e*thirteen Sidekick vs. DT Swiss DEG DF
Beyond Pedal Kickback: Why Complete Hub Performance Matters
Compare e*thirteen Sidekick to DT Swiss DEG DF. Learn why addressing just kickback leaves performance on the table and why following Sidekick's lead doesn't mean matching Sidekick's results. Shop Sidekick Wheels & Hubs
Feature Comparison
Compare the key features and benefits of both products side-by-side.
| Feature | e*thirteen Sidekick | DT Swiss DEG DF |
|---|---|---|
|
Pedal Kickback Reduction
Key Benefit
|
12°, 15°, 18°
|
10°, 20°
|
|
Freehub Drag
Key Benefit
|
No drag
|
Standard drag
|
|
Silent Operation
Key Benefit
|
Near silent
|
Standard hub noise
|
|
Tool-Free Servicing
Key Benefit
|
Minutes, no tools
|
Requires tools
|
|
Proven Race Reliability
|
Multi-season testing
|
New to market
|
|
eMTB Compatibility
|
Fully compatible
|
Limited functionality
|
|
Complete Performance Package
|
Four key benefits
|
Single benefit focus
|
What Riders Actually Experience
Pro racers discuss their favorite Sidekick benefits and why it provides a critical advantage on track.
It's a combination of how much it smooths out the bike - the feel you get, the rolling speed, and how quiet it is. All three of those things combined just make for a really smooth, fast feeling bike. There's no drag in it too, so when you spin the wheels they pretty much spin like a front wheel. The thing is just quiet and it goes fast, so it just feels good.
Key Benefits
Sidekick delivers the most advantages compared to traditional hubs and offers more key benefits than competing pedal kickback solutions, including the DT Swiss DEG DF
Pedal Kickback Reduction
Both hubs tackle pedal kickback, but Sidekick goes beyond the basics. While the DEG DF offers limited deadband options (10°, 20°), Sidekick provides more precise tuning with 12°, 15°, and 18° settings, allowing riders to optimize performance for everything from trail riding to downhill racing.
Silent Performance
The DEG DF creates loud ratcheting hub noise when coasting, which riders compare to angry bees or rattlesnakes. Sidekick's pawls are disengaged when coasting, resulting in near-silent operation. You hear your bike and terrain feedback instead of mechanical noise. Riders consistently mention this as a favorite feature - being able to "just hear the dirt and the tires and nothing else."
The Drag-Free Advantage
While the DEG DF addresses pedal kickback, it still creates drag that robs you of momentum. Sidekick's drag-free technology spins like a front wheel, giving you free speed through high-speed sections. As riders describe it: "It's like extra help when you need it."
Ease of Maintenance
While the DEG DF requires a tool and more time, Sidekick's tool-free design means anyone can service it in minutes. Mechanics report: "It comes apart within literally 10 seconds" with no specialized tools needed.
Complete vs. Single Solution
The DEG DF solves one problem: pedal kickback. Sidekick addresses the complete hub experience: no pedal kickback for improved bike feel, drag-free operation for free speed, silent operation for better feedback, and tool-free maintenance for convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing complete performance over single-solution hubs
While other hubs only address pedal kickback, Sidekick delivers four performance benefits: no pedal kickback, drag-free performance, near silent operation, and tool-free maintenance.
Chainring devices add weight, complexity, and maintenance to your drivetrain while only addressing kickback. Sidekick eliminates kickback at the hub while also delivering drag-free performance, silent operation, and simplified maintenance - all without affecting your drivetrain.
Yes, Sidekick works on eMTBs and the benefits are often even more noticeable. The Sidekick is fully eBike compatible with all deadband options, unlike the DT Swiss which only allows a 10 degree deadband setting. However, the DEG DF requires an eBike-specific part, making swapping wheels between regular and eBike less ideal.
Drag-free means the hub spins like a front wheel with no resistance. Riders describe it as "free speed" that helps carry momentum through high-speed sections without extra effort.
Sidekick operates so quietly that riders can hear terrain and tire feedback instead of hub engagement noise, significantly improving your riding experience.
Yes - the hub disassembles in under 10 seconds by hand for complete access to all components. Multiple race seasons have proven this design doesn't sacrifice durability and is a benefit of the award-winning engineering that went into the product.
Sidekick is available in standard hub configurations and is compatible with most wheel builds. Contact us if you have a question about compatibility.
Sidekick was the first engineered anti-kickback hub solution. We made huge efforts to solve this problem in a unique and compelling way. Through the passion behind the engineering, several additional advantages have been delivered as we have outlined. But don't just take our word for it, Sidekick has won the 2024 Pinkbike Awards: Innovation of the Year and a Design and Innovation Award for 2025.
Like any quality hub, basic cleaning and greasing as needed. The difference is you can access everything without tools in minutes rather than requiring shop visits.
Yes - without kickback disrupting your pedal stroke, suspension can work more effectively and riders report better bike control, especially on steep technical terrain.
Want to know more? Learn more about Sidekick technology or shop Sidekick wheels & hubs if you are ready to improve your ride.
Experience the Sidekick Advantage
Competitors have seen the advantages Sidekick provides, but "like a Sidekick" is not a Sidekick. Our patented design provides the complete performance hub solution with four key advantages that anti-kickback hubs and devices simply can't match. You'll feel the Sidekick difference on every ride.