looking into new wheels - opinions on hubs?

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by LBmtb, Aug 4, 2005.

  1. LBmtb

    LBmtb good times

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    I MIGHT get new wheels sometime in the next month or so but wanted some opinions on hubs. I'm thinking hadley or hope hubs. Has anybody ridden either or have better options.

    For those that dont know me . . .
    bike: yeti 575
    weight: 150lb
    General trail riding . . . mostly xc but occasional 5 foot drops and such.


    :wave:
     
  2. Schecky

    Schecky SoCalMTBubbs

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    I've have the Hope XC hubs. IMO they are great hubs - not a single problem.
    That being said, until recently I've been riding the same Powertools (KHS house brand) front hub that came with my old softtail for about 3½ years without any issues.
     
  3. TURNERob

    TURNERob Get your own avatar idea

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    I'm running Hope bulbs on my Foes and like them a lot. They are reasonably priced, really light and strong. If you buy the hubs/rims/spokes/nipples from Jenson they build the wheel for free. I have Chris King hubs on my 575, but now that they are rediculously overpriced I won't buy them again. You'd be fine with a Mavic 717 disc rim and double butted spokes at your weight. You could even go with alloy nipples, but I think brass is the smarter choice unless you just want the lightest possible wheels you can get. The other good thing about running the Hope bulb in front is you can convert it from regular quick release to a 20mm hub if you ever want to change your fork later on (like a Pike).

    I hear really good stuff about the Hadley's also, but I guess they are a little harder to find and a tad more expensive than the Hope's.
     
  4. miznaxxx

    miznaxxx New Member

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    What would a weight watcher like me be looking at spending for a really light wheelset for my XC-HT Stumpy? :-k (rim brakes)
     
  5. TURNERob

    TURNERob Get your own avatar idea

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    Expect to pay around $400 at least for quality wheels (brand new).
     
  6. Von-Diggity

    Von-Diggity Moderator

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    About $400....

    I have heard that WTB makes some really light hubs that are good for XC and much cheaper than the Chirs Kings. Put those on some 717 wheels, and that should be a nice light XC wheelset. I have had good luck with Hopes on various bikes. I have Chris King on my 5 spot. It does have that disctinctive sound on the rear hub. That is what you pay extra for with Chris Kings.
     
  7. Evel Knievel

    Evel Knievel New Member

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  8. LBmtb

    LBmtb good times

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    Does jensonusa do a good job at building wheels?
     
  9. Evel Knievel

    Evel Knievel New Member

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    You're joking right ? My link goes to team Turner and the Bike Co Lake Forest Ca.



    I have 3 custom wheelsets built by the Bike Palace in San Pedro. All 3 in use and rolling strong after 3 years. Just over the V.T. bridge for you LBrs'.
     
  10. TURNERob

    TURNERob Get your own avatar idea

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    I've had 3 wheels built by them and they've all been perfectly true with no problems. I would recommend them w/the Hope hubs.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous New Member

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    Sorry Vondur, but I've got the WTB Laserdisc light hubs on my front and rear wheels and am not liking the rear hub much. I've had them since February of this year, and noticed that there was already some stripping going on with the rear cassette on my second to smallest cog. This was a couple months ago. I don't know if the sram cassette is too narrow or the cassette freehub is too soft, but either way, I'm not too happy about it. They spin real smooth, and are inexpensive, but still. I'll probably get a rear Hope hub some time soon and lace it up with my existing 717 rim.

    If you've got a truing stand and don't have someone to build up a wheel for free, it's not that hard. It just takes a long ass time. As for the 717 rims, I like them. They're a good balance between cost and value IMO.
     
  12. jinks

    jinks New Member

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    oops, above post by "Guest" is me, hehe. :?:
     
  13. ocrider

    ocrider New Member

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    i have maverics on my bike and it seems like every time i pinch flat i get a ding in my rim or it gets slightly bent.
     
  14. Von-Skipp

    Von-Skipp FLOW

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    happened to me too up at Mammoth. I pinched flatted the rear and put a fatty ding on the rim... buts its still rideable so Im not worring

    I run the Mavic 317 with XT hubs. Really cheap and they hold up goooood!!!
     
  15. i am dino

    i am dino Guest

    Where are these 5 foot drops that you are doing? Any good ones around our hood?

    What kinda wheels do you have on your bike right now? I'm looking into getting a new front wheel possibly. I HATE the Specialized Stout Hub/Skraxle combo, the wheel has been off center since day one you can see where the tire has rubbed on the inside of my fork crown. #-o The lame ass Skraxle is impossible to close without getting it too tight to where it forces the rotor into the caliper/pads or if you don't get it tight enough it loosens itself way too fast. Luckily I haven't eaten sh*t yet because of that thing, but there have been a couple times on Lynx where I notice some chatter up front and look down and see the skewer is flailing (sp?).
     
  16. Evel Knievel

    Evel Knievel New Member

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