[Closed] Hope microspline - when? SUATMM*

Xd was available almost as soon as it was announced so on that basis: If they've already got one prototyped - no doubt they have - it'll only be a case of stock build once they have a licence. Given the manner in which hope manufacture you're looking at days or a couple of weeks from the point of knowing they're getting their licence to things being available. Given there's been no press release from hope (that I know of actually I can't say I've seen any beyond shimano's) following that announcement don't get your hopes (sorry) up too high that the expansion isn't just a bundle of OEM hub manufacturers.

So when do people reckon Hope will have a microspline freehub to market?

Literally the second Shimano gives the go ahead. Some team riders are already running 12 speed XT.

I'd like to be wrong but I doubt they'll make it backwards compatible except where it already is.

I've got a set of Pro2 Evo's that just pre-date the 40t update and they didn't support those with 11s so I wouldn't be holding my breath for anything other than the current hubs and anything that shares parts with them. Ditto going back to the XC/Bulb range of hubs, they never offered new adapters once the pro2 came out.

I bet they have a box of them ready to go. No one said they couldn't make them, just that they can't sell them.

I’ve got a set of Pro2 Evo’s that just pre-date the 40t update and they didn’t support those with 11s

That's not entirely fair is it? The not-backwards-compatible-ness of the hub shell was the reason for it, i.e. the 40t hub shells had the driveside flange moved in for better clearance with the wider freehub. You could fit a road 11s friendly freehub to a pro2 evo but only if you didn't mind the cassette attempting to shave the heads of your spokes, I thought.

You can fit XD all the way back to a pro2, if you're prepared to swap out the axle too.

True, although I thought the 40t free hub/hub shell predated 11s by some time? Or were all 40t hubs 11s compatible?

I bet they have a box of them ready to go. No one said they couldn’t make them, just that they can’t sell them.

As a business decision that wouldn't make sense. The aftermarket for freehubs won't change in a matter of weeks so there's no great hurry to have them on the shelf the second the licence is granted. And tying up production time with a part you can't sell for months (or a risk of never being able to) is tying up money.

I suspect that most people that care enough to upgrade their hubs will already have fitted an XD driver.

I don't suggest they've made thousands but they may well have trailed making some and I bet there's people working there who want them. I agree it wouldn't be the normal business lead decision but Hope have a habit of doing things a bit differently.

I’ve been told by shimano we can launch on 1st January 2020. I’m sure everyone has parts ready to go as soon as the license allows us to sell microspline.

Hope that helps, Neil SuperstarComponents

True, although I thought the 40t free hub/hub shell predated 11s by some time? Or were all 40t hubs 11s compatible?

Fair point, I think there may have been a few that weren't, they just got rolled out at about the same time.

The point still stands though, no? The change to fit road 11s (as opposed to MTB- normal freehub or xd) required a change to the hub shell itself, so not really a retrofit option. I don't think that can really be held against hope? The microspline freehub is a direct swap so a slightly different case.

That's interesting Neil, thanks.

Sweet, Neil. Will that be for ‘older’ hubs as well as the current ones? Be good to replace my wife’s Switch Evo XD driver so I can stick an XTR cassette on there.

You know that's not how it works Matt. New wheels every time 🙂

Nooo! Can’t have new wheels, eeWings in oil slick!

Hope have certainly made a few Pro 4 Microspline freehubs, I've seen at least one in testing on a staff bike. Given the number of machines they have and how good they are at juggling jobs/machine time around, I reckon they'll have a good few ready.

As to when they can sell them, who knows?!

As to when they can sell them, who knows?!

see Neils post superstarcomponents 😉

Presumably Hope are the best for conversions?

The bike I want to put 12sp on has a 135mm QR rear. But if I were to get Hope Pro4 this could be boostified to ensure maximum futureproofing, I presume...

On Pro 2 evo and Pro 4 hubs, 135 QR to 142x12 is just a couple of end caps. The freehub doesn't affect that.

Even the older Pro 2 converts easily enough, just needs a few more bits.

My bike can be upgraded to 142x12 I think. Probably a good idea whenever I end up shelling out for new wheels.

Be good to replace my wife’s Switch Evo XD driver so I can stick an XTR cassette on there.

The switch hubs as far as I recall are novatec based, not in-house. Novatech are normally pretty good with keeping up, and I'm kinda surprised they've not already churned out a microspline freehub.

Thanks all! (Neil @ SSC especially for the inside industry line). I'll wait and see what happens!

ah this is good news for when I want to upgrade my wheelset, will be next jan then.

be great if a few of them fell off a lorry / ended up on the darkweb