DT Swiss says the production process for its new DT Revolite mountain bike spoke makes it the brand's strongest spoke yet, with a shape that’s designed to resist repetitive stresses, upping its durability.
According to DT, the new spoke has a unique cross-sectional profile that ensures durability, while still being lightweight. A single 260mm spoke weighs 4.45 grams.
The spokes are manufactured using a patent-pending cold forging process. This results in a butted spoke – a spoke that’s thinner in the central section than at its ends – which saves weight.
DT says the process also increases the spoke’s strength by ensuring a uniform transition between the butted part of the spoke and its ends, as well as upping the metal’s density – and hence adding to its strength.
More than 100 different nipple options
The new Revolite spoke can be used with any of DT’s four nipple designs and has a standard 2mm thread.
DT's nipples are available in brass or coloured anodised alloy – there are 65 variants of the standard nipple alone. The DT Squorx nipple includes a Torx interface for easier tightening to higher tensions in addition to its standard square facets.
DT’s nipples are optionally available with its existing Pro Lock tech, where the threads are pre-coated with an adhesive. This is activated by threading the nipple onto the spoke and hardens to produce a bond between the two pieces.
This increases wheel durability by up to 20-fold according to DT and prevents the threads from loosening with use. The adhesive doesn’t prevent wheel truing, however, and DT says any truing results in only a minimal decrease in the strength of the bond.
Specifications and prices
The new DT Revolite spoke is available in all standard lengths between 194mm and 310mm in a straight-pull or a J-bend format. You can also choose between black and silver finishes to match your bike.
DT Revolite spokes are available in packs of 20, priced from £59.25/$70/€50.30, in packs of 100 at prices starting at £296.24/$350.20/€251.30, or in packs of 500.
DT has yet to incorporate the new spokes into its complete mountain bike wheels, but expects that to change in the near future.
