MTB Hub e*thirteen Sidekick

The revolutionary Sidekick rear wheel hub, featuring a freehub system that effectively reduces pedal kickback from the rear triangle. This saves energy, provides greater control, has been developed and tested for the rigours of enduro and downhill disciplines, and has been tried and tested over several seasons in the World Cup.

e*thirteen Sidekick rear hub technology and dimensions:

• Application: Cross-country to downhill bikes
• Material: 6061-T6 aluminium
• Axle: Steel
• High-flange design for extra lateral stiffness
• Seal-less bearing system
• Sidekick SL 6903 ball bearings
• J-bend spoke lug
• Boost 12x157 mm mounting width, not convertible
• 6-hole brake disc mount
• SRAM XD freehub body for SRAM 11- and 12-speed XG MTB cassettes
• Weight 456 grams, manufacturer’s specification

e*thirteen Sidekick

The Sidekick hub from e*thirteen is a revolutionary rear hub for mountain bikes that improves suspension performance by eliminating pedal kickback and filtering out chain vibrations. A proprietary freehub mechanism decouples the drivetrain from the rear wheel when coasting, and an adjustable engagement deadband filters out kickback and chain vibrations before they reach the pedals, thereby isolating all pedal feedback from the suspension.

Pedal kickback occurs when the movement of the suspension places tension on the chain, leading to unwanted pedal movement and compromising suspension performance.

The adjustable ratchet allows tool-free adjustment of the engagement point between 12, 15 and 18 degrees to suit the rider’s preferences, bike type and terrain. The chain tension filtered by the deadband ensures that the suspension is not hindered by pedal kickback resistance, resulting in improved, more consistent performance and easier tuning. Durable 60-inch ratchet ring with an innovative ratchet system that operates quietly and reduces air resistance by disengaging when not pedalling. Less kickback, chain slap and vibrations mean a smoother, more comfortable ride Ultimate reliability: Proven in the World Cup, fully serviceable and serviceable, so you can push your limits with confidence

The Sidekick hub features a unique freewheel mechanism with three primary pawls that engage with a toothed pawl to move the hub body forwards, similar to conventional hubs. However, on the Sidekick hub, these pawls are held in an unlocked position during coasting. When you start pedalling, a patent-pending* ‘pawl pusher’ lifts the pawls into the correct position, thereby activating the pawl. The pusher acts like a ramp, allowing the pawls to slide upwards and engage as the freewheel body rotates.

This pawl pusher is mounted on the hub axle and is controlled by a fourth pawl, which requires minimal force and remains in contact with the pawl. When pedalling begins, the pusher moves through a preset dead zone before engaging with the pawls.

When idling, the pawl can rotate freely in one direction (anti-clockwise), but in the other direction (clockwise) it is precisely matched to the pawl. The freewheel body moves a specific distance relative to the driver before the pawls engage, a movement we refer to as deadband. This deadband absorbs the chain tension resulting from suspension movement, thereby effectively eliminating pedal kickback.

Unlike other back-lash prevention systems, the Sidekick hub allows unimpeded movement of the suspension during the deadband movement, without a spring counteracting the movement. This ensures that the suspension functions naturally and without negative feedback.

Another advantage is reduced air resistance. As the primary pawls only engage when pedalling, rather than constantly ratcheting over the ring, the system operates more quietly and with less friction, resulting in faster acceleration and higher coasting speeds.

Sidekick rear hubs and e-bikes:

Sidekick hubs are compatible with all Class 1 e-bikes; there are additional benefits for e-bike riders!

E-bikes experience the same recoil effect as full-suspension bikes. The difference is that the peaks in chain tension are transmitted to the motor rather than directly to the cranks and pedals. This chain force is not usually felt by the rider at the pedals, but the negative effects on suspension performance are the same.

As e-bike motors operate with a torque sensor, the rider can select the highest deadband setting and still experience rapid engagement of the rear hub. The motor rotates the chainring faster than the rider turns the crankset, so that any slack in the chain is compensated for more quickly.

An additional advantage is that chain vibrations can cause significant noise with certain e-bike motors, such as Shimano EP8 or Bosch CX motors with an internal, counter-rotating clutch. On these bikes, Sidekick can significantly reduce or even eliminate these noises.

Your choice of wheel with the e*thirteen hub

Ask us for a personalised quote. We will build your dream wheel, perfectly centred by hand. Choose your preferred rim from the complete range of DT Swiss, e*Thirteen, Mavic and Stans NoTubes rims. We use exclusively DT Swiss spokes. Over the last few decades – ever since we started building wheels – these spokes have proven themselves to be by far the most durable.

Herstellerinformation: e*thirteen, Klosterstrasse 6, 83278 Traunstein, Germany, https://www.ethirteen.com