Market / E-Performance / MTB: The triumph of e-bikes and especially e-MTBs seems to be unstoppable. With the DT Swiss Hybrid wheels, the traditional manufacturer from Switzerland is now offering a complete wheel series especially for use on E-MTBs for the first time. For this purpose, special rims, hubs and even spokes have been developed on the basis of existing components.
Special wheels for E-MTBs - why it makes sense
In addition to the frame and chassis, the wheels are probably the most important component on a bike - this is especially true for sporty bikes on the trail and on the road. Handling, stability, service life - all of these are factors that largely depend on the quality of the installed wheelset. In view of the ongoing e-bike and e-MTB boom, it is therefore not surprising that DT Swiss is now offering a complete range of special wheels for motor-assisted mountain bikes for the first time this year. At this point, many may raise their index finger skeptically and assume that this is nothing more than a marketing stunt in the industry - but that is certainly not the case.
Of course, an E-MTB is basically no more than a normal bicycle with a motor - but there are some influences and factors that put a different and greater strain on the material on an E-MTB than on a conventional mountain bike. The first thing to mention here is the weight: Thanks to the motor and battery, e-bikes weigh a few more kilograms than non-motorized bikes. In the case of a powerful E-Fullies with 140mm of travel or more, the 25kg mark is quickly reached. The motor support helps to forget the total weight while riding, but heavy and tall riders often have the problem that the maximum permissible system weight of many E-MTBs is only 120kg or even less. In conversations with the manufacturers, it is often heard that with this weight limit, the wheels are the bottleneck.
Okay, so weight - but that's only half the truth. Likewise, completely different forces act on the hub and the freewheel on an E-MTB with a fit rider and a sporty riding style. Peak values of up to 400Nm can come together - a real endurance test for the material, over and over again. Many hubs or wheels are not designed for such peak loads and depending on the driving style, the service life can be significantly shorter than on a non-motorized two-wheeler.
DT Swiss – Mission Hybrid
Precisely for the reasons mentioned, the Swiss wheel experts from DT Swiss created the Mission Hybrid. Behind this is the ambitious goal of developing a wheel series especially for the demanding conditions on E-MTBs. The end result is four wheel series for different needs, requirements and budgets. They all have the letter H (for hybrid) in their name and will be available from April.
All DT Swiss Hybrid wheels have the Boost standard in common. The hubs are only available in a width of 148mm (rear) and 110mm (front) - this means that a subsequent upgrade of the E-MTB is only possible if it already offers space for the wide hubs.
But what makes the new wheels “E-MTB-ready”? At DT Swiss, a lot of time and money has been invested in the development and, above all, in the testing of the corresponding wheels. Not only are specially reinforced rims used, but also the hub body, freewheel and even the spokes are a little more robust.
DT Swiss Hybrid wheels: Testing to the limit - and beyond
During the development process, you can use all of DT Swiss' know-how, extensive experience and, of course, the corresponding technical prerequisites in the design locations in order to move from theory to a mobile prototype in a targeted and effective manner. All stress tests can be carried out in-house - this saves time and makes it possible to deal with any problems directly. If a product has survived the torture of the test stands, a set of prototypes can be made directly on this basis, which are then tested by experienced drivers under practical conditions - i.e. on the trail.
During development, it became clear early on that it is not enough to adapt just one component for an E-MTB impeller - the focus is usually on the rim - instead the overall construction and all components involved must be prepared for the high loads : rims, hubs and even the spokes.
DT Swiss Hybrid Rims: Targeted use of materials for more stability
With the rims, the well-known and proven models from our own company were of course used as a model. However, since they are approved for a weight of up to 150kg on the hybrid wheels, additional material has been attached to the crucial points and, above all, the wall thickness in the area of the rim bed has been increased. The hybrid rims are available in widths of 25, 30 and 35mm - including a version made of carbon. The six aluminum rims will also be available individually.
However, before the rims went into production, the rims had to endure the rigorous tests on the DT Swiss test stands. With a system weight of 150kg, they have to survive 27 normal product lifespans before they can go into production as hybrid rims. The result is significantly more stable rims than the already robust enduro counterparts from our own company. Also an interesting alternative for heavier non-e-bikers who are looking for a particularly durable rim.
DT Swiss Hybrid hubs: Extra strong, please!
Rims: Check! Next up are the hubs. Here, too, existing models are used as a model - why not, after all, DT Swiss hubs enjoy a very good reputation among hobby cyclists and professionals alike - and rightly so. The three basic models DT Swiss 370, DT Swiss 350 and DT Swiss 240, like the rims in their hybrid version, have been given a little more material.
But that's not all; The axles are also a bit more stable and the bearings are larger in order to be able to absorb the higher weight and greater forces without reducing the service life. Steel freewheels for Shimano and XD prevent the sprockets from digging in, even at high torques. Work has also been done on the patented toothed disc freewheel, which is used on the 350 and 240 hubs. While normal hubs have either 18 or 36 detent points, the hybrid hubs choose the happy medium with 24 - the toothed disc itself is made of additionally hardened steel, so that the longest possible service life can be guaranteed here too.
Equipped in this way, the hubs have to withstand forces of up to 500Nm on the test benches – with conventional hubs, 400Nm is the limit. The forces acting on the bearings are also almost twice as high as normal.
DT Swiss Hybrid spokes: Inconspicuously essential for survival
Inconspicuous and yet crucial for the stability of the wheel, the spokes are often overlooked when looking at wheels. In the case of the hybrid wheels, DT Swiss faced two challenges: On the one hand, such wheels need particularly stable and high-tensile spokes, on the other hand, they must also be able to take advantage of the hubs, which are particularly reinforced in the flange area.
The result is spokes that are 2mm thick at the thread, taper to 1,8mm in the middle and end with an extra reinforced, 2,34mm thick head. In terms of tensile strength, they are up to 35% higher than conventional MTB spokes - the weight only increases marginally.
DT Swiss Hybrid wheels: All models and prices
Size: 27,5 / 29 ″
Weight: 1.678g (27,5) / 1.786g (29)
inside width: 30 mm
Must not: DT Swiss 240s Hybrid
Price: € 2.248
Size: 27,5 / 29 ″
Weight: 1.978g (27,5) / 2.081g (29)
inside width: 30 mm
Must not: DT Swiss 240s Hybrid
Price: € 1.078
Size: 27,5 / 29 ″
Weight: 2.090g (27,5) / 2.197g (29)
inside width: 30 mm
Must not: DT Swiss 350
Price: € 698
Size: 27,5 / 29
Weight: 2.093g (27,5) / 2.198g (29)
inside width: 30 mm
Must not: DT Swiss 370
Price: € 388
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