Testing the 125mm inline speed skating Manao Niu wheel

The Manao Niu 125mm in speed skating wheel at a glance

Our opinion in brief

The Manao Niu 125 inline dpeed skating wheel offers an excellent gliding and comfort on a variety of surfaces without sacrificing rolling performance. As stated in its leaflet, it’s a versatile model, suitable for both smooth and rough surfaces. It gives the feeling of skating on a thin rolling surface. The wheel provides a good grip on dry surfaces. The price is €239 for a set of 6 wheels, that is quite expensive but most of high-end wheels ont the market now reach this amount. The Manao Niu isn’t exactly affordable for everyone. However, its moderate wear guarantees a long lifespan if you avoid T-braking. We particularly recommend it for racing and competition, but it’s also perfectly suited for long distance skating thanks to its smooth glide on uneven surfaces.

Pluses and minuses

Pluses

• Excellent confort on rough roads
• Versatility
• Grip in the corners
• Rolling

Minuses

• The finishing could be improved
• The price

Fact sheet – 125mm Manao Niu wheel

• Brand: Manao
• Model : Niu
• Year : 2026
• Made in : Germany
• Diameter : 125 mm
• Feature : Double density
• Available diameters :90 mm, 100 mm, 110 mm and 125 mm
• Hardness : Hard, Medium, Soft
• Hardness tested : Hard
• Weight : 166 grammes en 125 mm
• Public price : 239,99 € le jeu de 6 roues
• N°: MAWL-LI-125-H
• Recommened use: speed-skating and long distance skating

The complete test of the Manao Niu 125 inline speed skating wheel

FRSkates team skaters are competing internationally with these wheels. Nolan Beddiaf has been using Manao wheels for several months. Two flagship models have built the brand’s reputation: Kao is dedicated to heavier and powerful skaters. And Niu is a more versatile wheel. The Niu wheel is designed for road skating in its 125mm version, but also for track racing in its 90mm, 100mm and 110mm versions. The Niu wheel takes its name from Hawaiian culture, where it means “coconut.” There, the fruit symbolizes life, strength, and endurance.

Manufacturer’s recommendations and comparison with the Kao wheel

According to the manufacturer:

” The NIU wheel delivers a refined balance between speed, grip, and comfort. Built on the same advanced two-component technology platform as the KAO, the NIU introduces a tuning focused on ride feel and surface contact. Featuring a dual-density construction with an additional flex band, the NIU offers increased compliance under load.

Its softer hub compared to the KAO enhances shock absorption and surface adaptation, resulting in slightly higher grip and a noticeably more comfortable skating feel—especially during long sessions or on demanding urban terrain.
Premium polyurethane ensures a consistent roll, high durability, and controlled rebound at high speeds. Entirely manufactured in Germany under strict quality control, NIU wheels meet the highest standards in performance skating components.”

Technical description of the wheel

The Manao Niu 125 mm wheel features a 14-spoke core. These spokes narrow to form only 7 around the center. This design distributes stress more evenly across the entire structure and reduces vibration on uneven ground. As you can see in the photo below, the spokes flare out in the center. This design increases the wheel’s flexibility, thus improving grip when cornering. The wide base of the spokes also enhances strength and distributes stress more evenly. Manao states that this core is more flexible than that of the Kao wheel, resulting in greater comfort and improved traction in the corners.

The on-core offers a generous volume that contributes to inertia and rolling efficiency. It features a dual-density construction with an additional flex band. The softer central section ensures elasticity and rebound. The visible outer section, which is harder, provides more rolling and reduces wear. The wheel’s profile is a thin tread. It provides less resistance to gliding, especially in straight lines. The profile remains quite round, thus ensuring good grip in corners.

Assembling wheels and bearings

Bearings cannot be inserted by hand. The bearing must be placed on a flat surface such as a table. Then put the wheel on the bearing and press to put it into the core.

Finishing of the 125mm Manao Niu wheels

The surface of the outer core is perfectly smooth and homogeneous. It appears as if the outer core blends seamlessly into the main core. However, the main core shows some residue. There are still some material shavings. This doesn’t affect the wheel’s performance, but it would be worthwhile to remove them before marketing.

Rebound test

As mentioned, the wheel quickly returns to the correct height, demonstrating the excellent elasticity and resilience of the polyurethane.

A moderate wear and a good grip

The first 40km ride didn’t even break the joint line (the small, discreet line on the top of new wheels). And that’s despite a few hard braking maneuvers. The grip is excellent while the wheel is new. It degrades slightly with wear.

The Manao Niu 125 racing roller wheel at use

We have been using the Manao Niu wheel for over 200 km to write this review, primarily on cycle paths and greenways. This model proved its versatility. The core’s flexibility makes it more forgiving when your technic decreases. It also offers greater grip in corners, especially on speed-skating tracks in its 110mm version. It’s a wheel for winding routes. The most notable aspect remains the comfort on rough surfaces. A rough section we regularly ride along the Garonne River proved much more pleasant to skate, with the vibration significantly reduced.

Like most high-end racing wheels, the Manao Niu needs to be pushed to relatively high speeds to get the most out of it. Once you reached a good speed, it is easier to maintains your cruising speed. The Niu wheel is less physically demanding to skate than the Kao, and still offers excellent rolling performance. However, if you’re looking for maximum performance and efficiency, the stiffer core of the Manao Kao will suit you better ; the Kao is more competition oriented and fits better to high-level skaters. It all depends on your skating style: if you skate with a strong and long push, the Kao is for you; if you prefer shorter strides, the Niu will meet your needs.

To go futher

The wheel on the site of the French dealer