Hope Pro Evo 2 Bearing Failure

[Li Mu Bai]

bearings dont last - ever. they are a consumable that need regular maintainence. moisture enters the seal, mixes with the grease inside and the bearings rust. inevitable. 2500km is quite a good stint anyway, just get a set of new bearings (bearing man, skf) and replace them.

The great thing about Hope's compared to other hub types using trad balls and races, is that you are simply tapping out the cartridge bearing and pressing in a new one, not worrying about races that get pitted and wear out, resulting in you having to replace the entire hub.

[sometime]

I have the same Hubs on wheels I first built up around 2 years ago. The first set of bearings lasted over 5 000km. The second set lasted 400km! I'm on my third set but to be honest I'm not happy with them. As Iron said they feel 'tight' and rough running. My LBS (Mike's Bikes) have reported similar failures of the bearings after very short distances on many other bikes. Clearly something has changed in the bearing design/material/manufacture. I'll definitely look into alternative bearings but clearly the local Hope agent should be doing this?

[manbearpig]

You must have got Friday ones. Can't complain about my two wheel sets with them.

[rouxtjie]

I have the same Hubs on wheels I first built up around 2 years ago. The first set of bearings lasted over 5 000km. The second set lasted 400km! I'm on my third set but to be honest I'm not happy with them. As Iron said they feel 'tight' and rough running. My LBS (Mike's Bikes) have reported similar failures of the bearings after very short distances on many other bikes. Clearly something has changed in the bearing design/material/manufacture. I'll definitely look into alternative bearings but clearly the local Hope agent should be doing this?

enduro ftw...currently on over 6000km on the current set of bearings, still going strong

[RichieT]

I know it's a pain, but it's really a good idea to check, from time to time whether there is sufficient grease in your cartridge bearings. If not, even the best bearings will have a short lifespan.

You just have to pick open the seals and look inside (even with relatively new bearings). Generally speaking, manufacturers will not overload the bearings with grease because in other, common, high speed applications you put, I think, no more than about 2/3 rds grease in. With slow speed cycling applications, you can fill them up because they don't get as hot. So just make sure there's plenty of grease in your bearings and they will last..

[Headshot]

Its down to the seals and how dirty and wet your rides are. Everybody treats their bikes differently from the type of riding and the conditions they ride in to how well they clean and maintain their bikes.

[MTB Hout Bay]

Just replaced all free body bearings for the 1x11 Hope Pro Evo 2 rear hub after 3 months of hard riding in Cape Winter - the internal free body bearings were in pieces. When I showed what was left of them to a local bearing supplier, the comment was that the Hope Bearings are really "cheap and nasty Chinese rubbish" (which is against what Hope claim), but too be honest I'm not sure yet until I've ridden the new ones in. I have learnt however, from other Hope users, that the free body bearing should be replaced every 3-4 months if you are heavy and climb a lot (I weigh 90kg). The good news is that these bearings are really easyb to find (the good quality ones), and easy to change ; it only takes 30min & costs about R300 for a full set including the hub bearings if they also need replacing (recommended). Guess I'll find out how well the new set lasts ...

[David Marshall]

I give 100% cash back on any bearing or seal I fit on a bike found to be faulty. This offer lasts until you reach my gate. Thereafter you would have to have a pretty entertaining story to get a no cost replacement! Some cheap bearings last well, some top brands fail early. I have built up brand new hubs that have come with a rough bearing that has had to be replaced before the wheel even hits the road.

 

That the OP has all 5 bearings toast at the same time suggests to me some external problem - salt water, clay water or some such ingress. Replace them and ride, just be thankful you are not running around looking for Shimano "never in stock" cones and freehubs.

[Jigghead]

So, humour me here, would it be advisable to go out and buy some ceramic bearings?

 

I've not had any problems here, yet, but I'm just wondering if this will give me more peace of mind!

[droo]

Hope changed from steel bearings to stainless steel, which can't be hardened to the same level as ordinary steel.

 

SO you get bearings that don't rust, but they're alot like cheese!

 

This is the answer to the question. Replace with bearings not made of cheese and you're good to go.

[Wyatt Earp]

I'm actually terrified of posting this, but has anyone been disappointed with their Hope Pro 2 Evo hubs?

 

I've done 2500 km in 4 months, mostly offroad but we don’t do wild stuff like down rivers or underwater anything. Just normal MTB… that’s what we do!

I wash my bike once a week after my Saturday long ride. No, I don’t use a pressure cleaner - ever. No, I never use Clean Green or Repsol or even Sunlight; I use a mild auto wash & wax. Or even just the hose spray if there’s no mud…

 

Now 4 months later, all 5 original bearings in the rear hub are toast; 3 in the freebody and 2 in the axle. I thought perhaps I had a flawed unit, so I hit Google and now see there are numerous similar complaints, particularly from the UK. So much for Hope’s special stainless steel bearings….

 

I really thought converting from Mavic SLR’s (huge maintenance…) to Hope Pro 2 Evo’s was going to be one of my life's most meaningful step changes! Hope’s have such a huge reputation. What can have gone wrong? Is it me, have I got a ‘made-on-Monday’ unit, how is this possible for Hopes? Anyone care to comment?

 

Did you pack the bearings regularly with grease after removing the double rubber seals on a regular basis ?

Especially also straight after new, the factories don't normally pack enough grease.

[Gandalf]

just be thankful you are not running around looking for Shimano "never in stock" cones and freehubs.

[Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz]

I am very surprised by this, my hope hubs have been through some of the worst riding and conditions imaginable, still as good as new after a year that's not to say is impossible though, as you say maybe just a Monday set of bearings.

Replace and ride again is what I say.

I'm actually terrified of posting this, but has anyone been disappointed with their Hope Pro 2 Evo hubs?

 

I've done 2500 km in 4 months, mostly offroad but we don’t do wild stuff like down rivers or underwater anything. Just normal MTB… that’s what we do!

I wash my bike once a week after my Saturday long ride. No, I don’t use a pressure cleaner - ever. No, I never use Clean Green or Repsol or even Sunlight; I use a mild auto wash & wax. Or even just the hose spray if there’s no mud…

 

Now 4 months later, all 5 original bearings in the rear hub are toast; 3 in the freebody and 2 in the axle. I thought perhaps I had a flawed unit, so I hit Google and now see there are numerous similar complaints, particularly from the UK. So much for Hope’s special stainless steel bearings….

 

I really thought converting from Mavic SLR’s (huge maintenance…) to Hope Pro 2 Evo’s was going to be one of my life's most meaningful step changes! Hope’s have such a huge reputation. What can have gone wrong? Is it me, have I got a ‘made-on-Monday’ unit, how is this possible for Hopes? Anyone care to comment?

[Monark]

Sorry that you have experienced these issues bud. All three of my bikes are on Hope hubs and all have over 2500km on them without issues. They are great hubs. Change the bearings and keep on riding them!

[raptor-22]

I'm actually terrified of posting this, but has anyone been disappointed with their Hope Pro 2 Evo hubs?

 

I've done 2500 km in 4 months, mostly offroad but we don’t do wild stuff like down rivers or underwater anything. Just normal MTB… that’s what we do!

I wash my bike once a week after my Saturday long ride. No, I don’t use a pressure cleaner - ever. No, I never use Clean Green or Repsol or even Sunlight; I use a mild auto wash & wax. Or even just the hose spray if there’s no mud…

 

Now 4 months later, all 5 original bearings in the rear hub are toast; 3 in the freebody and 2 in the axle. I thought perhaps I had a flawed unit, so I hit Google and now see there are numerous similar complaints, particularly from the UK. So much for Hope’s special stainless steel bearings….

 

I really thought converting from Mavic SLR’s (huge maintenance…) to Hope Pro 2 Evo’s was going to be one of my life's most meaningful step changes! Hope’s have such a huge reputation. What can have gone wrong? Is it me, have I got a ‘made-on-Monday’ unit, how is this possible for Hopes? Anyone care to comment?

 

 

Hope hubs are nothing special. They're just as prone to failure as Novatec. Had a few sets, none were as fantastic as the fanboys make them out to be.

Best hubs I've used:

 

Shimano XTR

Chrisk King ISO Disc

DT Swiss 240S

[raptor-22]

 

just be thankful you are not running around looking for Shimano "never in stock" cones and freehubs.

 

 

 

Chainreactioncycles.com

 

your friend in the Shimano business