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DT Swiss Releases Value Oriented F1900 Classic DH & Freeride Wheelset

May 15, 2024
by Matt Beer  
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DT Swiss has dropped a budget-friendly aluminum freeride wheelset, the F1900 Classic. Durability and value are the key elements here with technologies that piggyback off of their premium FR1500, but at $649.80 USD, the F1900s are nearly half the price. They’re available in all common diameters: full 27.5” and 29”, or mixed, with weights starting at 2,118g.

The main differences separating the two are the hubs and rim joining methods. The F1900s use the base model 370 hubs with an 18-tooth LN ratchet. The 30mm internal-width rim is also pinned together instead of using a welded joint, however, they feature the redesigned rim profile of the FR1500. That new rim shape uses a broader bead edge to reduce pinch flats and stave off dents, according to DT Swiss' testing with a leading tire manufacturer.

28 double butted spokes are used on the front wheels, whereas all the rear wheels use 32. Prolock alloy nipples connect to the J-bend hubs, which come in 15 or 20mm Boost front, and 150/157 or 148 Boost rear. For the freehub bodies, the options include SRAM XD and Shimano Microspline or HG types.

DT Swiss F1900 Classic Details

• Rim material: aluminum
• Wheel specs: 27.5 or 29" diameter, 30mm internal width
• Spokes: 28 front, 32 rear - J-bend Competition double butted
• ProLock aluminum nipples
• Drivers: Shimano HG, MS 12, SRAM XD
• Hubs: 370 w/18T LN ratchet, 6-bolt
• Hub width: 15x110mm, 20x110 Boost - front / 12x148 Boost, 12x150(157) - rear
• Weight: 27.5" - 2,118g / 29" - 2,222g
• Price: $649.80 USD / €499.80 EUR / ₣499.80 CHF
• Warranty: 2 years on all components
• dtswiss.com
DT Swiss 1900
30mm internal rim width and alloy Prolock nipples.
DT Swiss 1900
The 370 hubs use the LN Ratchet with 18 teeth.

DT Swiss 1900
DT Swiss 1900
The F1900's rim receives similar updates to the FR1500. A broader, vertical rim wall proved to be more robust and reduce pinch flats during internal testing.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Wheels DT Swiss Dt Swiss F1900


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66 Comments
  • 70 2
 You can't go wrong with DT alloy rims/wheels.
  • 9 1
 Agreed. A couple weeks ago a small log got sucked into my rear wheel. It absolutely grenaded the rear derailleur, but didn't even bend a spoke on the wheel.
  • 14 17
 Totally agree on FR560s. Disagree on EXs which seems to break really easily for a rim they market as Enduro. I haven't tried the FR541s yet which I believe replace the FR560s. Anyone run them yet?
  • 5 0
 @Super7: can vouch for fr541, I'm 92kg and the rim lasted a full year on the back of my nomad, which included a 3 month dh season. just swapped for another one last week.
  • 4 0
 @Super7: Same, used my FR541 for the whole summer at the bike park, still round and somewhat straight
  • 21 2
 @Super7: disagree on the EX's. I run EX471's on all my bikes, no inserts, never broken a rim. Got over a season of DH out of my current pair on my DH bike. It's all about build, get a proper wheel builder to lace them and they're bombproof.
  • 8 0
 my EX1700 that came on my Spire is totally toasted. Lasted longer than other alloy wheels I've had in the past.
  • 4 1
 @Bad-Mechanic: the other day sucked a fairly thick stick up into my front between the spokes and it blasted straight through it and blew the stick to pieces.. not even a bent spoke
  • 15 1
 @Freakyjon: ive got EX471's on my DH bike no inserts, DH casing in rear DD in front, and they've been absolutely bomb proof. going on 8 seasons of west coast BC shuttle laps, whistler bike park, and absolutely beating the shit outta those wheels and they're still true.. not a thought in my mind about replacing them.

ive got a set on my old enduro bike as well and they have been flawless, but ive retired that bike as a travel bike/spare

my new AM / trail bike has EX511's laced to 240 hubs and they're of course also holding up to road gaps, 40 foot doubles, and everything else i can throw at em.

nothing but good experiences with all my EX rims.
  • 6 0
 A few months ago built a uber light XC racing hardtail. Was planning to equip it with a nice set of carbon wheels, but had a set of DT Swiss XR1700 lying around and decided to first run through those and then get the carbon loops. I mean, how long can a pair of 1600g, 28h alloy wheels last on the roots and rocks here, under a 90kg rider ?

Well, I throw everything at them and they're still straight, zero dents zero broken spokes after 1200km. 1m drops, rock gardens, on an hardtail.
  • 1 0
 Except for the ones with non-welded seams, like these.
  • 2 0
 @Freakyjon: Are you saying when I buy a complete wheel from DT Swiss they're not built properly?
  • 1 0
 @adamconradx: Thanks for the feedback Thanks for the feedback. Will buy those next.
  • 1 1
 Coming To A Bike Near You- “Clang.. Clang, Clang…Clang.”
  • 1 0
 @Super7: Not exactly. They'll be ok but the tolerances won't be as good as a hand built pair.
  • 1 0
 @Freakyjon: Thanks. I've never tried to build on those DT Rims, just the FR560s.
  • 9 0
 Alloy nipples are a fad. Brass is the only way.
  • 4 0
 @ShredDoggg: yup mine corroded pretty bad and got stuck
  • 5 0
 @Freakyjon: Hi Freakyjon, Nick from DT Swiss USA here. Every single set of our system wheels (think F1900, FR1500, EXC1051, EX1700...) are hand built and to a very high standard.
  • 4 0
 I agree for the most part. The use of aluminium nipples is a big letdown, though. It significantly reduces the serviceability of the wheels.
  • 2 0
 Yep! My 511's with 350s. I'm fat and heavy, I snap spokes and taco on every other rim I had, except for my DT Swissys.
  • 27 1
 DT Swiss Toni says "You know, making wheels is much like making love to a beautiful woman. To ride them well first you need to rubber up to ensure things don't get out of control, then you need to ride hard to get the most out of them."
  • 4 0
 (For those that don't get my random British 90's comedy show reference.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBw-aEixWuo)
  • 3 0
 @bigtim: Swiss Toni!!! 3
  • 2 0
 What a complete load of pois de fromage
  • 13 2
 28H front/32H rear - this is the way
  • 15 3
 boooo aluminum nipples
  • 20 0
 Just like me in winter....
  • 1 0
 Aluminum nipples and steel washers never let me down in EN/DH.
I'm around 1100/1200N ( DT Competition 2.0/1.8 ) and the single time I went to 1300N the spokes were failing before the nipples either on the head or j-bend base...
  • 3 0
 @qblambda: it's not because the nipples break during building. It's because the nipples become crumbly biscuits after a year
  • 8 2
 Amazing value well done DT Swiss! Only nit pick is I don't want 28h on the front. Seems to be solving a problem that I don't have. (compliance) I'm def glad I have 32h when I pick a bad line and hear the ping of my front rim on a rock.
  • 2 0
 That one puzzles me as well. This is a freeride/DH set of wheels. 28h is odd, especially not being a super stiff carbon rim.
  • 9 2
 DT hits the mark on so much except for 18T hubs and aluminum nipples. Now that the 370 uses their star ratchet, they have no excuse to not bump it to 36T.
  • 2 1
 Nice and quiet but so much lag on the 18's they are unacceptable when they can just include 36's.
  • 7 0
 If used for DH and FR then I´d prefer the 18T, gives you less Pedal Kickback and most people don´t care about tech uphills and quick engagement on DH and FR bikes.
  • 4 0
 DT Swiss is good stuff.
As a clydesdale I’ve had zero problems with my 350 hubs.
  • 5 0
 18 tooth ratchet has the same affect as an O-chain
  • 2 0
 But not all the time.
  • 1 0
 Its funny about the new design. Seems like most sponsored pros still run EX471 and EX511 (DH and Enduro). I can see the EX471 since it is 25mm inner, but the EX511 is only like 7 grams lighter than the new FR541. Maybe they are just too set in their ways, or?
  • 8 3
 2222 g.. boat anchors..
  • 22 1
 "Strong, Cheap, Light..... pick two."
  • 1 0
 Dixit Mister Bontrager Wink
  • 5 0
 Heavy? Yes.

But lighter and stronger than a lot of stock wheelsets on many complete bikes.

The wheelset that came on my Kona Process 153 29er was 2400g, and apparently made of cheese, as they dented if you looked at them wrong.
  • 9 4
 $650 is value oriented?
  • 4 0
 In an era of DT/i9/Chris King/Onyx/etc wheelsets averaging $1000 or more, yes these are value for the performance and quality you get.
  • 1 1
 Absolutely not. You can get Hunts on sale for $450.
  • 1 0
 @SkullsRoad: "Sale" being the key point...NOT the retail price which is what this and most new product articles are about. ie: what the product sells for new, not on discount or used.
  • 3 0
 I have a pair of FR570, keep going strong after many years.
  • 3 0
 Hell yeah
  • 2 0
 This is awesome, 370 hubs already converted at that price, amazing!
  • 1 0
 the FR1500s are excellent and I'm sure these are awesome too, love DT wheels
  • 4 4
 Nice. But for $50 more you can get similar reserves with a lifetime warranty, either with the I9 1|1 or DT370.
  • 1 2
 Link me
  • 3 1
 @2trickpony: It's just a google search away but ok. They are $150 off right now with an XD driver.

reservewheels.com/products/30-hd-dh-aluminum-wheels
  • 2 0
 @pisgahgnar: big sale, not full price. Point made, but the DT's listed here are full retail. In addition, the sale is ONLY for DH 157mm spacing, not reguar 148mm Boost. Apples to Oranges.
  • 2 0
 @bman33: I didn't know they were on sale until I looked. Normal price is $699 for every one of their aluminum wheelsets including the boost spaced HD aluminum rims. So, for $50 you get a DT350 and lifetime warranty.

I do not own them, I actually run EX511s so I'm no reserve fanboy. But I think they are the outright best value right now with that warranty.
  • 1 0
 @pisgahgnar: @pisgahgnar: yeah, I had my eye on these ex511 builds randomly on the commencal site www.commencal.com/us/en/dt-swiss-ex-511/370-29/27-xd-wheelset/A22WHDT511MULXDBTI.html

but bought Reserves on backcountry.com with their 20% first-time discount and got them for less money and a lifetime warranty, really tough to beat. Early days with the reserves but they have been good so far.
  • 1 1
 Can’t really call it a free ride wheel set if it doesn’t fit the only free ride fork the bomber 58.
  • 1 1
 Fits the new Marzocchi Zeb1
  • 1 0
 @husstler: that’s why I said 58
  • 8 8
 Still cheaper to lace my own with Hope hubs.
  • 17 5
 what's your time worth?
  • 4 0
 @RadBartTaylor: You could even learn something. After making a bad landing you could just take out your trusty spoke wrench and true that wheel to near perfection with the help of a piece of paper and a chewing gum. Macgyver style.
  • 7 9
 $650 is budget? Currently running $36 Viaron boost hubs with $30 dt 533 rims on my hardtail.
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