I have Zipp Moto3 wheels and upon inspection i see one of the rotor bolt lugs has failed and split on the rear hub.
No major drama, they are a good few years old and have seen plenty of action.
Therefore, i need to replace it. There are plenty of options out there and its somewhat hard to choose!
I like the look of the OneUp hubs, but cant see many reviews. I could go silly and get something mega bling, like an Onyx or Project 321.
Or just stick with something like a Hope.
Its usual 148 x 12 size, so nothing weird or out of the ordinary.
What say you? Tried and tested? Let me know!
I've been running a CK R45 hub with only five rotor bolt holes for ages and it's been fine. Maybe you don't need a new hub
I've been running a CK R45 hub with only five rotor bolt holes for ages and it's been fine. Maybe you don't need a new hub
I did wonder 'whats the worst that can happen' with using just 5 bolts.
For mega, Peak District made, bling
K-O-M.CO.UK they have a silent sprag clutch model on the way too.
For understated, endlessly reliable, bling, Chris King. (though getting them might not be as easy as it once was, with the demise of saddleback)
or just Hope or DT Swiss, dependant on your need for shiny colours
I seem to have ended up with DT Swiss 350 hubs on most of the bikes. All lasting well with no issues. Easy to swap cassette drivers, end caps, etc. Not particularly exciting, but hubs are there to be forgotten about.
If I were buying a rear hub right now I’d probably go DT350 with the ‘anti-kickback’ adjustable float, just to try it out. Even if I ended up setting the float to zero it’d still be a good hub.
Or if I were feeling really brave an E13 Sidekick again to try out the float plus the alleged super low drag. But I worry a little about E13+moving parts
I wouldn't bother replacing it for one rotor bolt lug.
If I were buying a rear hub right now I’d probably go DT350 with the ‘anti-kickback’ adjustable float, just to try it out. Even if I ended up setting the float to zero it’d still be a good hub.
Or if I were feeling really brave an E13 Sidekick again to try out the float plus the alleged super low drag. But I worry a little about E13+moving parts
Hubs are weird, I figure after the initial, 'oh this is nice thing', you mostly never think about them until something goes wrong / or they have really slow pick-up and it compromises technical climbing. On that basis I'd go DT Swiss as the hubs I notice least because, for me at least, they have the fewest issues. Hope, on the other hand, sometimes seem like a nagging toddler, forever needing attention, but at least parts are plentiful and they're generally easy to work on.
The latter bit is what puts me off exotica and generic far eastern stuff, fine while it's working - not so clever when you're trying to source a replacement freehub / axle / work out what bearings you need in a hurry, which is always how it seems to be be.
In the OP's position, I think I'd run the hub with the broken bolt lug, but keep a careful eye on the rest of them, but ymmv etc.
I'd go Hope.
7 bikes, 4 on hope. No complaints
1 on Cannondale wheels- no complaints.
1 on hunt- several freehubs.
1 on cosine prime. Fiddly to rebuild. Used novatck bits
You didn't say what bike this was going on, if you have a longer travel (say 150mm+) more descending focused rig then I'd try a hub with Anti Pedal kickback built in, if you decide you don't like it then you can always turn if off.
Also, if you're thinking of going abroad I'd consider whether shops in these countries are likely to have tools and spares to work on your rear hub if something goes wrong mid-trip. That's always a bit of a risk with more 'boutique' options.
I used to avoid Hope cos of the buzzzzzzzz, but they don't do that anymore. They are sweet.
Theres a Zipp ZM2 rear hub on ebay right now.
Aside - have you asked Sram/Zipp? Worth a try - presumably you registered your wheels when you bought them.
How old are you? Is sustainability important to you? Would you like to still be using your new hub in 20 years because parts are available and servicing/maintenance is a doddle, aided by clear online instruction?
You know the answer to your question.
To answer a few questions... Its for my Raaw Madonna, on my enduro/dh wheelset. These days i am generally after reliability and ease of servicing/repair. Which probably means i should stick with DT or similar.
Wheels are around 6 years old now, so whilst i know SRAM are pretty good with things, i think this might be an ask too far.... but i will still see what they say. No harm in asking.
@montgomery - 45, yes and yes. But i am none the wiser to right answer?!
Hope, all day.
Not THAT expensive.
can be ignored for 10 year, and then it does have an issue youll still be able to get parts.
Excellent support for making adaptors and conversions for the future nonsense standards changes
i've made an enquiry with my local wheel builder.... for a DT350 😬 😬 😬 😬
I'm running Hope on my Airdrop with is very similar to your bike. If the same fault that has happened to your zipp hub happened to a Hope, it would probably be replaced under warranty and there's a good chance they'd have rebuilt it as well.
My hardtail runs the onyx vesper and the silence is lovely.
I'd also consider DT Swiss 240 if 8 wanted to go lighter, or Erase if I wanted 6 bolt with Berd spokes
i've made an enquiry with my local wheel builder.... for a DT350
Wrong. You'll get no sympathy from me
I often think that they invented boost hubs purely to stop people from just using the same DT240s until the end of time, passing them down to their kids, using them to fight apes after the takeover, etc. I have one set that's still branded Hugi, I guess it's over 20 years old but I can still get bits for it, was able to adapt it to boost, etc, it'll outlive me.
The kickback thing is interesting, I've no idea if it's good or bad but I like that you can adjust it so easily to experiment
I don't buy Hope anymore - the Pro 4 isn't terrible but the bearings in the freehubs don't last long enough and the ratchet and pawl system is crap. Front wheel hubs have been good though.
I've got three bikes running Individual Hubs – Yama Wheels 2 x 148 and 1 x 157 that have been faultless (rebranded ERASE MTB IS-6 holes Rear Hub | Shop). They run a DT Swiss style star ratchet, titanium freehub and I check the bearings every now and then and they seem to be brand new - definitely not my experience of Hope rear.
Another for Hope, every time. Just solid, no fuss and the pro5 sounds like a mellow swarm of bees following down a trail.
I had a new rear wheel built using XT hub. They Just Work.
DT over Hope every time.
4 of my bikes have Hope hubs from Pro2s on the jump bike through to Pro5s on my main bouncy bike. Had to replace the bearings on my Pro2s a few months back as there were a little gritty feeling. 5 minute job to knock them out and fit new ones - old bearings must have been at least 8 years old, maybe more. Going to get another set of Hopes for the gravel bike too (I can't really justify them for my 50 quid town bike and to be fair, the Halos on that have lasted 7 years and counting with no maintenance at all!).
As many above have said - DT
No question.
Tough as nails, last absolutely ages after loads of abuse and with no maintenance whatsoever. Aren't expensive either.
The only thing I don't like about them is that getting the drive side bearing out when it eventually needs doing (i.e. after a very long time) is a bit of a nightmare.
I e an old xt on cup and cones, it's delightful, silent and keeps going.
An old hope pro2 evo and a pro 4.
All just work
Hope Vs DT.... there's only one way to solve this.... FIIIIIIGGGGGHHHT
The only thing I don't like about them is that getting the drive side bearing out when it eventually needs doing (i.e. after a very long time) is a bit of a nightmare.
Not if you get one of the new 'DEG' or 'DEG DF' ones, the ratchet rings on those are much bigger so the driveside bearing passes straight through them and you can swap them out without unscrewing it.
Hope Vs DT.... there's only one way to solve this.... FIIIIIIGGGGGHHHT
Team Hope here, but only because I know them and haven't ever felt the need to try DT Swiss - the AF aspect is interesting me though...
Alternative is I'm pleasantly surprised at how, err, pleasant the Industry Nine 1/1 hubs are on the Reserve wheelset I inherited. The blingier Hydra hubs I've heard are fragile but the 1/1s seem great. Rear is/was £150 at Merlin recently.
DT240S with a Williams Racing Products freehub conversion for silent freewheeeling and no chain kickback. It's what I'm doing when my current Onyx (wonderful but a bit chunky) dies.
Hope.
Infinitely fixable,as you can get any part. Very nice, always innovative.
UK made.
DT240S with a Williams Racing Products freehub conversion
You must be alright for a few bob, would you lend me a tenner? 😀
I’ve built quite a few wheels and my thoughts are:
DT Swiss 350/240 - super reliable, bearings last - bearing change on the drive side can be a pain if the ratchet ring is stuck. That bearing doesn’t need changing very often though - lasts ages. Personal preference thing - I don’t like the uneven sounding freewheel noise dt hubs make.
Hope Pro4/Pro5 - both pretty reliable. My 4 needs bearings more often than a dt swiss but quite easy to do / easily available parts and bearings. I haven’t needed anything doing on my 5 yet. Prefer the noise to DT Swiss so just buy Hope usually. Hope are heavier than DT if that worries you.
Oneup - I considered these recently - but like you I couldn’t find many reviews or user experiences. Also the headline price sounds ok - but they’re often sold without a freehub included so you have to add these in. Personally I didn’t want to take that chance.
Industry 9 - Hydra sounds cool for a bit - wonder if it would get annoying after a while. Read quite a lot about them being unreliable - plus they are spendy. I actually just bought a 1/1 from Merlin for £150 to try as the price was good, the weight is alright and reviews are generally ok. Matches the 1/1 I recently built into the front wheel. Will see how it goes.
Shimano - I only have experience of older cup and cone hubs which you need to stay on top of with servicing / adjusting - otherwise the bearings aren’t happy. Super cheap though. I’m assuming the newer cartridge bearing ones are better. Still pretty cheap.
Hope.
Infinitely fixable,as you can get any part. Very nice, always innovative.
UK made.
They need to be fixable and have parts, they are the only hubs out household (which contains a serial wheel wrecker TBF) have broken. 1x snapped axle, 2x cracked shell, 1x destroyed ratchet ring and pawls...
6,500 miles on a Hope pro 4. 1 change of bearings and 1 broken pawl. All cheap and easy to replace. Never had a problem with the axle.
i took a closer look at the Zipp hub. looks like all but one of the disc rotor lugs have failed! some at the top, some at the side, pretty much all you can see daylight through.
I have emailed Sram to see what they say. I know wheels are well outside of warranty, but even so, i wouldnt expect to see a failure like this.
I am still waiting for a wheel rebuild price, but have asked them to quote a Hope hub too.
6,500 miles on a Hope pro 4. 1 change of bearings and 1 broken pawl. All cheap and easy to replace. Never had a problem with the axle.
For me the scores on the doors are:
DT
A few bearing changes
Exactly 0 other problems
Hope:
A few bearing changes. Anecdotally, more often.
Busted pawls
Ratchet ring delaminated from hub shell and spoke flange cracked at the same time (very old xc hub)
Completely cracked rear hub shell around the (pro 2 Evo rear hub)
Over time I've "probably" put similar miles on both hope and DT. Used to run all hope but the movement has been towards DT over time due to the better reliability IME
6,500 miles on a Hope pro 4. 1 change of bearings and 1 broken pawl. All cheap and easy to replace. Never had a problem with the axle.
For me the scores on the doors are:
DT
A few bearing changes
Exactly 0 other problems
Hope:
A few bearing changes. Anecdotally, more often.
Busted pawls
Ratchet ring delaminated from hub shell and spoke flange cracked at the same time (very old xc hub)
Completely cracked rear hub shell around the (pro 2 Evo rear hub)
Over time I've "probably" put similar miles on both hope and DT. Used to run all hope but the movement has been towards DT over time due to the better reliability IME
On the Hope front is it just old hubs you had issues with - xc / pro2?
I’m not totally a Hope fan - I didn’t get on with their RX4+ calipers for road bikes at all a couple of years back. But for me the Pro4 and pro5 have been reliable. But then I’m not that hard on wheels or that heavy. I do ride through a lot of mud though.
I found Hunt Road hubs gunked up in the freewheel after a while - but in 15-20 mins I had that cleaned and greased ok. Maybe with Hope I’ve broken a few pawl springs over a 7 year period thinking about it - but not a biggy - they were my most ridden wheels and took the most abuse.
I had issues with pro2 Evo and early xc hubs. I've had a pro4 on an ebike for a bit but not ridden much. The newer ones may be more reliable, but I wouldn't know.
Also worth noting I'm a biffer who rides a lot and tends to break stuff.
I think the hope are acceptably reliable by the way. But they're definitely not as reliable as DT IME.
For whatever it's worth, Hope have definitely got better and a lot of gripes will be for older ones. Like, Pro 2 was an expensive and wildly overrated hub with known design problems that they just never did anything about, the 12mm axle weakness was unacceptable and pawls were a problem, plus they cracked a wee bit too often. But the result? People say "Hope customer service is great, because they sold me an iffy product and then fixed it after it broke when it shouldn't have" Like, they literally sent me two replacement axles, "a spare for the next time it happens", and when they did finally fix the problem they wanted to charge RRP for the parts. That's not good service, that's chronically bad. And it wasn't just the hubs.
But that was a long time ago. Back then they were adequate hubs at premium prices with a lot of fanboys. But all across the board Hope have got miles better tbh and now they're legitimately excellent on most stuff. It was never really a product problem, it was institutional, they just finally decided to make things as well as they could and it's great to see. So judging them by those old problems isn't just not useful, it's outright unfair, we're basiclaly penalising them for sorting their shit out and getting good.
But for hubs, DT didn't have to get good, they always were. What they did, was get better value while staying just as excellent.
