DT Swiss XMC 1200 SPLINE in the long-term review

A few weeks ago, DT-Swiss introduced a whole range of carbon wheels with the new "out of the mold" manufacturing, including four MTB wheelsets and road bike wheels - and that's a big deal. Because what doesn't sound too spectacular at first glance is nothing less than a giant leap in carbon manufacturing technology in wheel building, where every millimeter and gram deviation from the perfect circle - the perfect symmetry - means losses in stiffness, durability, and smoothness. To date, most manufacturing techniques with the material carbon fiber are very complex, correspondingly error-prone, and require a high degree of manual rework and quality assurance.

When you hold the XMC 1200 for the first time, the low weight immediately stands out, and at the same time, you can haptically feel this meticulously perfected minimalism that the Swiss practically celebrate with their new wheel series. As is often the case in development, it is the seemingly simple things that are highly complex in the background. As a technician, I can hardly believe that the XMC 1200 carbon rims, as perfect as I currently hold them in my hands, come out of the mold without grinding and without reworking.

While carbon wheels in mountain biking were considered a new concept and reserved only for top riders until a few years ago, they are now widespread. To assert their role as a high-end manufacturer with the 1200 MTB series, the Swiss needed to further develop the traditional aluminum concept.

A rim manufacturing process unique in the bicycle industry, also used in the new road and gravel wheels, creates durable yet lightweight rims through maximum compression of carbon layers. Additionally, the wheels of the 1200 series are equipped with carbon fiber layers that envelop the entire rim and reinforce the rim horns with their long, uninterrupted fibers to absorb heavier impacts.
This method, combined with components specifically tuned for each riding style, leads to the introduction of the four new MTB wheels XRC 1200 SPLINE (XC), XMC 1200 SPLINE (All-Mountain), EXC 1200 CLASSIC (Enduro), and HXC 1200 SPLINE (E-MTB).

Techspecs XMC 1200 SPLINE

* Weight specifications without rim tape and without valves

To do justice to the cutting-edge technology of the rims, all wheels in the 1200 series are equipped with 180 hubs: lightweight, stiff, and featuring SINC ceramic bearings. Additionally, the Bio-MTB wheels are built with DT Revolite spokes. These spokes combine strength with extremely low weight and are designed to surpass other MTB spokes in this weight class in terms of durability. The only exception is the HXC 1200 SPLINE, which is reinforced with eMTB-specific spokes.

Tech specs of the Lineup XRC / EXC / HCX 1200

* Weight specifications without rim tape and without valves

For a long time, carbon wheels on enduro or all-mountain bikes were considered more of an exotic option. Meanwhile, they have not only become established but have also significantly evolved over time in terms of ride dynamics, damping properties, and durability. The DT Swiss XMC 1200 wheels are undoubtedly at the forefront of this development. The new manufacturing technique not only ensures excellent trueness but also promises high rim resistance, as there are no material seams or joints anymore.
Some of my aluminum enduro rims have suffered from impacts and have ended up with one or two dents. I am expecting significantly more durability from the DT carbon wheels in this regard. Since I usually opt for the safer chicken line when tackling larger drops or jumps, I’m not afraid of crashing the wheels on a flat landing to the point where individual carbon fibers tear and weaken the structure.

Every gram counts: This unwritten rule still applies, at least to the biobike, especially to the wheels. It is the rotating and accelerating mass that directly affects the perceived liveliness of the bike. This is particularly evident with the DT-Swiss XMC 1200 in tight and technical terrain. Whether a few hundred grams make a big difference on long climbs, in races, or on tours depends heavily on the rider's profile and the overall weight, but the agility and liveliness during spontaneous sprints or quick direction changes can even be felt by ambitious amateurs. The finely toothed freehub helps during technical uphills because there is minimal pedal play.

The same applies to downhill. The lightness at the handlebars and the direct feedback are among my personal highlights in tight switchbacks and on alpine trails. The DT Swiss XMC 1200 wheels ride very directly and provide immediate feedback. Since my Mondraker Foxy is inherently tuned to be very responsive, the wheels complement the bike perfectly. It’s a combination that allows you to really push hard on one hand, but on the other hand, you always have to stay a bit alert because it’s simply much more active compared to, for example, a 25 kg heavy eMTB with aluminum wheels that rolls over every obstacle like a Citroen DS with hydropneumatic suspension. If things get a bit rough, I always appreciate that with the carbon wheels, you’re extremely safe from any kind of rim deformation, whether it’s dents on the sidewalls, lateral wobble, or vertical runout. In alpine terrain, where it’s more technical than fast downhill, high stiffness and low weight are always advantageous.

When it comes to my choice of tires, I was really surprised by the Maxxis tires. Assegai 29x2.5 3C MAXX GRIP 3CG/TR/DH on the front and Minion DHR II 29x2.5 3C MAXX GRIP 3CG/TR/DH on the rear offer incredible grip on the trail. Especially in our rather dry terrain, where loose rocks or pine needles often limit grip, and occasionally a few wet roots, the tires are impressive. I would call them "sticky," because the English word just sounds cooler than "sticky" in German. Downhill, the tires are a dream, but a major downside for me is the extreme rolling resistance on asphalt. I unfortunately underestimated what this would mean for my transfer stages to the trails.