eMTB-specific 240 and 350 Hybrid hubs feature large flanges and steel freehub body

By Oscar Huckle

Published: Thursday, 19 October 2023 at 13:00 PM


DT Swiss has announced new 240 and 350 Hybrid hubs designed specifically for electric mountain bikes.

The hubs feature larger flanges and a steel freehub body, with the 240 Hybrid using a new Ratchet EXP OS freehub body with larger bearings. All of these developments have been designed to withstand the greater forces generated by electric mountain bikes and increase durability.

A front 240 Hybrid hub will retail for $242.90 / €177.90 / AU$299, with the rear $459.90 / €335.90 / AU$549.

The 350 Hybrid hub is cheaper at $116.90 / €92.90 / AU$189 for the front and $297.90 / €229.90 / AU$399 for the rear.

The hubs will not be available to purchase separately in the UK, but we expect them to be specced OEM on complete bikes.

A tougher build

DT Swiss 240 and 350 Hybrid eMTB hubs against a black background
DT Swiss has enlarged the flanges.
DT Swiss

DT Swiss has revised the hub shell, increasing the size of the flanges both in their diameter and thickness for improved stiffness.

Both 240 and 350 Hybrid hubs are designed specifically to accept DT Swiss 2.34mm spokes, which the brand says offer greater resistance to acceleration and braking over a thinner-diameter option.

DT Swiss has also made some adaptations to its revered Ratchet EXP freehub system for the new hubs.

DT Swiss M30 vs M32 threaded ring diagram
The Ratchet EXP OS is new for the 240 Hybrid hub.
DT Swiss

While the 350 Hybrid relies on a standard Ratchet system, the 240 uses DT Swiss’ new Ratchet EXP OS. Both freehub bodies are constructed from steel rather than the aluminium used on its non-Hybrid hubs.

The Ratchet EXP OS features bigger 17x28x7mm bearings than the 15x26x7mm examples found in the conventional Ratchet EXP system.

Deconstructed view of the Ratchet EXP OS
A closer look at the innards of the Ratchet EXP OS.
DT Swiss

The brand says this results in greater hub stiffness, less movement of the axle and therefore less stress on the bearings, increasing their durability.

These new bearings not only feature more balls inside but the balls are also larger than the previous Hybrid hub generation.

DT Swiss M30 vs M32 threaded ring diagram
Larger 30t Star Ratchets are on the menu.
DT Swiss

The steel Star Ratchet uses 30 rather than 24 teeth to account for the additional free movement of the cranks due to the motor.

DT Swiss has also revised the axle the bearings spin on, with a larger wall thickness and reinforcement where the bearing installs onto it, which the brand says is to cope with the higher bending loads.

The driveside bearing sits behind an M30 threaded ring on a standard Ratchet EXP freehub, which needs to be removed to access the bearing.

DTSwiss_Hybrid_MTB_Hubs_Tech_Ringnut_Comp_1920px
The Ratchet EXP OS has a longer M32 threaded ring compared to the standard EXP.

The Ratchet EXP OS system uses a slightly longer M32 threaded ring, to cope with the forces transmitting from the freehub body to the hub shell.

The axle is 18 per cent stiffer compared to the previous Hybrid MTB axle, according to DT Swiss.

Claimed wheel weights

DT Swiss 240 Hybrid hub against a white background
The 240 Hybrid hub is only offered in 32h.
DT Swiss

The 240 Hybrid is claimed to weigh 156g front and 290g rear, with the 350 Hybrid not far behind at 174g front and 302g rear.

While the 240 Hybrid hub is only available in 32 holes, the 350 Hybrid is available in both 32- and 36-hole options.

The hubs come in Center Lock or 6-bolt disc brake rotor variants in Shimano HG, Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD freehub body options.