which would you choose and why? Are the hopes stronger? Roll better? They dont need the cones tightening every so often so less maintenance? All thoughts appreciated!
Hope. No maintenance. When the bearings do eventually give up, simple job to replace yourself. Nice clicky freewheel. Colours to match the bike
XT are good hubs and will actually run smoother if services properly and regularly. However, once the bearings get too rough, the cones pit and the shell is knackered.
Hope customer service is second to none and once you've replaced the bearing when they need it, the hub is as good as new.
The freehub is another thing to consider. Have a look at the price of Shimano freehubs that can't be services compared to a couple of Hope springs that last almost forever.
I chose Hope and will continue to do so.
i have had both
I prefer hope just because the whole "cup n cone" think is a pain (evan when you do know how to do it properly).
Also hope hubs can easily be converted to fit maxles etc
But most importantly hope come in nice colours and make a lovely noise
I have both. Hope every time.
Ditto Hope - CBA with cup and cone and servicing regularly. Hope 'fit and forget' - until they get a bit rough....
Used both and now always go for Hope.
I've got both, XT and up are well enough sealed not to need tweaking too often (though you probably can't just ignore them) and they don't make that annoying noise. I've run the same XTs for years with no pitting or any other problems.
XT are much cheaper, and they're probably stronger because they're forged. If or when my current XTs give up the ghost I'd buy another. I probably wouldn't buy another Hope rear, though the fronts are a bit more versatile than the XT so I'd consider that.
I've been running the same Hope hubs, old XCs, since 2003. Never changed the front hub bearings, done the rears maybe twice. Amazing considering the sh!tfest milage they've done and well worth the extra outlay imo.
Modified XT rears, Hope fronts-I've broke Hope axles before and the aluminium freehub shell is a crap idea.
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While Hope Hubs do have some issues I am very happy with the customer service and if well serviced they can do big mileages with no problems.
A while back I did a full days riding with only one pawl and spring intact!
If it gets me home then to me thats all that matters. 😉
Over the years I’ve had both but would always go for the Hope hubs now. They’re reliable, easy to service versatile and made in England. The icing on the cake for me was when one of my mates shattered a 4-year-old rear hope hub at the Fort William DH track and when he called hope for advice they sent him a new replacement hub free of charge!
BTW - the old wives tale about hope hubs are weaker than shimano as the latter are forged is rubbish. Apparently Hope had a problem with Pro II's a while ago as some cracked as above. They used to be just CNC'd out of a std billet. NOW they are (I think since 2008) forged then CNC'd !!!
Hope every time for me - cup and cone is bloomin' archaic IMHO.
I find excessively clicking freehubs annoying. With the XT ones you can grease them up which almost totally eliminates the click.
Hope. My five year old set of Bulbs are going as strong as ever. The Ti freehub was expensive, but well worth it.
RustyNissanPrairie - Thats a bloody good idea.
Had both and as said above hope if you want fit and forget, xt if your on a budget. The xt's do run smoother and drag less as they are cup and cone but you do pay for that by servicing them more. I bought xt's last time as I couldn't afford hopes and I re-grease the rear every 500 miles and the front every 1000 miles. If you buy xt's don't get centre lock as the flanges are a lot smaller than 6 bolt and it builds a weaker wheel, which I found to my cost 😥
XT hubs will only last as long as the cups which will start to pit and since they are an integral part of the hub shell, when it starts to go there is no way to remove the play = new hub needed.
I've got Pro 2 hubs on 1 wheelset and they have been absolutely flawless for 4 years with only one change of bearings on the rear hub in that time.
XT hubs lasted a couple of years before they started to become a major pain in the arse. Soon to be replaced by Hope Pro 2 on Stans rims.
Owned 2 XT M775 wheelsets, rode both for about a year, maintained both after every ride, swapped bearings when required, tightened cones. Broke both rear hubs in different ways. One the sealed freehub seized, the other the cones buggered up and tightened themselves while riding, squishing the bearings and knackering the axle/cones, another common one.
Owned 2 Hope Pro 2 wheelsets, rode both for 10-18 months, both run exactly the same as they did when they were brand new, without touching.
Edit: Oh and come to think of it, that's not including the 775 factory wheelset, which I sold on here after not much use, it always felt a bit flexy. It seemed to have a curious manufacturing fault with the threads inside, sorted on Warranty, quite possibly why I found it flexy in retrospect.
Got m737 XT hubs that are around 10 years old used on a daily basis 2 freehubs down and a service each year they are still going.
Have some 6 year old hope xc that have had 1 bearing change still working well and a set of bulbs on my freeride bike that are still sweet!
Dear pro wheel builder 🙂
Got the 2010 M775 XT Tubeless. Need some advice. I have read the service instructions but these look like bearings only? No cup and cone? I am a numpty as far as hubs go's and have never ever touched them.
What or how do I service them? Linky?
What tools?
What grease?
Any help gladly accepted, thank you.
yours PB
[url= http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/WH/EV-WH-M775-R-2769A_v1_m56577569830625008.pdf ]http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/WH/EV-WH-M775-R-2769A_v1_m56577569830625008.pdf[/url]
Going by that, yes, they're cup and cone. The cone bits you tighten are the sloped bits in which tension the bearings against a cup inside, labled 6 on there. There's a matching one on the other end that's a bit more fixed.
Tools are easy, you just need a couple of cone spanners, an allen key set and some general squirty grease. I used to use [url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=4508 ]Rock N Roll Red Devil[/url] grease.
Got both, like both. They spin and i don't have to get the mechanic to fiddle with them much - (if at all actually...)
I prefer the XT quietness. The Pro2 is too noisy normally and i end up getting it greased to be quiet.
Great service back up for our customers from both brands incidentally.
Thanks Toasty
XT are good if looked after but Hope win hands down IMHO on costumer service, longevity and that lovely clicky noise they make! They're more expensive but really, really worth it - hope hoops are fab.