Kings or I9's

[chupacabra]

I am going to be upgrading my wheels.

Both will work fine for me. But, I have a few questions some of you may be able to answer.

Will the difference in the engagements be noticeable on the trail?

Which is quieter?

If I go with the I9's should I get the normal flange or go with their spoke system?

How easy are either to change back and forth from 15QR to 20mm?

Should I expect any difference in durability?

I ride mostly trail, with a few trips a yeear to Mammoth, Downieville, etc.

thanks for the input.

[kyoseki]

I9's have a 3 month lead time right now, just so you know (and that's just for stock colors), I'm waiting on a set of black/red enduros.

If you go with their spoke system, spare spokes run $6 each but you get 4 spare with the wheels (3 long, 1 short drive side).

The QR/20mm conversion kit (which should just be a couple of machined hubs that plug into the front axle - very quick to install/remove) costs $30.

Shipping is $30 as well.

[Code Blue]

Originally Posted by chupacabra

I am going to be upgrading my wheels.

Both will work fine for me. But, I have a few questions some of you may be able to answer.

Will the difference in the engagements be noticeable on the trail?

Which is quieter?

If I go with the I9's should I get the normal flange or go with their spoke system?

How easy are either to change back and forth from 15QR to 20mm?

Should I expect any difference in durability?

I ride mostly trail, with a few trips a yeear to Mammoth, Downieville, etc.

thanks for the input.

You can not change the front from QR to 20mm. Check out Hope front hubs. When The Path built my last wheelset I went with a Hope front hub and King rear.

Good Luck

[kyoseki]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

You can not change the front from QR to 20mm. Check out Hope front hubs. When The Path built my last wheelset I went with a Hope front hub and King rear.

Industry Nine Enduros can definitely be switched between 20mm and QR15, check the first two pictures;
http://industrynine.net/official/enduro.html

The QR conversion is basically a couple of little machined caps with QR sized holes that insert into each side of the hub, I got the same things with my Outlaws and again with my Cane Creek Aeroheats.

It looks like the AM wheelset has the same front hub so the same conversion kit should work.

I've been billed for it, so it sure as hell better

[whybother]

Originally Posted by chupacabra

Will the difference in the engagements be noticeable on the trail?

Depends. Do you ride techy slow stuff? On a bike that is used for trials-y type stuff the engagement is very noticeable. On an XC or DH race rig, no difference.

Originally Posted by chupacabra

Which is quieter?

King is among the quieter hubs, Shimano is quieter still. Hope and I9 are pretty loud. DT Swiss is somewhere in the middle, as is Mavic.

Originally Posted by chupacabra

If I go with the I9's should I get the normal flange or go with their spoke system?

Never owned a set but if I had the money to shell out I would go with their alloy spokes. They should be either lighter or stiffer (or both) than a similar build with standard spokes.

Originally Posted by chupacabra

How easy are either to change back and forth from 15QR to 20mm?

King is pretty easy(axle swap is pretty simple). Hope is easier still, as are Mavics. I9's look to be similar.

Originally Posted by chupacabra

Should I expect any difference in durability?

With proper maintenance most high quality hubs will outlast the frame they are attached to. I have one King hubset that has been on three different frames (all the frames broke, hubs are still going strong)

Originally Posted by chupacabra

I ride mostly trail, with a few trips a yeear to Mammoth, Downieville, etc.

thanks for the input.

If you are doing mostly trail riding, and have a 20mm fork then the 20mm front hub is the way to go. If you get an XC bike all the hubs that are 20mm will convert to 15QR which seems to be the new standard for XC (whether we like it or not)

[29erturkey]

I have I9s and my buddy has Kings. We both are on Stans 355 29s. My rims are about 180gms lighter (1600gms vs 1780) and the rim is laterally stiffer. The sounds are completely different, but the I9s may be just a tad louder. I also have Hopes which are a great bang for the buck but lack the engagement of the I9s and Kings. The Hopes are wayyy louder too. If you can wait I9s are the cats meow and kings would be a good second.

[Letyrides]

Hadley hubs with DT Revolution spokes and DT Rims are impossible to beat.

[bighit8]

I think Ringle hubs are louder than most except Hope. I have them on my bike and can usually hear them over others.I vote for King Hubs.