Cheap vs expensive MTB hubs

[DieselnDust]

The upcoming tax refund will be burning a hole in my pocket

 

 

Power meter maybe?

[Zorro5614]

Power meter maybe?

Don't even start with that

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

I've only just spotted this thread, so here goes....

 

95% of the wheels I build are into Hope hubs, road, gravel and MTB. I've never had a come-back (touch wood) on any of the Hope hubs I've built into wheels.

 

Personally I ride the Pro4 hubs and I'm not gentle on them. This year's Joberg2c did punish them, especially riding in deeper-than-hub water on day 8. It was a simple and relatively cheap affair to refresh the hubs with their first new bearings since new (10 000km) and new pawls and springs in the freebody. 2 of the springs had rusted and snapped, but I'd not noticed the difference... a testament to their reliability.

 

Chris King, i9 etc just seem a bit excessive in terms of cost and don't offer enough extra performance for me to justify recommending them to my cost-conscious clients.

 

For MTB, don't skimp on quality, focus on function and value - in my mind, Hopes are the best combination on the market of weight, looks, reliability and cost.

 

Another brand to look out for in the future is Aivee CNC components (www.aivee.fr)

I've imported a few of these lately when the equivalent Hope hubs haven't been available - their quality, price and design is stellar.

 

How pretty are these?

 

DT Swiss in SA is tricky - the local agents struggle to keep enough stock - that said, their hubs are good, if not a bit boring.

 

If you're after the budget end of the price scale, look at Novatec or the hubs from Rapide. Exceptional value and reliable enough for most.

[Zorro5614]

Thanks for the input.  Think the general consensus is that more expensive hubs are more reliable, durable and in general easier to maintain.  The question is then, will you get a performance upgrade with expensive hubs?  Will they roll faster with less drag, will they make you a better climber (at low speeds), will the freehub offer better shifting?

 

Think in general the opinion I found was no.  Not nearly enough to spend between R5 000 - R8 000

[Headshot]

Hubs are fairly simple but they need to be made right.

 

My wife has ancient 240/350 DT hubs as part of a 26er wheel set on her Zula. They are simple to service and just carry on working. I have a Funn rear hub on my HT. It has a 4 pawl freewheel like a Hope and is also pretty simple and reliable although its still new. It does not beat the simplicity of the pull off end caps on the DT's though. Other good cheap hubs that are still going strong are some 2013 Giant hubs. The front is on my HT and the bearings have never been changed, just greased. 

 

So, yes nothing beats the brilliant engineering of a DT star ratchet hub but you can get the same service from a cheaper one, but not all cheaper ones. The Specialized rear boost hub on my enduro is cr@p.  The bearings run with massive drag until you crank up the axle, then it smooths out. This points to some rubbish manufacturing or materials. 

 

If I was getting new upper end hubs I'd buy DT 350 or Hope, Cheap and I'd give the Rapide (Novatec allegedly) a go.

[DieselnDust]

I'm a bit concerned wen people rave about Hope hubs then ride through a one puddle and they need a full rebuild. My experience is that they're great for people who like to tinker i.e. like to replace bearings and use their tools. I haven't found the Hopes to offer anything I don't get from Novatec at 30% of the cost.

Chris King and DT Swiss are a doddle to service and they take a lot of abuse

[Headshot]

I'm a bit concerned wen people rave about Hope hubs then ride through a one puddle and they need a full rebuild. My experience is that they're great for people who like to tinker i.e. like to replace bearings and use their tools. I haven't found the Hopes to offer anything I don't get from Novatec at 30% of the cost.

Chris King and DT Swiss are a doddle to service and they take a lot of abuse

Like my Funn hub which is basically a Hope knock off I think.

[DieselnDust]

Thanks for the input.  Think the general consensus is that more expensive hubs are more reliable, durable and in general easier to maintain.  The question is then, will you get a performance upgrade with expensive hubs?  Will they roll faster with less drag, will they make you a better climber (at low speeds), will the freehub offer better shifting?

 

Think in general the opinion I found was no.  Not nearly enough to spend between R5 000 - R8 000

 

 

 

the short answer is No there isn't a silver bullet.  A set of more expensive hubs on its own won't make you faster. Lowewr friction and and smoother running is functions of the bearing quality and seals. For Novatec, they will take a std Enduro or any ceramic bearing.

their hub shells are stiff enough but come at a slight weight penalty.

to improve overall performance of the bike, we need to look at what drops significant weight and what improves the ability to maintain momentum - 

 

Losing the weight on the suspension and or dropping significant grams from the wheels as a package.

 

anything else is marginal gains

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

I'm a bit concerned wen people rave about Hope hubs then ride through a one puddle and they need a full rebuild. My experience is that they're great for people who like to tinker i.e. like to replace bearings and use their tools. I haven't found the Hopes to offer anything I don't get from Novatec at 30% of the cost.

Chris King and DT Swiss are a doddle to service and they take a lot of abuse

 

To clarify, I punished my Hopes through 4 years of abuse, then only after JoBerg2c (which you'd know if you followed it, was a mud-fest every day for 9 days) did I replace the rear bearings and service the freehub.

 

No attention for 4 years.

 

The cool thing about Hopes is they use standard size bearings available everywhere and need no proprietary tools to work on.

 

And at ~R4500 for the hub set, they're well priced.

[DieselnDust]

To clarify, I punished my Hopes through 4 years of abuse, then only after JoBerg2c (which you'd know if you followed it, was a mud-fest every day for 9 days) did I replace the rear bearings and service the freehub.

 

No attention for 4 years.

 

The cool thing about Hopes is they use standard size bearings available everywhere and need no proprietary tools to work on.

 

And at ~R4500 for the hub set, they're well priced.

 

 

 

Ok thanks for the clarity. Yes i'd agree that after 4 years of zero maintenance a bit of preventative maintenance after a muddy race is good TLC. I still don't see how this is any different to a set of Shimano XT, or Novatecs or more expensive hubs which are all well sealed and also have easily replaceable parts though but the world would be boring if we were passionate about the same things.

 

 

I always seem to opt for the DT Swiss though boring as they are. I am lusting to go back to XTR hubs because those babies just spin for years and cup and cone bearings are easier to maintain and keep performing optimally. Can service them during a race and have optimum spin, no break in required.

But that microspline freebody.....

[Zorro5614]

Anyone read or heard of these I9 101 Classic hubs.  Looks very good and I9 should be reliable.  This hub is pretty new on the market

 

https://industrynine.com/hubs/mountain/101-classic-boost-6b-rear/

[BaGearA]

I've put roughly 2000km of Enduro riding on A second hand set of pro4's I got last year

 

... I haven't even taken the freehub once to clean anything and they roll and sound exactly the same as brand new ones

 

 

Bombproof at A good price

[dewaldsss]

I haven't ridden or opened a set of shimano hubs in ages, but they were using normal ball bearings the last time i did service a set, not sure the latest are using sealed bearings?

 

The I9 hubs looks good and a bit cheaper that the torch hubs, if they are a loud as the torch hubs, buy them!!!

 

Loud hubs saves lives

Alternatively I'd go for the hope hubs as they are very user friendly to work on and doesn't cost an arm & leg

[Letum911]

Hope any day of the week. If it's too pricey save until next week and try again.

 

Reliability is there, as stated above and is easy to work on/replace parts etc.

 

BUT the major thing for me comes on the cones, swapping from 9mm QR to through axle to 20mm or whatever is a breeze and last I did this cost me something silly like R150.00. Cones just knock out and install the new ones. This kinda future proofs them... 

[Eddy Gordo]

1. Hope any day of the week. If it's too pricey save until next week and try again.

 

Reliability is there, as stated above and is easy to work on/replace parts etc.

 

2.BUT the major thing for me comes on the cones, swapping from 9mm QR to through axle to 20mm or whatever is a breeze and last I did this cost me something silly like R150.00. Cones just knock out and install the new ones. This kinda future proofs them... 

1 Agreed 100%. I have a set evo pro2, its not boost, and its still attached to a wheelset. Contemplating selling it for a boost hope pro 4. These hubs just keep going.

2. I love how easy it is to swop endcaps .

 

I also have a set of novatec hubs on the HT, so far they have been great. Not one issue.

My current dual sus, i spent minimal on a set of ECC hubs 6 pawl system. Somehow I have managed to damage the pawls as the freebody was kind of loose. I have since replaced it and will keep an eye on any further issues. Plan is to replace it a hope hub.

[Letum911]

1 Agreed 100%. I have a set evo pro2, its not boost, and its still attached to a wheelset. Contemplating selling it for a boost hope pro 4. These hubs just keep going.

 

 

There's a part for this: https://www.actionsports.de/en/boost-conversion-kit-hope-pro-2-evo/pro-4-rear-hub-12x148mm-22818

https://www.rushcycles.co.uk/m50b0s472p5924/HOPE-Hope-Pro-4-and-Pro-2-Evo-Rear-hub-Boost-Conversion-Kit

Part of why I love Hope, always just a mod and life carries on.