Sea Otter 2011: DT Swiss Report

Editor’s Note: More Sea Otter goodness this time from DT Swiss. Grannygear reports…

Sea Otter 2011: DT Swiss Report: by Grannygear

My first set of 29″er wheels were built with DT Swiss Onyx hubs and 7.1TK rims. I still have those wheels, and they are mostly retired now after they have been on about 4 bikes, lots of hard riding, including single speed conversions, and one big crash that kinda ruined the rear rim for any use with a rim brake.

Other than that crash damage (and I was much worse off comparatively speaking) they were simply solid and dependable wheels for not a lot of money. When we were looking to build a set of wheels that would survive ‘JeffJ the Pawl Breaker’, we had Mike Curiak lace the Stan’s Flows up to a set of DT Swiss 240 hubs and they have been dead steady under his 260 pounds and big power output. They are not blingy but they are not cheap either. The DT Swiss hubs are low-key gems in the world of upper end hub sets.

But it seems like the DT Swiss 29″er rims have been a bit behind the curve and were due for an update. As well, the well thought of Tricon design needed to be brought to 29″ers.

So to see that DT Swiss is coming into 2012 with a much bigger selection of pre-built wheels, new rims, and a new suspension fork for 29″er riders is a good thing to see. Aside from the video, we wanted to lay out some details of what you can come to expect this next season.

Wheelsets:

XRC 950T 29er:

Beginning with the top of the heap, the XRC 950T 29″er brings a tubular rim in carbon, a carbon hub, ceramic bearings, and the Star Ratchet system to market. Laced with 32 bladed white spokes X3 with the Pro Lock hexagonal nipples, the rim is 26mm wide (external width). They are only listed as being available in a traditional 5mm quick release, no doubt bowing to the weight weenie, high end racer crowd. Weight? The prediction is for a 1200g combo. Cost? Well, that is not firm yet, but I have heard numbers in the $4K range. Supposedly once you go tubular you never go back. Still, it will be a while before that crosses over to the masses riding 29″ers. I bet the Euro guys will be more welcoming to this, but that is just my prediction.

Tricon XM 1550 29er:

More along the lines of a high-end wheelset that would be found on racing bikes and blingy XC/trail bikes is the newest addition to the Tricon family. Available with a 15QR as well as the normal 9mm (and a Lefty front hub option for you one sided riders out there), the Tricon hub and the 32 bladed spokes sports the unique and creative way of inserting the nipples at the rim, allowing for a sealed internal rim bed. Weight should be in the 1800g range. Not feather weight, but eyeletted rims in a 26mm width (19mm internal) should provide a long lasting rim for all around use. They include an IS 6 bolt adapter for brake rotor mounting (DT Swiss uses that Centerlock standard) and valve stems. The rear hub is expected to support 142mm conversions. No price listed yet.

M1800 Tubeless 29″er:

Also in 15QR/5MM front hub configs with a Star Rachet equipped rear hub, the closed rim bed, welded (not pinned) 26mm wide (19mm inner) rim gets a conventional spoke and retains the Pro Lock nipples in a 32×3 cross lacing. With a weight target of 1900g, and a more approachable price of $650.00 to $700.00, this could be DT Swisses version of the ‘everyman’ high quality pre-built wheel.

Bare rims:

Now, to rims. DT Swiss is offering some new rims for 2012 that will give wheel builders some more options. Beginning with the XR 400 29″er, the 24mm wide (external) single weld rim is a stronger version of the x470 (a sleeved rim). Aimed at racers or lighter weight wheel builds, the 450g rim will be in the $85.00 range.

The next new hoop is the XM 490 rim. A 26mm (external) width welded rim, this will be suitable for the heavy trailrider/AM rider, something that fits squarely into the new 140mm travel range of 29ers for 2012. 490g and a price of $85.00.

Hubs:

There is a new 180 Carbon Ceramic that replaces the 190. With drillings of 24, 28, and 32 holes (and 20 in a non-disc version), the 180 can be had in Shimano and Campy compatible styles in 100mm/130mm widths. There is also a Centerlock 135mm MTB version but it is only 28 or 32 hole.

The 29″er fork:

The XMM 100 or XMM 120 uses the Torsion Box Magnesium lowers in standard 9mm quick release and 15mm RWS options (RWS 15mm is compatible with a typical 15mm hub). This represents a more cost effective material compared to the carbon lowers of previous forks. Single Shot and Twin Shot damping technologies, all remote ready, 1.5” tapered aluminum and carbon uppers and a straight 1 ?” steerer as well with 32mm stanchion tubes. This is an air spring fork. As the name suggests, 100mm and 120mm options beginning below 1500g. Travel is not adjustable, so buy the one you need to begin with. There are actually two versions of the tapered steerer in carbon. One has a very short taper length of 85mm to fit small frame sizes and shorter head tubes.

The Twin Shot damping system has the controls for low speed rebound and compression on the top of the fork leg for easy access and compression and rebound lock out at two different positions. A mechanical remote lock out can be retro-fitted and with the Twin Shot system, provides for a 3 position control…open, 50% open, and closed.

The reverse brake arch is something we have seen on other brands but DT Swiss does something a bit unique in the way they ‘fill’ in the cast bridge with a bonded in section. I had the chance to hold a couple of separate lowers from brand ‘X’ and ‘Y’. Taking them in my hands, and with no axle or hub to provide support between the lowers/drop-outs, I could easily flex them and I bet I could have snapped them in two rather easily. The DT Swiss lower, however, was so stiff, that with two hands and a decent effort I could barely see or feel any independent leg movement. It was a remarkable difference. Now you may say that we do not ride forks without a hub in there and you are correct, but every part does its thing and adds to the overall stiffness (or lack thereof) of a fork/hub/wheel interface. Beginning with this type of structure has to be a positive step.

Another change to the DT Swiss line of products was a revised RWS skewer. I was given a sample set in 5mmQR to try out and I snapped some pics, put them on the scale of truth, and here they are. The RWS allows you to ‘ratchet’ the handle of the skewer, basically tightening the closure by turning the handle clockwise, pulling it towards you and re-clocking the handle, then turning it again, etc, till you are tight. It is a good way to get a 5mm quick release good and snug, but the previous versions were a bit fragile. The old handle was plastic and the release button stuck out in the breeze. Both could be broken too easily. The new version is all metal and the release button is metal and recessed.

Very nice. I took the old skewers out of the Roval wheels in the Epic Marathon and swapped to the RWS set. The weight difference was uncanny…zero..as in nada difference. The new front was 51g and the new rear was 54g, exactly like the set they replaced. You can really get them down tight since you do not have to overcome any cam action to do so like a typical quick release. They also have a very nice ‘bite’ surface on the end pieces. I was not able to really use the button to help me clock the handle as I could not really push it…fingers too big, I guess…but all I had to do was pull out on the handle itself and rotate it. Good to go.

In another article, I will be installing some of the 36 tooth star ratchets in a DT Swiss hub to step up the points of engagement of a stock 240 unit, so watch for that bit of techi-ness.

Look for all this 2012 product later this Summer into Fall, but as we all know, it may take a bit longer than that to actually begin to see it on the order desk of your local retailers. We expect to have a sample or two for review, so when that happens, look for some trail time on the latest from DT Swiss.

Our thanks to Paul Guebara, Marketing Dude for DT Swiss, for his time and information as well as the fine samples.