DT Swiss 2021: New 1501 and 1700 Spline MTB wheels
DT Swiss have made their 1501 Spline wheels carbon, and bumped up the builds with the 1700 Spline wheels.
The right set of wheels can make or break your bike. From rim strength, rim width, hub reliability and freehub engagement – there's a lot that makes one set of wheels right for you and how you ride. We have tested a number of DT Swiss wheels here at AMB, and even dropped in to their facility in Bielle to say g'day. This week, DT Swiss have revealed their new 1501 Spline mountain bike wheels, and the 1700 Spline wheels which have had big updates that improve strength, weight, reliability – and ride quality.
The DT Swiss 1501 Spline goes carbon
The DT Swiss 1501 has been a benchmark alloy wheel in the DT Swiss range for almost 10 years. With a DT Swiss 240 hub tied to a DT Swiss rim with their own spokes and nipples, you had a wheel that was made completely with quality parts. And over time, there were different rim width options as well.
None of that changes with the new models – but the rims are now carbon, falling into the XRC, XMC and EXC models, just like the 1200 series wheels we have been testing recently. The hubs are the new DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs, not the 180 models in the high end 1200 series of wheels. The EXP series hubs have removed a couple of parts to make a stronger, stiffer and lighter rear hub. All that adds up to greater reliability. All wheels will have a 36t ratchet, which is what DT Swiss feel is optimum for low drag and greater reliability. The new hubs also have a lighter end cap that is also easier to remove by hand – no more reaching for the multigrips. Not that that ever happened…
As a refresher, the DT Swiss XRC wheels are aimed at cross-country and marathon riding (but the 30mm XRC 1200 version did survive a visit to Maydena and Derby…) and you can get them in 25mm or 30mm internal widths. The XMC has a 30mm internal width, and is built for trail riding – and our test set of XMC 1200 Spline was happy doing runs on the Cannonball run.
What's the difference between 25 or 30mm rims for XC anyway?
The EXC are the enduro wheel, with a heavier duty build and higher overall weight limit. Internal width stays at 30mm, for proven support of wider tyres. The rim profile is noticeably beefier, and this is the wheel for those who want the low weight of carbon for their enduro build. Weights start at just 1609g.
Spokes are DT Competition Race spokes, and the butting helps save weight and increase fatigue resistance. DT Swiss claim about 180g is saved per wheel set compared to the alloy models. Prolock alloy nipples are used with the spokes, and the tape is done at the factory.
There are options for 6-bolt or centrelock rotor attachments, and while wheels will come stock with a SRAM XD Driver, Microspline drivers are included, as are valves. All hubs are Boost, so there's no option for 142×12 and 100x15mm hubs. The XRC and XMC models are 29er only, however the EXC models are available in both 29" and 27.5" models. All wheels use straight pull spokes.
DT Swiss have published a really basic chart showing impact strength between the XRC, XMC and EXC. While it's not validated by numbers, it does show the relative differences. If you hit a lot of stuff, the EXC are clearly the winner.
Finalised pricing from DT Swiss Australia hasn't been confirmed as yet, but we imagine somewhere in the mid $2000 price point. But these are unprecedented times, as we get told daily, so let's see what pricing is revealed.
Not keen on carbon? Well DT Swiss also updated the 1700 Spline wheels.
The DT Swiss 1700 Spline wheels
If you pulled me over on the side of the trail and asked what a good custom wheel build would be, I'd suggest DT Swiss 350 hubs, good spokes, a quality wheel builder, and a wide rim that suits your riding style. And DT Swiss Australia have confirmed that wheels like that are quite often their main custom wheel builds that they do to send to bike shops around the country.
With the DT Swiss 1501 Spline wheels going to carbon rims, there was room to update the 1700 Spline wheels, which are often specced on mid to high end bikes.
DT Swiss have used an updated 350 hub, and have three versions available for XC, All-Mountain and Enduro. The rims they use are ones already in the product line. The XR 391 with 25mm inner width is used for the XC wheels. This helps keep the total weight down.
The popular XM 481 with a 30mm internal width is on the All-Mountain model. We did a bunch of testing for tyre widths a couple of years back, and we found 30mm to be a sweet spot.
The Enduro model uses the EX 511 rim. It's about 50g heavier than the XM 481, has a 30mm width, and is one of the strongest rims around. While it's designed for enduro riding and racing, DT Swiss admit that their athletes do use this rim for downhill racing as well.
Spokes are DT Swiss Competition, so not as butted as the spokes on the DT Swiss 1501 Spline wheels.
DT Swiss have updated the 350 hubs with straight pull hub flanges, and a 36t Star Ratchet as stock, and of course the tool free end caps.
As for options, well it's not that different to the DT Swiss 1501 Spline. For the XR 1700 Spline you have to be on a 29" wheel with Boost. You can choose a rear wheel with an XD Driver for SRAM, HG light weight freehub for Shimano 10/11 speed or the Shimano Microspline freehub. The centrelock wheels come with an adaptor for 6-bolt. Weight starts at 1672g.
If you bump up to the all-mountain XM 1700 Spline, there are 29" and 27.5" models available in SRAM XD, HG and Microspline rear hub options. Centrelock is the rotor attachment choice (with adaptors supplied) but all wheels are Boost only. A 29er set is about 1840g, while a 27.5" set would weigh about 1748g.
The EX 1700 Spline wheels is made for those chasing the Enduro dream around the world – and paying for it. So the alloy rim is durable, and keeps the price in check. DT Swiss Australia expect the 1700 series wheel sets to sell for about $1300 – but we'll confirm that when we can.
There are lots of options with this wheel, for both 29" and 27.5" sizing across all three freehub standards, and with 6 bolt options or centrelock. You still need to have a Boost spaced (110x15mm and 148x12mm) frame and fork though.
Weights start at just under 1900g for a 27.5" wheel set, and bump up a bit to about 1950g for 29", but it depends on the freehub and rotor style you choose.
Our thoughts on the new DT Swiss wheels
Without seeing the pricing for the carbon DT Swiss 1501 Spline wheels, it's still a great addition. Prevously, with the 1200 series wheels at $2999, it really was a high price for carbon wheels. Yes there are more expensive sets, but the cost of the 180 Ratchet EXP hub set made those wheels quite expensive.
So having a carbon wheel with the globally popular DT Swiss 240, or the new 240 EXP anyway, is a great move for those chasing the lower weight and ride quality of carbon fibre. This is especially true for riders looking at wide and light carbon rims, to get the benefits of a 30mm wide rim without too much extra rotating mass.
But it is the Spline 1700 series which we think will make a bigger difference. The 1700 series was a good set of wheels anyway, but a move to much stronger rims through the range, along with an updated hub, brings a wheel set that usualy was a custom build to a factory option.
Lots of bikes are coming with some pretty average wheels, even at quite high price tags. And if you find the rim strength or hub quality is lacking, DT Swiss will likely have the wheel set to upgrade to. We'll have updates on pricing once it is confirmed. Otherwise, get in touch with your local dealer or DT Swiss Australia if you just can't wait!
