Schmolke TLO 50 vs Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23: Save 385g and $304
The Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23 is unmistakably Campagnolo. It combines Italian manufacturing, CULT ceramic bearings, hidden nipples and the distinctive G3 spoke pattern in a premium 45mm wheelset.
It also costs $6,299 and weighs 1,325g.
The Schmolke TLO 50 with Extralite hubs is just $5,995 and weighs approximately 940g. It gives you a deeper 50mm rim, a wider 25mm internal platform and carbon spokes while removing approximately 385g from the wheelset.
Schmolke TLO 50 vs Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23 specifications
Weights are manufacturer claims. Schmolke’s 940g figure applies to the Extralite and NONPLUS hub configurations.
385g is an enormous wheelset difference
A difference of 385g would be meaningful anywhere on a bike. At the wheels, it changes how quickly the bike responds every time you accelerate, climb or lift the pace.
The TLO 50 does not achieve that saving with a shallower climbing rim. Its rims are actually 5mm deeper than the Campagnolo rims. You get the aerodynamic profile of a 50mm wheelset at a weight normally associated with far shallower specialist climbing wheels.
- ⚡ Less rotating mass to accelerate
- ⛰ 385g less to carry uphill
- 🏁 Faster response when the pace changes
- ⚖️ A substantially lighter complete bike
The TLO 50 also has the more modern rim platform
The Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23 uses a 23mm internal and 28.4mm external rim. Campagnolo recommends tyres from 28mm to 35mm.
The Schmolke uses a wider 25mm internal and 32.5mm external rim. That wider profile is designed around modern road tyres and creates a broader transition between tyre and rim. Both wheelsets retain hooked beads, so neither requires you to accept the tyre and pressure restrictions associated with hookless road wheels.
Schmolke recommends a 29mm Continental Aero 111 front tyre for optimum performance. A nominal 28mm Continental GP5000 measures approximately 32.5mm across when fitted to the TLO 50, matching the external rim width.
Carbon spokes against Campagnolo G3
Campagnolo’s G3 spoke pattern is distinctive and technically considered. The grouped 2:1 arrangement is designed to balance spoke tension and manage braking and drive forces.
Schmolke takes a different approach. Each wheel uses 24 replaceable carbon spokes with titanium end fittings. Carbon’s high tensile strength allows greater spoke tension at a fraction of the weight of a conventional steel spoke.
The important point is that these are not permanently bonded proprietary structures. The TLO 50 is conventionally built, and individual spokes can be replaced by a capable wheel builder if one is damaged.
What does the Bora Ultra WTO 45 do well?
The Bora Ultra WTO 45 has several features that will appeal to committed Campagnolo buyers:
- ◆ Distinctive Italian design and Campagnolo identity
- ⚙ CULT ceramic cup-and-cone bearings
- ↗ Hidden Aero Mo-Mag nipples
- ○ Tape-free 2-Way Fit tubeless rim bed
If the Campagnolo name and G3 appearance are central to the build, the Bora Ultra WTO 45 delivers exactly that. But those qualities do not erase a 385g weight deficit or make its narrower, shallower rims more advanced.
Save $924 with DT Swiss 180 hubs
The 940g Extralite TLO 50 is the clearest performance comparison, but it is not the only option.
A TLO 50 wheelset with DT Swiss 180 hubs weighs approximately 1,025g and costs $5,375. That configuration is still approximately 300g lighter than the Bora Ultra WTO 45 while saving $924.
TLO 50 with Extralite hubs: Save 385g and $304
TLO 50 with DT Swiss 180 hubs: Save 300g and $924
That choice allows you to prioritise the lowest possible weight or the familiar durability and servicing support of DT Swiss 180 hubs. Either TLO 50 configuration is substantially lighter than the Campagnolo.
Which wheelset wins?
The Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23 is the choice for someone who specifically wants Campagnolo wheels. Its appearance, G3 lacing and CULT bearings give it a clear identity.
If the decision is based on what your money actually adds to the bike, the Schmolke TLO 50 wins.
It is 5mm deeper, 2mm wider internally, 4.1mm wider externally and approximately 385g lighter with Extralite hubs. Despite those advantages, it costs $304 less.
You are not being asked to pay extra for the lighter wheelset. You are paying less and getting the larger performance upgrade.
That is why the Schmolke TLO 50 beats the Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23.
Shop Schmolke TLO 50 WheelsCampagnolo specifications were checked against the manufacturer’s published specifications for the Bora Ultra WTO 45 C23. Prices are Australian retail prices used for this comparison and may change.