Gravity riders on a budget value the durability of DT Swiss. The brand’s alloy wheelsets are known to last on even the most punishing trails and are a popular choice for privateer downhill racers and bike park enthusiasts. 

• Best mountain bike wheels 2024
• DT Swiss M 1900 SPLINE 29" Wheelset review
• Mountain bike tyres - Everything you need to know about off-road rubber

Responding to market trends, DT Swiss has developed a new version of the brand’s proven severe-duty alloy wheelset. It’s called the F1900 Classic and features a rim bead upgrade from the F1950. 

Carbon rims might be the desired choice for most trail and enduro riders, but if rolling off hefty drops and clearing big doubles are frequent features in your riding experience, alloy is often the more sensible choice. 

Severe-duty alloy rims will dent but resist catastrophic wheel failure when casing a jump or drop, unlike carbon. Gravity mountain bikers place more value on durability than rotational mass, and DT Swiss has continued to develop its overbuilt alloy rims for this market. 

Wider bead for fewer pinch flats

The new F1900 Classic differs from F1950 regarding its rim profile and bead design. Many rims have reshaped their beads over the last few years, increasing surface area to dissipate impact forces. Why? A thinner bead makes a sharper cutting surface during a powerful terrain impact, invariably creating pinch flats. 

2024 dt swiss f 1900 rim.png, by Liam Mercer

With its larger rim bead surface, the F1900 Classic should be kinder to tyres if riders get that landing wrong and case the rear wheel. Or smash an unconventional line through a brutal rock garden. Like most contemporary mountain bike rims, the F 1900 Classic measures a 30mm internal diameter, creating a stable foundation for running high-volume tyres. 

Beyond its wider rim bead surface, the F1900 Classic features proven DT Swiss components and technologies. The hubs are DT Swiss 370, with 18T ratchet LN internals, making them easy to service for DIY mechanics - another reason privateer racers choose DT Swiss. 

These new DT Swiss F1900 Classic wheels are rated for a total rider and bike weight of 140kg, and accordingly overbuilt. Spokes counts are 28 front and 32 rear, laced with cold-forged spokes steel for additional strength. 

Lots of options – but no centre lock

Although most mountain biking categories are near universal in their use of the 29er wheel, DT Swiss recognises that many downhill and free-ride mountain bikers still prefer 27.5-inch wheels. The F1900 Classic is available in both 27.5- and 29-inch sizes, with several axle options. 

2024 dt swiss f 1900 spoke.png, by Liam Mercer

Many gravity mountain bikers prefer oversized front axles to support steering accuracy in most technical terrain. As such, the F1900 Classic front wheel can be had as a 15- or 20 x 110mm thru-axle. At the rear, three axle sizes are available: Boost 148mm, 150mm and the proven downhill racing standard, 157mm. Freehub choices are SRAM XD and Shimano’s MicroSpline or HG. 

Unlike most mountain bike wheelsets, these severe-duty DT Swiss wheels don’t have the option of centre-locking brake rotors, offering only the traditional six-bolt pattern.

2024 dt swiss f 1900 hub.png, by Liam Mercer

Weights and price? A complete F1900 Classic 27.5-inch wheelset is 2,118g, with the larger diameter 29er option a touch heavier at 2,222g. Pricing for the individual F1900 Classic wheels is £200 for a front wheel and £275 for a Shimano freehub rear, with the SRAM XD rear build costing £300.

• www.dtswiss.com

You might also like:

• Schrader vs Presta – which valve standard is best for you?
• Five things that weren't cool - until gravel happened

• MTB enduro racing for beginners