.
How KinLin tests its rims
Kinlin Industrial Corporation is a specialist aluminum rim maker in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, established in the fall of 1972 (September 1972 per its CENS supplier listing). Kinlin states it practices its own integrated T-10 manufacturing process and that over 30 million rims have been delivered to global users. Kinlin states that where most rim makers use 6061-T6, it has developed its own extrusion alloys, and describes KLM41-T10 as a special alloy combining aluminum, manganese and niobium with a tight-knit structure whose elongation is twice that of conventional 6061. Retailer Fair Wheel Bikes describes the T10 process as adding Kinlin's patented cold rolling machine to the cold-working step plus a surface treatment not included in a standard T6 process. Kinlin's own site does not publish impact-energy, fatigue-cycle, ISO/EN or UCI test results, any ISO 9001 or other certification, or warranty terms, and the site was unreachable during this research, so the process description above comes from search excerpts of kinlin.com.tw and retailer pages.
Product limits are published by distributors rather than by Kinlin directly. For its disc rims, the retailer listings state a maximum tire pressure of 8 bar, a maximum system weight of 120 kg, a maximum spoke tension of 1200 N and a 2-year warranty. Customers should treat those as model-specific figures and check the listing for each Kinlin model.
Sources on KinLin's site:
- KINLIN INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION - About KINLIN (site unreachable during research; content from search index)
- KINLIN INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION - How we make rims? (site unreachable during research; content from search index)
- Kinlin Industrial Corporation supplier profile - CENS
- Kinlin XR-26T Tubeless Road Disc Rim - Fair Wheel Bikes (T10 process description)
- KinLin brand page - Elite Custom SG (company text)
The figures, certificates and media above are KinLin's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; our part is the wheel we build on the rim.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
KinLin makes the TL-23; ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia, not the manufacturer. Spokes are cut from the ERD we measure on the actual rim, the wheel comes up in stages on a tensiometer, and it is stress-relieved and trued before it goes in the box; tape and a valve go on if you ask.
The configurator filters to what fits, crosses out what is not made, and prices the build as you go.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. KinLin warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by KinLin 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.
TL 23 Disc Asym Rim questions
What tire width suits this rim?
23mm inside is the all-road and gravel width. Think 32 to 45mm tires: wide enough to support a gravel casing properly so it holds its shape at low pressure, narrow enough that a 30mm road tire still sits right if you swap wheels between bikes.
TL-23 or TL-29?
TL-23 for cross-country and gravel on 2.0 to 2.35in or 40 to 50mm tires; TL-29 for trail on 2.3 to 2.6in tires.
Is the TL-23 tubeless?
Yes. It is tubeless-ready; we tape and fit a valve on request.
What does asymmetric mean on the TL-23?
The spoke holes are offset toward the non-drive side, which evens out spoke tension on a Boost rear or disc wheel so it stays true longer.
Who is KinLin?
A Taiwanese rim maker that supplies many wheel brands; the TL-23 sold under its own name is the same rim without the brand markup.
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the KinLin TL 23 Disc Asym Rim?
No. KinLin makes the rim. ProWheelBuilder is an independent custom wheel builder in Georgia that builds it into a finished wheel to your spec.
Is it tubeless-ready?
Yes. KinLin lists the TL 23 Disc Asym 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.
