Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Who makes the best road hubs?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Who makes the best road hubs?

Old 09-29-09, 08:20 AM
  #1  
hodie21
Sucking Wheel at the back
Thread Starter
 
hodie21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bristol, VA
Posts: 779

Bikes: Lynskey Helix Sport, Lynskey M290, Cervelo S3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Who makes the best road hubs?

Did a search and couldn't find anything definitive.

See all these wheels with different hubs and wonder whose hubs are best?
hodie21 is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 08:33 AM
  #2  
tubescreamerx
climbing
 
tubescreamerx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 925

Bikes: Ridley Excalibur, Ridley Crosswind

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Alchemy ELF front (64g), $180
Alchemy ORC rear (205g), $420
tubescreamerx is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 09:52 AM
  #3  
AlexTaylor
Snail-paced new boy
 
AlexTaylor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire, England
Posts: 1,828

Bikes: Colnago Extreme Power, Ribble Winter

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
For light weight, probably Tune. For just being ace, PMP or Royce...


48g Tune Front

156g Tune rear hub (there is a lighter one coming soon that involves magnets and stuff)

Last edited by AlexTaylor; 09-29-09 at 11:43 AM.
AlexTaylor is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 09:53 AM
  #4  
Jynx
.....
 
Jynx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Long Island
Posts: 4,816

Bikes: 2006 Cannondale CAAD8

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Lightweight - Alchemy
Durability - DT Swiss
__________________
Weight Listing Index (Feel Free to add to it!)

Buy your bike parts here
Jynx is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 10:08 AM
  #5  
milchad
Senior Member
 
milchad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 591

Bikes: 2 LeMond road bikes and a Cannondale MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Chris King hubs are nice.
milchad is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:21 AM
  #6  
Psimet2001 
I eat carbide.
 
Psimet2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627

Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times in 560 Posts
Alchemy (I'm a dealer), White Industries (I'm a dealer), DT (I'm kind of a dealer).

I don't like Chris King (I'm not a dealer).

Just wanted to state that so that you can take it with a grain of salt.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels

Psimet2001 is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:23 AM
  #7  
El Diablo Rojo
Banned.
 
El Diablo Rojo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: ATX, Ex So Cal
Posts: 11,058

Bikes: Ridley Noah-Scott Addict-Orbea Ordu

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Campy.
El Diablo Rojo is offline  
Likes For El Diablo Rojo:
Old 09-29-09, 11:23 AM
  #8  
AEO
Senior Member
 
AEO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258

Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
shimano for price/performance
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
AEO is offline  
Likes For AEO:
Old 09-29-09, 11:28 AM
  #9  
AngryScientist 
Lost
 
AngryScientist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: nutley, nj
Posts: 4,600
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 113 Times in 45 Posts
actual answer:

anyone who knows what they're talking about will be hesitant to say anything is the "best", there are no absolutes. what is the "best" mean? all the good hubs mentioned above have strengths and weaknesses, relatively speaking. first - define what you want in a hub, go from there.

Last edited by AngryScientist; 09-29-09 at 11:35 AM. Reason: for a better answer
AngryScientist is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:34 AM
  #10  
robotkiller
Senior Member
 
robotkiller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 442

Bikes: Turner Czar, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Psimet2001
Alchemy (I'm a dealer), White Industries (I'm a dealer), DT (I'm kind of a dealer).

I don't like Chris King (I'm not a dealer).

Just wanted to state that so that you can take it with a grain of salt.
+1

Owned a set. Beautifully made, but not very light and the heavy duty sealing does add some unavoidable drag, even with adjustment, IME.
robotkiller is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:38 AM
  #11  
MDcatV
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,840
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
white industries
MDcatV is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:38 AM
  #12  
tubescreamerx
climbing
 
tubescreamerx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 925

Bikes: Ridley Excalibur, Ridley Crosswind

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by AngryScientist
actual answer:

anyone who knows what they're talking about will be hesitant to say anything is the "best", there are no absolutes. what is the "best" mean? all the good hubs mentioned above have strengths and weaknesses, relatively speaking. first - define what you want in a hub, go from there.
Obviously...

One shouldn't be frozen by the difficulty of making judgments and generalizations, so long as there is evidence to back them up.
tubescreamerx is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 11:46 AM
  #13  
Dave Mayer
Senior Member
 
Dave Mayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,487
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1354 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times in 272 Posts
Best hubs have 2 design elements:
  • The main load-supporting bearings are as close to the ends of the hub as possible. Ideally the bearings would be flush against the frame dropouts, but there are some compromises in design required. The closer to the center of the hub are the bearings, the heavier has to be the axle - a suboptimized design.
  • Angular contact ball bearings. Cartridge bearings are used in hubs by small-fry manufacturers who don't have the tooling or sales volume to support custom hub parts such as forged and polished cones and cups. Angular contact balls support axial loads better (mainly the clamping force of the quick release), and are easier to service and replace wearing parts. Balls cost pennies each. Cones cost at most $20 per set.
Dave Mayer is offline  
Likes For Dave Mayer:
Old 09-29-09, 12:12 PM
  #14  
Erik B
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Posts: 549
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Dave Mayer
Best hubs have 2 design elements:
  • The main load-supporting bearings are as close to the ends of the hub as possible. Ideally the bearings would be flush against the frame dropouts, but there are some compromises in design required. The closer to the center of the hub are the bearings, the heavier has to be the axle - a suboptimized design.
  • Angular contact ball bearings. Cartridge bearings are used in hubs by small-fry manufacturers who don't have the tooling or sales volume to support custom hub parts such as forged and polished cones and cups. Angular contact balls support axial loads better (mainly the clamping force of the quick release), and are easier to service and replace wearing parts. Balls cost pennies each. Cones cost at most $20 per set.
So according to you DT Swiss is a "small-fry manufacturer". All-righty then.
Erik B is offline  
Likes For Erik B:
Old 09-29-09, 12:35 PM
  #15  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,829 Times in 1,456 Posts
Campagnolo of course! too bad they do not make their fabulous highflange hubs any longer. I wish they would atleast bring front HF hubs back.
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 12:37 PM
  #16  
WCroadie
Senior Member
 
WCroadie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chester County, PA
Posts: 2,365

Bikes: 2010 Trek Madone 5.5 CAAD9

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I have a set of White Industries H1 hubs which I am very happy with. Reasonably priced as well.
WCroadie is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 12:59 PM
  #17  
Psimet2001 
I eat carbide.
 
Psimet2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627

Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times in 560 Posts
Originally Posted by AngryScientist
actual answer:

anyone who knows what they're talking about will be hesitant to say anything is the "best", there are no absolutes. what is the "best" mean? all the good hubs mentioned above have strengths and weaknesses, relatively speaking. first - define what you want in a hub, go from there.
I agree, but if I had to wait for every customer to supply all of the needed details before proposing a quote I would still be on my first sale.

Sometimes you have to go in and propose something based on cues you pick up.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels

Psimet2001 is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 01:57 PM
  #18  
blacksquid
Senior Member
 
blacksquid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 2,174

Bikes: 2007 Pergoretti Marcelo

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by El Diablo Rojo
Campy.
^^^ What he said. They spin forever and have been bombproof for me.
__________________
Visit my blog -->MyOrangeBike
"There is love and there is work, and we only have one heart." Edgar Degas
blacksquid is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 02:11 PM
  #19  
NathanC
Shut up legs
 
NathanC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,625

Bikes: Merckx

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I like my Extralights.
NathanC is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 02:14 PM
  #20  
Ryleeryno
Über Member
 
Ryleeryno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,489

Bikes: 2005 Trek 5000 (the last OCLV)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
DT Swiss. Lightweight, smooth, and reliable.
__________________
Felt F3c

Me
Ryleeryno is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 02:20 PM
  #21  
buddy
Senior Member
 
buddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 351
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Psimet2001
Alchemy (I'm a dealer), White Industries (I'm a dealer), DT (I'm kind of a dealer).

I don't like Chris King (I'm not a dealer).

Just wanted to state that so that you can take it with a grain of salt.
I appreciate your honesty.
buddy is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 02:49 PM
  #22  
sstorkel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,428

Bikes: Cervelo RS, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro, Schwinn Typhoon, Nashbar touring, custom steel MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by robotkiller
Owned a set. Beautifully made, but not very light and the heavy duty sealing does add some unavoidable drag, even with adjustment, IME.
If you're racing your mountain bike across Outer Mongolia during the rainy season, you want to have Chris King hubs (and bottom bracket, and headset). If you're riding a road bike on pavement, they're ridiculous overkill. Or at least that's what my buddy who used to work for King tells me... he can't help but laugh every time he sees/hears King hubs on a road bike.
sstorkel is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 02:55 PM
  #23  
cod.peace
Senior Member
 
cod.peace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: eastern Massachusetts
Posts: 999

Bikes: Rans V-Rex

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
M5 flanged front: 33 g
M5 rear: 183g, rated for 100,000 km of service.

At least that's what I know from Google, so take this with a metric ton of salt.
cod.peace is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 03:17 PM
  #24  
RichinPeoria
175mm crank of love
 
RichinPeoria's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,387
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I can buy a pair of Campagnolo Record hubs for the price of just the rear hub of most of the above and in some cases have alot of $ left over

Royce, King, DT Swiss all look like a big waste of money to me.

Last edited by RichinPeoria; 09-29-09 at 03:33 PM.
RichinPeoria is offline  
Old 09-29-09, 03:23 PM
  #25  
robotkiller
Senior Member
 
robotkiller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 442

Bikes: Turner Czar, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sstorkel
If you're racing your mountain bike across Outer Mongolia during the rainy season, you want to have Chris King hubs (and bottom bracket, and headset). If you're riding a road bike on pavement, they're ridiculous overkill. Or at least that's what my buddy who used to work for King tells me... he can't help but laugh every time he sees/hears King hubs on a road bike.
I actually had them on a mountain bike and I completely agree. They are even overbuilt for most mountain biking.
robotkiller is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.