Best emtb wheels, DT Swiss?

[Bndit]

Just serviced all my ebike freehubs which all happen to be DT Swiss. Never done that before. Three 370 ratchet hubs, one regular and two hybrids and one 240 EXP hybrid. All were in mint condition, most km’s on my commuter, 2.5 years and around 10000km`s (picture below). DT Swiss wheels are kind of lame, graphics are little dull . And there`s nothing special on hubs either, dull sound if anything….but damn these are high quality! Never have had any problems, not with the wheels or hubs. Even the tubeless tape is great. And those tubeless valves, looks like you have some cheap innertubes still on your bikes but those are high quality stuff also. And that basic service is childs play, no tools needed, only DT Swiss special grease.

 

[Winford]

They work, and that is what is most important. Its been my go to for years now. Have not even had a bearing fail yet. Only complain is their cheap LN hybrid wheels with a pinned seam. Your tape job has to be on point or you have issues.

 

[OnEdge]

I was also wondering who makes the best emtb wheels. Also, are Specialized wheels any good?

 

[steve_sordy]

My DT Swiss Spline HX 1501 SPLINE ONE 30 boost wheelset has been in place for over 4 years and has hardly put a foot wrong. I weigh about 98 kg in my riding gear.

• Crash damage: Three rear wheel spokes damaged, and a 3-4mm rim wobble. Quick and easy to sort out.
• Rear wheel hub bearings replaced, freehub still good.

And that's it. Everything is still sound and tight.

 

[salko]

I was also wondering who makes the best emtb wheels. Also, are Specialized wheels any good?

Specialized-Roval rims are soft as butter, and they use 3rd party hubs like Formula, also DT Swiss with higher speced bikes.

 

[borysgo2]

Any DT swiss wheels build on their premium welded rims are very good.
EX511 enduro
FR541 free ride

For that reason I am always building the wheels myself.

What is your weight, what is your bike weight, what is the terrain and your riding style, do you clear 2m drops and 10-15m jumps, do you prefer more stiff or complient wheels?

There is many virables in therm of the best wheels.

Regards

 

[RickBullotta]

I'm pretty sure the only thing "special" about that grease is the word "Special" on the packaging...

 

[Bndit]

I'm pretty sure the only thing "special" about that grease is the word "Special" on the packaging...

Or maybe the colour

 

[OnEdge]

I'm pretty sure the only thing "special" about that grease is the word "Special" on the packaging...

 

[Dax]

I was also wondering who makes the best emtb wheels. Also, are Specialized wheels any good?

No. They’re soft as shit.

 

[OnEdge]

10-4 Thanks? lol

 

[HammerAndCycle]

Reserve wheels would be at the top of my list, the warrenty is so good. Ive got plenty of DT wheels and dealing with DT/Madison isnt as straight forward as reserve, and normally a cost is involved.

 

[OnEdge]

Reserve wheels would be at the top of my list, the warrenty is so good. Ive got plenty of DT wheels and dealing with DT/Madison isnt as straight forward as reserve, and normally a cost is involved.

That's good to know. Where's the best place to buy Reserve Rim Wheelsets for those of us who can't build our own? Are the wheelsets directly from Reverve the best option?

TIA

 

[VWsurfbum]

Reserve
Nobl
Industry9

 

[RustyMTB]

Thing I notice is how many world cup riders stick with DT Swiss EX471's. Must be something about them if you're willing to smash a pair of outdated rims down Val Di Sole every year.

 

[CarolinaCrawler]

Reserve wheels would be at the top of my list, the warrenty is so good. Ive got plenty of DT wheels and dealing with DT/Madison isnt as straight forward as reserve, and normally a cost is involved.

This. I believe Reserve wheels will be all I order from now on. I picked up a set for the downhill bike and it has almost 20 parks days this summer on them (10-20 runs per day) and they have been flawless. I even dented the rear rim and the wheel is still true and the spokes still tight.

That's good to know. Where's the best place to buy Reserve Rim Wheelsets for those of us who can't build our own? Are the wheelsets directly from Reverve the best option?

TIA

I recommend either ordering complete wheels straight from them or maybe the closest Santa Cruz dealer. Although if you register them it really doesn't matter where you get them from.

 

[HammerAndCycle]

This. I believe Reserve wheels will be all I order from now on. I picked up a set for the downhill bike and it has almost 20 parks days this summer on them (10-20 runs per day) and they have been flawless. I even dented the rear rim and the wheel is still true and the spokes still tight.

i dented a HD30 aluminum wheel at dyfi on my DH bike to the point it wouldnt hold air. quick email to reserve and i had a new rim delivered within 48 hours.

 

[Bndit]

I could also have Reserves, would fit nicely to my Bullit and they come with DT Swiss hubs.

 

[Highland Wheels]

Reserve
Nobl
Industry9

I9s really ain't that good though. They shit bearings for fun.
Definitely would be choose others over them

 

[VWsurfbum]

I9s really ain't that good though. They shit bearings for fun.
Definitely would be choose others over them

Really? I have/ had 2 sets used all year round. No issues from me?

 

[RustyIron]

I was also wondering who makes the best emtb wheels. Also, are Specialized wheels any good?

That's like asking a group of car guys who makes the best car. It won't be long until the racial slurs and fisticuffs are flying.

A couple brands have been mentioned. It's hard to argue that there is anything stronger and more durable than DT's ratchet system. Service is absurdly easy and takes only minutes. I'm currently running a pair of 1501 aluminum hoops, and they've been holding up through 2700 hard miles.

Industry 9 was mentioned. I've found them to be too delicate on Amish bikes. eMTB's are much harder on hubs, so I wouldn't consider i9. I'm biased, however. Their customer service rubbed me the wrong way and I haven't forgotten.

Reserve builds a solid product. Their assembly robots are state of the art, so get the set from the factory rather than having them build by a human. My only gripe with them was with one of my rims. It was HELLISH to seat new Maxxis tires on it. Seriously. It's not like I'm inexperienced or don't have a big compressor, but I would always struggle for as long as I had that bike.

To summarize, just get DT hoops on DT hubs, use the money you save to buy a round of beers for your mates, and live happily ever after.

 

[Highland Wheels]

I see folk having no end of issues with them and my LBS is constantly doing bearings on them @VWsurfbum

 

[RickBullotta]

I've broken axles and hub shells on I9's. Never once on a DT 350 or 240.

 

[António13_PT]

I'm pretty sure the only thing "special" about that grease is the word "Special" on the packaging...

At over 800 euros a kg It's really special, it's fuc***g special

Ingredients : Molykote TP 42 with 5% mineral oil

1 Kg of Molykote TP 42 costs 85 euro from Aliexpress
The mineral oil must have some gold and diamonds...

The problem is that there is no equivalent alternative

 

[steve_sordy]

At over 800 euros a kg It's really special, it's fuc***g special

Ingredients : Molykote TP 42 with 5% mineral oil

1 Kg of Molykote TP 42 costs 85 euro from Aliexpress
The mineral oil must have some gold and diamonds...

The problem is that there is no equivalent alternative

It will be as cheap as chips mineral oil, anything that will mix well with the Molykote. The mineral oil will either increase or decrease the overall viscosity and/or (maybe) add some temperature range.

 

[RickBullotta]

At over 800 euros a kg It's really special, it's fuc***g special

Ingredients : Molykote TP 42 with 5% mineral oil

1 Kg of Molykote TP 42 costs 85 euro from Aliexpress
The mineral oil must have some gold and diamonds...

The problem is that there is no equivalent alternative

Dumond Freehub Grease should do the job equally well. About 1/2 the price I think. Or you can blend your own - some folks appear to have done that with SlickHoney and Dumond Freehub oil.

 

[Bear-uk]

I've stuck blue marine grease in mine and it's been ok for the last couple of years

 

[RustyIron]

Dumond Freehub Grease should do the job equally well. About 1/2 the price I think. Or you can blend your own - some folks appear to have done that with SlickHoney and Dumond Freehub oil.

Hub manufacturers are using off-the-rack metals. Bike hubs are run at low speeds under mild conditions. You can bet there's nothing special about their proprietary lubricants. I use Lubriplate 105 in hubs for reasons that are relevant to me. Everyone else uses their own favorite products for reasons that are relevant to them. That's fine. It's not like hubs fail because the wrong lubricants were used. They fail when riders ride them forever and fail to maintain them.

 

[Bndit]

Yeah, I don`t mind using DTSwiss grease on their hubs, Shimano oil on their brakes or Maxima oil on Sram brakes. Cost is not so high.

 

[Ndanger]

The requirements for pawl hubs seem to be different than ratchet for lubricant.