I disagree. The proprietary spokes would be a major deal-breaker for me, regardless of cost. Even if they are lighter, stiffer etc, I'll happily take the "good enough" performance of regular spokes and be able to get cheap replacements at the drop of a hat at the mountain.My buddy has them and seems to like them, but my opinion is that half the reason to have I9s is to have their spokes. So if it were me, I'd rather spend a couple hundred more and have a full wheelset.
I thought I9 shipped with a few spare spokes for just this reason?The proprietary spokes would be a major deal-breaker for me, regardless of cost. Even if they are lighter, stiffer etc, I'll happily take the "good enough" performance of regular spokes and be able to get cheap replacements at the drop of a hat at the mountain.
dont foget both of the other options are much lighter as well!My thoughts are that you can buy a 72 point Hadley (with a Ti freehub) at retail for less than the I9 as cost..but you can also have access to Hadleys at cost, so the price differencs is quite significant with no real benefits IMO.
OR you could forgo the high engagement (not a big issue in high speed DH IMO) and get Hopes for MUCH less than either.
I've had the same parts on my (DH bike) drivetrain for 4 years including the chain so no i don't give a crap about my drivetrain stress, as long as it's there when i need it and i don't have to think about it.I was told an interesting idea from a very neat engineer dood. Basically, he said another benefit to fast engagement is to avoid that dead spot in the hub, and that massive jolt to the drivetrain once it engages. It basiclaly doesn't let you gain that speed that results in the hard pull on the drivetrain, thereby not stressing out your drivetrain as much, resulting in longer life.
An interesting concept. Think its valid?
I've always thought similar but was too unsure if it actually made a difference. The longer time it takes to engage, the more you can increase the torque on the hub?An interesting concept. Think its valid?
My thoughts are that you can buy a 72 point Hadley (with a Ti freehub) at retail for less than the I9 as cost..but you can also have access to Hadleys at cost, so the price differencs is quite significant with no real benefits IMO.
Hadley doesn't have a site.Interesting. Do you have a link to the Hadley Website?
Why can't you get the completes at cost? curious...Thanks guys. The main reason for not getting the DH strait pull wheels set is that I cannot get them at cost, where as I can get the hubs, rims, ect at cost.
I would also like to keep to the j-bend method anyways.
Interesting. Do you have a link to the Hadley Website?
But they have a phone number and will gladly answer any questions you may have. I def agree, it's a little old school to not have a web site in this day and age. But they like to do things a little different, they like to talk to their customers, what a concept.Hadley doesn't have a site.
Thats another reason why I choose to buy Hadley. Their customer service is great. The products are killer. Don't buy into the hype of lighter this and lighter that. The I9s that I have seen go through the ringer on DH rigs for a season have mass bearing problems. Its in the way the bearings are loaded. And god forbid you ever blow the thing apart you definitely won't have spares available at a race or at a resort, etc. But on the other hand my Hadleys have been going strong for 3 hard DH racing seasons and I love them. The engagement is so smooth and quick and they last and last.But they have a phone number and will gladly answer any questions you may have. I def agree, it's a little old school to not have a web site in this day and age. But they like to do things a little different, they like to talk to their customers, what a concept.
I know Hadley doesn't have a website, I just wanted someone to say it for me.But they have a phone number and will gladly answer any questions you may have. I def agree, it's a little old school to not have a web site in this day and age. But they like to do things a little different, they like to talk to their customers, what a concept.
While I do not have personal experience in servicing these hubs because i have chossen to get stay away from them. I have been told by my mechanic and many people who own them that because of the design of the hub, the bearings get substantial side load when tightened up in a frame and thus wear more quickly than a normal hubs bearings would. I am not speaking from personal experience but I have seen the results. Two people i know have sold off there I-9s for different, more conventional hub types, chris king, hope, hadley, etc. Could have been isolated incidents but at least from what I have seen I believe that the hub design has a flaw.Can you expand?