IN BRIEF
DT Swiss is extending its Degrees of Freedom (DF) technology, designed to reduce “pedal kickback” on full-suspension mountain bikes, to classic Ratchet and Ratchet LN hubs with the Ratchet DF Upgrade Kit. This 54-tooth ring kit offers two settings, 0° or 14°, and DT Swiss approves it for e-bikes. Ratchet DEG DF hubs, meanwhile, get a Race Kit with two new options: 0/40 for downhill and 10/30 for enduro. According to Velomotion, the Ratchet kit costs €109.90 without the tool or €119.90 with it, and the Race Kit €59.90.
| Ratchet DF Upgrade Kit — compatible hubs | Classic DT Swiss Ratchet and Ratchet LN (not Ratchet EXP or EXP OS) |
| Ring | 54 teeth |
| Settings | 0° or 14° (by swapping the inner and outer rings) |
| E-bikes | Approved, according to DT Swiss |
| Recommended price (according to Velomotion) | €109.90 without tool, €119.90 with tool |
| DEG DF Race Kit — compatible hubs | Ratchet DEG DF (240 DEG DF and 350 DEG DF, according to Velomotion) |
| Settings | 0° and 40°, or 10° and 30° |
| Contents (according to Velomotion) | Tool and two threaded rings, ratchet rings not included (needed separately) |
| Recommended price (according to Velomotion) | 59,90 € |
With the DT Swiss Ratchet DF Upgrade Kit, the Swiss wheel and hub maker is opening its Degrees of Freedom system to many more bikes. Until now, the technology launched in 2025 with the DEG DF Upgrade Kit was reserved for high-engagement DEG hubs. According to DT Swiss, it can now be fitted to all its classic Ratchet and Ratchet LN hubs.
DT Swiss Ratchet DF: deliberate free play in the freehub
DT Swiss explains that the freehub body can rotate through a set angle before engaging, which reduces the chain’s influence on the rear suspension and lets it work freely. The stated aim: to limit “pedal kickback”, the backward tug felt at the pedals when the rear end compresses and pulls on the chain. According to the brand, the system adds no weight, needs little maintenance and can be adjusted without tools.
The kit for Ratchet hubs is based on a 54-tooth ring. Riders choose between conventional operation at 0° and 14° of free play, simply by swapping the positions of the inner and outer rings. DT Swiss states that the kit does not apply to the lightweight Ratchet EXP and EXP OS systems, in which one of the rings is integrated into the threaded ring. Ratchet technology dates back to the Ratchet Classic of 1995, and the brand makes a point of it: “The fact that you can upgrade a hub that is nearly 30 years old with modern technology is a testament to the durability of these hubs.”
Two wider settings for DEG DF racers
For owners of Ratchet DEG DF hubs, DT Swiss announces two new options: 0/40, designed for downhill and gravity riders on very rough terrain, and 10/30, aimed at enduro racers who want to adjust the free play between stages. The brand’s list of service kits shows a single part number covering both, “Race Kit Ratchet DEG DF 0/40-10/30”, supplied with a tool (accessed on 23/09/2026). According to Velomotion, the box contains the tool and two threaded rings, with the ratchet rings not included; the German outlet lists the 240 DEG DF and 350 DEG DF as compatible hubs.
A noticeable effect, but not on every bike
Pedal kickback remains a debated topic: according to Velomotion, the industry and the media do not agree on whether it is a real problem. The German outlet, which tried DF technology on its test hub, judges the difference between the 0° and 10° settings subtle but noticeable (the Ratchet DF kit itself offers 0° or 14°). It also warns that with a recent Bosch motor, which seeks to keep the chain taut depending on the assistance mode, the system brings nothing. According to Velomotion, a bike whose chain grows little as the suspension compresses will benefit little, and the free play added at the pedals could disappoint riders who want a very sharp response when putting the power down, which it presents as the main drawback.
On pricing, DT Swiss shows no price for these kits on its pages accessed on 23/09/2026. Velomotion gives €109.90 for the Ratchet DF Upgrade Kit without the tool, €119.90 with it, and €59.90 for the DEG DF Race Kit. For a Ratchet hub owner, this is therefore an upgrade to the existing freehub, without changing hubs.
