New DT Swiss Hybrid eMTB Ratchet & Ratchet EXP hubs and complete wheelsets get a heavy-duty overhaul to better handle the increased stress and higher loads imposed by heavy e-bikes. It’s no secret that e-bikes are heavier than regular bikes. Then, putting additional power into the drivetrain, even higher forces go into e-bike wheels to get up to speed, with higher forces again to slow them back down. So DT Swiss has “upbuilt” their new Hybrid e-road and eMTB hubs & wheels to better handle the extra abuse…
DT Swiss Hybrid hubs & wheels get up-built stronger for e-bike abuse
Starting with the most obvious point, when DT Swiss launched Hybrid e-bike wheels in 2017… the max torque output of an eMTB was 70Nm, batteries topped out at 400Wh, and real e-MTB or e-Enduro racing wasn’t really a thing. Now, most premium 250W motors put out 85Nm of torque, many e-bikes have half as much more range with 650Wh batteries, plus e-EWS racing has gotten serious and there’s even a UCI e-bike World Champion now. No surprise that it was time to build tougher DT Hybrid e-bike wheels & hubs.
So what’s new? And what’s improved?
DT says they had to rethink every component of their Hybrid e-bike wheels to make them stronger & more durable. And increased their testing protocols to make sure the new wheels better perform under higher stresses, most often with higher 150kg rider & bike max system weight limits.
Starting with the Hybrid hubs, DT Swiss redesigned bigger, ticker hubshells and individual internal components of their core hubs to better manage the increased rider+motor power transfer, to better withstand the higher braking forces of heavier complete systems, and to survive the rigors of eMTB racing.
Hybrid Ratchet EXP OS
DT says they re-engineered each of the Hybrid freehubs systems – Ratchet EXP OS, Ratchet & Ratchet LN – to transmit the higher forces. Adding obvious blue ano details, Ratchet EXP OS (oversized) gets the biggest overhaul with a larger diameter set of Ratchet rings which allows for 30 of the same sized teeth (vs. 24 of regular EXP) for quicker engagement without loss of durability.
Oversized also means a 6.7% larger diameter M32 threaded ring and with it larger diameter bearings, larger balls inside, and more balls in total. Then, they also get increased axle wall thickness at the bearings for 18% more axle stiffness.
Lastly, all of the new Hybrid e-bike hubs now shift to hardened steel freehub bodies (with blue labels) for a more secure interface between the cassette and whatever Ratchet system is inside.
All this leads to improved distribution of the higher e-bike loads over a larger area of the oversized Hybrid hub.
Hybrid Ratchet & Ratchet LN
DT says the more affordable Hybrid hubs still get subtle updates. The HX 1700 wheels get new hardened steel 24T Ratchets optimized for eMTB use. And the H 1900 wheels move from pawls to the more durable Ratchet LN upgrade setup.
Tougher Hybrid spokes & rims
Then outside of hubs, spokes get thicker and rims get reinforced, again to withstand higher loads. The premium second gen Hybrid wheels scale up to spokes with 1.8mm butting in the middle and 2.34mm diameter at the ends (up from 1.6/2.0mm spokes).
The Hybrid eMTB alloy get thicker extrusions in the spoke beds, while carbon rims are also designed for higher spoke loading.
DT Swiss Hybrid eMTB e-bike wheel lineup
Much like all of their other wheel families, Hybrid eMTB gets wheels across three core levels, available in 29″ or 27.5″ versions or each.
HXC 1501 Spline One are the top-tier e-bike wheels, with 30mm (or 35mm for 27.5 only) wide hookless tubeless carbon rims, heavy-duty DT Hybrid 2 spokes, and the new heavy-duty 240 Hybrid Ratchet EXP OS hubs, from $2053 / 1549€ a set at weights from 1786g.
Next, HX 1700 Spline e-bike wheels step down to a more affordable $966 / 729€ level with 30 or 35mm wide hooked tubeless welded aluminum rims, heavy-duty DT Hybrid 1 spokes (less butted, only at the hub?), and eMTB-rated 24T Ratchet 350 hubs, with wheelset weights from 2023g.
Then lastly, H 1900 Spline e-bike wheels get more accessible again at $540 / 407€ with 30 or 35mm wide hooked tubeless sleeved aluminum rims, heavy-duty DT Hybrid 1 spokes, and lower-spec 370 Ratchet LN hubs, and wheelset weights from 2066g.
All three wheelset lines are available now to upgrade your current eMTB. No word yet, but we expect the upgraded Hybrid 2 hubs to also be available separately in the future.
