Looking at upgrading my hubs. Seems like there are four major players in the hub department. Chris King, Hope, DT, and Hadley. What hubs do you run or suggest. Any company's hubs better than the other. Any info would be great. Cheers
Best DH Hubs
- Thread starter SthFRider
- Start date
or king, hadley, and i9 (their jbend hub is still one of if not the best hub on the market if you're not partial to their alu spoked wheels).
Hope workhorse 'nice' hubs, dt uses nice bearings and a rock solid star ratcheting system, and both are some of the lighter hubs on the market. Hopes are a little cheaper, and a little lighter, but both are pretty top notch for longevity.
King also makes top quality stuff, although it tends to be a little more maint (as far as their hubs go). If you're looking at the 150mm spaced hub, they seem to use a different chainline then everybody else in the industry, so there can be potential problems there. But they're very light (the lightest of the "nice engagement" hubs for the rear), they have really nice engagement (72pt), with occassional maint the hub will last forever and the bearings will always feel good. Other side note is that they're pretty set on being environmentally friendly as possible, and are the most green of any of those mentioned.
Hadley's are extremely well built, they'll last forever like a DT hub, they have 84pt engagement (very good), and they're quite light. They're slightly heavier then hope, king, and dt though).
I9's are heavier then hope and king, but lighter then hadley. They have the best engagement with 108 point. They use a proprietary spoke design that uses straight pull aluminum spokes to build what they claim is a stronger and stiffer wheel at a lighter weight. Since aluminum will fatigue, spokes will eventually go, and there have been complaints of that. Spoke tension is more crucial with them. If you're not a fan of the aluminum straight pull spokes, they make their hubs with jbend options.
These are my experiences and opinions. Others will disagree with them.
Honestly you really can't go wrong with any of them.
Hope workhorse 'nice' hubs, dt uses nice bearings and a rock solid star ratcheting system, and both are some of the lighter hubs on the market. Hopes are a little cheaper, and a little lighter, but both are pretty top notch for longevity.
King also makes top quality stuff, although it tends to be a little more maint (as far as their hubs go). If you're looking at the 150mm spaced hub, they seem to use a different chainline then everybody else in the industry, so there can be potential problems there. But they're very light (the lightest of the "nice engagement" hubs for the rear), they have really nice engagement (72pt), with occassional maint the hub will last forever and the bearings will always feel good. Other side note is that they're pretty set on being environmentally friendly as possible, and are the most green of any of those mentioned.
Hadley's are extremely well built, they'll last forever like a DT hub, they have 84pt engagement (very good), and they're quite light. They're slightly heavier then hope, king, and dt though).
I9's are heavier then hope and king, but lighter then hadley. They have the best engagement with 108 point. They use a proprietary spoke design that uses straight pull aluminum spokes to build what they claim is a stronger and stiffer wheel at a lighter weight. Since aluminum will fatigue, spokes will eventually go, and there have been complaints of that. Spoke tension is more crucial with them. If you're not a fan of the aluminum straight pull spokes, they make their hubs with jbend options.
These are my experiences and opinions. Others will disagree with them.
Honestly you really can't go wrong with any of them.
Very well put ^
They're all damn good. I would stay way from 150mm Hopes as the flange idea is pretty stupid imho...
DT 440's are bomb and rock solid. I have the 36pt ratchet in mine, 36 points of engagement is prime for DH, I couldn't see myself wanting anymore.
But as stated above, all damn good hubs.
DT 440's are bomb and rock solid. I have the 36pt ratchet in mine, 36 points of engagement is prime for DH, I couldn't see myself wanting anymore.
But as stated above, all damn good hubs.
Forgot to add, im an industry nine man myself. That is what i would recommend.
The new Profile hubs look pretty nice as well! All the ones you listed are great BTW.
http://www.profileracing.com/news_full.php?id=930
"The Profile Elite hubs are not available now, and will not be until approximately February 2010. They use a totally new 6 pawl driver, with 204 points of engagement. This is a more expensive hub for us to manufacture, because it required to design and build all new ratchet rings, pawls, springs, and drivers, as well as another hubshell.
Availability February 2010
Instant acceleration
Completely new driver design with 6 pawls and springs
Cassette hub has 204 points of engagement
Photo is of prototype. Production hubs will have matching cones and volcano bolt covers
Colors have yet to be determined
Pricing will be higher than the Mini and Totem hubs."
http://www.profileracing.com/news_full.php?id=930
"The Profile Elite hubs are not available now, and will not be until approximately February 2010. They use a totally new 6 pawl driver, with 204 points of engagement. This is a more expensive hub for us to manufacture, because it required to design and build all new ratchet rings, pawls, springs, and drivers, as well as another hubshell.
Availability February 2010
Instant acceleration
Completely new driver design with 6 pawls and springs
Cassette hub has 204 points of engagement
Photo is of prototype. Production hubs will have matching cones and volcano bolt covers
Colors have yet to be determined
Pricing will be higher than the Mini and Totem hubs."
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HADLEY - but keep in mind I sport an erection for Hadley hubs. 72pt engagement option and awesome construction/quality keeps me coming back to them, and is plenty of engagement for DH. Minimal weight penalty. If that really matters to you at the wheel hub, move along.
Hope's and DT's can be unreliable with less engagement, but they're light. Hope's are the cheapest of the bunch price-wise. Loud too if that's your thing. My 108pt Hadley sounds cooler though heh heh...
King engagement is awesome, but from what I've seen they can be finicky to keep tension on, and bearings are "hella" expensive.
The I9's traditional-spoke hubs intrigue me, but not enough to ditch the Hadleys for. I'd love to check them out.
Those Profiles really have my attention.
Hope's and DT's can be unreliable with less engagement, but they're light. Hope's are the cheapest of the bunch price-wise. Loud too if that's your thing. My 108pt Hadley sounds cooler though heh heh...
King engagement is awesome, but from what I've seen they can be finicky to keep tension on, and bearings are "hella" expensive.
The I9's traditional-spoke hubs intrigue me, but not enough to ditch the Hadleys for. I'd love to check them out.
Those Profiles really have my attention.
Hadley....you nailed it.
I have a set of I-9's for AM use, and I love them. The quick engagement and stiffness are aweome. The I9's worry me for DH though. Alloy can work for a spoke, but too much sh*t can happen in real DH to destroy a wheel.
So as long as they work they are still stupid because of their flange idea? I'm quite sure I don't ride mine on paper. They hold up great even with DT revolution spokes though I'm light so it may be thanks to that.
+1 on Hope. Run my pro 2 all summer in 150X12 and they held up great with DT Revolution too. The engagement is not the best (24 pt.) but for the weight and price i think that they are tough to beat.
Not gonna bash you, but I am going to mention one thing. Every single Hadley I have PERSONALLY seen with problems was a result of lack of regular maintenance. Hadley's need fairly regular service, not unlike a fork or a shock (but not as frequent, I clean and lube my Hadleys 2 or 3 times a year depending on how much I am riding, more if something goes wrong - I needed some extra maintenance on my rear DH hub this season... after 5 years of use the pawls needed to be replaced). FWIW I have 3.5 sets of Hadleys - the oldest is now 8 years, and they are all still going strong with no major issues (pawl replacement was the most major thing I've done, and I have 2 of the older 108pt freehubs).
That being said, I don't really think the OP could go wrong with any of those choices - they are all great hubs.
Ah man are we doing this again?!
Perhaps it should just be a sticky?
I just did a ton of research and ended up narrowing it down to the usual suspects: Hope Pro 2, Hadley, I9. I decided to not consider CK because of the issues with the 150mm hub.
Hope - highly regarded, light, inexpensive. Only 24 pt engagement, but it is solid engagement. Possible issues with cassettes scoring the aluminum freehub shell. 135 and 150 hubs have identical flange spacing, which could make for a slightly weaker wheel than with the wider flanges of other 150 hubs. Loud. No, wait, LOUD.
I9 - super high number of engagement points. Expensive.
Hadley - superb customer service. Excellent engagement. Easy to service. A bit heavier, a bit more expensive than Hopes. Easy to service. Lots of anecdotal evidence of these things lasting 7-10 years.
In the end, I am going with Hadley.
I just did a ton of research and ended up narrowing it down to the usual suspects: Hope Pro 2, Hadley, I9. I decided to not consider CK because of the issues with the 150mm hub.
Hope - highly regarded, light, inexpensive. Only 24 pt engagement, but it is solid engagement. Possible issues with cassettes scoring the aluminum freehub shell. 135 and 150 hubs have identical flange spacing, which could make for a slightly weaker wheel than with the wider flanges of other 150 hubs. Loud. No, wait, LOUD.
I9 - super high number of engagement points. Expensive.
Hadley - superb customer service. Excellent engagement. Easy to service. A bit heavier, a bit more expensive than Hopes. Easy to service. Lots of anecdotal evidence of these things lasting 7-10 years.
In the end, I am going with Hadley.
Unreliable? What the hell are you smoking!?
Does Chang Star still make hubs?
Did anyone say Hadley yet? 
Looks like Hadley has some high reviews from people. Looking like i might go that route. Now I just gotta pick a color and find a bit more dough and i'll have a new set of hubs. Im thinking gold would be sweet. Thanks for all the help guys. Cheers
If you are short of cash buy a hope front hub and a hadley rear. There is very little too a front hub and you save about a 80 bucks.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HU510B00-Hope+Pro+2+Disc+Hubs.aspx?sc=FRGL
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HU510B00-Hope+Pro+2+Disc+Hubs.aspx?sc=FRGL
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I'd agree with that. Those are pretty hard to mess up, unless you are WTB and you think that 1/2" of lateral play at the rim is a benefit.
Good thinking. I may do that. Would make things easier on the wallet
I like American Classic in the rear and Dimension up front. AmClassic is MUCH cheaper than CK, Hadley, DT. It's by FAR the lightest rear and I have no problems with flex, durability, or bearings. Dimension is pretty light, very cheap ($45), and gives no problems.
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American Classic hubs do not have the rep of holding up. That said they have a new design out this year which American Classic maybe different,
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/hub/american-classic/ultralight-cassette-hub/PRD_357352_127crx.aspx
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/tires-and-wheels/hub/american-classic/ultralight-cassette-hub/PRD_357352_127crx.aspx
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For the people who got bunk Hadleys...
Didn't they send a bad batch to Australia. Seems like the Aussies are complaining about them the most. Every Hadley owner I know in the states is years of trouble free use. Me included.
Hope sent a bad batch of hubs to the USA. From what I hear, people with good ones have the best bearings off all the lighter hubs. Aluminum freewheel and loud ratchet noise turned me off.
If deciding which hubs to use, take the overall account into mind. Don't let one guy's review of the hub throwing him OTB and then screwing his girlfriend while he was in the hospital turn you off if there are many other reviews of it being flawless and buying you a beer after every ride.
Didn't they send a bad batch to Australia. Seems like the Aussies are complaining about them the most. Every Hadley owner I know in the states is years of trouble free use. Me included.
Hope sent a bad batch of hubs to the USA. From what I hear, people with good ones have the best bearings off all the lighter hubs. Aluminum freewheel and loud ratchet noise turned me off.
If deciding which hubs to use, take the overall account into mind. Don't let one guy's review of the hub throwing him OTB and then screwing his girlfriend while he was in the hospital turn you off if there are many other reviews of it being flawless and buying you a beer after every ride.
Yup, my two 150mm AmClassics are the "new" model. They are cheap enough (and crazy light) that I recommend giving them a shot. If I do have a problem I'll post on here about it.
Is that like the "loud pipes save lives" arguments that the Harley guys make?
I don't think loud hubs really take the place of a a bit of trail courtesy, even though they might help, sometimes. I can guarantee that they will be obnoxiously loud all the time though.
I don't think loud hubs really take the place of a a bit of trail courtesy, even though they might help, sometimes. I can guarantee that they will be obnoxiously loud all the time though.
If I had gobs of money....
http://www.trueprecision.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TPC&Product_Code=300&Category_Code=MTB
That would be great on something like a silencer...no sound at all. w00dy has one on his single speed FQ and it's pretty neat.
http://www.trueprecision.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TPC&Product_Code=300&Category_Code=MTB
That would be great on something like a silencer...no sound at all. w00dy has one on his single speed FQ and it's pretty neat.
in the case of hadleys, loud means "needs lubrication"
I've seen those once or twice before - how exactly does their engagement system work?
don't know for sure...it's a roller clutch, i think...not entirely unlike the unobtanium lahr CVT. he could probably explain it better than I ever could, but it's dead silent and INSTANT engagement...like no give in the chain before it's go time. Very cool with the belt drive he was/is running as there's no lash whatsoever. He had it on a chained hardtail before and it was just as good.
Just so hard to justify the cost though.
Just so hard to justify the cost though.
eh $70 more than msrp on King hubs. Next time I see woody I'm gonna have to try it. I may have to get a new uber-pimp hubset.
I have a review coming up on Kings, Hadleys, Hopes, Stealths, Industry Nine j-bend hubs, DT swiss 240s, and how they all compare. The stealths are pretty surprising, thats for sure!
Could you post a link to the review in this thread when you get the review up?
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I am really curious to see this! Can you say what your evaluation criteria were?
color, volume, quality of the website, flange width, and eprops.
that's all we care about anyways :{
that's all we care about anyways :{
you forgot # of shimz.
I figured bearing quality, weight, build quality, performance, freehub, pretty colors, cost vs value, and e-boner value
shimzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
shimzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
should be interesting.