beanboy99

I have an opportunity to get a deal on a well-equipped Motobecane Ti cross/commuter bike. It's perfect for my needs except that I believe it has 130mm rear hub spacing. From what I've read, this was produced just before 135mm became standard. Right now it's 2x10 ultegra with canti brakes but I might want to use disc in the future so I'm wondering how hard it would be to find a decent disc wheelset for this bike in the near future.

I've read other folks on this forum have had issues finding a 130mm road disc hub for this bike but some of them were asking for 11 speed and some of the threads are a few years old now. A simple google search turns up a few options but I'm not sure what all I need to consider or what makers are reputable. This would be an urban commuter and occasional longer rides/light tours but no racing or real offroad stuff.

Thanks for your help.

blakcloud

That size hub is a rare. When I owned a Trek Portland with that spacing, I tried to find a White Industries hub, that they made for a short period of time, but I had no luck in finding one. Maybe you will find someone who has one stashed away but that is the hub I would look for. Worst case scenario is to keep using the brakes you have and forget about the disks.

delbiker1 

Personally, if I was that set on disc brakes, I would pass on the bike that looks to be a good deal. Just get a bike/wheel that is designed for disc brakes. IMO, making the Motobecane disc compatible is too much trouble and cost, and turns good deal into not a deal at all.

AnkleWork

Is that frame & fork made for disc brakes?

Elvo

I'd recommend getting a 12x100 and 12x142 frame if you are going disc

beanboy99

If the cantilever brakes are good I don’t have to change them. You’re right it may not be worth the cost. I don’t have a very clear idea of the actual real life difference between the two brakes for road riding.

But part the appeal of a titanium frame is the longevity. When these wheels wear out in a few years would I going to be unable to replace them? or is it just the 130mm and disc combo that’s obsolete?

HillRider

You may need more than just a disc wheel set. Do the frame and fork have disc caliper mounts? If not, adding them is difficult to impractical if the frame and fork weren't designed for the different stresses. If you really want disc brakes, you would do better to get a bike already so equipped.

beanboy99

yes.

delbiker1 

If the rear spread is 130mm, I doubt it is ready for disc brakes. Replacing 130mm rim brake wheels/hubs is not all difficult. They are going to be around for a long time. If you really want the disc brakes, purchasing a disc brake bike is, in my opinion, clearly the better option.

beanboy99

I like the frame and ultegra more than I do disc brakes. How are calipers for general road riding? I know it’s not the norm for road but I’m unclear what they would be like for daily riding.

delbiker1 

Caliper brakes generally work very well as long as they have good pads and the right set up. IMO, they are much easier to keep adjusted and maintained. Disc brakes definitely will stop you better in any kind of wet weather and maybe better on steep descents. I use Kool Stop salmon pads, orange color, for my caliper brakes. They are recommended often on these forums and elsewhere. Brakes are one of the components that you will get very strong opinions on from all sides. I also have a couple of bikes with mechanical disc brakes, but no hydraulics. I like them, but not a diehard fan like many others. They can be a PITA to keep adjusted properly, and can be quite noisy at times. I have to adjust them much more than calipers, but I will be the first to admit I am not a gifted mechanic. Quite the opposite. By the way, I have a titanium bike, road Airborne Zeppelin, and I love it. Great ride, light and durable. Also easy clean up, framewise.

beanboy99

So help me understand and correct me if I’m wrong: i know generally it’s 130mm for road and 135mm for mtb, but disc road has now moved to 135mm like mtb. What about hybrid or flat bar road bikes in the past couple decades? Who is using 140mm like the previous commenter mentioned?

well biked

The trend at this moment for drop bar bikes equipped with disc brakes: flat mount brake calipers (the newest drop bar groups with hydraulic disc brakes use flat mount). Axles and spacing: 100mm front spacing, 12mm thru axle. 142mm rear spacing, 12mm thru axle. There are many, many exceptions to this from the recent past, but it seems this is the current "standard" that is being widely adopted.

I love what Sheldon said about standards: "the problem with standards is that there are so many of them."

I hate to say it, but regarding standards, your 130mm rear spacing for disc is an absolute dinosaur. We saw this as it happened, within a couple of years after we sold nice new bikes with this standard, new rear wheels that were comaptable were almost impossible to source. And that was about ten years ago, I think.

jbucky1

130 disc was a flash in the pan for a lot of reasons, became 135 disc which worked for a while and is still in production on some bikes now, industry is going 142x12 disc for sure

beanboy99

Yeah I had a cool early 2000s mtb but had to sell it because I couldn’t find a good fork for that geometry.

are we pretty sure 130mm with rim brakes is not going anywhere anytime soon?

jbucky1

130 rim brakes is constant debate right. Some people say there will be a place for them on "climbers" bikes. And I think for a while there will be a tendency for sub $800 road specific bikes to have 130 rim brakes. But from my point of view they are on the way out. Not that they are bad, just that its moved to 142 on road and boost or even super boost on mtb

Smitty2k1

My 2010 Jamis Aurora Elite has 130mm disc in the rear. Luckily the hub hasn't given me any issues yet...

Russ Roth

A decent bike shop should have no trouble resizing a basic shimano disc hub down to 130. I'd try taking 2mm off each side, not worrying about the 1mm difference and still have good spoke tension.