Which new hubs (that aren't Hope or Shimano)

Going to be building some 29er wheels, would normaly go with either Hope (nice but expensive) or Shimano XT 6-bolts (heavier, but cheep).

Which hubs would the STW collective mind recomend?

Must be;
– Reliable (so nothing silly lightweight with too few tiny bearings)
– Servicable, well sealed, freehub (like Hope rather rather than Shimano)

Nice to have;
– axle options, not an essential as it’ll be QR/QR, but just incase I change my mind, and I find 20mm fornt hubs are usualy stiffer than QR ones anyway even when fitted with QR with addapters.

I’m in the process of swithcing to DTs. They are expensive, but if all goes to plan I’ll have a pair of wheels up and running with 717 rims/DB spokes for £170….

They are meant to be reliable…. time will tell

superstar? they have great engagement on the freehub and the front is interchangeable

The basic DMR Revelors, they are a stock Far eastern hub, been used by many differant brands (club roost, planet X etc) DMR have been doin them for years, they have spares. Cartridge bearings, simple to strip. shiny colours

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=47894
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=46211

superstar? they have great engagement on the freehub and the front is interchangeable

I touched their BB with a bargepole, and won’t be graceing his pockets with my cash ever again!

Why not just stick with what you know?

Serious question – What’s wrong with Hope as they tick all of your boxes?

Would recommend dt 240s. Very smooth, and similar to hope service wise. Mine use the 9mm thru axle front and rear which makes a noticeable difference in stiffness. Would like to see how 15 or 20 mm compare but to be honest even standard QR is enough for me in this country. Bit more expensive than hope, unless you can get a deal somewhere.

No one mentioned Chris King yet? get some of those, better than everything else!

Serious question – What’s wrong with Hope as they tick all of your boxes?

Price. There must be someone in Tiawan ripping them off. I’m looking to spend somewhere between shimano and hope prices.

I’m looking to spend somewhere between shimano and hope prices.

You really need to look at used stuff…. There’s people on here nearly giving stuff away at times. You’ve just got to have a few options available and keep your eye out regualarly 🙂

Price. There must be someone in Tiawan ripping them off. I’m looking to spend somewhere between shimano and hope prices.

Second hand – EBay, Google and STW are your friends.

Will admit I’m a bit of a Hope fan boy. Mainly for the fact my set of 2001 Bulbs are still going strong with only a handful of bearing replacements, one new axle and sprinkling of pawls.

Cheap, light, reliable – Pick two 😉

Hate to say it, but King.

Cheap, strong, light – pick two and all that.

I’ve been pretty impressed with Halo product in general. Seems well made, sound nice, only a smidge overweight maybe.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12910

Hate to say it, but King.

Cheap, strong, light – pick two and all that.

King as in Chris King? Cheap??? What do you call expensive? 😯

Was looking at those Industry Nine hubs the other day, very nice indeed. Definitely not cheap though.

Edit: blimey just checked the prices of rear hubs, I’d go Hope! Never had a problem with any of my Hope rear hubs.

King as in Chris King? Cheap??? What do you call expensive?

Actually I’d say that they’re strong and light. Just not cheap.

Pimpmaster Jazz – Member

Actually I’d say that they’re strong and light. Just not cheap.

King rear hub is 336g, compared to 310g for the Hope. And the king is nearly two-and-a-half times the price.

“Strong, light, cheap” – pick one.

King not really worth it, for me – especially given the way Hope treat their customers.

goldtec hubs are bloomin good and have qr/15mm axle options, light as a light thing and their new SSpro rear hub is rather good as well. Got them on 2 29er wheel sets and they’ve been bomb proof.

I would also recommend phil wood hubs, I love mine but they are a wee bit chunky.

I’m still running a Hope rear XC from 2003 (ish) – never changed a bearing or pawl.

That said gonna have to try Superstar for my new build due to budget restraints 🙁

I would recommend American Classics, been Just Riding Along built me a set of AC hubs into some Crest 29ers and they are fantastic, light but strong. I see them sitting inbetween Hope and DT, much lighter than Hope but more expensive, yet cheaper than DT but the same weight, if not a little lighter. Been very happy with mine.

I’ve seen a few pairs of AC rear hubs die in very expensive and horrific ways, usually miles from the car and with no hope of a bodge or quick fix to limp home.

Nuke Proof ?

Tazzy, is that the old or the new AC design? I’ve heard there were some issues with the old ones but not with the new.

Take a look at a2z, just built a set up and done a 12 miler all seems good, with Olympics from crc sale and spokes, nipples from rose I,ve got a sub 1500g wheelset for around 220 quid…
Hopes are good, though I get through a set of rear bearings once a year, but I ride them lots.

Everytime you buy a mass produced far eastern hub you condemn 0.000001 of a Yorkshireman to unemployment.

hadley = awesome and super tough

Magura comp hubs, £40 a pair delivered on eBay right now…

They’re rebadged DT Onyx hubs. I’ve had a couple of pairs now, and whilst they’re not the lightest (190g front, 400g rear), they’re lighter than XT’s and they’ll outlast pretty much anything… Think of them as an old Hope XC, but better quality and more durable. QR only front and rear is the only sticking point, but if that doesn’t matter, buy them!

Once you’ve gone DT, you will not go back. I won’t run anything else now, they’re way better than King’s even…

I really rate the ZTR rear hub but would go for a Pro II front rather than the ZTR front.

For more money I’d have DT I think