Dial R-SL: A Light, Fast, Serviceable Road & Gravel Hub
The Dial R-SL is a road and gravel-focused hub built around the quality and serviceability standard of our Dial hub range.
When we launched the original Dial hub, the brief was simple: one hub that fits almost any bike, has fully interchangeable parts, is easy to service at home, and lasts a very long time. It delivered on all of that.
But eBikes happened. As full-power eBikes have become mainstream, it's become genuinely impossible to build one hub that is both featherlight for road and gravel and capable of handling the torque and loads of a modern full-power eBike. Those jobs are just too different now.
The Dial R-SL is a new road and gravel branch of the Dial family: purpose-built to be fast and light, but just as easy to live with over the long haul as the original.
The Dial R-SL is now available and an option in our online wheel builder. For advice or more information, please reach out to us on 04 387 3592 or sales@wheelworks.co.nz.
Deepdive video
What R-SL Means
R is for Ratchet. The drive mechanism is a ratchet system.
SL is for Super Light. By focusing solely on road and gravel use, the R-SL drops weight without giving up the things that make a Dial a Dial.
Dial R-SL Front Hub
Bearing Sizes
Front Hub Model | Bearing Size |
|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | 2x 17x26x5mm (6803) |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | 2x 17x26x5mm (6803) |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | 2x 15x24x5mm (6802) |
Axle types
Front Hub Model | 100mm QR | 100x12mm | 100x15mm |
|---|---|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | Yes | Yes | No |
Hole Counts
Front Hub Model | 20 hole | 24 hole | 28 hole |
|---|---|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | No | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | No | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | Yes | No | No |
Dial R-SL Rear Hub
Bearing Sizes
Rear Hub Model | Hub Shell Bearing Size |
|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | 2x 15x26x7mm |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | 2x 15x26x7mm |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | 2x 15x26x7mm |
Axle types
Rear Hub Model | 135mm QR | 142x12mm |
|---|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | Yes | Yes |
Hole Counts
Rear Hub Model | 20 hole | 24 hole | 28 hole |
|---|---|---|---|
Dial R-SL J-bend | No | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | No | Yes | Yes |
Dial R-SL 4.0mm T-head | Yes | No | No |
Dial R-SL Ratchet System
If you know your hubs, you might notice the freehub body design looks... familiar. The R-SL is heavily inspired by a certain well-known ratchet hub brand - we'll leave it at that, and you can connect the dots.
Where we improved on the standard ratchet design is at the hub end, by eliminating the problematic threaded ratchet ring. Most ratchet systems require you to remove a threaded ring with a special tool and a barbaric amount of force before you can replace the driveside bearing. We solved this on the R-SL with a very simple fix: we use a bearing with a slightly smaller outer diameter so that it pushes straight out without any special tools. Truly tool-free service, and bearing life is still excellent. This is a really important detail if you care about long-term ownership and DIY repairs.
We've chosen a design using two floating ratchets, each with its own independent spring, which gives a mechanically forgiving, reliable design.
The R-SL comes with a 36-tooth ratchet, giving 10 degrees of engagement - more than enough for road and gravel use - and can be swapped to 54-tooth if desired.
Dial R-SL Weights
The R-SL strikes a balance of being lightweight without being fragile. Weights in this table are with an HG freehub body fitted.
| Model | Pair (g) | Front (g) | Rear (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dial R-SL J-bend | 335 | 108 | 227 |
Dial R-SL Hook-flange | 322 | 105 | 217 |
Dial R-SL T-head | 281 | 88 | 193 |
| Dial Original | 410 | 142 | 268 |
| DT Swiss 180 EXP | 279 | 92 | 187 |
| DT Swiss 240 EXP | 338 | 119 | 219 |
| DT Swiss 350 Ratchet | 395 | 139 | 256 |
Flange Geometry to Reduce Spoke Breakage
The hub flanges are angled towards the rim, and we’ve paid really close attention to the size and chamfer around the spoke fitments. This is a critically important detail to ensure no broken spokes, regardless of what spoke material you use.
Serviceability: The Dial DNA
Serviceability is where the Dial identity comes through clearly. In the nine years since introducing the original Dial hubs, we've built a lot of wheels with them. What keeps customers coming back isn't just the initial performance - it's knowing that years from now, swapping a bearing or switching freehub body standards is going to be simple and affordable.
The promise of the Dial hub has always been the same: interchangeable parts, simple servicing, and a long lifespan. We commit to supplying Dial parts for years to come, and having freehub bodies and endcaps that are interchangeable with a well-known ratchet hub platform makes this even easier.
Dial R-SL small parts are available to buy here: https://www.wheelworks.co.nz/shop/category/dial-r-sl-hub-parts-2665
Image Gallery
Berd ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene spokes offer an incredibly smooth ride
Close up of the Berd-specific flanges spokes on the Dial R-SL
Front hubs are available in 100x12mm or 100x15mm
We paid close attention to the spoke hole diameter as well as chamfering to ensure no broken spokes
Center Lock disc brake
4.0mm T-head flanges for the incredibly light Alpina CarboLite carbon fiber spokes