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Test Report DT Swiss FR 1500 Wheelset
After the launch of the relatively new FR 541 rim, the FR 1500 wheelset from DT Swiss is the expected next big hit from the Swiss company.
Not only the new rim, but also the complete package with the 240 Classic hub incl. Ratchet EXP freehub comes across as very well thought-out and high-quality, as is typical of DT Swiss. As a complete wheelset, it's been at the top of my list anyway since I realized I needed to replace my previous wheels.
First impression
Right out of the box, I can tell that the quality is as high as I’m used to from this manufacturer. The workmanship is super, the spoke tension is very even, everything is just right. DT Swiss is known for delivering all wheelsets, even the lower priced ones, with pre-installed rim tape and including tubeless valves, which saves customers work and additional costs. So the tyres can be mounted immediately - only sealant is still needed, of course. One small thing that bothered me a little is the brake rotor mount, which only comes with 6-bolt standard and not in a version with center lock. Unfortunately, my beloved center lock rotors had to give way and be exchanged for 6-bolt versions. However, that is also a matter of taste. Otherwise, all relevant options are available, whether Boost or SuperBoost as well as 27.5" or 29" wheel diameters. We can also offer you a mullet set-up on request. Please feel free to contact our service team.
Test setup
My bike is a Commencal Meta TR, which I use for everything from home trails to bike parks. The Fox 38 is a bit atypical for a trail bike, but it really makes the bike ready for the toughest use and you can really ride it everywhere without a doubt. Of course, the FR 1500 fits this like a glove. The conversion was super easy and I could get straight onto the bike. At the moment, that usually means jumping. Here there are fewer classic obstacles such as stones or roots, but the wheels are also faced with great challenges in terms of stability and stiffness. It doesn't matter if the wheel is still at a slight angle when landing or if you hit the landing edge with the rear wheel: Such impacts put enormous stress on the wheels and quickly lead to total failure in fragile models.
The riding impression
After about three months of extensive testing and certainly one or two rough landings, the FR 1500 are still running like on the first day. No lateral runout, no radial runout, the spoke tension is correct: perfect. The 240 Classic hubs are really a strong foundation for this wheelset. The bearings are doing a great job and are still running absolutely smoothly and without any problems, which honestly was to be expected after three months. No play, no rough running, no noise, so everything is as it should be. The Ratchet EXP freehub runs very smoothly and with low friction - this benefits the rolling behaviour. To date, there has been no change and I am still rolling with surprising efficiency. Even uphill, the wheels still feel swift, although they are certainly not among the lightest you can get.
In combination with the FR 541 rim, I have never had the feeling that the wheels were unable to cope in any situation. So far, the rim has easily withstood all attacks and has not suffered any major deformations. Even with harder impacts on various landing edges, the wheels always gave me a solid, stable feeling. Despite such strains, they run nice and straight without re-truing. Of course, the aforementioned combination of tyre insert and the heavy tyres also helps. But I think the rims will be stable enough even with a lighter tyre setup. But everyone has to decide for themselves - there are also other factors such as riding style and body weight.
Occasionally I also rode on steep, technical trails. Here, the impression I had already gained was only further consolidated. No matter how hard I went into the corners, the wheels offered great stiffness and thus always gave me the necessary support. Even rough terrain with coarse roots and scree is hardly a problem for the wheels: plenty of ground contact and control.
Summary
All in all, I am very satisfied with the FR 1500 and have already had many good rides without any defects or other problems. Sure, it's not the lightest wheelset, but it's tough and very reliable. And in the end, that's what makes a good freeride or downhill wheel for me.
Pros:
- DT Swiss typical outstanding quality
- Very stiff and robust rims
- Scope of delivery very user-friendly
Cons:
- No version with center lock brake rotor mount
- Possibly "too much" for moderate riding style
Technical digression:
The rim
The FR 541 rim used in the FR 1500 wheelset has a little more material on the rim flange, so the visible outside of the flange curves outwards a little. This should give the rim more resistance to bending during sharp impacts, which is very important in the intended area of use. The 30 mm jaw width has become the standard in the enduro sector, as it offers the optimum of stiffness, acceptable weight and resulting tyre contact area. For the first time, DT Swiss uses different numbers of spokes for the front and rear wheel (28 front, 32 rear) and thus creates an optimal balance of weight and stability. This makes perfect sense for enduro and downhill use, as the load on the rear wheel is generally higher.
The spokes
For this wheelset, the Swiss use exclusively the Classic version of the legendary 240 hub, i.e. the hub with flange. J-bend spokes are used here; a straight pull version is not available. I assume that DT Swiss hopes for more stiffness due to the resulting shorter spokes. In addition, in the case of a defect, it is usually easier to get a suitable J-bend spoke than a straight pull counterpart. In addition, with a J-bend spoke there is no danger of it turning when re-truing, which happens from time to time with straight pull spokes and makes truing more difficult. Here DT has relied on traditional values to bring a hardcore wheel to the market that is as worry-free as possible. Although this is somewhat at the expense of the more modern straight pull look, it is certainly the more sensible decision from a technical point of view. The wheel specialists use the tried and tested Competition spokes on the FR 1500 and do not experiment with lighter representatives to lose a few grams. Very commendable! The nipples are made of aluminium, as is the case with most top-of-the-range wheels, which in practice is not a disadvantage in terms of stability compared to brass. Only when truing should you ensure that you use a good, not "worn out" spoke wrench with a large overlap at the tool holder.
Hub and freehub
DT uses the all-purpose 240 Classic, which has proven itself over many years. Lightweight, durable, stable and, above all, rugged, it is one of the best hubs in the world, that much is certain. For the freehub, DT's engineers rely on the modern EXP version with 36 points of engagement within one complete revolution. This creates an engagement angle of 10°, which ensures very direct power transmission with barely noticeable idling at the start. Also nice: The new wheelset is also available with a SuperBoost version (12 x 157 mm rear over locknut dimension). This is rather rare, but it finally gives riders of such frames the opportunity to buy a complete wheelset and not have to build it themselves from individual parts. SuperBoost theoretically brings even more stiffness to the system, as the flange distance of the hub is even greater than with the conventional Boost standard. This makes the spoke angle flatter and the rim is supported even more stably. In addition, SuperBoost offers the possibility of even more tyre clearance.
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