DT Swiss Spokes

[awesme]

Hi all

 

So got to decide on spokes, like DT Swiss, but noticed they also have some different product ranges, ie:

 

Champion

Competition

 

looking at a double butted, 2.0/1.8/2.0

 

All comments/experiences welcome, good and bad,

 

G

[Long Wheel Base]

Can't go wrong with DT. I wanted DT when I built my tandem wheels last year but they(local suppliers) couldn't get short enough for me(rear wheel is a 88 profile and my DT tandem hubs have a big flange so my spokes are 219mm long), So I ended up going with these pillar spokes as it was a recommended by a wheel builder. So far am happy with them. 

[EddieV]

Hi all

 

So got to decide on spokes, like DT Swiss, but noticed they also have some different product ranges, ie:

 

Champion

Competition

 

looking at a double butted, 2.0/1.8/2.0

 

All comments/experiences welcome, good and bad,

 

G

 

DT Swiss comp 2.0 - 1.8 spokes is the go-to spokes for most applications. I use Comp mostly, additionally I use brass nipples.

If you have time it's worth importing the spokes and parts via Starbike.com at half the local price. Additional 19% discount on website price for VAT exemption. Only pay VAT this side.    

 

Let us know which rims and hubs you are using, and spoke count with lacing pattern?.   

And what application? ie. Enduro, XC, downhill, etc? 

[PeterF]

I have built several wheels (road & mtb) using the Alpina spokes from Rapide.  The wheels have done 1000's of km's with no issues.  They cost a fraction of what the DT Swiss spokes cost.

[awesme]

Chris King ISO - Boost front and rear.

Pyga Marathon X29er Carbon rims, ERD:600

2 cross

Mostly Marathon type, but also some Thaba Technical.

 

hmmm:

If you have time it's worth importing the spokes and parts via Starbike.com at half the local price. Additional 19% discount on website price for VAT exemption. Only pay VAT this side

 

Might very well be a idea...

 

G

DT Swiss comp 2.0 - 1.8 spokes is the go-to spokes for most applications. I use Comp mostly, additionally I use brass nipples.

If you have time it's worth importing the spokes and parts via Starbike.com at half the local price. Additional 19% discount on website price for VAT exemption. Only pay VAT this side.    

 

Let us know which rims and hubs you are using, and spoke count with lacing pattern?.   

And what application? ie. Enduro, XC, downhill, etc? 

[David Marshall]

My two cents - If you are going for 2/1.8/2 it is not worth importing spokes yourself unless you are looking for lengths that you can't get here.  Any of the good brands that use Sandvik steel - and that is all of them - are fine.  Sapim, Pillar, WTB, Wheelsmith, DT Swiss and Alpina.  Pick on price and availability.  Brass nipples are a must.  If your hubs are J bend go 3 cross.

[Long Wheel Base]

My two cents - If you are going for 2/1.8/2 it is not worth importing spokes yourself unless you are looking for lengths that you can't get here.  Any of the good brands that use Sandvik steel - and that is all of them - are fine.  Sapim, Pillar, WTB, Wheelsmith, DT Swiss and Alpina.  Pick on price and availability.  Brass nipples are a must.  If your hubs are J bend go 3 cross.

Your 2 cents is worth a lot more than 2 cents...............

[awesme]

Can I ask,

 

please have a look at the 2 attached diagrams and the attached pdf, first 2 lines are the Chris King ISO Boost hub specs and confirm I entered the values at the correct places.

 

G

iso-hub-specifications-and-wheel-building-information.pdf

[Headshot]

I have built several wheels (road & mtb) using the Alpina spokes from Rapide.  The wheels have done 1000's of km's with no issues.  They cost a fraction of what the DT Swiss spokes cost.

Good to hear a vote for Alpina - just built up a 27.5 wheel set using their bladed spokes - 5g a pop and R12 ea. 

[EddieV]

Can I ask,

 

please have a look at the 2 attached diagrams and the attached pdf, first 2 lines are the Chris King ISO Boost hub specs and confirm I entered the values at the correct places.

 

G

 

It looks good  , may I ask why you decided to go 2 cross? 

Also, check whether your rim is asymmetrical and double check the ERD, you might need to make an adjustment.

The ERD specified with rims are not always correct for spoke calculation.   

[awesme]

These rims have been running 2 cross for 3 years on my Stage, I'm building the rims over onto these new hubs ready for the MOBU.

 

They were originally build 2 cross by Grant and been happy with them,

 

Will measure/confirm the ERD.

 

G

 

It looks good  , may I ask why you decided to go 2 cross? 

Also, check whether your rim is asymmetrical and double check the ERD, you might need to make an adjustment.

The ERD specified with rims are not always correct for spoke calculation.   

[EddieV]

These rims have been running 2 cross for 3 years on my Stage, I'm building the rims over onto these new hubs ready for the MOBU.

 

They were originally build 2 cross by Grant and been happy with them,

 

Will measure/confirm the ERD.

 

G

 

It’s been interesting following your decision on 2 cross lacing. According to a paper by HP Gavin (link below), 2 cross is higher in lateral stiffness and 3 cross higher in tangential stiffness. I guess I have never really questioned 3 cross - as for road cycling that is what you want: crisp acceleration and (now) disc braking - ie. tangential stiffness. I’ve always just laced 3 cross on 32 hole as a rule.

 

But in MTB you might want the wheel to have lateral stiffness for riding DH and technical single-track?

 

Interesting also to note that the gain in lateral stiffness is much smaller between 2 vs 3 cross, but the loss in tangential stiffness is quite significant going 2 vs 3 cross.

 

http://people.duke.edu/~hpgavin/papers/HPGavin-Wheel-Paper.pdf

 

Never the less, there is as many very high-end manufacturers using both 2 and 3 cross in both applications.   

And unless we are in the same class as Andre Greipel or Greg Minnaar we will never be able to really test the limits of the difference in any case     

[awesme]

glad it's been a interesting discussion.

 

G

 

It’s been interesting following your decision on 2 cross lacing. According to a paper by HP Gavin (link below), 2 cross is higher in lateral stiffness and 3 cross higher in tangential stiffness. I guess I have never really questioned 3 cross - as for road cycling that is what you want: crisp acceleration and (now) disc braking - ie. tangential stiffness. I’ve always just laced 3 cross on 32 hole as a rule.

 

But in MTB you might want the wheel to have lateral stiffness for riding DH and technical single-track?

 

Interesting also to note that the gain in lateral stiffness is much smaller between 2 vs 3 cross, but the loss in tangential stiffness is quite significant going 2 vs 3 cross.

 

http://people.duke.edu/~hpgavin/papers/HPGavin-Wheel-Paper.pdf

 

Never the less, there is as many very high-end manufacturers using both 2 and 3 cross in both applications.   

And unless we are in the same class as Andre Greipel or Greg Minnaar we will never be able to really test the limits of the difference in any case     

[elzkonax]

DT Swiss are crazy expensive, i will personally go for Rapide had a good experience with them 

[Goodbadugly]

Rapide.

[droo]

It’s been interesting following your decision on 2 cross lacing. According to a paper by HP Gavin (link below), 2 cross is higher in lateral stiffness and 3 cross higher in tangential stiffness. I guess I have never really questioned 3 cross - as for road cycling that is what you want: crisp acceleration and (now) disc braking - ie. tangential stiffness. I’ve always just laced 3 cross on 32 hole as a rule.

 

But in MTB you might want the wheel to have lateral stiffness for riding DH and technical single-track?

 

Interesting also to note that the gain in lateral stiffness is much smaller between 2 vs 3 cross, but the loss in tangential stiffness is quite significant going 2 vs 3 cross.

 

http://people.duke.edu/~hpgavin/papers/HPGavin-Wheel-Paper.pdf

 

Never the less, there is as many very high-end manufacturers using both 2 and 3 cross in both applications.   

And unless we are in the same class as Andre Greipel or Greg Minnaar we will never be able to really test the limits of the difference in any case     

 

2x is stiffer, 3x is more durable. 

 

Take your pick.