Instant Drive 360 (ID360) – Mavic
The freehub body is the mechanism that transfers the rider’s pedalling effort to the rear wheel. Mavic has developed its own system, called Instant Drive 360 (ID360), which is now fitted across its entire road range, from the Ksyrium S to the Cosmic Ultimate 45. This ratchet mechanism claims fast engagement, reduced friction and simplified servicing. Here is how it works in detail.
What is Instant Drive 360?
The mechanism
The ID360 is a ratchet freehub system. It uses 40 points of engagement, which corresponds to an engagement angle of 9°. In practice, when the rider presses on the pedals after freewheeling, the wheel responds after just 9° of rotation, a fast engagement, although other competing systems (such as DT Swiss’s Ratchet EXP, with 36 points) offer comparable or higher values.
Low-friction seal
The ID360 has an oversized, non-contact rubber seal. This seal exerts no mechanical pressure on the rotating parts, which keeps friction to a minimum. The result is a freehub that spins more freely when freewheeling (descending, easing off the pedals).
Compatibility
The ID360 comes as standard with a Shimano/SRAM HG freehub body. Optional freehub bodies are available for Campagnolo (ED11 and N3W) and SRAM XD-R cassettes. Swapping the body is done without tools, in a few seconds.
Reliability
Mavic states that the ID360 has been tested in extreme conditions, mud, snow, cold and sand, and that it is fitted to more than 100,000 wheels produced to date.
The practical benefits of the ID360
1. Fast engagement for accelerations
The 40 points of engagement (9°) allow an almost instant transfer of effort. Out of a corner, accelerating after slowing down or when attacking, the dead time between the pedal stroke and the wheel’s response is reduced. It is a noticeable advantage in races and on rolling routes.
2. Reduced friction when freewheeling
The non-contact seal eliminates parasitic friction when freewheeling. This reduction in friction is particularly noticeable on descents or during recovery phases, when the wheel spins freely for long periods.
3. Fast, tool-free servicing
The freehub body can be removed by hand for cleaning or replacement, with no specific tool. It is a notable practical advantage over some competing systems that require special spanners or a trip to the workshop.
4. Versatile compatibility
The availability of interchangeable bodies (Shimano HG, Campagnolo, SRAM XD-R) makes Mavic wheels compatible with almost every groupset on the market, which makes a possible change of drivetrain easier without changing wheels.
Which wheels feature the ID360?
The ID360 is used across the whole Mavic road range:
- Cosmic Ultimate 45 Disc – top-of-the-range carbon
- Cosmic SLR – performance carbon with ceramic bearings
- Cosmic SL 40 and Cosmic SL 65 – mid-range carbon
- Cosmic S 42 Disc – entry-level carbon
- Ksyrium SL and Ksyrium S (rim brake and disc versions) – aluminium range
- Ksyrium Heritage SL – new for 2025/2026
The ID360 is also found on Mavic’s gravel (Allroad) and MTB (Crossmax, Deemax) ranges.
Conclusion
The ID360 is the common denominator of all current Mavic wheels. With its 40 points of engagement, its non-contact seal and its tool-free servicing, it is a competitive freehub system that is well thought out for everyday use. It does not stand out for a record engagement angle (some competitors go down to 5° or less), but it offers a good compromise between responsiveness, reliability and ease of servicing. For riders who value simple maintenance and versatile compatibility with different cassettes, it is a strong argument.
