The Stealths run on a 1-way locking needle roller bearing. Something similar to this: http://www.mcmaster.com/#ball-and-roller-bearings/=4qwaj9
Best DH Hubs
- Thread starter SthFRider
- Start date
That's a pretty cool concept for a rear hub, I come across the same bearings installed in the alternator pulleys of some of the diesel cars I work on. Instant engagement and silent, I'd like to try one for sure! One downer tho, when these bearings fail/run dry they don't half lock up solid!
I thought it was. Just a shame there are no action pics. Meh, working on that.
http://www.dropmachine.com/Reviews/hub-showdown-chris-king-hadley-industry-nine-dt-stealth-and-hope-a581.html
Has anyone heard of or used Chub hubs? They only make a front hub (stupid imo) but it looks very well engineered. I like their marketing strategy and I really like the 15mm/20mm interchangeable dropout. Plus they have an office in slo...
http://bythehive.com/
http://bythehive.com/
Nice write up! Agreed HOPE has the best bang for the buck, Im undecided right now (even before review LOL) on Hadleys, hopes or I9s again. I destroyed 6 rear wheels last year and only replaced a few spokes on my I9s. It was hard rocky landings or a REALLY bad line choice that killed the rims butthe hubs never gave me greif. I ran my original set of bearings for a year and a half and it was time to change em. they werent toast but you could feel there pain hauling my butt around for that long!
Again nice review and easy to read... Thanks
Nice review Jeff!
You might want to add that the Hadleys can be serviced with standard tools with a little forethought. The Red handled park cotter pin tool, or any adjustable pin spanner will work on the rear drive side as well as all of the bearing preload collars. The axle end caps would be nice if the wrench flats were wider to take a stock box end wrench or crescent, but you can easily find a wrench (cone wrench or a little filing/grinding to narrow a box) to fit.
The tools make service easier, but they are far from required.
Thanks boys. That was one hell of a lot of writing. hhaha
Dave, added in the tool bit. Thanks much. I knew they could be done in a pinch with regular tools, but was undecided if I should put that in lest some hack molests his hubs with a vicegrip and a rubber mallet. I put it in though, because anyone that would do that deserves ****ty scratched up hubs anyhow.
BC, also went in and edited the bit about the bearings. I have 4 pairs of I9 wheels, and 3 are fine. One is pretty rough, but they are older. It was feedback from a number of other riders that showed me the bearings weren't so hot, strangely even on the XC ones. Problem is, theres no pattern. Some of them are fine, some of them not so much. So, edited that in.
Its hard getting in all the details from so many sources, and being impartial too. Buh.
holy crap its 4am.
Dave, added in the tool bit. Thanks much. I knew they could be done in a pinch with regular tools, but was undecided if I should put that in lest some hack molests his hubs with a vicegrip and a rubber mallet. I put it in though, because anyone that would do that deserves ****ty scratched up hubs anyhow.
BC, also went in and edited the bit about the bearings. I have 4 pairs of I9 wheels, and 3 are fine. One is pretty rough, but they are older. It was feedback from a number of other riders that showed me the bearings weren't so hot, strangely even on the XC ones. Problem is, theres no pattern. Some of them are fine, some of them not so much. So, edited that in.
Its hard getting in all the details from so many sources, and being impartial too. Buh.
holy crap its 4am.
Once again, great article.
My former co-worker didn't have very good luck with his Stealth hub. The instant engagment was great, but after a few weeks of (xc) riding in wet conditions the one-way bearing began sticking every other ride. The hub had to be pulled apart and the needle-bearings needed to be oiled to (temporarily) remedy the problem. The guys at True Percision were super accomidating, and aknowledged that the hub wasn't lacking care, but was likely being exposed to conditions they hadn't experienced or anticipated. Hopefully the one-way bearing design isn't that sensitive by nature, and the problems I saw were due to a sealing problem, because I personally thought it was a really slick hub.
do the ceramic bearings make that much of a difference for the Hadleys? i have my bearings on order and im anxious to swap them out
I didn't think much of it when I saw my hubs had ceramics, but man are they neat. I am sure they help on some minor way on the trail, but I'm not good/ anal/ preceptive enough to actually notice too much. I just know that my wheels spin forever, longer then all the other hubs in that review. Gotta be the ceramics. I am going to upgrade my I9s next, just for fun!
yeah i didnt think it would make a huge difference, but since i need new bearings anyway, why not upgrade to ceramics?
w00dy has over a million billion miles on his, and I don't think he maintains it at all. Seriously, kid is hard on components and doesn't break them down wash and wax after every ride like a lot of folks. Maybe he's more anal than I've seen, but I doubt it. He still seems to love his.
my couple year old Hadleys also spin forever. 5x as long as my King hub. When did Hadley start supplying ceramics?
Just announce to the world that you don't know how to wrench on your own bike.
A cars engine needs it's oil changed every 3000 miles.
They don't, at least not that I know of. Ceramic replacement bearings (6804RS if I remember correctly) are easily found on ebay and I believe even Enduro offers them.
The Stealths are a super cool hub. You'd think after riding Chris Kings and Industry Nines that you'd have an idea of what Instant Engagement feels like, but when you actually feel it its not like anything else. Its kind of weird at first, but its really cool.
I put it in quotes for a reason
. That being said though, the instant engagement is pretty cool.
Not a design flaw. Their hubs were originally designed for BMX racing, which is a lot of stop-start pedaling over a short distance, not spinning circles for miles. In BMX racing, the kind of instant engagement offered by these hubs is beneficial. Same with slalom/4x, and to a certain degree DH - which is why I'm guessing they eventually introduced the hubs in MTB frame spacing options.
I got Hopes for my trail bike last year, mostly because they were cheap at CRC, $320 for Pro IIs, 719 Disc rims, DT Spokes and XT Cassette, shipped.
One issue with the Hopes is bearing drag, it's slightly noticeable compared to hubs with very little friction. Will ceramic bearings solve this problem?
One issue with the Hopes is bearing drag, it's slightly noticeable compared to hubs with very little friction. Will ceramic bearings solve this problem?
Wow, that's a hell of a deal for wheelset. Can you still get that kind of special price over at CRC?
That was when the pound tanked after the financial crisis began. I think the exchange rate is not as favorable right now...
Anyone using the Hope Trials hub? Thinking the Trials hub with a 6 speed cluster could be a bunch of fun...
Nope. Everyone I know that rides trials has moved on to single speed FFW. Try-all makes a KILLER one that is 9 pawls, offset for 120 degree engagement of 3 pawls at a time
Oooh that sounds neat. Got a link? I can't find them on el goog.
they're french.
http://www.try-all.com/
and sorry, its a 108.9 degree engagement. not 120. they make some DOPE stuff, kinda hard to source in the states.
Great write up and info! Just a heads up the stealth hubs would BLOW for street use like you say in the article, and i think the same would be applied to trials. In both there is lots of back pedaling and reverse action which is not a strong point of the stealths
I've been on this hub (laced to a 729 with champions) for 3 seasons , the only thing that i did once was pulling ot the cassete body to clean-regrease the pawls-springs and engagement points.....
An is only 88 dollars at jenson.
I think is made by novatec:
www.novatec.com.tw/
and mine is not exact like the one pictured i have more slots on the cassete body so maybe lighter like this, that caomes in gold (for the bling-bling crew)
this is nice! http://cgi.ebay.com/Novatec-DH12SB-150mm-x-12mm-Rear-Disc-Hub-32H-FR-DH-NEW_W0QQitemZ320390163007QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a98bdea3f
An is only 88 dollars at jenson.
I think is made by novatec:
www.novatec.com.tw/
and mine is not exact like the one pictured i have more slots on the cassete body so maybe lighter like this, that caomes in gold (for the bling-bling crew)
this is nice! http://cgi.ebay.com/Novatec-DH12SB-150mm-x-12mm-Rear-Disc-Hub-32H-FR-DH-NEW_W0QQitemZ320390163007QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a98bdea3f
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Probably shouldn't even bring it up cause I can't remember the details, but I remember 2 customers that had trouble w/their Stealth hubs. Sticking engagement problems or some such thing. True Precision took care of them both, but I think one guy had the problem crop up again and ended up selling his hub on e-bay after he got it warrantied. When those hubs worked they were amazing to ride though! I thought the company dropped off the map, this is the first I've heard mention of them in 5-6 years.
From the diagram and description it seems that the Stealth freewheel mechanism should have much less drag than pawls but reports are otherwise. Anyone own one and care to comment? Do they only have a lot of drag when the bearings get dry/dirty.
I have a set here thats just perfect, and although they do drag a bit its by no means terrible. Its just a little more then say, a King hub, or I9. Backpedalling is not so good. But that instant engagement is absolutely insane. You really gotta try it to beleive it.
They're alive and kicking. I was just over there the other day chatting with one of the guys.
I guess some people put more importance on instant or quick engagement while other's (me) care more about minimal drag while coasting and light weight.
That's why there is no perfect hub. The lightest, fastest coasting hub isn't also the quickest engaging.
That's why there is no perfect hub. The lightest, fastest coasting hub isn't also the quickest engaging.
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I think that's the Azonic Outlaw hub...I have an outlaw wheelset and I will say they are great hubs. They aren't light, but they engage reasonably fast and are certainly stout. No damage to either rim in a season of riding, so that's cool...but I really like the fact that they engage quick, and were super cheap. not the best hub by a mile, but certainly OK.
I'd love to get a faster engaging hub when possible. These aren't bad, but something like hadley's 72pts would be great.
Well put! I've found engagement to matter more on the bmx track than in DH. BTW, I'm reviving this thread because a couple hubs have been mentioned that have now had time to be tested. And things change. So...any revised opinions?
